Abstract: A provisioning apparatus for provisioning a storage volume to a shared file system in a storage area network, wherein the storage area network comprises a plurality of server nodes and a plurality of storage devices, wherein each server node comprises a shared file system operable for sharing by each of the plurality of server nodes and each server node is operable for communicating with each of the plurality of storage devices, the apparatus comprising: a creator component creates a new storage volume; a messenger component instructs the server nodes to detect the new storage volume and to allocate a device name; an instructor component instructs the shared file system to assign the storage volume to the shared file system; an instructor component associates the device name with the shared file system; a receiver component receives a unique identifier for the storage volume and the device name; and a builder component for determines a relationship between the unique identifier and the device name, storing th

Abstract: A provisioning apparatus operable with a virtualisation layer in a server, for provisioning a storage volume associated with a physical storage device to a virtual server in a storage area network. The provisioning apparatus includes a discovery component for transmitting a request to the virtual server to identify one or more storage volumes, and a receiving component for receiving a first unique identifier associated with the or each located storage volume from the virtual server. A comparing component determines from configuration data associated with the or each located storage volume a second unique identifier associated with the each of the located storage volumes. A comparing component compares the or each first unique identifier received from the virtual server with the or each of the second unique identifier associated with the configuration data to find a matching identifier.

Abstract: A provisioning apparatus operable with a virtualisation layer in a server, for provisioning a storage volume associated with a physical storage device to a virtual server in a storage area network, the provisioning apparatus comprising: a discovery component for transmitting a request to the virtual server to identify one or more storage volumes; a receiving component for receiving a first unique identifier associated with the or each located storage volume from the virtual server; a comparing component for determining from configuration data associated with the or each located storage volume a second unique identifier associated with the each of the located storage volumes; and a comparing component for comparing the or each first unique identifier received from the virtual server with the or each of the second unique identifier associated with the configuration data to find a matching identifier.

Abstract: A port optimization component and method for selecting a pair of ports, each port having predetermined operating parameters, for connecting to a storage device in a storage area network, the port optimization component comprising: a determination component for requesting configuration data and policy data pertaining to a storage device in response to a request to configure access to the storage device; and the determination component for comparing the configuration data to the policy data to determine a difference in operating parameters for each storage device port located on the storage device and in dependence on the detected difference, selecting a pair of ports having a preferred operating parameter.

Abstract: A provisioning apparatus for provisioning a storage volume to a shared file system in a storage area network, wherein the storage area network comprises a plurality of server nodes and a plurality of storage devices, wherein each server node comprises a shared file system operable for sharing by each of the plurality of server nodes and each server node is operable for communicating with each of the plurality of storage devices, the apparatus comprising: a creator component creates a new storage volume; a messenger component instructs the server nodes to detect the new storage volume and to allocate a device name; an instructor component instructs the shared file system to assign the storage volume to the shared file system; an instructor component associates the device name with the shared file system; a receiver component receives a unique identifier for the storage volume and the device name; and a builder component for determines a relationship between the unique identifier and the device name, storing th

Abstract: A port optimisation component and method for selecting a pair of ports, each port having predetermined operating parameters, for connecting to a storage device in a storage area network, the port optimisation component comprising: a determination component for requesting configuration data and policy data pertaining to a storage device in response to a request to configure access to the storage device; and the determination component for comparing the configuration data to the policy data to determine a difference in operating parameters for each storage device port located on the storage device and in dependence on the detected difference, selecting a pair of ports having a preferred operating parameter.