MEMORY TO STORAGE COMMUNICATION FOR HYBRID SYSTEMS

• US 20090150556A1
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Moon J., Moulic, James R., Krishnamurthy, Rajaram B.
• Application Number:
  US11/951,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150556A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0638 Organizing or formatting or addressing of data
• 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 67/1097 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]

Abstract

Under the present invention, a hybrid system having multiple computing devices and storage devices is provided. The “multiple computing devices” typically include at least one server and at least one processor, both of which include local memory. Thus, the hybrid system will typically have at least two different types of computing devices. The “multiple storage devices” are typically implemented within a storage area network, and include at least one staging storage device and at least one processed data storage device. These devices will be utilized to store incoming data streams in the event that either computing device lacks sufficient space and/or sufficient credits for transmission to another computing device.

Claims

1. A hybrid system for enabling memory to storage communication, comprising:

a first computing device having local memory;

a second computing device having local memory, the first computing device and the second computing device being configured to send and receive data streams and control signals;

a first storage device for receiving a data stream from the first computing device based on a per stream limit and a total storage capacity of the first computing device, and a per stream limit and a total storage capacity of the first storage device; and

a second storage device for receiving a data stream from the second computing device based on a per stream limit and a total storage capacity of the second computing device, and a per stream limit and a total storage capacity of the second storage device.

2. The hybrid system of claim 1, the hybrid system comprising a storage area network.

3. The hybrid system of claim 1, the first computing device comprising a server.

4. The hybrid system of claim 1, the second computing device comprising a processor.

5. The hybrid system of claim 1, the first storage device being a staging storage device.

6. The hybrid system of claim 1, the second storage device being a processed data storage device.

7. The hybrid system of claim 1, communications between the first computing device and the second computing device occurring via a unified communications signal.

8. The hybrid system of claim 1, communications between the first computing device and the second computing device occurring via a multiple separate communications signals.

9. A method for memory to storage communication for hybrid systems, comprising:

receiving a data stream on a first computing device of a hybrid system;

attempting to store the data stream on the first computing device up to a per stream limit and a total storage limit of the first computing device;

determining whether to store at least a portion of the data stream on a first storage device of the hybrid system that is in communication with the first computing device, the determining being based on the per stream limit and the total storage limit of the first computing device as well as a per stream limit and a total storage limit of the first storage device;

communicating the at least a portion of the data stream and a control signal to the first storage device to cause storage of the at least a portion on the second computing device; and

communicating a control signal from the first computing device to a second computing device of the hybrid system, the control signal alerting the second computing device that the at last a portion of the data stream is stored on the first storage device.

10. The method of claim 9, the determining further based on an availability of sufficient flow-control credits for transmitting the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

having the sufficient flow-control credits for transmitting the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device;

reading the at least a portion of the data stream from the first storage device; and

communicating the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising

having the sufficient flow-control credits for transmitting the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device;

communicating a location of blocks in the first storage device that contain the at least a portion of the data stream to the second computing device; and

the second computing device reading the at least a portion of the data stream directly from the blocks.

18. The method of claim 9, the computer infrastructure being further operable to:

determine whether to store at least a portion of the data stream on the first storage device further based on an availability of sufficient credits for transmitting the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device.

19. The method of claim 9, the computer infrastructure being further operable to:

determine when sufficient credits for transmitting the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device;

read the at least a portion of the data stream from the first storage device; and

communicate the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device.

20. The method of claim 9, the computer infrastructure being further operable to:

determine when sufficient credits for transmitting the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device;

communicate a location of blocks in the first storage device that contain the at least a portion of the data stream to the second computing device; and

read the at least a portion of the data stream directly from the blocks.

13. A program product stored on a computer readable medium for memory to storage communication for hybrid systems, the computer readable medium comprising program code for causing a computer system to:

receive a data stream on a first computing device of a hybrid system;

attempt to store the data stream on the first computing device up to a per stream limit and a total storage limit of the first computing device;

determine whether to store at least a portion of the data stream on a first storage device of the hybrid system that is in communication with the first computing device, the determining being based on the per stream limit and the total storage limit of the first computing device as well as a per stream limit and a total storage limit of the first storage device;

communicate the at least a portion of the data stream and a control signal to the first storage device to cause storage of the at least a portion on the second computing device; and

communicate a control signal from the first computing device to a second computing device of the hybrid system, the control signal alerting the second computing device that the at last a portion of the data stream is stored on the first storage device.

14. The program product of claim 13, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer system to determine whether to store at least a portion of the data stream on there first storage device further based on an availability of sufficient credits for transmitting the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device.

15. The program product of claim 14, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer system to:

determine when sufficient credits for transmitting the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device exist;

read the at least a portion of the data stream from the first storage device when the sufficient credits exits; and

communicate the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device.

16. The program product of claim 14, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer system to:

determine when sufficient credits for transmitting the data stream from the first computing device to the second computing device exist;

communicate a location of blocks in the first storage device that contain the at least a portion of the data stream to the second computing device; and

read the at least a portion of the data stream directly from the blocks.

17. A method for deploying a system for memory to storage communication for hybrid systems, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

receive a data stream on a first computing device of a hybrid system;

attempt to store the data stream on the first computing device up to a per stream limit and a total storage limit of the first computing device;

determine whether to store at least a portion of the data stream on a first storage device of the hybrid system that is in communication with the first computing device, the determining being based on the per stream limit and the total storage limit of the first computing device as well as a per stream limit and a total storage limit of the first storage device;

communicate the at least a portion of the data stream and a control signal to the first storage device to cause storage of the at least a portion on the second computing device; and

communicate a control signal from the first computing device to a second computing device of the hybrid system, the control signal alerting the second computing device that the at last a portion of the data stream is stored on the first storage device.