Network, storage appliance, and method for externalizing an internal I/O link between a server and a storage controller integrated within the storage appliance chassis

• US 20050027751A1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dot Hill Systems Corporation (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Dot Hill Systems Corporation (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Davies, Ian Robert, Pecone, Victor Key, Kalwitz, George Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2005 using redundant communication controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2007 using redundant communication media
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/201 between storage system components
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2028 eliminating a faulty processor or activating a spare
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2035 without idle spare hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2046 where the redundant components share persistent storage G06F11/2043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2051 in regular structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2092 Techniques of failing over between control units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device

Abstract

A network storage appliance is disclosed. The storage appliance includes a port combiner that provides data communication between at least first, second, and third I/O ports; a storage controller that controls storage devices and includes the first I/O port; a server having the second I/O port; and an I/O connector for networking the third I/O port to the port combiner. A single chassis encloses the port combiner, storage controller, and server, and the I/O connector is affixed on the storage appliance. The third I/O port is external to the chassis and is not enclosed therein. In various embodiments, the port combiner comprises a FibreChannel hub comprising a series of loop resiliency circuits, or a FibreChannel, Ethernet, or Infiniband switch. In one embodiment, the port combiner, I/O ports, and server are all comprised in a single blade module for plugging into a backplane of the chassis.

Claims

1. A network storage appliance, comprising:

a chassis;

a port combiner, enclosed in said chassis, for providing high-speed data communication between at least first, second, and third I/O ports;

a storage controller, enclosed in said chassis, for controlling a plurality of storage devices, comprising said first I/O port;

a server, enclosed in said chassis, comprising said second I/O port; and

an I/O connector, affixed on the storage appliance, for networking said third I/O port to said port combiner, wherein said third I/O port is external to said chassis and not comprised in the storage appliance.

2. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third I/O ports comprise FibreChannel ports.

3. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third I/O ports comprise Infiniband ports.

4. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third I/O ports comprise Ethernet ports.

5. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said port combiner comprises a switch.

6. The network storage appliance of claim 5, wherein said switch comprises a FibreChannel switch.

7. The network storage appliance of claim 5, wherein said switch comprises an Ethernet switch.

8. The network storage appliance of claim 5, wherein said switch comprises an Infiniband switch.

9. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said port combiner comprises a hub.

10. The network storage appliance of claim 9, wherein said hub comprises a plurality of port bypass circuits coupled substantially in series for forming at least a portion of an arbitrated loop.

11. The network storage appliance of claim 9, wherein said hub comprises a FibreChannel hub comprising a plurality of FibreChannel loop resiliency circuits coupled substantially in series for forming at least a portion of a FibreChannel arbitrated loop.

12. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said chassis comprises a 19 inch wide chassis.

13. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said chassis comprises a 1U high chassis.

14. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said server comprises a central processing unit for executing storage application software for issuing requests to said storage controller to transfer data between said plurality of storage devices and said server.

15. The network storage appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

first, second, and third I/O links, for coupling said first I/O port, said second I/O port, and said I/O connector, respectively, to said port combiner.

16. The network storage appliance of claim 15, wherein a field replaceable unit (FRU) comprises said first I/O link, said second I/O link, said third I/O link, said first I/O port, said second I/O port, said I/O connector, and said port combiner.

17. The network storage appliance of claim 16, wherein said field replaceable unit (FRU) further comprises said server.

18. The network storage appliance of claim 16, further comprising:

a backplane, enclosed in said chassis, wherein said FRU is hot-pluggable into said backplane.

19. The network storage appliance of claim 15, wherein said first, second, and third I/O links are comprised in a single printed circuit board.

20. The network storage appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

a second storage controller, for controlling said plurality of storage devices, comprising a fourth I/O port, wherein said port combiner provides high-speed data communication between at least said first, second, third, and fourth I/O ports.

21. The network storage appliance of claim 20, wherein said first and second storage controllers comprise redundant storage controllers of the network storage appliance for providing continued availability of data stored on said plurality of storage devices to said server via said port combiner even if one of said first and second storage controllers fails.

22. The network storage appliance of claim 21, wherein said first and second storage controllers comprise a plurality of hot-pluggable field replaceable units (FRUs), wherein any one of said plurality of FRUs may be replaced during operation of the network storage appliance without loss of availability of data stored on said plurality of storage devices to said server.

23. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said server is configured to execute a backup application for backing up data stored on said plurality of storage devices to a storage device comprising said third I/O port networked to said I/O connector.

24. The network storage appliance of claim 23, wherein said storage device comprises a tape drive.

25. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said storage controller is configured to receive from a computer system via said I/O connector and said port combiner requests for transferring data between said plurality of storage devices and said computer system, wherein said computer system comprises said third I/O port.

26. The network storage appliance of claim 25, wherein said storage controller is configured to present a first set of logical storage devices for access by said computer system and a second set of logical storage devices for access by said server.

27. The network storage appliance of claim 26, wherein said plurality of storage devices comprises said first and second set of logical storage devices.

28. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said server is configured to execute a storage virtualization application for presenting virtualized storage to computers networked thereto, wherein said virtualized storage comprises said plurality of storage devices accessed via said storage controller and a second plurality of storage devices accessed via a second storage controller comprising said third I/O port.

29. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said storage controller is configured to receive first requests to transfer data with said plurality of storage devices from said server and to receive second requests to transfer data with said plurality of storage devices from a switch, wherein said switch comprises said third I/O port.

30. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said storage controller is configured to receive first requests to transfer data with said plurality of storage devices from said server and to receive second requests to transfer data with said plurality of storage devices from a router, wherein said router comprises said third I/O port.

31. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said storage controller is configured to receive first requests to transfer data with said plurality of storage devices from said server and to receive second requests to transfer data with said plurality of storage devices from a bridge, wherein said bridge comprises said third I/O port.

32. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said storage controller is configured to receive first requests to transfer data with said plurality of storage devices from said server and to receive second requests to transfer data with said plurality of storage devices from a hub, wherein said hub comprises said third I/O port.

33. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said server is configured to execute a data replication application for reading data stored on said plurality of storage devices and replicating said data on a second plurality of storage devices controlled by a second storage controller, wherein said second storage controller comprises said third I/O port.

34. The network storage appliance of claim 1, wherein said server is configured to execute a remote mirroring application for issuing requests to said storage controller to write data to said plurality of storage devices, and for issuing requests to a router to write a copy of said data to a remote storage location via said router, wherein said router comprises said third I/O port.

35. The network storage appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

a second port combiner, enclosed in said chassis, for providing high-speed data communication between at least fourth, fifth, and sixth I/O ports;

a second storage controller, enclosed in said chassis, for controlling said plurality of storage devices, comprising said fourth I/O port;

wherein said server comprises said fifth I/O port; and

a second I/O connector, affixed on the storage appliance, for networking said sixth I/O port to said second port combiner, wherein said sixth I/O port is external to said chassis and not comprised in the storage appliance.

36. The network storage appliance of claim 35, wherein a field replaceable unit (FRU) comprises said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth I/O ports, said first and second I/O connectors, and said first and second port combiners.

37. The network storage appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

a second port combiner, enclosed in said chassis, for providing high-speed data communication between at least fourth, fifth, and sixth I/O ports;

wherein said storage controller comprises said fourth I/O port;

a second server, enclosed in said chassis, comprising said fifth I/O port; and

a second I/O connector, affixed on the storage appliance, for networking said sixth I/O port to said second port combiner, wherein said sixth I/O port is external to said chassis and not comprised in the storage appliance.

48. The blade area network of claim 1, wherein said blade module is hot-replaceable in said chassis.

38. A method for transferring data in a computer network, the method comprising:

transferring first data from a first I/O port of a server enclosed in a chassis through a port combiner enclosed in the chassis to a second I/O port of a first storage controller enclosed in the chassis;

transferring second data from the first I/O port of the server through the port combiner to a third I/O port of a second storage controller enclosed in the chassis; and

transferring third data from the first I/O port of the server through the port combiner and through a connector accessible external to the chassis to a fourth I/O port of a device external to the chassis.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said transferring the first, second, and third data comprises transferring first, second, and third FibreChannel protocol packets.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein said transferring the first, second, and third data through the port combiner comprises transferring the first, second, and third data through a series of FibreChannel loop resiliency circuits.

