Patent Abstract:
A tester that generates various data patterns to assure that link receivers and transmitters are functioning properly (i.e., are functioning according to a relevant network specification) across the entire storage area network. In various embodiments, this tester may be used in Fibre Channel type SANs or in fiber connectivity (FICON) type SANs.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a storage area network (“SAN”) employing a plurality of Fibre Channel switches which are connected together to form a fabric. The present invention specifically relates to a storage area network link integrity tester. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a SAN  110  employing one or more fibre channel switches  20  and a plurality of end devices  30 . As known in the art, fibre channel switches  20  are used to establish a fibre channel communication network topology (i.e., fabric) providing direct connections between end devices  30  (e.g., personal computers, workstations, servers and the like). Testing of the fibre channel communication network topology often requires the use of a large quantity of expensive equipment, particularly a large quantity of additional fibre channel switches  20  and end devices  30  for testing purposes. 
     With known SANs, higher data rates and embedded clocks can often result in greater susceptibility to link issues within the SAN. Link issues can include jitter and degrading bit error rate (BER) performance. Data Patterns that may produce jitter problems can be found discussed in the document T11.2/Project/230/Rev10 entitled  Fibre Channel—Methodologies for Jitter Specification . The process to determine whether jitter, signal integrity, or degrading bit error rates exist is very complex and can require a great deal of expertise in the area of electronics and signal analysis. Jitter is an unwanted variation of one or more signal characteristics in electronics and telecommunications. Jitter may be seen in characteristics such as the interval between successive pulses, or the amplitude, frequency, or phase of successive cycles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a go/no go tester is disclosed that generates various data patterns to assure that link receivers and transmitters are functioning properly (i.e., are functioning according to a relevant network specification) across the entire storage area network. In various embodiments, this tester may be used in Fibre Channel type SANs or in fiber connectivity (FICON) type SANs. 
     In certain embodiments, the tester includes a Fibre Channel adapter card. The tester uses a device driver that has a pass thru mode to issue the echo extended link service with a payload of data patterns that are known in the art of Fibre Channel to product jitter. The tester performs any setup required by the protocol to be able to send the I/O data patterns. This setup can include logins (e.g., fabric and port logins) and device discovery as necessary. In certain embodiments, the tester uses an echo extended link service to send data (the amount of data may be specified by a user or chosen randomly when the system is operating in an automatic mode of operation) with a specified data pattern (the data pattern may be specified by a user or may be sequential data patterns selected by default in an automatic mode of operation). The data is sent in an echo extended link service using the specified parameters. 
     The tester may include any of a plurality of operating modes. For example, in certain embodiments, the operating modes can include an automatic mode of operation or a user selectable mode of operation. In with automatic mode of operation, the tester send all possible random data patterns (e.g., starting at 00 thru ff) using random frame sizes and random numbers of frames. In the user selectable mode of operation, the user of the tester could specify the data pattern or a range of data patterns to use, and how much data to be sent in the echo extended link service. Any failing data patterns are compared against data patterns known in the art of Fibre Channel to create jitter. The results of the analysis are provided to a user. In certain embodiments, the results can include: jitter indicated because known jitter patterns failed or No indication of a jitter problem; a reply to the echo ELS was not received within the time-out period; an echo reply was received with a bad cyclic redundancy code (CRC); an echo reply was received with bad disparity; and an echo reply was received with an end of frame abort frame delimiter (EOFTA). In all modes, the end user will receive a report of success or failure and any other information that is applicable and available. One possible implementation could be, e.g., the data pattern FF, failed 4 out of 6 frames. 
     The above, as well as additional purposes, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further purposes and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a SAN employing one or more fibre channel switches and a plurality of end devices. 
         FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of a SAN link integrity tester. 
         FIG. 3  shows a flow chart of the operation of a SAN link integrity tester when performing a login operation. 
         FIG. 4  shows a flow chart of the operation of a SAN link integrity tester when operating in a user selectable mode of operation. 
         FIG. 5  shows a flow chart of the operation of a SAN link integrity tester when operating in an automatic mode of operation. 
         FIG. 6  shows a flow chart of the operation of a SAN link integrity tester when reporting test results. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram of a SAN link integrity tester  200  is shown. The SAN link integrity tester provides an inexpensive portable device for link problem isolation and topology capabilities for use with a SAN  100 . The SAN link integrity tester includes a processor  210 , memory  220  and a fiber channel interface module  230 . The processor  210 , memory  220  and fibre channel interface module  230  communicate via a system bus  240 . The memory  220  may include flash, a hard disk, optical storage, solid-state memory, or any other type of medium or a mixture of types. 
     The processor  210  controls the operation of the tester  200  via machine-readable code stored within the memory. The Fibre Channel interface module  230  includes one or more integrated circuits for communicating via a Fiber Channel type communication medium. The Fibre Channel interface module  230  is coupled to a Fibre Channel bus  245  which is in turn coupled to a female type Fibre Channel connector  250  and a male type Fibre Channel connector  260 . 
     The memory stores a link integrity tester module  270 . The link integrity tester module includes instructions executable by the processor for performing link integrity tests. The link integrity tester module further includes data patterns which are known to potentially induce jitter within a storage area network. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flow chart of the operation of a SAN link integrity tester when performing a login operation (such as a fabric login (FLOGI) operation) is shown. More specifically, in step  310 , the tester  200  issues a frame referred to as a fabric login (FLOGI) frame. The fabric login frame is how the tester  200  communicates with the fabric of the SAN. Next, at step  320 , the tester  200  port logs into a fabric name server and issues a name server query. Next, at step  330 , the next device in the list that was returned by the query to the name server is selected by the tester  200 . In operation, this device starts with the first entry and proceeds to the next entry each time the tester  200  loops back to step  330 . 
     The tester  200  then performs a port login operation with the end device to be tested at step  335 . Next, at step  340 , a decision is made whether to operate the tester  200  in a user mode of operation or an automatic mode of operation. If the user mode of operation is selected by the user, then the operation proceeds to the user select mode of operation at step  350  (see e.g.,  FIG. 4 ). After the user mode of operation completes, the tester proceeds to a report mode of operation at step  352  (see e.g.,  FIG. 6 ). 
     If the automatic mode of operation is selected by the user, then the operation proceeds to the automatic mode of operation at step  360  (see e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). After the automatic mode of operation completes, the test proceeds to a report mode of operation at step  352  (see e.g.,  FIG. 6 ). 
     When all of the testing (either via the user select mode of operation or the automatic mode of operation) completes and the report mode completes execution, the tester proceeds to step  370  where the tester  200  determines whether all the devices in the list returned by the name server have been tested. If all the devices have been tested then the tester  200  completes its operation. If all devices in the list returned by the name server have not been tested the process returns to step  330 . At step  330 , the next device in the list returned by the query to the name server is selected and the operation repeats. This testing and looping back and selecting the next device to be tested operation continues until all devices in the name server have been tested. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart of the operation of a SAN link integrity tester when operating in a user selectable mode of operation  350  is shown. More specifically, at step  410 , a user selects the parameters to be used to build the payload of the frame of the fibre channel as an extended link services. The user selected data pattern is selected from a list of data patterns starting with the first pattern on the first time through and then moving to the next pattern in the list each time though. Any data pattern may be specified by the user. In certain embodiments, the tester  200  can supply a list of data patterns to be used. Next, the number of frames to be sent with the selected pattern is specified at step  420 . A count of the number of frames that have been sent is incremented by one at step  430 . Next, at step  440 , an echo extended link service frame is sent with the selected data pattern. This specifically constructed frame is sent to the device under test. The results of the echo extended link service frame are recorded at step  450  as specified within the report mode of operation (see e.g.,  FIG. 6 ). If there are still additional frames to be sent as determined at step  460 , then the operation returns to step  410 . If all frames have been sent as determined at step  460 , then the operation proceeds to determine whether if all the user-selected parameters have been exercised at step  470 . If all of the frames have been sent, then the operation proceeds to the report mode of operation  352 . If there are still parameters to be exercised, then the operation changes to the next user selected data pattern at step  480  and returns to step  410 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a flow chart of the operation of a SAN link integrity tester when operating in an automatic mode of operation  360  is shown. More specifically, at step  510 , the tester  200  automatically generates a pattern ‘n’ (which is automatically selected, starting at 0x00). Next, at step  520 , the tester automatically generates a number of frames to transmit data pattern. Next, the tester  200  builds a frame ‘f’ with a data pattern payload at step  530 . The tester  200  then generates a transmit echo link service command for the generated frame at step  540 . The results are record at step  550 . The recorded results include increment total frames transmitted and total patterns transmitted. Next at step  560  the tester  200  determines if the frame is the last frame of a series. If the frame is not the last frame of the series, then the tester increments a frame counter at step  562  and proceeds to build and transmit next frame by returning to step  520 . If the frame is the last frame, then the tester proceeds to determine whether all data patterns have been sent (0xFF) at step  570 . If all data patterns have not been transmitted, then a pattern counter is incremented at step  572  for the next data pattern and the tester  200  returns to step  510  to select the next pattern (which is identified via the pattern counter). If all data patterns have been transmitted, then the tester proceeds to the report mode of operation  352  (see e.g.,  FIG. 6 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a flow chart of the operation of a SAN link integrity tester when reporting test results  352  is shown. With the report mode of operation, the reporting may be via a display of the results or by writing the results (e.g., either by storing the results to memory or by printing the results on some form of hard copy media. The report mode of operation reports a total number of bytes written to all devices, cumulative of all frames, at step  610 . Next, the tester reports a total number of errors (or failures) logged during test cycle at step  620 . Next, at step  630 , for each error or failure reported, the related data pattern is reported (be it an auto generated or user selected data pattern). Next, at step  640  a total of all successful frames transmitted and total bytes successfully transmitted are reported. Next the tester  200  compares the failed data patterns to a library of data patterns known to cause jitter or known as strong indications of a jitter condition at step  650 . The tester  200  evaluates the results of the comparison to determine whether a jitter condition or jitter indication is indicated at step  660 . If no jitter problem is detected, then the tester reports that a jitter problem is not indicated at step  670  and returns operation to the link integrity tester operation. If a jitter problem is detected, then the tester  200  reports that a jitter problem is indicated at step  672  and returns operation to the link integrity tester operation. 
     It should be understood that at least some aspects of the present invention might alternatively be implemented in a computer-useable medium that contains a program product. Programs defining functions on the present invention can be delivered to a data storage system or a computer system via a variety of signal-bearing media, which include, without limitation, non-writable storage media (e.g., CD-ROM), writable storage media (e.g., hard disk drive, read/write CD ROM, optical media), system memory such as but not limited to Random Access Memory (RAM), and communication media, such as computer and telephone networks including Ethernet, the Internet, wireless networks, and like network systems. It should be understood, therefore, that such signal-bearing media when carrying or encoding computer readable instructions that direct method functions in the present invention, represent alternative embodiments of the present invention. Further, it is understood that the present invention may be implemented by a system having means in the form of hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware as described herein or their equivalent. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the term “computer” or “system” or “computer system” or “computing device” includes any data processing system including, but not limited to, personal computers, servers, workstations, network computers, main frame computers, routers, switches, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), telephones, and any other system capable of processing, transmitting, receiving, capturing and/or storing data.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7