Method for communicating control messages between a first device and a second device

• US 7,409,442 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2003
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Basham, Robert Beverley, Beeston, Ralph Thomas, Dahman, Kirby Grant, Martens, Ronald David, Grunow, Christopher, Grunow, legal representative
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, PHILIP B
• Application Number:
  US10/648,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20050050169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,807 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217-219,223,246
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0626 Reducing size or complexity of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0686 Libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method for communicating control messages between a first device and a second device. The method includes a communication module that directs control messages between a first device and a second device through an intermediate device. The intermediate device is coupled to the first device by a control path and to the second device by a data path. The method also includes a translation module and a transmission module that cooperate to translate control messages received over the control path at the intermediate device to transport data messages and transport data messages received over the data path at the second device to control messages. Transport data messages are sent over the data path to the second device and control messages from the second device are sent over the control path to the first device.

Claims

1. A method for communicating control messages between a media library manager and a storage device, comprising:

directing the control messages between the media library manager device and the storage device through a host, the host coupled to the media library manager by a control path and to the storage device by a data path;

distinguishing, at the host, first control messages received over the control path by detecting an identifier in a header of each of the first control messages;

translating, at the host, the first control messages received over the control path into first transport data messages, wherein each first transport data message comprises a Send Simulated Library Message (SSLIM) Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) Command Descriptor Block (CDB) that encapsulates each of the first control messages in an unaltered form;

translating, at the host, second transport data messages received over the data path into second control messages, wherein each of the second transport data message comprises a Receive Simulated Library Message (RSLIM) Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) Command Descriptor Block (CDB) that encapsulates each of the second control messages in an unaltered form;

sending from the host the first transport data messages over the data path to the storage device and the second control messages from the storage device over the control path to the media library manager; and

translating, at the storage device, the first transport data messages received by the storage device into the first control messages.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the media library manager polling a storage device for a response control message subsequent to sending the first control message to the storage device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the host periodically polling storage devices coupled to the data path for the second control messages for the media library manager.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying the host of the second control message for the media library manager; and

transferring the second control message from the storage device to the media library manager in response to a message from the media library manager.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring a media library manager and a storage device to exchange control messages through the host.