Apparatus and method for providing direct local access to file level data in client disk images within storage area networks

• US 6,606,651 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2000
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DataCore Software Corporation (Flagship Ventures 2004 Fund LLC)
• Original Assignee: DataCore Software Corporation (Flagship Ventures 2004 Fund LLC)
• Inventors: Linde, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/565,171
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/212, 709/213, 709/214, 709/215, 709/216, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/216
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0643 Management of files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices

Abstract

A volume insight architecture in which software processes internal to the server system issue read/right commands against client data stored on a disk device local to the server independent of client control. A volume insight driver interments the physical location of client data on the server disk and dynamically adjusts the data addresses from the software processes such that they coincide with the actual address of the client data on the server disk. The software processes and the address translation process are invisible to the client. The server treats the locally stored client file system as a local server file system. Processes which can be run against the local file system image on the server cannot distinguish between a true locally mounted file system image and the locally presented file system image presented by the volume insight architecture. Maintenance functions, such as backup, virus detection, etc., are locally performed. This reduces the overhead burden on the client systems.

Claims

1. An apparatus for independent access by a server of client data stored on the server in a computer network, comprising:

a storage device, attached to server, at least portion of the storage device used to store client data;

a server, further comprising;

means to interpret disk format data on the storage device to determine the location of client data, client disk images, and client partitions stored on the storage device;

software processes, in the server, the software processes for their having software to alter or manipulate client data independent of client control; and

a volume insight driver to dynamically convert data addresses from the software processes to coincide with the location of the client data the server storage device;

whereby the software processes in the server alter, manipulate or read client data on the storage device on the server independent of client control.

2. An apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein:

the volume insight driver includes means to determine the location of the client partitions by first determining the offset to the client disk image from a start of the disk, then stepping through the data in the client disk image to determine the lengths of each partition, and then determining the actual location of the partitions;

the volume insight driver having means to receive data address information of the software processes, and further having means to adjust the addresses received from the software processes to match the actual location of client data in the partition.

3. An apparatus, as a claim 2, wherein the software processes automatically access data on client partitions on the server storage device and execute a routine maintenance procedure against the client data.

4. An apparatus, as a claim 3, wherein the software processes automatically scan client data on the server storage device for viruses.

5. An apparatus, as in claim 3, wherein the software processes automatically backup client data on the server storage device.

6. An apparatus, as in claim 3, wherein the software processes automatically defragment the client data on the server storage device.

7. An apparatus, as in claim 3, further comprising:

the volume insight driver determines the location of individual client partitions by scanning data in the client disk to detect the disk format information and by using partition length information in the disk format information to calculate the offset of the boundaries of the client disk image from the beginning of the server disk.

8. An apparatus, as in claim 7, further comprising:

the volume insight driver calculates the actual location of disk data from the offset to the disk data received by a software process and added to the offset of the location of the individual client partition.

9. An apparatus, as in claim 8, wherein the software process accesses client data at the actual location of the disk data by inputting data to the volume insight driver with a non-offset address and then having the non-offset address modified by the volume insight driver to reflect the actual location of the client data.

10. An apparatus, as in claim 9, wherein the volume insight driver dynamically calculates the offset to client data when the software process issues a command to access data with the non-offset address.

11. A method of independently accessing client data stored on the server in a computer network by the software process within the server, including the steps of:

storing client data on a storage device attached to the server;

executing a software process in the server which accesses client data on the storage device;

using a volume insight driver in the server to intercept data address information output by the software process;

interpreting disk format data on the storage device to determine the location of client data, client disk images, and client partitions stored on the storage device;

converting data addresses from the software processes to coincide with the location of the client data the server storage device; and

altering, manipulating or reading client data accessed with the inverted data addresses under control of the software processes;

whereby the software processes in the server alter, manipulate or read client data on the storage device on the server independent of client control.

12. A method, as in claim 11, including the additional steps of:

determining the location of the client partitions by first determining the offset to the client disk image from a start of the disk, then searching the data in the client disk image to determine the lengths of each partition, and then determining the actual location of the partitions;

inputting data address information from the software processes to the volume insight driver;

adjusting the addresses received from the software processes to match the actual location of client data in the server disk.

13. A method, as a claim 12, the additional step of automatically accessing data on client partitions on the server storage device and executing a routine maintenance procedure against the client data.

14. A method, as a claim 13, including the additional step of automatically scanning client data on the server storage device, under control of the software process, for viruses.

15. A method, as in claim 13, including the additional step of automatically backing up client data on the server storage device under control the software process.

16. A method, as in claim 13, including the additional step of automatically defragmenting the client data on the server storage device under control of the software process.

17. A method, as in claim 13, including the additional steps of:

using partition length information from the disk format information to calculate the offset of the boundaries of the client disk image from the beginning of the server disk; and

determining, under control of the volume insight driver, the location of individual client partitions by scanning data in the client disk to detect the disk format information.

18. A method, as in claim 17, including the additional steps of:

calculating the actual location of disk data from the offset to the disk data received by the software process and adding it to the offset of the location of the individual client partition.

19. A method, as in claim 18, including the additional step of accessing, by the software process, of client data at the actual location of the disk data by inputting data to the volume insight driver with a non-offset address and then modifying the non-offset address by the volume insight driver to reflect the actual location of the client data.

20. A method, as in claim 19, including the additional step of using the volume insight driver to dynamically calculate the offset to client data when the software process issues a command to access data with the non-offset address.