Method and apparatus for implementing high-performance, scaleable data processing and storage systems
First Claim
1. A fault-tolerant computer system for providing scaleable data processing and storage services to a client from a plurality of storage resources, comprising a plurality of identical resource interface modules connected to the storage resources;
- a plurality of identical access interface modules which receive requests for service from the client and select a subset of the plurality of resource interface modules to provide the requested service and distribute the workload across the plurality of storage resources; and
a switch for temporarily connecting one of the plurality of access interface modules to the selected subset of the plurality of resource interface modules for providing the service to the client, the switch being constructed in two identical halves which are interconnected so that a failure in one switch half does not make the computer system inoperative.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data system architecture is described that allows multiple processing and storage resources to be connected to multiple clients so as 1) to distribute the clients'"'"' workload efficiently across the available resources; and 2) to enable scaleable expansion, both in terms of the number of clients and in the number of resources. The major features of the architecture are separate, modular, client and resource elements that can be added independently, a high-performance cross-bar data switch interconnecting these various elements, separate serial communication paths for controlling the cross-bar switch settings, separate communication paths for passing control information among the various elements and a resource utilization methodology that enables clients to distribute processing or storage tasks across all available resources, thereby eliminating “hot spots” resulting from uneven utilization of those resources.
40 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A fault-tolerant computer system for providing scaleable data processing and storage services to a client from a plurality of storage resources, comprising
a plurality of identical resource interface modules connected to the storage resources; -
a plurality of identical access interface modules which receive requests for service from the client and select a subset of the plurality of resource interface modules to provide the requested service and distribute the workload across the plurality of storage resources; and
a switch for temporarily connecting one of the plurality of access interface modules to the selected subset of the plurality of resource interface modules for providing the service to the client, the switch being constructed in two identical halves which are interconnected so that a failure in one switch half does not make the computer system inoperative. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for providing fault-tolerant scaleable data processing and storage services to a client from a plurality of storage resources, comprising
(a) providing a plurality of identical resource interface modules connected to the storage resources; -
(b) providing a plurality of identical access interface modules which receive requests for service from the client and select a subset of the plurality of resource interface modules to provide the requested service and distribute the workload across the plurality of storage resources; and
(c) using a switch for temporarily connecting one of the plurality of access interface modules to the selected subset of the plurality of resource interface modules for providing the service to the client, the switch being constructed in two identical halves which are interconnected so that a failure in one switch half does not make the computer system inoperative. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification