Data storage system with improved network interface
First Claim
1. A network interface card for a data storage system having a backplane and processing circuitry for performing block-based data access operations, the processing circuitry of the data storage system being physically connected to the backplane of the data storage system, the network interface card comprising:
- a first port that is capable of coupling to an external network;
a second port that is capable of physically connecting to the backplane of the data storage system; and
control circuitry interconnected between the first port and the second port, the control circuitry being configured to, when the first port couples to the external network and the second port physically connects to the backplane of the data storage system;
(i) receive file-based communications from the external network through the first port and provide block-based communications to the processing circuitry of the data storage system through the second port and the backplane in response to the file-based communications,(ii) receive block-based communications from the processing circuitry through the second port and the backplane and provide file-based communications to the external network through the first port in response to the block-based communications, and(iii) provide application server resources to operate as an application server that runs application-level programs;
wherein the second port includes;
(i) a set of data pathway conductors that forms, between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry, a portion of a data pathway to carry data for storage within the data storage system, and(ii) a set of message pathway conductors that forms, between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry, a portion of a message pathway to carry messages for controlling storage of the data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data storage system has a backplane, processing circuitry and a NIC. The processing circuitry is physically connected to the backplane, and can perform block-based data access operations. The NIC has a first port that that couples to an external network, a second port that physically connects to the backplane, and control circuitry interconnected between the first port and the second port. The control circuitry can (i) receive file-based communications from the external network through the first port and provide block-based communications to the processing circuitry through the second port and the backplane in response to the file-based communications, (ii) receive block-based communications from the processing circuitry through the second port and the backplane and provide file-based communications to the external network through the first port in response to the block-based communications, and (iii) provide application server resources to operate as an application server that runs application-level programs.
30 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A network interface card for a data storage system having a backplane and processing circuitry for performing block-based data access operations, the processing circuitry of the data storage system being physically connected to the backplane of the data storage system, the network interface card comprising:
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a first port that is capable of coupling to an external network; a second port that is capable of physically connecting to the backplane of the data storage system; and control circuitry interconnected between the first port and the second port, the control circuitry being configured to, when the first port couples to the external network and the second port physically connects to the backplane of the data storage system; (i) receive file-based communications from the external network through the first port and provide block-based communications to the processing circuitry of the data storage system through the second port and the backplane in response to the file-based communications, (ii) receive block-based communications from the processing circuitry through the second port and the backplane and provide file-based communications to the external network through the first port in response to the block-based communications, and (iii) provide application server resources to operate as an application server that runs application-level programs; wherein the second port includes; (i) a set of data pathway conductors that forms, between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry, a portion of a data pathway to carry data for storage within the data storage system, and (ii) a set of message pathway conductors that forms, between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry, a portion of a message pathway to carry messages for controlling storage of the data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A network interface card for a data storage system having a backplane and processing circuitry for performing block-based data access operations, the processing circuitry of the data storage system being physically connected to the backplane of the data storage system, the network interface card comprising:
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a first port that is capable of coupling to an external network; a second port that is capable of physically connecting to the backplane of the data storage system; and control circuitry interconnected between the first port and the second port, the control circuitry being configured to, when the first port couples to the external network and the second port physically connects to the backplane of the data storage system; (i) receive file-based communications from the external network through the first port and provide block-based communications to the processing circuitry of the data storage system through the second port and the backplane in response to the file-based communications, (ii) receive block-based communications from the processing circuitry through the second port and the backplane and provide file-based communications to the external network through the first port in response to the block-based communications, and (iii) provide application server resources to operate as an application server that runs application-level programs; wherein the control circuitry includes a section of circuit board material and a processor which is physically mounted to the section of circuit board material, the processor being configured to move data between the first and second ports; and
wherein the second port includes a backplane connector which is physically mounted to the section of circuit board material, the backplane connector being capable of mating with the backplane of the data storage system.- View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. In a data storage system having a backplane and processing circuitry for performing block-based data access operations, a method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a first port of a network interface card to an external network; physically connecting a second port of the network interface card to the backplane of the data storage system; and configuring control circuitry of the network interface card to; (i) receive file-based communications from the external network through the first port and provide block-based communications to the processing circuitry of the data storage system through the second port and the backplane in response to the file-based communications, (ii) receive block-based communications from the processing circuitry through the second port and the backplane and provide file-based communications to the external network through the first port in response to the block-based communications, and (iii) provide application server resources to operate as an application server that runs application-level programs; wherein the second port includes (i) a set of data pathway conductors that forms, between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry, a portion of a data pathway to carry data between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry, and (ii) a set of message pathway conductors that forms, between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry, a portion of a message pathway to carry messages between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of; exchanging, between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry and through the portion of the data pathway, data for storage within the data storage system, and exchanging, between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry and through the portion of the message pathway, messages for controlling storage of the data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a data storage system having a backplane and processing circuitry for performing block-based data access operations, a method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a first port of a network interface card to an external network; physically connecting a second port of the network interface card to the backplane of the data storage system; and configuring control circuitry of the network interface card to; (i) receive file-based communications from the external network through the first port and provide block-based communications to the processing circuitry of the data storage system through the second port and the backplane in response to the file-based communications, (ii) receive block-based communications from the processing circuitry through the second port and the backplane and provide file-based communications to the external network through the first port in response to the block-based communications, and (iii) provide application server resources to operate as an application server that runs application-level programs; wherein the control circuitry includes a section of circuit board material and a processor which is physically mounted to the section of circuit board material, the processor being configured to move data between the first and second ports;
wherein the second port includes a backplane connector which is physically mounted to the section of circuit board material; and
wherein the step of physically connecting the second port includes the step of mating the backplane connector with the backplane of the data storage system.- View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A data storage system, comprising:
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a backplane; processing circuitry that is physically connected to the backplane, the processing circuitry being configured to perform block-based data access operations; and a network interface card having a first port that is capable of coupling to an external network, a second port that is physically connected to the backplane, and control circuitry interconnected between the first port and the second port, the control circuitry being configured to; (i) receive file-based communications from the external network through the first port and provide block-based communications to the processing circuitry through the second port and the backplane in response to the file-based communications, (ii) receive block-based communications from the processing circuitry through the second port and the backplane and provide file-based communications to the external network through the first port in response to the block-based communications, and (iii) provide application server resources to operate as an application server that runs application-level programs, wherein the second port of the network interface card includes; (i) a set of data pathway conductors that forms, between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry, a portion of a data pathway to carry data for storage within the data storage system, and (ii) a set of message pathway conductors that forms, between the control circuitry and the processing circuitry, a portion of a message pathway to carry messages for controlling storage of the data. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification