Apparatus, system, and method for isolating a storage application from a network interface driver

• US 20060041894A1
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Scales, William James, Haltore, Kiron, Ju, Jialin, Lindley, John Earle, Cheng, Tu-An
• Granted Patent: US 7,404,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/326
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are provided for isolating a storage application from a network interface driver. The apparatus includes a definition module, an application interface, a translation module, and a data buffer. The definition module defines a set of storage application functions. The translation module translates each storage application function to one or more network interface driver functions. The data buffer transfers data blocks between the storage application and the network interface driver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for isolating a storage application from a network interface driver, the apparatus comprising:

a definition module configured to define a set of storage application functions;

an application interface configured to utilize the storage application functions to exchange messages with the storage application;

a translation module configured to translate each of the storage application functions to one or more network interface driver functions; and

a data buffer module configured to transfer data blocks between the storage application and the network interface driver through a data buffer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the definition module is further configured to define a set of network interface driver functions and the translation module is further configured to translate each of the network interface driver functions to one or more storage application functions.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a driver interface configured to utilize the network interface driver functions to exchange messages with the network interface driver.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network interface driver comprises a Storage Area Network (SAN) interface driver.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driver interface exchanges messages with a plurality of network interface drivers.

6. A system for isolating a storage application from a network interface driver, the system comprising:

a processor module configured to execute machine code;

an Input/Output (I/O) module configured to couple the system to a network;

a memory module configured to store and retrieve data comprising

an isolation module including,

a definition module configured to define a set of storage application functions;

an application interface configured to utilize the storage application functions to exchange messages with the storage application;

a translation module configured to translate each of the storage application functions to one or more network interface driver functions;

a data buffer configured to transfer data blocks between the storage application and the network interface driver; and

a bus configured to enable communication between the memory module, processor module, and I/O module.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the definition module is further configured to define a set of network interface driver functions and the translation module is further configured to translate each of the network interface driver functions to one or more storage application functions.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the isolation module further comprises a driver interface configured to utilize the network interface driver functions to exchange messages with the network interface driver.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the network interface driver comprises a Storage Area Network (SAN) interface driver.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the driver interface exchanges messages with a plurality of network interface drivers.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the storage application may be replaced without impacting the network interface driver.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein the network interface driver may be replaced without impacting the storage application.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein the messages comprise SCSI commands.

14. The system of claim 6 wherein the data blocks comprise SCSI data blocks.

15. A method for isolating a storage application from a network interface driver, the method comprising:

defining a set of storage application functions;

utilizing the storage application functions to exchange messages between the storage application and an isolation layer;

translating each of the storage application functions to one or more network interface driver functions; and

transferring data blocks between the software application and the network interface driver through a data buffer.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

defining a set of network interface driver functions;

utilizing the network interface driver functions to exchange messages between the network interface driver and the isolation layer; and

translating each of the network interface driver functions to one or more storage application functions.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the network interface driver comprises a Storage Area Network (SAN) interface driver.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the storage application exchanges messages with a plurality of network interface drivers through the isolation layer.

19. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations to isolate a storage application from a network interface driver, the operations comprising:

an operation to define a set of storage application functions;

an operation to utilize the storage application functions to exchange messages between the storage application and an isolation layer;

an operation to translate each of the storage application functions to one or more network interface driver functions; and

an operation to transfer data blocks between the software application and the network interface driver through a data buffer.

20. The signal bearing medium of claim 19, further comprising:

an operation to define a set of network interface driver functions;

an operation to utilize the network interface driver functions to exchange messages between the network interface driver and the isolation layer; and

an operation to translate each of the network interface driver functions to one or more storage application functions.

21. The signal bearing medium of claim 19 wherein the network interface driver comprises a Storage Area Network (SAN) interface driver.

22. The signal bearing medium of claim 19 wherein the storage application exchanges messages with a plurality of network interface drivers through the isolation layer.

23. The signal bearing medium of claim 19 wherein the storage application may be replaced without impacting the network interface driver.

24. The signal bearing medium of claim 19 wherein the network interface driver may be replaced without impacting the storage application.

25. The signal bearing medium of claim 19 wherein the messages comprise SCSI commands.

26. The signal bearing medium of claim 19 wherein the data blocks comprise SCSI data blocks.

27. An apparatus for isolating a storage application from a network interface driver, the apparatus comprising:

a means for defining a set of storage application functions;

a means for utilizing the storage application functions to exchange messages between the storage application and an isolation layer;

a means for translating each of the storage application functions to one or more network interface driver functions; and

a means for transferring data blocks between the software application and the network interface driver through a data buffer.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

a means for defining a set of network interface driver functions;

a means for utilizing the network interface driver functions to exchange messages between the network interface driver and the isolation layer; and

a means for translating each of the network interface driver functions to one or more storage application functions.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the network interface driver comprises a Storage Area Network (SAN) interface driver.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the storage application exchanges messages with a plurality of network interface drivers through the isolation layer.