Abstract: Methods and structure for enhancing connection pathways for storage controllers. An exemplary system includes a stack of Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) expanders that are coupled to each other in series. The stack includes two end expanders that are endpoints of the stack which are directly coupled to only one other SAS expander of the stack, and a plurality of middle expanders that are each directly coupled to two other SAS expanders of the stack. The system further includes a plurality of storage devices that are coupled to the SAS expanders of the stack, and a SAS storage controller comprising multiple SAS ports that are each directly coupled to a different SAS expander of the stack, wherein at least one of the multiple SAS ports is directly coupled to a middle expander of the stack.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process that is performed by a management application for automatically mapping the topology of one domain to another domain. In addition, if a device in a domain fails, the domain application can automatically associate replacement devices with predecessor management objects.

Abstract: An application programming interface (API) implementation that can interface between an application and a programming library. The implementation includes a Function Router Wrapper that receives a formatted string from the application. The formatted string includes a function name element filled with a function name, an input element filled with function input parameters, and an unfilled output element. The Function Router Wrapper converts the formatted string and passes it to a Function Router, which parses the converted formatted string to access the function name and the function input parameters. The Function Router calls a library function based on the accessed information. When the called library function is completed, the Function Router collects generated function outputs and embeds them into the formatted string output element. The Function Router passes the formatted string back up to the Function Router Wrapper, which converts the formatted string and passes it back up to the application.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process that is performed by a management application for automatically mapping the topology of one domain to another domain. In addition, if a device in a domain fails, the domain application can automatically associate replacement devices with predecessor management objects.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method, apparatus and system for providing a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) domain management application using a domain overlay architecture. The method includes comparing user constructs or data sets defining an existing domain overlay with device data that identifies various network devices in at least one SAS domain, and binding the existing domain overlay to an SAS domain if the existing domain overlay and the SAS domain are uniquely associated with one another. The method also includes creating a new domain overlay that is uniquely associated with an SAS domain for any SAS domain that is not bound to an existing domain overlay. A domain overlay and an SAS domain are not uniquely associated with one another unless the domain overlay references only network devices within the SAS domain and the network devices within the SAS domain are referenced only by the domain overlay.

Abstract: An application programming interface (API) implementation that can interface between an application and a programming library. The implementation includes a Function Router Wrapper that receives a formatted string from the application. The formatted string includes a function name element filled with a function name, an input element filled with function input parameters, and an unfilled output element. The Function Router Wrapper converts the formatted string and passes it to a Function Router, which parses the converted formatted string to access the function name and the function input parameters. The Function Router calls a library function based on the accessed information. When the called library function is completed, the Function Router collects generated function outputs and embeds them into the formatted string output element. The Function Router passes the formatted string back up to the Function Router Wrapper, which converts the formatted string and passes it back up to the application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method and apparatus for managing SAS zoning using initiator isolation. The method includes assigning initiator devices in the SAS domain to a first initiator zone group, assigning target devices in the SAS domain to a second target zone group, and establishing an access control policy in which each of the initiator devices assigned to the first initiator zone group can communicate with each of the target devices assigned to the second target zone group but no initiator devices assigned to the first initiator zone group can communicate with any other initiator devices assigned to the first initiator zone group. Assignment of devices can be based on attachment information associated with each device, such as the ZPSDS entry point of the device, the SAS address of the device, and the phy of the zoning expander device in the SAS domain that is closest to the device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method, apparatus and system for managing SAS zoning, using end device grouping. A SAS end device grouping management application is configured to group SAS end devices, such as SAS initiator devices and SAS target devices, into any number of zones or zone configurations. The end device grouping application uses these defined zones to create a minimal number of zone groups, e.g., by creating one zone group per defined zone and populating the zone group with the ZPSDS entry point phys of the end devices in the zone from which the zone group is based, and to configure the respective permissions of the created zone groups. The end device grouping application then compares all existing zone groups for common phys and removes them to a new zone group. The zone groups are compared and processed in this manner until no zone groups have common phys.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method, apparatus and system for managing SAS zoning, using connector grouping. A connector grouping management application is configured to allow connectors on the edge of the ZPSDS to be grouped into defined zones. The defined zones are used to create a minimal number of zone groups and to configure the respective permissions of the zone groups. The connector grouping application then compares all existing zone groups for phys common to more than one zone group. The connector grouping application removes all phys common to more than one zone group from the respective zone groups and moves the common phys to a new zone group. The zone groups are processed in this manner until no zone groups have common phys. Once all zone groups have been processed accordingly, information associated with the resulting zone groups and their respective permissions are transferred to the zone manager.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method, apparatus and system for managing SAS zoning, using end device grouping. A SAS end device grouping management application is configured to group SAS end devices, such as SAS initiator devices and SAS target devices, into any number of zones or zone configurations. The end device grouping application uses these defined zones to create a minimal number of zone groups, e.g., by creating one zone group per defined zone and populating the zone group with the ZPSDS entry point phys of the end devices in the zone from which the zone group is based, and to configure the respective permissions of the created zone groups. The end device grouping application then compares all existing zone groups for common phys and removes them to a new zone group. The zone groups are compared and processed in this manner until no zone groups have common phys.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method, apparatus and system for managing SAS zoning, using connector grouping. A connector grouping management application is configured to allow connectors on the edge of the ZPSDS to be grouped into defined zones. The defined zones are used to create a minimal number of zone groups and to configure the respective permissions of the zone groups. The connector grouping application then compares all existing zone groups for phys common to more than one zone group. The connector grouping application removes all phys common to more than one zone group from the respective zone groups and moves the common phys to a new zone group. The zone groups are processed in this manner until no zone groups have common phys. Once all zone groups have been processed accordingly, information associated with the resulting zone groups and their respective permissions are transferred to the zone manager.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method and apparatus for managing SAS zoning using initiator isolation. The method includes assigning initiator devices in the SAS domain to a first initiator zone group, assigning target devices in the SAS domain to a second target zone group, and establishing an access control policy in which each of the initiator devices assigned to the first initiator zone group can communicate with each of the target devices assigned to the second target zone group but no initiator devices assigned to the first initiator zone group can communicate with any other initiator devices assigned to the first initiator zone group. Assignment of devices can be based on attachment information associated with each device, such as the ZPSDS entry point of the device, the SAS address of the device, and the phy of the zoning expander device in the SAS domain that is closest to the device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method, apparatus and system for providing a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) domain management application using a domain overlay architecture. The method includes comparing user constructs or data sets defining an existing domain overlay with device data that identifies various network devices in at least one SAS domain, and binding the existing domain overlay to an SAS domain if the existing domain overlay and the SAS domain are uniquely associated with one another. The method also includes creating a new domain overlay that is uniquely associated with an SAS domain for any SAS domain that is not bound to an existing domain overlay. A domain overlay and an SAS domain are not uniquely associated with one another unless the domain overlay references only network devices within the SAS domain and the network devices within the SAS domain are referenced only by the domain overlay.