Scalable I/O system for the efficient transfer of storage device data by a non-server reconnection

• US 6,567,853 B2
• Filed: 12/08/1997
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shomler, Robert Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C.
• Application Number:
  US08/986,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20020062383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/212, 709/216, 709/217, 709/219, 709/229, 709/227, 709/228, 709/239, 709/202, 709/218, 709/225, 710/62, 710/63, 710/64, 713/201, 713/161, 713/172, 713/160, 713/185, 713/200, 713/156, 713/157, 707/10, 707/1, 707/9
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method and system for a scalable I/O system are presented. The scalable I/O system includes a server, at least one client, and at least one storage device. The server interfaces with the at least one client and at least one storage device. The at least one storage device and at least one client also interface for data transfer. The server initiates data transfer from the storage device on behalf of an open client. The server further sets up a disconnect state in the at least one storage device to be reconnected for transfer to a non-server interface. The server further passes information to the open client that is requesting data transfer, which allows the open client to determine dimensions of data transfer, number of storage devices that require accessing for the data transfer, and the relationship of the data transfer of each storage device to the original data request sent to the server.

Claims

1. A method for achieving a scalable I/O system, the method comprising:

(a) forming a request for data transfer by a client to a server;

(b) initiating a connection from the server to at least one storage device, the at least one storage device being separate from the server, the connection being via a server interface in the at least one storage device;

(c) establishing via the server an ability to respond to the client via a non-server interface in the at least one storage device, the non-server interface being directly between the client and the storage device; and

(d) performing data transfer with the storage device to the client via the non-server interface;

wherein the at least one storage device is a long-term storage device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises intercepting the request in a server communication driver of the client;

forwarding the request from the server communication driver to the server; and

tagging the request with a unique token.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises validating the request by the server;

identifying storage devices needed for data transfer; and

establishing an event task for the request.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein step (b) further comprises sending a command message to each of the identified storage devices and providing an indicator of reconnection for data transfer to a non-server interface.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein step (c) further comprises acknowledging the request in each of the identified storage devices;

providing a storage device command identifier; and

processing the request in the identified storage devices up to a point of reconnection for data transfer.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing a message from the server to the server communication driver, wherein the message references the unique token, the identified storage devices, and a plurality of indicators.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of indicators comprise:

an interface address of each identified storage device;

the storage device command identifier;

a server identification token and a server sequence number;

a server identity as server is known to identified storage devices;

a data template; and

data transfer parameters.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein step (d) further comprises preparing the client for data transfer through the server communication driver;

and

sending a reconnection command to the identified storage devices.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the reconnection command includes the storage device command identifier.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising validating in the identified storage devices a pending command for data transfer and the reconnection command, and reconnecting to the client for data transfer.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a status of completion for the reconnect command in the client when the data transfer is done and marking the storage device command identifier completed in the storage device.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising sending an operation complete message to the server by the server communication driver when all storage device transfer completed.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the operation complete message references the unique token, server identification token, and server sequence number.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising closing the event task by the server and removing validation of an event identifier in the server.

15. A scalable input/output system comprising:

at least one storage device for storing data;

at least one client system connected to the at least one storage device for data transfer; and

a server, the server being separate from the at least one storage device, the server interfacing with the at least one storage device for setting up data transfer with the at least one client system, and interfacing with the at least one client system for modifying the client to the server communication to allow data to be returned from the at least one storage device to the at least one client system via a non-server interface in the at least one storage device, the non-server interface being directly between the client and the at least one storage device;

wherein the at least one storage device is a long-term storage device; and

wherein the non-server interface in the at least one storage device is established via the server.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the server further interfaces with the at least one storage device for data transfer loading and backup saving of data in the at least one storage device.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the server further establishes an event task on behalf of the at least one client system.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the server utilizes a command message of a chosen protocol extended in content with a reconnection command indicator when interfacing with the at least one storage device.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one storage device constructs a reconnection token to identify the command message.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein a client system requesting data transfer utilizes a reconnect command for connecting with the at least one storage device.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the reconnection command includes the reconnection token.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the at least one storage device marks the reconnection token complete when the data transfer is ended.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein a completed reconnection token is invalid for subsequent reconnection commands.

24. A method for achieving data transfer in a scalable input/output system, the method comprising the steps of:

interfacing one or more client system with a server;

interfacing the client system with one or more storage devices; and

interfacing the server with the storage devices, the storage devices being separate from the server, the server initiating data transfer from the storage devices by establishing via the server an ability to respond to the client system via a non-server interface in the storage devices, the non-server interface being directly between the client and the storage device;

wherein the at least one storage device is a long-term storage device.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein interfacing the server with the storage devices further comprises setting up a disconnect state in the storage devices for reconnection and data transfer on a non-server interface.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein interfacing the one or more client systems with a server further comprises passing information to the client system to allow the client system to determine dimensions of data transfer.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein passing information further comprises identifying a number of storage devices requiring access for the data transfer, and providing a relationship of the data transfer from each storage device to the data request from the client system to the server.