Storage router and method for providing virtual local storage
First Claim
1. A storage router for providing virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices to Fibre Channel devices, comprising:
- a buffer providing memory work space for the storage router;
a Fibre Channel controller operable to connect to and interface with a Fibre Channel transport medium;
a SCSI controller operable to connect to and interface with a SCSI bus transport medium; and
a supervisor unit coupled to the Fibre Channel controller, the SCSI controller and the buffer, the supervisor unit operable;
to maintain a configuration for SCSI storage devices connected to the SCSI bus transport medium that maps between Fibre Channel devices and SCSI storage devices and that implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices; and
to process data in the buffer to interface between the Fibre Channel controller and the SCSI controller to allow access from Fibre Channel initiator devices to SCSI storage devices using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the configuration.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A storage router (56) and storage network (50) provide virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) to Fibre Channel devices. A plurality of Fibre Channel devices, such as workstations (58), are connected to a Fibre Channel transport medium (52), and a plurality of SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) are connected to a SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) interfaces between the Fibre Channel transport medium (52) and the SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) maps between the workstations (58) and the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) and implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64). The storage router (56) then allows access from the workstations (58) to the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and the access controls.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A storage router for providing virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices to Fibre Channel devices, comprising:
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a buffer providing memory work space for the storage router;
a Fibre Channel controller operable to connect to and interface with a Fibre Channel transport medium;
a SCSI controller operable to connect to and interface with a SCSI bus transport medium; and
a supervisor unit coupled to the Fibre Channel controller, the SCSI controller and the buffer, the supervisor unit operable;
to maintain a configuration for SCSI storage devices connected to the SCSI bus transport medium that maps between Fibre Channel devices and SCSI storage devices and that implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices; and
to process data in the buffer to interface between the Fibre Channel controller and the SCSI controller to allow access from Fibre Channel initiator devices to SCSI storage devices using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A storage network, comprising:
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a Fibre Channel transport medium;
a SCSI bus transport medium;
a plurality of workstations connected to the Fibre Channel transport medium;
a plurality of SCSI storage devices connected to the SCSI bus transport medium; and
a storage router interfacing between the Fibre Channel transport medium and the SCSI bus transport medium, the storage router providing virtual local storage on the SCSI storage devices to the workstations and operable;
to map between the workstations and the SCSI storage devices;
to implement access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices; and
to allow access from the workstations to the SCSI storage devices using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and access controls. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for providing virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices to Fibre Channel devices, comprising:
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interfacing with a Fibre Channel transport medium;
interfacing with a SCSI bus transport medium;
maintaining a configuration for SCSI storage devices connected to the SCSI bus transport medium that maps between Fibre Channel devices and the SCSI storage devices and that implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices; and
allowing access from Fibre Channel initiator devices to SCSI storage devices using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the configuration. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification