Patent ID: 8185639
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for providing a host identifier for a host comprising: sending, from the host to a data storage system, a plurality of management requests defining what storage of the data storage system is accessible to the host over which one or more paths, wherein said plurality of management requests are used in connection with defining a topology of a storage area network including connectivity between the host and the data storage system, said sending including sending a management request of said plurality of management requests that includes the host identifier over a first path to the data storage system, said host identifier being formed using a first portion and a second portion, said host identifier being used to uniquely identify said host in the storage area network, said first portion including a first identifier associated with a system image for the host, said second portion including a second identifier generated in accordance with a hardware property of said host, wherein sending said management request over a particular path to the data storage system defines said particular path as an allowable path in the topology over which the host can access storage of the data storage system; receiving, by the data storage system, said management request over said first path from the host; performing, by the data storage system in response to receiving said management request over the first path identified by a first sending port identifier of a first sending port of the host from which the management request is sent and a first receiving port identifier of a first receiving port of the data storage system at which the management request is received, processing to define said first path as an allowable path in the topology over which a host having the host identifier can access a portion of storage of the data storage system by issuing subsequent data requests over the first path, said processing including storing information about said host in an access control table used in determining whether to allow a data request received by the data storage system, said information including said host identifier, said first sending port identifier and said first receiving port identifier for the first path, and identifying the portion of storage; receiving, at a second receiving port of the data storage system, a second management request from a second host having a second host identifier, said second management request being sent over a second path defined by a second sending port identifier of a second sending port of the second host and a second receiving port identifier of the second receiving port; and determining a degree of difference between corresponding portions of second information and first information, wherein said second information includes the second host identifier, said second sending port identifier, and said second receiving port identifier and wherein said first information includes said host identifier, said first sending port identifier and said first receiving port identifier, wherein said determining a degree of difference includes determining whether the second information is associated with the host or a different host, and determining whether a host bus adapter which is included in the host and includes said first sending port has been replaced in said host with a new host bus adapter.