Key Features

• Dynamic remote management of one or more SAN fabrics
• Fabric, switch, port and device-level viewpoints
• Intelligent diagnostics help identify faulty devices before they fail
• Hardware, Broadcast and Name Server zoning
• Customizable event logging, printable reports
• Password security with individual read/write access levels
• Mass deployment toolset simplifies large fabric installation and repair
• In-band (Fibre Channel) and out-of-band (Ethernet) access
• OSI-based architecture — implement any standard GUI via Telnet, SNMP, HTML or SES

QLogic's SANsurfer™ Web-based management software allows IT administrators to monitor and control their Storage Area Network (SAN) installations via the Internet or Intranet. Powerful point-and-click tools, delivered within a familiar Web interface setting, help make QLogic SANs the world's easiest to optimize and maintain.

QLogic's OEM customers can also access SANsurfer's features through their own GUI. The SANsurfer Web application is built on a robust, yet flexible open systems foundation that integrates easily with any standard management interface.

Application Overview

After passing a security login to establish read or read/write privileges, the administrator uses a standard Java-based browser to access the fabric through an Ethernet or Fibre Channel connection to any single switch. From that entry point, the administrator interacts with every other switch in the SAN, making configuration changes and gathering a variety of useful topology, performance and diagnostics information. Links to multiple switches can be implemented to ensure that management capabilities are not interrupted if the first switch is removed or brought offline.

Fabric Window

The Fabric Window, displayed when the GUI is first activated, lists all managed fabrics, allowing the administrator to create and edit new fabric names as needed. Diagnostics messages in the bottom half of the screen are prioritized to highlight the most important information, providing an "early warning system" to alert the administrator to signs that a GBIC, disk drive or other fabric component is functioning marginally prior to failure. Online help, available throughout the application, suggests the best course of action for each diagnostic scenario.

Topology Window

When a specific fabric is selected in the Fabric Window, the Topology Window graphically displays the logical relationship of each switch in the fabric. The switch name, domain ID, World-Wide Name (WWN) and status of each chassis appears under its icon. In addition to responding to "trap" notifications, the application polls the fabric automatically to ensure an up-to-date display.

Chassis Window

When an individual switch in the Topology Window is double-clicked, SANsurfer activates the Chassis Window. This window is divided into two parts. The upper portion shows the switch's faceplate, indicating online/offline status and mode for each port. The bottom portion can display Performance Metrics (the default setting, shown above), Name Server, Trace Log, System Log or Memory Map information. Port tuning and configuration are also accomplished from this screen.

Port Statistics/Loop Window

When an individual port in the Chassis Window is selected, SANsurfer activates the Port Statistics/Loop Window, displaying statistics for that port and, if it is a "loop" port (FL, SL or TL_port), information about each device on the loop.

Zoning Window

The Zoning Window allows ports to be configured into zones for more efficient and secure communication among functionally grouped devices. SAN administrators can choose to implement Broadcast or Name Server zones for easy platform and technology segmentation or apply Hard Zones for data security no hacker can penetrate.