Switch-based scalable performance computer memory architecture

• US 6,721,317 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Chong, Fay Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peikari, B. James
• Application Number:
  US10/039,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351-355, 370/360-365, 370/367, 370/363, 370/364, 370/389, 370/392, 370/398, 370/395-1-3, 370/412-415, 710/1, 710/30, 710/31, 710/36, 710/38-316
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1076 Parity data used in redundant arrays of independent storages, e.g. in RAID systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/1054 Parity-fast hardware, i.e. dedicated fast hardware for RAID systems with parity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

Several embodiments of a computer system are described which achieve separation of control and data paths during data transfer operations, thus allowing independent scalability of storage system performance factors (e.g., storage system iops and data transfer rate). In one embodiment, the computer system includes a data switch coupled between a host computer and one or more storage devices. A storage controller for managing the storage of data within the one or more storage devices is coupled to the switch. The switch includes a memory for storing data routing information generated by the controller, and uses the data routing information to route data directly between the host computer and the one or more storage devices such that the data does not pass through the storage controller. Within the computer system, information may be conveyed between the host computer, the switch, the one or more storage devices, and the storage controller according to a two party protocol such as the Fibre Channel protocol. The computer system achieves separation of control and data paths using a modified switch and standard host adapter hardware and host driver software. In addition, a two party protocol such as the Fibre Channel protocol is not violated.

Claims

1. A data switch, comprising;

a memory unit for storing frame header substitution information, wherein the frame header substitution information comprises a substitute destination address;

a plurality of ports, wherein each of the plurality of ports is adapted for coupling to a transmission medium;

an array of switching elements for selectively coupling the plurality of ports to one another;

a switch matrix control unit coupled to receive routing information from the plurality of ports and configured to control the array of switching elements dependent upon the routing information;

wherein the data switch is configured to receive frame header substitution information on one of the plurality of ports and to store the frame header substitution information within the memory unit; and

wherein the data switch is further configured to;

(i) receive a data frame on a port other than the port on which the frame header substitution information was received, wherein the data frame comprises header information including a destination address, (ii) replace the header information of the data frame with the substitute header information stored within the memory unit such that the substitute destination address becomes a new destination address, and (iii) provide the new destination address to the switch matrix control unit as the routing information.

2. The data switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory unit is distributed among the plurality of ports such that a given port comprises a portion of the memory unit for storing frame header substitution information associated with the port.

3. The data switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame header substitution information includes target header information and corresponding substitute header information.

4. The data switch as recited in claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of ports further comprises a port control unit configured to control the port and an input queue for storing received information, wherein the port control unit is coupled to the memory unit and to the input queue, and wherein when the data frame is received:

(i) the data frame is stored within the input queue, (ii) the port control unit compares the header information of the data frame to the target header information stored within the memory unit, and (iii) the port control unit replaces the header information of the data frame with the substitute header information corresponding to the target header information if the header information of the data frame matches the target header information.

5. The data switch as recited in claim 4, wherein after the port control unit replaces the header information of the data frame with the substitute header information, the port control unit calculates a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value for the data frame and inserts the CRC value into the data frame.

6. A method for routing a data frame, comprising:

in response to a data request, forming an entry in a table of target header information and corresponding substitute header information, wherein the substitute header information comprises a substitute destination address;

comparing header information of the data frame to the target header information, wherein the data frame is responsive to the data request;

replacing the header information of the data frame with the substitute header information corresponding to the target header information if the header information of the data frame matches the target header information; and

routing the data frame according to the substitute destination address of the substitute header information.