Virtually addressing storage devices through a switch
First Claim
1. A method of virtually addressing a plurality of storage devices through a switch, including the steps:
- establishing a file session between a client and the switch, wherein the switch appears as a virtual storage device;
selecting in the switch one of a plurality of storage devices coupled with the switch to participate in the file session; and
programming logic in the switch to forward packets in the file session to the selected storage device.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to transparent access to network attached storage devices, configured to any of several protocols, such as SCSI over IP, NAS or NASD. In particular, the present invention provides for using a switch to transparently aggregate storage devices. The switch appears as a virtual storage device. It responds to requests to initiate file sessions and selects one of a plurality of storage devices to participate in the file session. A file session can be handed off to a different storage device. Both the setup and handoff are transparent to the client and its TCP/IP client. The present invention may be practiced either as a method or device. It may provide a virtual storage device or it may aggregate storage devices already attached to a network.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method of virtually addressing a plurality of storage devices through a switch, including the steps:
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establishing a file session between a client and the switch, wherein the switch appears as a virtual storage device;
selecting in the switch one of a plurality of storage devices coupled with the switch to participate in the file session; and
programming logic in the switch to forward packets in the file session to the selected storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
determining in the selected storage device to redirect the file session to an other device;
handing off the file session to an other storage device; and
reprogramming the switch to forward packets in the file session to the other storage device.
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11. The method of claim 1, wherein handing off the file session and reprogramming the switch are transparent to the client.
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12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of storage devices coupled with the switch is an other switch configured to appear as a virtual storage device.
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13. A method of addressing a plurality of storage devices connected to a network as a single virtual storage device, including the steps:
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inserting a switch between the storage devices and the network, wherein the switch appears as a virtual storage device;
accepting in the switch a request to establish a file session between a client and the switch;
selecting in the switch one of a plurality of storage devices attached to the switch to participate in the file session; and
programming the switch to forward packets in the file session to the selected storage device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
determining in the selected storage device to redirect the file session to an other device;
handing off the file session to an other storage device; and
reprogramming the switch to forward packets in the file session to the other storage device.
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23. The method of claim 13, wherein handing off the file session and reprogramming the switch are transparent to the client.
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24. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of storage devices attached to the switch is an other switch configured to appear as a virtual storage device.
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25. A switch supporting virtual addressing a plurality of storage devices, including:
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a storage medium; and
a processor connected to the storage medium, the storage medium storing a program for controlling the processor; and
the processor operative with the program to establish a file session between a client and the switch, wherein the switch appears as a virtual storage device;
select one of a plurality of storage devices attached to the switch to participate in the file session and store an address corresponding to the selected storage device; and
forward packets in the file session to the selected storage device based on the stored address. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of fail-over from a first storage device involved in a file session to a second storage device, including the steps:
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predicting in a switch coupled to a first storage device that the failure of the first storage device will require a fail over;
selecting a second storage device to which to redirect the file session;
handing off the file session to the second storage device; and
reprogramming the switch to forward packets in the file session to the second storage device. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of fail-over from a first storage device involved in a file session to a second storage device, including the steps:
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determining in a switch coupled to a first storage device that the failure of the first storage device requires a fail over;
selecting a second storage device to which to redirect the file session;
handing off the file session to the second storage device; and
reprogramming the switch to forward packets in the file session to the second storage device. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of load balancing between a first device and an other device coupled to a switch, including the steps:
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determining in a first device coupled to a switch that the work load of the first device warrants a session transfer;
selecting an other device to which to transfer the session;
handing off the session to the other device; and
reprogramming the switch to forward packets in the session to the other device. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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52. A method of load balancing between a first switch involved in a file session to a second switch, the first and second switches being connected to a plurality of storage devices, including the steps:
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determining in a first switch coupled to a second switch that a file session involving the first switch should be handled by the second switch;
handing off the file session to the second switch; and
reprogramming the first switch to forward packets in the file session to the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification