Distributed, scalable data storage facility with cache memory
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A data storage facility for operation with a plurality of data processors each of which can issue a host request to initiate a data transfer with the data storage facility, said data storage facility comprising:
- A) a plurality of uniquely addressed data storage locations and controls for transferring data to and from the addressed locations, B) a plurality of processor-controlled data handling nodes responsive to a host request for identifying a specific data storage location, said processor-controlled data handling nodes including cache memory storage at cache memory locations for the data identified in the host request, C) processor-controlled cache tag controller nodes for maintaining cache tags that identify a specific cache location for each addressed data storage location in response to the processing of a data transfer request in said data handling nodes, D) a first multi-path connection interconnecting said data handling nodes and said cache tag controller nodes, and E) a second multi-path connection interconnecting said plurality of data storage locations and said cache memory locations.
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Abstract
The data storage facility includes a plurality of data storage devices coupled through multi-path connections to cache memory. A plurality of interfaces to host processors communicates with the cache memory and with cache tag controllers that define the cache memory again over multiple paths.
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Citations
80 Claims
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1. A data storage facility for operation with a plurality of data processors each of which can issue a host request to initiate a data transfer with the data storage facility, said data storage facility comprising:
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A) a plurality of uniquely addressed data storage locations and controls for transferring data to and from the addressed locations, B) a plurality of processor-controlled data handling nodes responsive to a host request for identifying a specific data storage location, said processor-controlled data handling nodes including cache memory storage at cache memory locations for the data identified in the host request, C) processor-controlled cache tag controller nodes for maintaining cache tags that identify a specific cache location for each addressed data storage location in response to the processing of a data transfer request in said data handling nodes, D) a first multi-path connection interconnecting said data handling nodes and said cache tag controller nodes, and E) a second multi-path connection interconnecting said plurality of data storage locations and said cache memory locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A data storage facility for operation with at least one data processor that issues host requests, said data storage facility comprising:
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A) a plurality of data storage devices with a plurality of persistent data storage locations, B) at least one of a first group of processor-controlled I/O nodes adapted for connection to at least one data processor, each said I/O node including means for converting an address in a host request to an address for a specific data storage location in the plurality of data storage devices, C) a plurality of a second group of processor-controlled cache nodes, each said cache node including a memory adapted to operate as an independent cache memory for transferring data with storage locations in the plurality of data storage devices, D) at least first and second processor-controlled cache tag controller nodes, said cache tag controller nodes being connected for parallel operation and each said cache tag controller node converting each address from said I/O nodes into a location that defines a cache tag entry location in the cache tag controller node and a corresponding location in the cache nodes, E) a first multi-path connection interconnecting said I/O, cache and cache tag controller nodes, and F) a second multi-path connection interconnecting said plurality of said data storage devices and said cache nodes whereby said data storage facility provides parallel paths for each data transfer in response to a data request. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for transferring data in response to a host request with a data storage facility with a first plurality of persistent data storage locations having addresses in a first common address space, said method comprising:
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A) establishing a second plurality of cache memory locations in another address space, each of which can store data, B) establishing cache tag locations for each of the second plurality of cache memory locations, each cache tag location entry adapted to store a cache tag entry with status information about a corresponding cache memory location, C) responding to each host request by;
i) converting an address in the data transfer request into an address in the first common address space, ii) converting the address for the first common address space into an address for a cache tag entry location, iii) testing the cache tag in the cache tag location to determine the presence of a cache memory location that corresponds to the location in the host request, and iv) initiating a transfer of data with the corresponding cache memory location for predetermined values of the corresponding status information. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A data storage facility with a first plurality of persistent data storage locations having addresses in a first common address space for transferring data in response to host requests, said facility comprising:
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A) a second plurality of cache memory locations in another address space, each of which can store data, B) a cache tag location for each of the second plurality of cache memory locations, each cache tag location adapted to store a cache tag with status information about a corresponding cache memory location, C) a control including;
i) first conversion means for converting an address in the data transfer request into an address in the first common address space, ii) second conversion means for converting the address for the first common address space into an address for a cache tag entry location, iii) testing means for testing the cache tag in the cache tag location to determine the presence of a cache memory location that corresponds to the location in the host request, and iv) means for initiating a transfer of data with the corresponding cache memory location for predetermined values of the corresponding status information. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A data storage facility with a first plurality of persistent data storage locations in a plurality of magnetic disk drives having addresses in a first common address space and having control logic for transferring data in response to host requests, said facility comprising:
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A) a plurality of cache nodes comprising a second plurality of cache memory locations in another address space, each of said cache memory locations being adapted to store data, B) a plurality of cache tag controller nodes comprising redundant cache tag locations for each of the second plurality of cache memory locations, each cache tag location adapted to store a cache tag with status information about a corresponding cache memory location, and C) a control including;
i) a first address converter that converts an address in the data transfer request into an address in the first common address space, ii) a second address converter that converts the address for the first common address space into an address for a cache tag location, iii) a tester that determines the presence of a cache tag location that corresponds to the location in the host request, and iv) a transfer control that transfers data with the corresponding cache memory location for predetermined values of the corresponding status information. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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Specification