41. A blade area network, comprising:

a blade module, for plugging into a backplane of a chassis;

first, second, and third I/O interface controllers, affixed on said blade module, each comprising at least one I/O port, said first and second I/O interface controllers comprised in first and second respective storage controllers, and said third I/O interface controller comprised in a server;

an I/O link, etched in said blade module, coupled to an I/O connector, said I/O connector configured to receive an I/O cable for coupling said I/O link to an I/O port of a device external to said chassis; and

a port combiner, affixed on said blade module, coupled to said first, second, and third I/O interface controller ports and to said I/O link, for providing a path for transferring data between said external device, said server, and said first and second storage controllers.

42. The blade area network of claim 41, wherein said port combiner is configured to provide a path for transferring data between said server and said first and second storage controllers even when no I/O cable is plugged into said I/O connector.

43. The blade area network of claim 41, wherein said server is wholly comprised in said blade module.

44. The blade area network of claim 41, wherein said first and second storage controllers are partly comprised in said blade module and are partly comprised in other blade modules for plugging into said chassis backplane.

45. The blade area network of claim 41, wherein said I/O ports comprise FibreChannel ports.

46. The blade area network of claim 41, wherein said I/O ports comprise Ethernet ports.

47. The blade area network of claim 41, wherein said I/O ports comprise Infiniband ports.

49. A computer network, comprising:

a first server, enclosed in a first chassis, for issuing first requests for first data stored on a plurality of storage devices; and

a network storage appliance, enclosed in a second chassis, comprising;

a second server, for issuing second requests for second data stored on said plurality of storage devices;

a storage controller, coupled to said plurality of storage devices, for receiving said first and second requests, and for controlling said plurality of storage devices in response thereto; and

a port combiner, configured to enable transfers of said first data between an I/O port of said first server and an I/O port of said storage controller and to enable transfers of said second data between an I/O port of said second server and said I/O port of said storage controller.

50. The computer network of claim 49, wherein said second server is configured to issue said second requests for backing up said second data stored on said plurality of storage devices to a backup device networked to said storage appliance.

51. The computer network of claim 50, wherein said second server is configured to backup said second data onto said backup device comprising a tape device.

52. The computer network of claim 50, wherein said second server is configured to backup said second data onto said backup device comprising a remote server.

53. The computer network of claim 50, wherein said second server is configured to execute a data backup software application for issuing said second requests.

54. A computer network, comprising:

a first storage controller, enclosed in a first chassis, for controlling a first plurality of storage devices; and

a network storage appliance, enclosed in a second chassis, comprising;

a second storage controller, for controlling a second plurality of storage devices;

at least one server, for issuing requests to said first and second storage controller for data stored on said first and second plurality of storage devices, respectively; and

a port combiner, configured to enable transfers of said data between an I/O port of said server and an I/O port of said first storage controller and between said I/O port of said server and an I/O port of said second storage controller.

55. The computer network of claim 54, wherein said server is configured to execute a storage virtualization software application for virtualizing storage of said first and second plurality of storage devices presented by said first and second storage controllers, respectively, for presentation to computers networked to said server.

56. A method for transferring data in a computer network, the method comprising:

transferring first data between a first I/O port of a server enclosed in a chassis and a second I/O port of a storage controller enclosed in the chassis through a port combiner enclosed in the chassis; and

transferring second data between a third I/O port of a device external to the chassis and the second I/O port of the storage controller through a connector accessible external to the chassis and through the port combiner.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

plugging a single blade module into a backplane enclosed in the chassis, prior to said transferring data from the first and third I/O ports, wherein the single blade module comprises the port combiner, the server, the connector, and a portion of the storage controller.

58. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

executing software on the server for issuing requests from the server first I/O port through the port combiner to the storage controller second I/O port, wherein the requests are to transfer data between the server and storage devices controlled by the storage controller.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein said transferring the first and second data is in response to said issuing the requests.

60. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

executing software on the server for backing up third data to the external device, wherein said third data is stored on storage devices controlled by the storage controller.

61. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

executing software on the server for presenting virtualized first and second storage devices for access by a plurality of computer systems networked to the server, wherein the storage controller controls the first storage devices, wherein the external device comprises a second storage controller for controlling the second storage devices.