Abstract: A translating host bus interface adapter is capable of connecting a computer system as a compute node to a storage area network. The adapter has a processor and a memory system containing firmware for execution in the processor. The host bus adapter is capable of recognizing first and second types of redundant storage accessible over the storage area network and translating generic storage commands into translated commands suitable for communicating with either type of redundant storage, and forwarding the translated commands onto the storage area network. The translating host bus adapter is also capable of constructing and maintaining a mirrored dataset comprising copies on redundant storage systems of either or both types.

Abstract: A node for a storage area network has a processor, at least one port for connection to a storage area network, and a memory system. The memory system contains machine readable instructions for managing the at least one port, including instructions for determining a status associated with the at least one port capable of holding at least failed, probationary, normal and active status. For any failed port, the instructions include instructions for detecting a repair and when repair is detected for advancing the status to active or probationary status—probationary status being set when no exchange is pending to a target node reachable only through the repaired port. For probationary ports, the instructions detect when the port operates without error for a predetermined period and advances the status from probationary to active or normal. Network exchanges are preferentially routed over an active or normal port, rather than transmitting them over probationary ports.

Abstract: An initiator node for a storage area network used with storage nodes having command queue capability maintains a current queue depth, and a maximum queue depth associated with each storage node. It initializing the maximum queue dependent on the type of the storage nodes it sees, and limits the number of commands queued to each storage node to the current queue depth associated with the storage node. It dynamically adjusts the current queue depth for each storage node based upon queue refusals generated by the storage nodes and the maximum queue depth associated with the storage nodes.

Abstract: A translating host bus interface adapter is capable of connecting a computer system as a compute node to a storage area network. The adapter has a processor and a memory system containing firmware for execution in the processor. The host bus adapter is capable of recognizing first and second types of redundant storage accessible over the storage area network and translating generic storage commands into translated commands suitable for communicating with either type of redundant storage, and forwarding the translated commands onto the storage area network. The translating host bus adapter is also capable of constructing and maintaining a mirrored dataset comprising copies on redundant storage systems of either or both types.

Abstract: A network topology data structure resides in a memory system and is representative of topology of a fiber-channel network. The data structure has at least one device record with pointers for linking device records into a device list, information about a device accessible over the network, and pointers for locating a path link list. The data structure also has at least one node record having pointers for linking node records into a node list, node identity information, and pointers for locating device records. Path link lists, accessible through device records, have path links. Path links have pointers for linking path links into the path link list, and path status information corresponding to status of a path through the fiber channel network.

Abstract: A computer system with a plurality of devices compatible with the Fibre Channel Protocol, which computer system is provided with the capability to dynamically alter the configuration of the plurality of devices without a system reset, or without additional software overhead. This capability is realized by providing unique mapping relationships between low-level Fibre Channel information structures related to the devices and upper-level link elements compatible with an Operating System associated with the computer system.

Abstract: Computer system which varies the number of read requests outstanding to hard disk drives based on the mix of sequential and random requests. If a sequential request is received, a limited number of requests are allowed to be outstanding. If the requests are random, a growing number of read requests can be outstanding as the random requests continue, until a maximum number of write requests are allowed to be outstanding.