Compensating for unavailability in a storage virtualization system
First Claim
1. A method for operating a storage virtualization controller arrangement, comprising:
- providing at least two central processing elements both designed with the same functionality of arbitrating access between at least one host and at least one storage device disposed within the storage virtualization controller arrangement to facilitate an in-band storage virtualization configuration;
configuring the storage virtualization controller arrangement to connect at least one host and at least one storage device through the storage virtualization controller arrangement and the at least two central processing elements wherein the storage virtualization controller arrangement is distinct from both the at least one host and the at least one storage device and uses features of the in-band storage virtualization configuration to perform both data transfer and communication over the access arbitrated between the at least one host and at least one storage device;
assigning one of the at least two central processing elements within the storage virtualization controller arrangement, distinct from both the at least one host and the at least one storage device, as a primary central processing element to arbitrate access from the at least one host to the at least one storage device; and
upon detection of an unavailability of the primary central processing element within the storage virtualization controller arrangement yet distinct from both the at least one host and the at least one storage device, automatically reassigning at least one of the at least two different one of the central processing elements as a backup central processing element within the storage virtualization controller to arbitrate the access from the at least one host to the at least one storage device using features of the in-band storage virtualization configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A storage virtualization system for accessing at least one storage device for a virtual logical unit (VLUN) from at least one host. The system includes at least one upstream processing element (UPE) which is adapted for coupling to a corresponding host server. The system is further adapted for coupling to at least one storage device. The controller also includes a primary central processing element (CPE) that can be configurably coupled to the UPEs. The primary CPE permits data transfer to occur between a host and a storage device via the corresponding UPE. The controller further includes a backup CPE that can be configurably coupled to the UPEs. The backup CPE is configurable to permit the data transfer when the primary CPE becomes unavailable.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a storage virtualization controller arrangement, comprising:
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providing at least two central processing elements both designed with the same functionality of arbitrating access between at least one host and at least one storage device disposed within the storage virtualization controller arrangement to facilitate an in-band storage virtualization configuration; configuring the storage virtualization controller arrangement to connect at least one host and at least one storage device through the storage virtualization controller arrangement and the at least two central processing elements wherein the storage virtualization controller arrangement is distinct from both the at least one host and the at least one storage device and uses features of the in-band storage virtualization configuration to perform both data transfer and communication over the access arbitrated between the at least one host and at least one storage device; assigning one of the at least two central processing elements within the storage virtualization controller arrangement, distinct from both the at least one host and the at least one storage device, as a primary central processing element to arbitrate access from the at least one host to the at least one storage device; and upon detection of an unavailability of the primary central processing element within the storage virtualization controller arrangement yet distinct from both the at least one host and the at least one storage device, automatically reassigning at least one of the at least two different one of the central processing elements as a backup central processing element within the storage virtualization controller to arbitrate the access from the at least one host to the at least one storage device using features of the in-band storage virtualization configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A storage virtualization controller arrangement, comprising:
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means for providing at least two central processing elements both designed with the same functionality of arbitrating access between at least one host and at least one storage device disposed within the storage virtualization controller arrangement to facilitate an in-band storage virtualization configuration; means for configuring the storage virtualization controller arrangement to connect at least one host and at least one storage device through the storage virtualization controller arrangement and the at least two central processing elements wherein the storage virtualization controller arrangement is distinct from both the at least one host and the at least one storage device and uses features of the in-band storage virtualization configuration to perform both data transfer and communication over the access arbitrated between the at least one host and at least one storage device; means for assigning one of the at least two central processing elements within the storage virtualization controller arrangement and distinct from both the at least one host and the at least one storage device as a primary central processing element to arbitrate access from the at least one host to the at least one storage device; and means for automatically reassigning at least one of the at least two different one of the central processing elements as a backup central processing element within the storage virtualization controller to arbitrate the access from the at least one host to the at least one storage device using features of the in-band storage virtualization configuration upon detection of an unavailability of the primary central processing element.
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16. A computer program product stored on a computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for operating a storage virtualization controller arrangement, comprising instructions in the computer program product operable to cause a programmable processor to:
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provide at least two central processing elements both designed with the same functionality of arbitrating access between at least one host and at least one storage device disposed within the storage virtualization controller arrangement for an in-band storage virtualization configuration; configure the storage virtualization controller arrangement to connect at least one host and at least one storage device through the storage virtualization controller arrangement and the at least two central processing elements wherein the storage virtualization controller arrangement is distinct from both the at least one host and the at least one storage device and uses features of the in-band storage virtualization configuration to perform both data transfer and communication over the access arbitrated between the at least one host and at least one storage device; assign one of the at least two central processing elements within the storage virtualization controller arrangement and distinct from both the at least one host and the at least one storage device as a primary central processing element to arbitrate access from the at least one host to the at least one storage device; and upon detection of an unavailability of the primary central processing element within the storage virtualization controller arrangement yet distinct from both the at least one host and the at least one storage device, automatically reassign at least one of the at least two different one of the central processing elements as a backup central processing element within the storage virtualization controller to arbitrate the access from the at least one host to the at least one storage device using features of the in-band storage virtualization configuration. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification