Failover architecture for local devices that access remote storage

• US 7,281,168 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Coates, Joshua L., Bozeman, Patrick E., Jones, F. Alan, Gautier, Taylor
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DIEU MINH T
• Application Number:
  US09/753,336
• Time in Patent Office: 2,475 Days
• Field of Search: 714/1, 714/5, 714/6, 714/11, 714/12, 714/43, 714/44
• US Class Current: 714/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/202 where processing functionality is redundant redundant communication control functionality G06F11/2005, redundant storage control functionality G06F11/2089
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2056 by mirroring

Abstract

A network storage system includes a virtual file system (“VFS”) that manages the files of the network storage system, and a storage center that stores the files. The VFS and the storage center are separated, such that a client accesses the VFS to conduct file system operations and the client accesses the storage center to upload/download files. The client accesses the network storage system through one or more storage ports. The storage center includes a plurality of distributed object storage managers (DOSMs) and a storage cluster that includes a plurality of intelligent storage nodes. The network storage system includes additional storage centers at geographically disparate locations. The network storage system uses a multi-cast protocol to maintain file information at the DOSMs regarding files stored in the intelligent storage nodes, including files stored in disparate storage centers.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a remote storage center for storing a plurality of files in a local file system;

a local computer for utilizing at least one file stored at said remote storage center;

a first local device, coupled to said local computer and to said remote storage center, for operating as an active storage port, said active storage port for receiving file system operation requests on said file from said local computer, and for translating the file system operation requests to local file system requests including a file identifier associated with contents of the file to uniquely identify the file stored at the remote storage center, said local computer and said first local device being coupled through a communications mechanism said active storage port further comprises a network interface, to couple said active storage port to said passive storage port, and processes to monitor the health of said active storage port and to enter a failover condition if said health falls below a pre-determined threshold;

a second local device, coupled to said local computer and to said remote storage center, for operating as a passive storage port, said passive storage port for switching to said active storage port during said failover condition, said local computer and said second local device being coupled through said communications mechanism utilized by said first local device, said passive storage port further comprises a network interface, to couple said passive storage port to said active storage port, and processes to query said active storage port to obtain a status of said health of said active storage port; and

additional local devices to support a 2N failover configuration of storage ports, wherein “

N”

represents any integer value.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communications mechanism comprises:

a network;

said first local device comprises a network interface that communicates on said network using a network address; and

said second local device comprises a network interface that communicates on said network after a the failover condition using said network address of said first local device.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communications mechanism further comprises a network file system, such that said local computer exports said local file system using said network address to conduct said file system operations.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said active storage port comprises a data cache, for storing said file, and a directory cache for storing file system information on said file.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first local device and said second local device further comprise network interfaces for communicating to said remote storage center.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first local device and the second local device each further comprise:

a network interface capable of being coupled to the remote storage center;

a client interface capable of being coupled to the local computer; and

a cache capable of storing information at the storage port accessed from the remote storage center.

7. An apparatus comprising:

first local device for operating as an active storage port for a remote storage center that stores at least one file in a local file system, said active storage port for receiving file system operation requests for said file, for generating information for said file system operation, and for translating the file system operation requests to local file system requests including a file identifier associated with contents of the file to uniquely identify the file stored at the remote storage center, said first local device being accessed through a communications mechanism, said first local device further comprises a network interface, to couple said first local device to said second local device, and processes to monitor health of said first local device and to enter a failover condition if said health falls below a pre-determined threshold;

second local device for operating as a passive storage port, said passive storage port for switching to said active storage port during said failover condition to said active storage port, said second local device being accessed through said communications mechanism utilized by said first local device, said second local device further comprises a network interface, to couple said second local device to said first local device, and processes to query said first local device to obtain a status of said health of said first local device; and

additional local devices to support a 2N failover configuration of storage ports, wherein “

N”

represents any integer value.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said communications mechanism comprises:

a network;

said first local device comprises a network interface that communicates on said network using a network address; and

said second local device comprises a network interface that communicates on said network after a failover condition using said network address of said first local device.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first local device and said second local device comprise a data cache, for storing said file, and a directory cache for storing file system information on said file.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first local device and said second local device further comprise network interfaces for communicating to said remote storage center.

11. A method for configuring a storage system for failover operation, said method comprising:

storing a plurality of files in a local file system in a remote storage center;

utilizing at least one file stored at said remote storage center in a local computer;

coupling a first local device to said local computer and to said remote storage center;

operating said first local device as an active storage port by receiving file system operating requests for said file from said local computer, by transferring information for said file system operations and by translating the file system operation requests to local file system requests including a file identifier associated with contents of the file to uniquely identify the file stored at the remote storage center;

transferring information between said local computer and said first local device via a communication mechanism;

coupling a second local device to said local computer and to said remote storage center;

operating said a second local device as a passive storage port by switching said second device to an active storage port to execute a failover condition in said first local device; and

transferring information between said local computer and said second local device via said communication mechanism; and

coupling additional local devices to support a 2N failover configuration of storage ports, wherein “

N”

represents any integer value; and

coupling said first local device to said second local device;

monitoring the heath of said active storage port;

submitting a query from said passive storage port to said active storage port to obtain a status of said health of active storage port; and

entering said failover condition if said health falls below a pre-determined threshold.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

transferring information between said local computer and said first local device via a communication mechanism comprises transferring information over a network using a network address; and

transferring information between said local computer and said second local device via a communication mechanism comprises transferring information over a said network using said network address of said first local device.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

transferring information between said local computer and said first local device via a communication mechanism comprises transferring information over a network using a network address;

transferring information between said local computer and said second local device via a communication mechanism comprises transferring information over a network using said network address of said first local device; and

exporting a network file system of said local computer over said network using said network address.

14. The method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising caching, in said active storage port, data for said file and file system information on said file.

15. The method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising coupling said active storage port to said remote storage center to receive data for said file and file system information on said file.