SCSI tunneling protocol via TCP/IP using existing network hardware and software

• US 7,627,643 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DataCore Software Corporation (Flagship Ventures 2004 Fund LLC)
• Original Assignee: DataCore Software Corporation (Flagship Ventures 2004 Fund LLC)
• Inventors: Connolly, Nicholas C., Ignatoff, Edward, Putra, Roni, Aral, Ziya
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean; Frantz B
• Application Number:
  US11/657,545
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 709/212, 709/213, 711/1, 711/4, 711/100, 711/112, 711/113, 711/6
• US Class Current: 709/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0611 in relation to response time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0656 Data buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• 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]

Abstract

A computer network system includes a client-server architecture, where the client transmits SCSI commands over a network using TCP/IP to a server to request input and output operations for a physical storage device that is communicatively coupled to a storage device. The client perceives the storage device to be a local disk drive, even though the storage device is located on the target side of a network. The system includes a client-side disk-based cache.

Claims

1. A method for providing expedited responsiveness to requests for data operations on storage devices, the method comprising:

providing at a client device a virtual representation of a physical storage device;

maintaining a local disk block cache that represents data on the physical storage device, wherein the local disk block cache is resident in the client device;

receiving a request for performing a data operation on the physical storage device;

satisfying the request for performing the data operation on the physical storage device using the local disk block cache; and

reconciling the local disk block cache with the data on the physical storage device.

2. A system for providing expedited responsiveness to requests for data operations on storage devices, the system comprising:

means for providing at a client device a virtual representation of a physical storage device;

means for maintaining a local disk block cache that represents data on the physical storage device, wherein the local disk block cache is resident in the client device;

means for receiving a request for performing a data operation on the physical storage device;

means for satisfying the request for performing the data operation on the physical storage device using the local disk block cache; and

means for reconciling the local disk block cache with the data on the physical storage device.

3. A computer program product for providing expedited responsiveness to requests for data operations on storage devices, the computer program product having instructions stored on a computer readable medium and adapted to perform operations comprising:

providing at a client device a virtual representation of a physical storage device;

maintaining a local disk block cache that represents data on the physical storage device, wherein the local disk block cache is resident in the client device;

receiving a request for performing a data operation on the physical storage device;

satisfying the request for performing the data operation on the physical storage device using the local disk block cache; and

reconciling the local disk block cache with the data on the physical storage device.