Abstract:
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and device that associates a storage error with a specific array includes receiving a request to display one or more storage errors associated with one or more physical storage mediums within a storage device. An error cache associated with each of the one or more physical storage mediums within the storage device is scanned to identify the one or more storage errors reported by at least one of the one or more physical storage mediums within the storage device. Based on one or more business rules, the identified one or more storage errors are checked whether they are in the required format. An error list comprising the identified one or more storage errors and their corresponding one or more physical storage mediums is provided when the identified one or more storage errors are determined to be in the required format.

Description:
FIELD 
     This technology relates to identifying errors within a storage device and, more particularly, methods for associating a storage error with a specific array and devices thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various forms of network storage systems exist today including network attached storage (NAS), storage area networks (SANs), and others. These network storage systems are commonly used for a variety of purposes, such as providing multiple users with access to shared data, backing up critical data (e.g., by data mirroring), etc. 
     Typically, disk storage in these network storage systems is implemented as one or more storage volumes comprising physical storage disks, stacks of storage arrays, and storage tapes that are configured to define an overall logical arrangement of storage space. Due to the frequent use of these disk storages by users, monitoring the performance status of the disk storages has become extremely important. One of the most important aspects of this monitoring is to quickly identify errors within any of the storage devices. Unfortunately, to date prior technologies have not been able to effectively or efficiently perform this monitoring task. 
     SUMMARY 
     A method for associating a storage error with a specific array includes receiving, by a storage management computing device, a request to display one or more storage errors associated with one or more physical storage mediums within a storage device. An error cache associated with each of the one or more physical storage mediums within the storage device is scanned by the storage management computing device to identify the one or more storage errors reported by at least one of the one or more physical storage mediums within the storage device. Based on one or more business rules, the identified one or more storage errors are checked whether they are in the required format by the storage management computing device. An error list comprising the identified one or more storage errors and their corresponding one or more physical storage mediums is provided by the storage management computing device when the identified one or more storage errors are determined to be in the required format. 
     A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for associating a storage error with a specific array comprising executable code which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps including receiving a request to display one or more storage errors associated with one or more physical storage mediums within a storage device. An error cache associated with each of the one or more physical storage mediums within the storage device is scanned to identify the one or more storage errors reported by at least one of the one or more physical storage mediums within the storage device. Based on one or more business rules, the identified one or more storage errors are checked whether they are in the required format. An error list comprising the identified one or more storage errors and their corresponding one or more physical storage mediums is provided when the identified one or more storage errors are determined to be in the required format. 
     A storage management computing device includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor which is configured to be capable of executing programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to receive a request to display one or more storage errors associated with one or more physical storage mediums within a storage device. An error cache associated with each of the one or more physical storage mediums within the storage device is scanned to identify the one or more storage errors reported by at least one of the one or more physical storage mediums within the storage device. Based on one or more business rules, the identified one or more storage errors are checked whether they are in the required format. An error list comprising the identified one or more storage errors and their corresponding one or more physical storage mediums is provided when the identified one or more storage errors are determined to be in the required format. 
     This technology provides a number of advantages including providing methods, non-transitory computer readable medium and devices for associating a storage error with a specific array. By scanning only the error cache of the physical storage mediums within the storage device and not checking the actual functioning of the physical storage mediums within the storage device, the technology disclosed herein provides advantages of quickly and efficiently determining for storage errors. Additionally, by providing these different types of additional information, the technology disclosed herein provides advantages of providing a detailed description of the storage error associated with the physical storage mediums in the storage device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an environment with an exemplary storage management computing device; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the exemplary storage management computing device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an example of a method for associating a storage error with a specific array; 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  are exemplary illustrations of a request to display errors and displaying the identified errors; and 
         FIGS. 5A-5F  are exemplary illustrations of request for additional information associated with the errors and the response. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An environment  10  with a plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) and an exemplary storage management computing device  14  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 . In this particular example, the environment  10  includes a plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ), a storage device  13  and the storage management computing device  14  coupled via one or more communication networks  30 , although the environment could include other types and numbers of systems, devices, components, and/or other elements. In this example, the method for associating a storage error with a specific array is executed by the storage management computing device  14  although the approaches illustrated and described herein could be executed by other systems and devices. The environment  10  may include other types and numbers of other network elements and devices, as is generally known in the art and will not be illustrated or described herein. This technology provides a number of advantages including providing methods, non-transitory computer readable medium and devices for associating storage errors with specific third party arrays. 
