Port identifier management for path failover in cluster environments

• Main Authors: TAWRI DEEPAK K, KRISHNAMURTHY RAGHU, SINGH ABHAY K
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.04.2014
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION

A method includes assigning a port identifier to a first port on a node and communicating data on a first path between the first port and a logical unit on an active/passive storage array. The port identifier is registered in a persistent reservation scheme for the logical unit. The method also includes detecting a failure of the first path, de-assigning the port identifier from the first port, assigning the port identifier to a second port on the first node, and resuming communications between the node and the logical unit. One implementation of a system includes a first port configured to communicate with a storage device, a second port configured to communicate with the storage device, and an identifier management block. The identifier management block executes a failover with N_Port ID Virtualization commands that transfer a world wide port name from the first port to the second port.