Storage proxy with virtual ports configuration
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A storage proxy, comprising:
- a first physical port configured to connect to a storage fabric, the first physical port configured as a first virtual front port to operate in a front zone of the storage fabric, and the first physical port further configured as a first virtual back port to operate in a back zone of the storage fabric;
a second physical port configured to connect to the storage fabric, the second physical port configured as a second virtual front port to operate in the front zone of the storage fabric, and the second physical port further configured as a second virtual back port to operate in the back zone of the storage fabric, wherein the first virtual front port and the second virtual front port are configured to communicate with initiators through the front zone of the storage fabric and the first virtual back port and the second virtual back port are configured to communicate with a storage array through the back zone of the storage fabric; and
processor configured to increase bandwidth utilization through the first virtual front port and the second virtual front port when storage access requests directed from the initiators to the storage array identify data stored in a tiering resource.
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Abstract
A fiber channel network is configured into different zones. A first zone of the fiber channel network is configured with an initiator port, a first virtual port for a first physical port on a storage proxy, and a first virtual port for a second physical port on the storage proxy. A second zone of the fiber channel network is configured with a storage target port, a second virtual port for the first physical port on a storage proxy, and a second virtual port for the second physical port on the storage proxy. The virtual ports configured on the storage proxy increase the amount of bandwidth in the fiber channel available for asymmetric data transfers.
112 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A storage proxy, comprising:
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a first physical port configured to connect to a storage fabric, the first physical port configured as a first virtual front port to operate in a front zone of the storage fabric, and the first physical port further configured as a first virtual back port to operate in a back zone of the storage fabric; a second physical port configured to connect to the storage fabric, the second physical port configured as a second virtual front port to operate in the front zone of the storage fabric, and the second physical port further configured as a second virtual back port to operate in the back zone of the storage fabric, wherein the first virtual front port and the second virtual front port are configured to communicate with initiators through the front zone of the storage fabric and the first virtual back port and the second virtual back port are configured to communicate with a storage array through the back zone of the storage fabric; and processor configured to increase bandwidth utilization through the first virtual front port and the second virtual front port when storage access requests directed from the initiators to the storage array identify data stored in a tiering resource. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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configuring a network with a front zone configured to connect a proxy with an initiator; configuring the network with a back zone configured to connect the proxy with a storage target; configuring the front zone of the network to include a physical port of the initiator and a first virtual front port for a first physical port of the proxy; configuring the back zone of the network to include a physical port of the storage target and a first virtual back port for the same first physical port of the proxy; storing data from the storage targets in a local storage resource; detecting storage access requests from the initiator to the storage target; and varying bandwidth utilization in the first virtual front port and the first virtual back port based on the data responsive to the storage access requests being located in the local storage resource. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a fibre channel network configured into different zones, wherein a first zone of the fibre channel network is configured with an initiator port for an initiator, a first virtual front port for a first physical port on a storage proxy, and a second virtual front port for a second physical port on the storage proxy; and wherein a second zone of the fibre channel network is configured with a target port on a storage device, a first virtual back port for the first physical port on the storage proxy, and a second virtual back port for the second physical port on the storage proxy, wherein the storage proxy is configured to; store copies of data located in the storage device in a tiering media; monitor storage access requests between the initiator and the storage device; provide the copies of the data from the tiering media to the initiator responsive to the storage access requests; and vary bandwidth utilization between the first and second virtual front ports and the first and second virtual back ports based on the copies of the data from the tiering media being provided to the initiator responsive to the storage access requests. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification