Network interface and router with a mass storage interface device emulating a hard disk controller
First Claim
1. A network interface device for connecting a node to a network, the network interface device comprising a mass storage device interface, the network interface device emulating a mass storage device and appearing to the node as a local mass storage device, the network interface device operable to transfer network traffic between the node and the network via the mass storage device interface.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network interface device (15a) has a mass storage device interface (3a), which emulates a hard disk controller to transfer network traffic between a node (Ia) and the network. As a result, the node (Ia), typically a computer, is presented with a virtual hard disk (4a), which network traffic (e.g. data) can be written to and read from using standard hard disk protocols, e.g. SATA or PATA. In a computer cluster (13), several network interface devices (15a-15c) may be integrated in a router (8) having a switch (9). The router may connect to optional components such as hard disks (17a, 17b), a processor (18) and a Ethernet connection (19).
-
Citations
58 Claims
- 1. A network interface device for connecting a node to a network, the network interface device comprising a mass storage device interface, the network interface device emulating a mass storage device and appearing to the node as a local mass storage device, the network interface device operable to transfer network traffic between the node and the network via the mass storage device interface.
-
37. A method of transferring network traffic between a node and a network, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a network interface device comprising a mass storage device interface, the network interface device appearing to the node as a mass storage device; emulating a mass storage device such that the mass storage device appears to be local to the node; and transferring the network traffic between the node and the network using a mass storage device protocol. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
-
49. A method of routing network traffic between a plurality of nodes, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a network interface device comprising a mass storage device interface, the network interface device appearing to the node as a mass storage device; emulating a plurality of mass storage devices; and transferring the network traffic between the plurality of nodes using a mass storage device protocol. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
-
Specification