Patent ID: 6766466
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A fault isolator for a Storage Area Network Fibre Channel environment, comprising:a plurality of function modules, each function module providing a diagnostic function for isolating a fault of a different type of component within the SAN, the plurality of function modules including a switch analysis function module for analyzing a switch of the SAN to isolate fault caused by the switch, a hub analysis function module for analyzing a hub of the SAN to isolate faults caused by the hub, an internal DAC diagnostics function module for analyzing internal functionality of a Disk Array Controller (DAC) of the SAN to isolate faults caused by the DAC, and an external DAC diagnostics function module for analyzing external loopback functionality of a DAC of the SAN for faults caused by the DAC, wherein at least one of the plurality of function modules is capable of providing diagnostic information for a component, the diagnostic information being suitable for indicating a fault of the component; analyzing the diagnostic information for determining a cause of a fault indicated by the diagnostic information; and furnishing a possible cause of the fault indicated by the diagnostic information based on analysis of the provided diagnostic information.