System and method for transparently accessing a virtual disk using a file-based protocol
First Claim
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1. A network storage system, comprising:
- a computer processor executing a storage operating system;
a network protocol stack of the storage operating system for receiving a file open command of a file based protocol from a client;
a transparent access process of the storage operating system, the access process configured to interpret the file open command as a request to enable subsequent transparent access to a virtual disk (VDISK) over a block-based protocol data path from the client, the file open command including a modified file name that indicates that subsequent block-based protocol access to the VDISK is requested, the modified file name including a selected bit to alert the storage system that the client desires to utilize the transparent access process to interpret the file open command; and
a proxy layer of the storage operating system configured to direct the client to subsequently access the VDISK using the block-based protocol data path.
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Abstract
A system and method enabling transparent access to blocks, such as virtual disks, stored on a storage system using a file-based protocol. The system and method traps in-coming file-based protocol open commands to check for a predetermined modification to the file name. If the system and method detects the predetermined modification, then the virtual disk associated with the file name is exported to the client issuing the open command and the client receives a response from the storage system. The client, in response to receiving the response to the open command, creates a new device instantiation for reading and writing raw data to the virtual disk.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A network storage system, comprising:
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a computer processor executing a storage operating system; a network protocol stack of the storage operating system for receiving a file open command of a file based protocol from a client; a transparent access process of the storage operating system, the access process configured to interpret the file open command as a request to enable subsequent transparent access to a virtual disk (VDISK) over a block-based protocol data path from the client, the file open command including a modified file name that indicates that subsequent block-based protocol access to the VDISK is requested, the modified file name including a selected bit to alert the storage system that the client desires to utilize the transparent access process to interpret the file open command; and a proxy layer of the storage operating system configured to direct the client to subsequently access the VDISK using the block-based protocol data path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for operating a computer network storage system, comprising:
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executing a storage operating system by a computer processor; receiving a file open command of a file based protocol from a client; executing a transparent access process on the processor, the access process configured to interpret the file open command as a request to enable subsequent transparent access to a virtual disk (VDISK) over a block-based protocol data path from the client, the file open command including a modified file name that indicates that subsequent block-based protocol access to the VDISK is requested, the modified file name including a selected bit to alert the storage system that the client desires to utilize the transparent access process to interpret the file open command; and directing a client to subsequently access the VDISK using the block-based protocol data path. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer readable physical storage media, comprising:
said computer readable storage media containing program instructions for execution on a computer processor for a method of operating a computer network storage system, the program instructions for, executing a storage operating system by the computer processor; receiving a file open command of a file based protocol from a client; executing a transparent access process on the processor, the access process configured to interpret the file open command as a request to enable subsequent transparent access to a virtual disk (VDISK) over a block-based protocol data path from the client, the file open command including a modified file name that indicates that subsequent block-base protocol access to the VDISK is requested, the modified file name including a selected bit to alert the storage system that the client desires to utilize the transparent access process to interpret the file open command; and directing the client to subsequently access the VDISK using the block-based protocol data path.
Specification