Applications for networked storage systems
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating operations related to data storage between a first device and at least one data storage unit in a computer network, comprising the steps of:
- duplicating selected metadata from the at least one data storage unit to the first device, wherein the selected metadata describes a location of data stored on the data storage unit;
causing generation of a storage services protocol transaction to access the data stored on the data storage unit and described by the selected metadata, wherein the generation is responsive to the selected metadata duplicated to the first device;
encapsulating the storage services protocol transaction into a payload portion of at least one network protocol data unit;
processing the at least one network protocol data unit based on a storage services protocol set to facilitate transmission of the at least one network protocol data unit to the at least one data storage unit, wherein the processing is performed at a switch located in the computer network;
extracting the storage services protocol transaction from the at least one network protocol data unit; and
operating upon the storage services protocol transaction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
At least one network device that moves storage blocks based upon a session layer or higher protocol set is employed to facilitate communication between at least one host and at least one target storage device. The at least one network device may include a server and a switch. Transactions related to data storage access are expressed in a non-network protocol and transmitted via a network protocol data unit across at least a portion of the network by employing encapsulation. An adapter card associated with the data storage unit is employed to extract the non-network protocol transaction. Multiple, mirrored data storage units that are separated by relatively large physical distance may be employed to reduce the likelihood of catastrophic data loss due to an event such as a fire. Further, READ transactions may be facilitated by preloading data storage units with READ metadata for subsequent transmission to a client device to enable expedited access to data stored on the data storage units.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating operations related to data storage between a first device and at least one data storage unit in a computer network, comprising the steps of:
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duplicating selected metadata from the at least one data storage unit to the first device, wherein the selected metadata describes a location of data stored on the data storage unit; causing generation of a storage services protocol transaction to access the data stored on the data storage unit and described by the selected metadata, wherein the generation is responsive to the selected metadata duplicated to the first device; encapsulating the storage services protocol transaction into a payload portion of at least one network protocol data unit; processing the at least one network protocol data unit based on a storage services protocol set to facilitate transmission of the at least one network protocol data unit to the at least one data storage unit, wherein the processing is performed at a switch located in the computer network; extracting the storage services protocol transaction from the at least one network protocol data unit; and operating upon the storage services protocol transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus that facilitates operations related to data storage between a first device and at least one data storage unit in a computer network, comprising:
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a file system that indicates location of data stored on at least one data storage unit; circuitry that duplicates selected metadata from the at least one data storage unit to the first device, wherein the selected metadata describes the location of the data stored on the at least one data storage unit; circuitry that processes at least one network protocol data unit associated with the operations based on storage services protocol set information to facilitate transmission of the network protocol data unit to the at least one data storage unit, wherein said processing of the network protocol data unit includes encapsulating a storage services protocol transaction into a payload portion of each of the network protocol data unit, wherein the storage services protocol transaction is to access the data stored on the data storage unit and described by the selected metadata, and wherein the storage services protocol transaction is generated in response to the selected metadata duplicated to the first device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification