公开(公告)号：US20160217049A1

公开(公告)日：2016-07-28

申请号：US14997435

申请日：2016-01-15

Applicant: Nimble Storage, Inc.

Inventor： Naveen Bali ,  Richard J. Jooss ,  Jason M. Fox

IPC: G06F11/20

CPC classification number: G06F11/201 ,  G06F11/2092 ,  G06F2201/85

Abstract: Methods, storage arrays and computer readable media for triggering a failover between an active controller and a standby controller of a storage array are provided. One method includes determining by the active controller a number of connected fabrics available between ports of the active controller and a host and determining by the standby controller a number of connected fabrics available between the ports of the standby controller and the host. The method further includes executing a policy configuration to determine if the number of connected fabrics for each of the active controller and the standby controller meet a threshold for triggering the failover. The failover being a forced failover where the active controller takes a role of the standby controller and the standby controller takes a role of the active controller.

Abstract translation: 提供了用于触发存储阵列的主动控制器和备用控制器之间的故障切换的方法，存储阵列和计算机可读介质。 一种方法包括由主动控制器确定主动控制器的端口与主机之间可用的多个连接的结构，并且由备用控制器确定备用控制器的端口与主机之间可用的多个连接的结构。 该方法还包括执行策略配置以确定每个主动控制器和备用控制器的连接结构的数量是否满足用于触发故障切换的阈值。 故障转移是强制故障转移，其中主动控制器负责备用控制器的角色，备用控制器负责主动控制器的角色。

公开(公告)号：US20160077996A1

公开(公告)日：2016-03-17

申请号：US14853626

申请日：2015-09-14

Applicant: Nimble Storage, Inc.

Inventor： Naveen Bali ,  Tao Jin

IPC: G06F13/42 ,  G06F13/40 ,  G06F3/06

Abstract: Storage arrays, systems and methods for processing commands to enable SCSI-level forwarding between an active controller and a standby controller are provided. In one example, the standby controller has ports that operate in an asymmetric logical unit access (ALUA) standby (SB) mode. One such method includes receiving a command by a port of the standby controller, wherein the port operates in the ALUA SB mode. The method includes identifying that the command is of a type that is predefined for forwarding, and forwarding the command from a SCSI layer of the standby controller to a SCSI layer of the active controller. The method further includes processing the command in a user space of the active controller to generate return data and forwarding the return data from the active controller to the standby controller. The method additionally includes sending the return data to the initiator, over the port of the standby controller.

Abstract translation: 提供了用于处理命令以启用主动控制器和备用控制器之间的SCSI级转发的存储阵列，系统和方法。 在一个示例中，备用控制器具有以不对称逻辑单元访问（ALUA）待机（SB）模式操作的端口。 一种这样的方法包括由备用控制器的端口接收命令，其中端口以ALUA SB模式操作。 该方法包括识别该命令是预定义用于转发的类型，以及将命令从备用控制器的SCSI层转发到主动控制器的SCSI层。 该方法还包括在主动控制器的用户空间中处理命令以产生返回数据并将返回数据从主动控制器转发到备用控制器。 该方法还包括通过备用控制器的端口将返回数据发送到启动器。

公开(公告)号：US20160077738A1

公开(公告)日：2016-03-17

申请号：US14802817

申请日：2015-07-17

Applicant: Nimble Storage, Inc.

Inventor： Evan Chiu ,  Naveen Bali ,  Tao Jin

IPC: G06F3/06 ,  G06F13/42

CPC classification number: G06F3/061 ,  G06F3/0611 ,  G06F3/0617 ,  G06F3/0619 ,  G06F3/0631 ,  G06F3/0635 ,  G06F3/0659 ,  G06F3/0665 ,  G06F3/067 ,  G06F3/0685 ,  G06F3/0689 ,  G06F11/00 ,  G06F11/20 ,  G06F13/4027 ,  G06F13/426 ,  G06F13/4282

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing failover operations in a storage array configured for Fibre Channel communication are provided. One example method includes executing a primary process in user space of a controller of the storage array. The primary process is configured to process request commands from one or more initiators and has access to a volume manager for serving data input/output (I/O) requests. The primary process has a connection to a port of storage array when in operation. The method further executes a secondary process in the user space of the controller to process request commands from one or more of the initiators. The secondary process is not provided access to the volume manger and is provided access to data for responding to non-I/O requests. The secondary process is not provided a connection to the port when the primary process is in operation. The second process is configured to detect that the primary process has entered a state of non-operation, and in response performing a port grab of the port by the secondary process. The method further includes causing a replay of in-progress commands that were being executed by the primary process before entering the state of non-operation and deleting the in-progress commands. The method continues to execute the secondary process while the primary process is in the non-operation state.

Abstract translation: 提供了在为光纤通道通信配置的存储阵列中处理故障切换操作的方法和系统。 一个示例性方法包括在存储阵列的控制器的用户空间中执行主进程。 主进程被配置为处理来自一个或多个启动器的请求命令，并且可以访问用于服务数据输入/输出（I / O）请求的卷管理器。 主进程在运行时具有到存储阵列端口的连接。 该方法还在控制器的用户空间中执行辅助处理，以处理来自一个或多个启动器的请求命令。 辅助进程不提供对卷管理器的访问，并且被提供用于响应非I / O请求的数据的访问。 当主进程运行时，辅助进程没有提供到端口的连接。 第二个进程被配置为检测主进程已经进入非操作状态，并响应于辅助进程执行端口抓取。 该方法还包括在进入非操作状态并删除正在进行的命令之前导致正在由主进程执行的正在进行的命令的重放。 该方法在主进程处于非操作状态时继续执行辅助进程。

公开(公告)号：US20170329714A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-16

申请号：US15151436

申请日：2016-05-10

Applicant: Nimble Storage, Inc.

Inventor： Tao Jin ,  Jason M. Fox ,  Naveen Bali

IPC: G06F12/0893 ,  G06F3/06

Abstract: Methods, storage arrays and computer readable media for path discovery to ports of a Fibre Channel storage system that includes a multi-array pool and is part of a group of arrays are provided. One example method includes executing a pull operation via a group leader array of the group of arrays. The pull operation is configured to gather port status of each one of the arrays in the group of arrays. The method further executes a push operation via the group leader array of the group of arrays. The push operation is configured to populate a local cache of each array in the group of arrays with the port status of each one of the arrays in the group of arrays. The method executes the pull operation and the push operation on a periodic schedule, such that changes that occur at particular ones of the arrays of the group of arrays are pushed to each one of the arrays in the group of arrays. Configurations for enabling volume moves, striping data across arrays and pools, pool creation, pool deletes, pool adds, group merge and other processes are also provided.