Software defined networking for storage area networks

摘要

An example method for facilitating software defined networking for storage area networks is provided and includes dividing a control plane of a storage area network (SAN) into a centralized network control plane and a plurality of decentralized control planes, configuring network-wide SAN applications in the centralized network control plane, and configuring switch-level SAN applications in the decentralized control planes. In a specific embodiment, the network-wide SAN applications include at least one selection from a group consisting of: name server, zone server, worldwide name-virtual SAN (VSAN) mapping, device aliases, link-state routing information, principal switch selection, domain manager, and virtual local area network-VSAN mapping.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
dividing a control plane of a storage area network (SAN) into a centralized network control plane and a plurality of decentralized control planes, wherein the control plane comprises a logical division of network architecture that carries signaling and management traffic instead of data traffic, wherein a plurality of switch level SAN applications are accessed through the decentralized control planes, the switch level SAN applications basing network connectivity computations at a link-level that changes from point to point within the SAN; configuring at least one network-wide SAN application in the centralized network control plane, wherein the network-wide SAN application bases network connectivity computations at a network level that remains the same from point to point across the SAN; and configuring at least one switch-level SAN application in the decentralized control planes.