Computer system and method for transferring data between multiple peer-level storage units
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising:
- a first storage unit;
a storage area network coupled to the first storage unit;
a second storage unit;
an intelligent controller coupled to the storage area network and to the second storage unit, the intelligent controller controlling both the first storage unit and the second storage unit; and
a host coupled to the storage area network comprising an application module for generating and transmitting a command to the intelligent controller, where the intelligent controller, in response to the command, transfers data, under the autonomous control of the intelligent controller, between the first storage unit and the second storage unit through the storage area network while bypassing the host.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system and storage management method for routing data between peer-level storage units. The computer system includes a first storage unit (e.g., disk drive) and an intelligent controller connected to a storage area network. The intelligent controller is also connected to a second storage unit (e.g., tape drive). The computer system further includes a host (server and/or workstation) having an application module for generating and transmitting a command to the intelligent controller by way of the storage area network or a system network. In response to the transmitted command, the intelligent controller routes data between the first storage unit and the second storage unit using the storage area network while bypassing the host.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
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a first storage unit;
a storage area network coupled to the first storage unit;
a second storage unit;
an intelligent controller coupled to the storage area network and to the second storage unit, the intelligent controller controlling both the first storage unit and the second storage unit; and
a host coupled to the storage area network comprising an application module for generating and transmitting a command to the intelligent controller, where the intelligent controller, in response to the command, transfers data, under the autonomous control of the intelligent controller, between the first storage unit and the second storage unit through the storage area network while bypassing the host. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer system comprising:
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at least one disk drive;
a storage area network coupled to the at least one disk drive;
at least one tape drive;
an intelligent tape controller coupled to the storage area network and to the at least one tape drive, the intelligent tape controller controlling both the at least one disk drive and the at least one tape drive; and
a host comprising a backup-application module for generating and transmitting a command to the intelligent tape controller, where the intelligent tape controller, in response to the command, transfers data, under the autonomous control of the intelligent tape controller, between the at least one disk drive and the at least one tape drive through the storage area network while bypassing the host. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for moving data between a first storage unit and a second storage unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a host to an intelligent controller;
transmitting a command from the host to the intelligent controller, where the command contains location information on the data; and
transferring the data, under the autonomous control of the intelligent controller, in response to the transmitted command, between the first storage unit and the second storage unit through a storage area network and the intelligent controller while bypassing the host. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification