System, method, and software for a virtual host bus adapter in a storage-area network
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- loading driver software into memory for execution by a local operating system;
establishing a TCP/IP socket connection between the local operating system and a storage router;
inducing the local operating system to falsely recognize the driver software as having associated hardware, and thus to assign a controller number and a DMA memory address to the driver software;
using the established TCP/IP socket connection to request identity of one or more target storage devices accessible via the storage router;
receiving from the storage router data identifying each of a set of target storage devices accessible through the storage router using a world-wide unique name; and
assigning local SCSI device names to each of the identified target storage devices from available names reserved for the driver software as a result of its being recognized as a controller by the local operating system.
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Abstract
Accessing some storage-area networks (SANs) requires a client computer to include a special electronic component, known as a host bus adapter (HBA). However, the present inventor recognized that conventional host bus adapters add considerable expense to the cost of accessing the storage-area network. Accordingly, the present inventor devised a host bus adapter that is implemented in software and thus referred to as a “virtual” host bus adapter. One exemplary embodiment of the virtual host bus adapter includes a hardware-emulation module that makes the virtual host bus adapter appear to operating system environments as a conventional host bust adapter with dedicated hardware.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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loading driver software into memory for execution by a local operating system; establishing a TCP/IP socket connection between the local operating system and a storage router; inducing the local operating system to falsely recognize the driver software as having associated hardware, and thus to assign a controller number and a DMA memory address to the driver software; using the established TCP/IP socket connection to request identity of one or more target storage devices accessible via the storage router; receiving from the storage router data identifying each of a set of target storage devices accessible through the storage router using a world-wide unique name; and assigning local SCSI device names to each of the identified target storage devices from available names reserved for the driver software as a result of its being recognized as a controller by the local operating system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A machine readable medium comprising instructions for:
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loading driver software into memory for execution by a local operating system; establishing a TCP/IP socket connection between the local operating system and a storage router; inducing the local operating system to falsely recognize the driver software as having associated hardware, and thus to assign a controller number and a DMA memory address to the driver software; using the established TCP/IP socket connection to request identity of one or more target storage devices accessible via the storage router; receiving from the storage router data identifying each of a set of target storage devices accessible through the storage router using a world-wide unique name; and assigning local SCSI device names to each of the identified target storage devices from available names reserved for the driver software as a result of its being recognized as a controller by the local operating system. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. Apparatus comprising:
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means for loading driver software into memory for execution by a local operating system; means for establishing a TCP/IP socket connection between the local operating system and a storage router; means for inducing the local operating system to falsely recognize the driver software as having associated hardware, and thus to assign a controller number and a DMA memory address to the driver software; means for using the established TCP/IP socket connection to request identity of one or more target storage devices accessible via the storage router; means for receiving from the storage router data identifying each of a set of target storage devices accessible through the storage router using a world-wide unique name; and means for assigning local SCSI device names to each of the identified target storage devices from available names reserved for the driver software as a result of its being recognized as a controller by the local operating system. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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Specification