FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to systems, computer-readable media and computer-implemented methods for automated network adapter activation in connection with fibre channel uplink mapping.

BACKGROUND

Fibre channel networking is commonly used to provide connectivity to storage-area networks (SAN). In many configurations, fibre channel networking provides superior data transfer rates. Client devices such as blade servers may each include one or more network adapters (e.g., network interface cards or “NICs”) for connecting to a fibre channel network. The fibre channel network, in turn, may provide connectivity between the client devices and the SAN, for example via a network switch cooperatively forming fibre channel uplinks to the SAN. Traffic between the fibre channel uplink and the SAN may be managed by a SAN switch. Each uplink may correspond to an uplink port of the fibre channel network switch connected to a fiber channel port of the SAN switch via fiber optic cabling.

Systems utilizing a non-virtualized SAN switch to manage traffic between the uplinks and the SAN may map client device network adapters to respective ones of the fibre channel uplinks to enable communication with the SAN. That is, an adapter in such a system may send traffic to the SAN via an uplink once mapped to that uplink. For example, the client devices may comprise eight (8) server blades on a chassis that communicate with a SAN via four (4) uplinks. In an embodiment, two (2) of the eight (8) server blades may be mapped to each uplink, though many combinations of assignments are possible.

In certain scenarios, a process for mapping the client devices to the uplinks may be initiated instantaneously for multiple client devices. For example, a system may be configured to automatically detect and begin configuration of a plurality of new server blade client devices simultaneously linked to the fibre channel network switch. For another example, where one or more uplinks become unavailable/offline, client device records storing the details of mapping between those uplinks and client devices may be reset, requiring reassignment or mapping of those client devices to one or more active uplink(s) before further traffic may be sent up to the SAN.

Client devices of existing systems may error into a read-only state during the process of mapping multiple client devices to respective fibre channel network uplinks. For example, the system may activate the network adapters of the multiple client devices simultaneously at the beginning of the mapping process, signaling to operating systems of the client devices that the connection to the fibre channel network is ready for traffic before the mapping process is actually completed. Where a client device attempts to send traffic before a corresponding network adapter has been mapped to an uplink, the client device may error into a read-only and/or timed out state, lengthening the time and effort required to enable normal operation of the system.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In a first aspect, a system for automated network adapter activation in connection with fibre channel uplink mapping may be provided. The system includes a non-virtualized storage area network switch having a plurality of fibre channel ports. Each of the fibre channel ports is coupled to a corresponding cable to at least partly define a fibre channel uplink. The system also includes a plurality of client devices. Each client device has a network adapter. The system also includes a processing element and non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions instructing the processing element to complete the following steps: (1) automatically execute an algorithm to determine a sequence for mapping the network adapters to respective fibre channel uplinks; (2) automatically determine a network adapter activation pattern based on the sequence to include a time delay between the network adapters; (3) automatically map the network adapters to respective fibre channel uplinks according to the sequence; and (4) automatically activate the network adapters based on the network adapter activation pattern. The system may include additional, less, or alternate functionality, including that discussed elsewhere herein.

In another aspect, a computer-implemented method for automated network adapter activation in connection with fibre channel uplink mapping may be provided. The computer-implemented method includes: (1) automatically executing an algorithm to determine a sequence for mapping a plurality of network adapters to respective ones of a plurality of fibre channel uplinks, each of the plurality of network adapters corresponding to one of a plurality of client devices and each of the fibre channel uplinks being at least partly defined by one of a plurality of fibre channel ports of a non-virtualized storage area network switch coupled to a cable; (2) automatically determining a network adapter activation pattern based on the sequence to include a time delay between the network adapters; (3) automatically mapping the network adapters to respective fibre channel uplinks according to the sequence; and (4) automatically activating the network adapters based on the network adapter activation pattern. The method may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.

Advantages of these and other embodiments will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the exemplary embodiments which have been shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the present embodiments described herein may be capable of other and different embodiments, and their details are capable of modification in various respects. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

