Methods and apparatus for load balancing storage nodes in a distributed stroage area network system

• US 20040078465A1
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Nalam, Naveen, Coates, Joshua L., Landrum, Alfred Gary, Mattis, Peter D., Bozeman, Patrick E., Roselli, Drew S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2206/1012 Load balancing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/288 Distributed intermediate devices, i.e. intermediate devices for interaction with other intermediate devices on the same level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

A distributed data storage system stores a single image file system across a plurality of physical storage volumes. The physical storage may be direct attached storage, or may be coupled through a storage area network (“SAN”). One or more clients communicate with a plurality of storage nodes through a network. A client of the distributed data storage system transmits a request over the network for a file identified in the file system. A load-balancing switch selects one of the storage nodes to process the request. The storage node accesses at least one of the physical volumes and transmits a response for the storage operation to the client.

Claims

1. A distributed data storage system comprising:

a plurality of physical storage volumes for storing a plurality of files of data identified by a single file system;

storage area network (“

SAN”

) for coupling said physical storage volumes;

client network;

a plurality of storage nodes, coupled to said client network and to said storage area network, each one of said storage nodes for conducting storage operations on said files of said file system stored on said physical storage volumes; and

load balancing switch, coupled to said network and to said storage nodes, for receiving a request from a client to conduct a storage operation on a file identified in said file system and for selecting one of said storage nodes to process said storage operation.

2. The distributed data storage system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said load balancing switch comprises a layer four load balancing switch.

3. The distributed data storage system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storage network utilizes a TCP/IP network protocol.

4. The distributed data storage system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storage network utilizes a UDP/IP network protocol.

5. The distributed data storage system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storage network comprises a local area network (“

LAN”

).

6. The distributed storage system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a storage node comprises:

a file system manager for processing said client requests for storage operations; and

a volume manager for accessing said physical volumes.

7. The distributed storage system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storage operation comprises a write operation.

8. The distributed storage system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storage operation comprises a read operation.

9. A method for storing files in a distributed data storage system, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of files of data identified by a single file system in a plurality of physical storage volumes;

coupling said physical storage volumes through a storage area network (“

SAN”

);

coupling said SAN to a plurality of storage nodes;

coupling said storage nodes to a load balancing switch;

coupling said load balancing switch to a client network;

receiving a request from a client at said load balancing switch to conduct a storage operation on a file identified in said file system;

selecting, at said load balancing switch, one of said storage nodes to process said storage operation; and

conducting storage operations on said files of said file system stored on said physical storage volumes.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said load balancing switch comprises a layer four load balancing switch.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said storage network utilizes a TCP/IP network protocol.

12. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said storage network utilizes a UDP/IP network protocol.

13. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said storage network comprises a local area network (“

LAN”

).

14. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the step of conducting storage operations on said files of said file system stored on said physical storage volumes comprises the steps of:

processing said client requests for storage operations in a file system manager; and

accessing said physical volumes from a volume manager.

15. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said storage operation comprises a write operation.

16. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said storage operation comprises a read operation.

17. A computer readable medium for storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a computer system, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

storing a plurality of files of data identified by a single file system in a plurality of physical storage volumes;

coupling said physical storage volumes through a storage area network (“

SAN”

);

coupling said SAN to a plurality of storage nodes;

coupling said storage nodes to a load balancing switch;

coupling said load balancing switch to a client network;

receiving a request from a client at said load balancing switch to conduct a storage operation on a file identified in said file system;

selecting, at said load balancing switch, one of said storage nodes to process said storage operation; and

conducting storage operations on said files of said file system stored on said physical storage volumes.

18. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein said load balancing switch comprises a layer four load balancing switch.

19. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein said storage network utilizes a TCP/IP network protocol.

20. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein said storage network utilizes a UDP/IP network protocol.

21. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein said storage network comprises a local area network (“

LAN”

).

22. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein the step of conducting storage operations on said files of said file system stored on said physical storage volumes comprises the steps of:

processing said client requests for storage operations in a file system manager; and

accessing said physical volumes from a volume manager.

23. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein said storage operation comprises a write operation.

24. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein said storage operation comprises a read operation.