     Referring more specifically to  FIG. 2 , in this example the storage management computing device  14  includes a processor  18 , a memory  20 , and a communication interface  24  which are coupled together by a bus  26 , although the storage management computing device  14  may include other types and numbers of elements in other configurations. 
     The processor  18  of the storage management computing device  14  may execute one or more programmed instructions stored in the memory  20  for replicating data and providing instantaneous access to data as illustrated and described in the examples herein, although other types and numbers of functions and/or other operation can be performed. The processor  18  of the storage management computing device  14  may include one or more central processing units (“CPUs”) or general purpose processors with one or more processing cores, such as AMD® processor(s), although other types of processor(s) could be used (e.g., Intel®). 
     The memory  20  of the storage management computing device  14  stores the programmed instructions and other data for one or more aspects of the present technology as described and illustrated herein, although some or all of the programmed instructions could be stored and executed elsewhere. A variety of different types of memory storage devices, such as a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM) in the system or a floppy disk, hard disk, CD ROM, DVD ROM, or other computer readable medium which is read from and written to by a magnetic, optical, or other reading and writing system that is coupled to the processor  18 , can be used for the memory  20 . 
     The communication interface  24  of the storage management computing device  14  operatively couples and communicates with the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ), which are all coupled together by the communication network  30 , although other types and numbers of communication networks or systems with other types and numbers of connections and configurations to other devices and elements. By way of example only, the communication network  30  can use TCP/IP over Ethernet and industry-standard protocols, including NFS, CIFS, SOAP, XML, LDAP, and SNMP, although other types and numbers of communication networks, can be used. The communication networks  30  in this example may employ any suitable interface mechanisms and network communication technologies, including, for example, any local area network, any wide area network (e.g., Internet), teletraffic in any suitable form (e.g., voice, modem, and the like), Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), Ethernet-based Packet Data Networks (PDNs), and any combinations thereof and the like. In this example, the bus  26  is a universal serial bus, although other bus types and links may be used, such as PCI-Express or hyper-transport bus. 
     Each of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) includes a central processing unit (CPU) or processor, a memory, an interface device, and an I/O system, which are coupled together by a bus or other link, although other numbers and types of network devices could be used. The plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) communicates with the storage management computing device  14  for requesting access to data, although the client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) can interact with the storage management computing device  14  for other purposes. By way of example, the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) may run interface application(s) that may provide an interface to make requests to access, modify, delete, edit, read or write data within storage management computing device  14  via the communication network  30 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the storage device  13  is coupled to the storage management computing device  14  via communication network  30 , although the storage device  13  can be coupled to the storage management computing device  14  via other topologies. In this example, the storage device  13  assists with storing of data required by the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ), although the storage device  13  can include other types or amounts of information. The storage device  13  includes physical storage mediums such as plurality of storage tapes, plurality of storage arrays and shared storage groups that can be easily identifiable within a storage system, although the storage device  13  can include other types of storage mediums. Additionally, each of the physical storage mediums within the storage device  13  includes an error cache where the physical storage mediums report their error, although the error cache can store or include other types or amounts of information. 
     Although the exemplary network environment  10  includes the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ), the storage device  13  and the storage management computing device  14  described and illustrated herein, other types and numbers of systems, devices, components, and/or other elements in other topologies can be used. It is to be understood that the systems of the examples described herein are for exemplary purposes, as many variations of the specific hardware and software used to implement the examples are possible, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In addition, two or more computing systems or devices can be substituted for any one of the systems or devices in any example. Accordingly, principles and advantages of distributed processing, such as redundancy and replication also can be implemented, as desired, to increase the robustness and performance of the devices and systems of the examples. The examples may also be implemented on computer system(s) that extend across any suitable network using any suitable interface mechanisms and traffic technologies, including by way of example only teletraffic in any suitable form (e.g., voice and modem), wireless traffic media, wireless traffic networks, cellular traffic networks, G3 traffic networks, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), Packet Data Networks (PDNs), the Internet, intranets, and combinations thereof. 
     The examples also may be embodied as a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for one or more aspects of the present technology as described and illustrated by way of the examples herein, as described herein, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps necessary to implement the methods of this technology as described and illustrated with the examples herein. 
     An exemplary method for associating a storage error with a specific array will now be described herein with reference to  FIGS. 1-5F . Particularly with reference to  FIG. 3 , in step  305 , the storage management computing device  14  receives a request from one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) to check when there is a storage error reported by the physical storage medium within the storage device  13  via a command interface displayed on the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ), although the storage management computing device  14  can receive other types of requests. By way of example only, the requested received by the storage management computing device  14  can be in the form of “storage array show” as illustrated in  FIG. 4A . 
     In step  310 , responsive to the request, the storage management computing device  14  determines when there is at least one storage error reported by the physical storage mediums within the storage device  13 . By way of example only, the storage management computing device  14  scans the error cache within each of the physical storage mediums in the storage device  13  to determine if there are any storage errors, although the storage management computing device  14  can use other types and/or numbers of techniques. For purpose of further illustration, the error cache in this technology includes any storage errors reported by the physical storage mediums within the storage device  13 . As previously illustrated, there is one error cache for each of the storage medium in the storage device  13 , although multiple error caches can be assigned to each of the physical storage mediums within the storage device  13 . Further, the error cache includes information associated with storage error(s) reported by the physical storage medium such as time of error, type of error, name of the physical storage medium within the storage device  13 , type of the physical storage medium within the storage device  13 , although error cache can include other types of information associated with the physical storage medium within the storage device  13 . By scanning only the error cache of the physical storage mediums within the storage device  13  and not checking the actual functioning of the physical storage mediums within the storage device  13 , the technology disclosed herein provides advantages of quickly and efficiently determining for storage errors. Accordingly, if the storage management computing device  14  determines there is no storage error reported by any of the physical storage mediums within the storage device  13 , then the No branch is taken back to step  350  where the storage management computing device  14  displays no storage errors found within the physical storage medium in the storage device  13  and this example of the method ends. However, if the storage management computing device  14  determines there is at least one storage error reported by at least one storage medium within the storage device  13 , then the Yes branch is taken to step  315 . 
     In step  315 , the storage management computing device  14  determines whether each of the storage error reported by the physical storage medium within the storage device  13  is in a required format. By way of example only, the memory  20  within storage management computing device  14  includes one or more business rules which define the format in which the storage error has to be reported by a physical storage medium within the storage device  13 . The storage management computing device  14  checks whether the storage error reported by the physical storage medium within the storage device  13  included in the error cache satisfies the one or more business rules to determine whether the storage error is reported in the required format, although the storage management computing device  14  can use other techniques. 
     Accordingly, if the storage management computing device  14  determines the storage error is reported in the required format, then the Yes branch is taken back to step  325  which will be further illustrated and described below. However, if the storage management computing device  14  determines that the storage error is not in the required format, then the No branch is taken to step  320 . Alternatively, in another example, this step of determining if the storage error is reported in the required format may be optional as each of the physical storage mediums in the storage device  13  can be configured to be capable of always reporting the storage errors in the format required by the storage management computing device  14 . 
     In step  320 , the storage management computing device  14  can request the physical storage mediums within the storage device  13  to report the one or more storage errors in the required format. Alternatively, this step of requesting the physical storage mediums within the storage device  13  to report the one or more storage errors in the required format can be optional as the as each of the physical storage medium in the storage device  13  can be configured to be capable of always reporting the storage errors in the format required by the storage management computing device  14 . 
     Next in step  325 , the storage management computing device  14  displays the identified one or more storage errors in the command interface of the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ), although the storage management computing device  14  can provide the identified storage one or more storage errors to the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) using other techniques. An example of the identified one or more storage errors displayed on the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) is illustrated in  FIG. 4B . 
     In step  330 , the storage management computing device  14  determines whether the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) requires additional information associated with the reported storage errors. By way of example only, the storage management computing device can provide a notification as illustrated in  FIG. 4B  indicating that the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) is required to submit a new request for additional information associated with the one or more storage errors. Alternatively, in another example, the storage management computing device  14  can automatically receive the request for additional information from the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) without even displaying the notification. 
     Accordingly, if the storage management computing device  14  determines the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) does not require additional information, then the No branch is taken to step  350  where this example of the method ends. However, if the storage management computing device  14  determines the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) requires additional information, then the Yes branch is taken to step  335 . 
     In step  335 , the storage management computing device  14  receives a new request for additional information associated with the one or more storage errors associated with one of the physical storage mediums within the storage device  13  from the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . For purpose of further illustration, the storage management computing device  14  receives a request for additional information from the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) for the storage error associated the physical storage medium with name “NETAPP-RACK-1” as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . Alternatively in another example, the storage management computing device  14  can receive a new request for additional information associated with storage errors reported by multiple physical storage mediums within the storage device  13 . In another example, the storage management computing device  14  can receive the new request to display the connectivity view, cooling view, management view or statistical view associated with the physical storage medium within the storage device  13 . 
     In step  340 , the storage management computing device  14  obtains the requested additional information for the physical storage medium within the storage device  13  from the associated error cache, although the storage management computing device  14  can obtain the requested additional information from other locations. 
     In step  345 , the storage management computing device  14  provides the obtained additional information to the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) and the exemplary method then ends in step  350 . As previously illustrated, the storage management computing device  14  can provide the obtained additional information on the command interface on the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) as illustrated in  FIGS. 5B-5F , although the storage management computing device  14  can provide the obtained information using other techniques. By way of example only,  FIG. 5B  illustrates additional information associated with the physical storage medium with name “NETAPP-RACK-1”. 
     Further, the storage management computing device  14  can provide additional information associated with the storage errors in different formats. By way of example only and as previously illustrated, if the received request for additional information is relating to a connectivity view of the storage shelf (which is also a type physical storage medium within the storage device  13 ), then storage management computing device  14  provides additional information that is requested by the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) as illustrated in  FIG. 5C . Furthermore, the storage management computing device  14  can also provide the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) with a cooling view illustrated in  FIG. 5D  of the storage shelf as additional information. Additionally, the storage management computing device  14  can provide a management view as illustrated in  FIG. 5E  to the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) as additional information when there is a corresponding request from the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ). Alternatively, the storage management computing device  14  can provide a statistical view as illustrated in  FIG. 5F  to the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) when there is a corresponding request from the requesting one of the plurality of client computing devices  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ). By providing these different types of additional information, the technology disclosed herein provides advantages of providing a detailed description of the storage error associated with the physical storage mediums in the storage device  13 . 
     Accordingly, as illustrated and described with reference to the examples herein, this technology provides methods, non-transitory computer readable medium and devices that are able to effectively and efficiently associate a storage error with a specific array. By scanning only the error cache of the physical storage mediums within the storage device and not checking the actual functioning of the physical storage mediums within the storage device, the technology disclosed herein provides advantages of quickly and efficiently determining for storage errors. Additionally, by providing these different types of additional information, the technology disclosed herein provides advantages of providing a detailed description of the storage error associated with the physical storage mediums in the storage device. 
     Having thus described the basic concept of the invention, it will be rather apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way of example only, and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications will occur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested hereby, and are within the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the recited order of processing elements or sequences, or the use of numbers, letters, or other designations therefore, is not intended to limit the claimed processes to any order except as may be specified in the claims. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.