Patent ID: 8019842
Filing Date: 2011-09-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for sharing enclosure services information among a plurality of storage systems, comprising: configuring each storage system of the plurality of storage systems with a network adapter for communication with a plurality of clients, and configuring each storage system with a storage adapter for communication with a plurality of disk shelves, each disk shelf of the plurality of disk shelves containing one or more storage devices; operatively connecting an intermediate network device to each storage system through the storage adapter of each storage system, and operatively connecting the intermediate network device to the plurality of disk shelves; configuring the storage adapter of each storage system to have a target device driver (TDD) to function as a SCSI target to receive a command from other storage systems of the plurality of storage systems after forwarding of the command by the intermediate network device; passing the received command by the TDD to a SCSI enclosure services (SES) module of an operating system of a receiving storage system of the plurality of storage systems; transmitting a command requesting enclosure services information of a selected disk shelf of the plurality of disk shelves by a first SES module of a first storage system of the plurality of storage systems, the command addressed to a second storage system of the plurality of storage systems, where the second storage system is a master storage system of the selected disk shelf; forwarding the command by the intermediate network device to a TDD of the second storage system, and receiving the command by a second SES module of the second storage system; in response to receiving the command, sending by the second SES module of the second storage system a response with the requested enclosure services information to the first storage system, the response forwarded by the intermediate network device to the first storage system; receiving the response by the first storage system; and entering an idle state by the first storage system after receiving the response having the requested enclosure services information.