System and apparatus for utilizing a virtual machine to support redundancy in a virtual machine manager pair
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a storage array for storing data;
a first storage array controller communicatively coupled with the storage array for controlling the storage array;
a first virtual machine manager resident on the first storage array controller for managing a storage services virtual machine, a first storage array application virtual machine, and a first dedicated multiplexer virtual machine, the storage services virtual machine utilizing a multi-path driver, the multi-path driver, the first storage array application virtual machine, and the first dedicated multiplexer virtual machine communicatively coupled via a first plurality of virtual machine manager coupling drivers;
a second storage array controller communicatively coupled with the storage array for controlling the storage array, the second storage array controller communicatively coupled with the first storage array controller via a dedicated inter controller link; and
a second virtual machine manager resident on the second storage array controller for managing a second storage array application virtual machine and a second dedicated multiplexer virtual machine;
the second storage array application virtual machine and the second dedicated multiplexer virtual machine communicatively coupled via a second plurality of virtual machine manager coupling drivers,wherein the first dedicated multiplexer virtual machine and the second dedicated multiplexer virtual machine are communicatively coupled via a plurality of device drivers communicating across the dedicated inter controller link.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A storage array controller may include a virtual machine manager for managing a storage array application virtual machine and a dedicated multiplexer virtual machine. The storage array application virtual machine and the dedicated multiplexer virtual machine may be communicatively coupled via a plurality of virtual machine manager coupling drivers. The storage array controller may also include a dedicated inter controller link for communicatively coupling the storage array controller with a second storage array controller. The dedicated multiplexer virtual machine may be configured for coupling with a second dedicated multiplexer virtual machine included with the second storage array controller via a device driver communicating across the dedicated inter controller link.
12 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a storage array for storing data; a first storage array controller communicatively coupled with the storage array for controlling the storage array; a first virtual machine manager resident on the first storage array controller for managing a storage services virtual machine, a first storage array application virtual machine, and a first dedicated multiplexer virtual machine, the storage services virtual machine utilizing a multi-path driver, the multi-path driver, the first storage array application virtual machine, and the first dedicated multiplexer virtual machine communicatively coupled via a first plurality of virtual machine manager coupling drivers; a second storage array controller communicatively coupled with the storage array for controlling the storage array, the second storage array controller communicatively coupled with the first storage array controller via a dedicated inter controller link; and a second virtual machine manager resident on the second storage array controller for managing a second storage array application virtual machine and a second dedicated multiplexer virtual machine;
the second storage array application virtual machine and the second dedicated multiplexer virtual machine communicatively coupled via a second plurality of virtual machine manager coupling drivers,wherein the first dedicated multiplexer virtual machine and the second dedicated multiplexer virtual machine are communicatively coupled via a plurality of device drivers communicating across the dedicated inter controller link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A storage array controller including a processor, comprising:
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a virtual machine manager for managing a storage array application virtual machine and a dedicated multiplexer virtual machine, the storage array application virtual machine and the dedicated multiplexer virtual machine communicatively coupled via a plurality of virtual machine manager coupling drivers; a dedicated inter controller link for communicatively coupling the storage array controller with a second storage array controller; and a storage services virtual machine managed by the virtual machine manager, the storage services virtual machine utilizing a multi-path driver communicatively coupled with the storage array application virtual machine and the dedicated multiplexer virtual machine via the plurality of virtual machine manager coupling drivers, wherein the dedicated multiplexer virtual machine is configured for coupling with a second dedicated multiplexer virtual machine included with the second storage array controller via a device driver communicating across the dedicated inter controller link, the dedicated inter controller link is dedicated to a private cache mirroring protocol. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A storage array controller including a processor, comprising:
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a virtual machine manager for managing a storage services virtual machine, a storage array application virtual machine, and a dedicated multiplexer virtual machine, the storage services virtual machine utilizing a multi-path driver, the multi-path driver, the storage array application virtual machine, and the dedicated multiplexer virtual machine communicatively coupled via a plurality of virtual machine manager coupling drivers; and a dedicated inter controller link for communicatively coupling the storage array controller with a second storage array controller, wherein the dedicated multiplexer virtual machine is configured for coupling with a second dedicated multiplexer virtual machine included with the second storage array controller via a device driver communicating across the dedicated inter controller link, the dedicated inter controller link is dedicated to a private cache mirroring protocol. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A storage array controller including a processing, comprising:
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a virtual machine manager for managing a storage array application virtual machine and a dedicated multiplexer virtual machine, the storage array application virtual machine and the dedicated multiplexer virtual machine communicatively coupled via a plurality of virtual machine manager coupling drivers; a dedicated inter controller link for communicatively coupling the storage array controller with a second storage array controller; and a block virtualization virtual machine managed by the virtual machine manager, the block virtualization virtual machine utilizing a multi-path driver communicatively coupled with the virtual machine manager via the plurality of virtual machine manager coupling drivers, wherein the dedicated multiplexer virtual machine is configured for coupling with a second dedicated multiplexer virtual machine included with the second storage array controller via a device driver communicating across the dedicated inter controller link, the dedicated inter controller link is dedicated to a private cache mirroring protocol.
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Specification