Storage aggregator for enhancing virtualization in data storage networks
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system for aggregating storage in a data storage network having a server with one or more consumers, a storage system with available storage, and a communication fabric linking the server and the storage system, comprising:
- pooling the available storage to create virtual drives;
presenting the virtual drives to the server over the fabric;
in response, receiving a logical command from the server for access to the available storage represented by the virtual drives; and
transmitting the logical command to a controller of the available storage identified in the logical command.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, and corresponding storage aggregator, for aggregating data storage within a data storage network. The storage network includes a server with consumers or upper level applications, a storage system with available storage, and a fabric linking the server and the storage system. The method includes pooling the available storage to create virtual drives, which represent the available storage and may be a combination of logical unit number (LUN) pages. The volumes within the available data storage are divided into pages, and volumes of LUN pages are created based on available pages. The virtual drives are presented to the server, and a logical command is received from the server requesting access to the storage represented by the virtual drives. The command is transmitted to controllers for the available storage and a link is established between the server and controllers with data being exchanged directly between the server and controllers.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method in a computer system for aggregating storage in a data storage network having a server with one or more consumers, a storage system with available storage, and a communication fabric linking the server and the storage system, comprising:
-
pooling the available storage to create virtual drives;
presenting the virtual drives to the server over the fabric;
in response, receiving a logical command from the server for access to the available storage represented by the virtual drives; and
transmitting the logical command to a controller of the available storage identified in the logical command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A data storage network with virtualized data storage, comprising:
-
a communication fabric;
a server system linked to the communication fabric and running applications that transmit data access commands over the communication fabric;
a storage system linked to the communication fabric including data storage devices and a controller for managing access to the data storage devices; and
a storage aggregator linked to the communication fabric having virtual drives comprising a logical representation of the data storage devices, wherein the storage aggregator receives the data access commands pertaining to the virtual drives and forwards the data access commands to the controller of the storage system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A storage aggregation apparatus for virtualizing data access commands, comprising:
-
an input and output interface linking the storage aggregation apparatus to a digital data communication fabric, wherein the interface receives a data access command from a host server over the fabric;
a command processor configured to parse a data movement portion from the data access command and to transmit the data movement portion to a storage controller; and
a mechanism for receiving a reply signal from the storage controller in response to acting on the received data movement portion directly with the host server and for transmitting a data access response to the host server via the interface and fabric based on the storage controller reply signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification