Steven Joel Howe

US Patent:

7380113, May 27, 2008

Filed:

May 5, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/430607

Inventors:

David S. Ebsen - Chaska MN, US
Todd R. Burkey - Savage MN, US
Steven M. Howe - Rochester MN, US
Randal S. Rysavy - Kasson MN, US

Assignee:

Xiotech Corporation - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

G06F 9/24

US Classification:

713 1, 713100

Abstract:

A method of upgrading firmware during background operation in a storage area network (SAN) including at least one storage controller having programmable memory and RAM, where the at least one storage controller for controls data access between at least one host server and at least one storage device. The method includes temporarily suspending data access commands from the at least one host server, upgrading firmware stored in programmable memory, and copying a current version of firmware in a first memory address of RAM to a second memory address in the RAM. The current version of firmware in the first memory address in RAM is overwritten with the upgraded version of firmware. The controller is reinitialized, and data access commands from the at least one host server to the at least one storage device are provided by the at least one storage controller.