Distributed network attached storage system

• US 20040088297A1
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• 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 7,774,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/10
• 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

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

storing a plurality of files, accessible by a single file system, in a plurality of physical storage volumes;

coupling a plurality of storage nodes to said physical storage volumes through said network;

providing access to each one of said storage nodes to each of said physical storage volumes;

receiving, at each of said storage nodes, a request from a client for a storage operation on a file identified in said file system;

accessing at least one of said physical volumes in response to said storage operation; and

transmitting a response to said storage operation to said client.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

coupling a load balancing switch to said network;

receiving said request from a client for a storage operation; and

selecting one of said client nodes to process said storage operation.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the step of coupling at least one of said physical storage volumes to each of said storage nodes.

12. The method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the step of accessing said physical storage volumes through a network.

13. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

the step of receiving, at each of said storage nodes, a request from a client for a storage operation comprises the steps of;

receiving a request at a file system manager; and

processing said client request for said storage operation;

the step of accessing at least one of said physical volumes in response to said storage operation comprises the step of accessing said physical volumes from a volume manager.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

generating a connection between a file system manager of a first storage node and a volume manger of a second storage node; and

accessing a physical volume attached to said second storage node by said volume manger of said second storage node.

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, accessible by a single file system, in a plurality of physical storage volumes;

coupling a plurality of storage nodes to said physical storage volumes through said network;

providing access to each one of said storage nodes to each of said physical storage volumes;

receiving, at each of said storage nodes, a request from a client for a storage operation on a file identified in said file system;

accessing at least one of said physical volumes in response to said storage operation; and

transmitting a response to said storage operation to said client.

1. A distributed data storage system comprising:

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

network;

a plurality of storage nodes, coupled to said network, each one of said storage nodes having access to each of said files stored on said physical storage volumes, and wherein each of said storage nodes for receiving a request from a client for a storage operation on a file identified in said file system, for processing said storage operation by accessing at least one of said physical volumes, and for transmitting a response for said storage operation to said client.

2. The distributed storage system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a load balancing switch, coupled to said network, for receiving said request from a client for a storage operation and for selecting one of said client nodes to process said storage operation.

3. The distributed storage system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said physical storage volumes is directly coupled to each of said storage nodes.

4. The distributed storage system as set forth in claim 1,wherein said physical storage volumes are coupled through a network accessible by said storage nodes.

5. 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.

6. The distributed storage system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said file system manager of a first storage node for communicating to a volume manger of a second storage node to access a file stored on a physical volume attached to said second storage node.

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.

18. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

coupling a load balancing switch to said network;

receiving said request from a client for a storage operation; and

selecting one of said client nodes to process said storage operation.

19. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the step of coupling at least one of said physical storage volumes to each of said storage nodes.

20. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the step of accessing said physical storage volumes through a network.

21. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

the step of receiving, at each of said storage nodes, a request from a client for a storage operation comprises the steps of;

receiving a request at a file system manager; and

processing said client request for said storage operation;

the step of accessing at least one of said physical volumes in response to said storage operation comprises the step of accessing said physical volumes from a volume manager.

22. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

generating a connection between a file system manager of a first storage node and a volume manger of a second storage node; and

accessing a physical volume attached to said second storage node by said volume manger of said second storage node.

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

23-1. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein said storage operation comprises a read operation.