Unified datapath processing with virtualized storage processors
First Claim
1. A method of managing host data on a data storage apparatus connected to a network, comprising:
- storing a network address and a set of host data objects that are accessible within a namespace of a virtualized storage processor (VSP) operated by a physical storage processor of the data storage apparatus, the namespace including only names of objects that are specific to the VSP;
receiving, by the physical storage processor, a transmission over the network from a host computing device, the transmission directed to a network address and including an IO request designating a pathname to a host data object to be written or read;
identifying the host data object designated by the IO request by (i) matching the network address to which the transmission is directed with the network address stored for the VSP, to identify the VSP as the recipient of the IO request, and (ii) locating the host data object within the namespace of the VSP using the pathname; and
processing the IO request to complete the requested read or write operation on the identified host data object,wherein the method further comprises;
running a container within an operating system of the physical storage processor, the container executing over a kernel of the operating system and providing an isolated userspace instance;
operating the VSP within the container; and
storing a set of configuration files accessible within the namespace of the VSP, the configuration files defining VSP-specific configuration settings, the configuration settings including a set of domain name system (DNS) definitions providing a host name of the VSP, a domain name of the VSP, and the identity of a DNS server to be used by the VSP to resolve host names,wherein the configuration settings further include settings for configuring a set of network protocol servers running on the physical storage processor to perform network protocol operations on behalf of the VSP,wherein the VSP includes a root file system, the root file system including a set of directories having;
a first mount point on which a first host-accessible file system is mounted within the namespace of the VSP;
a second mount point on which a second host-accessible file system is mounted within the namespace of the VSP; and
a third mount point on which a configuration file system is mounted within the namespace of the VSP, the configuration file system storing the set of configuration files, andwherein the method further comprises exporting on the network the first host-accessible file system and the second host-accessible file system as respective folders.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for managing host data in a data storage apparatus having a storage processor (SP) provides virtualized storage processors (VSPs) as substantially self-describing and independent entities. Each VSP has its own namespace, independent of the namespace of any other VSP. Each VSP also has its own network address. Hosts may thus access VSPs directly, without having to include path information relative to the SP on which the VSP is operated. VSPs can thus be moved from one physical SP to another with little or no disruption to hosts, which may continue to access the VSPs on the new SPs using the same paths as were used when the VSPs were running on the original SPs.
24 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of managing host data on a data storage apparatus connected to a network, comprising:
-
storing a network address and a set of host data objects that are accessible within a namespace of a virtualized storage processor (VSP) operated by a physical storage processor of the data storage apparatus, the namespace including only names of objects that are specific to the VSP; receiving, by the physical storage processor, a transmission over the network from a host computing device, the transmission directed to a network address and including an IO request designating a pathname to a host data object to be written or read; identifying the host data object designated by the IO request by (i) matching the network address to which the transmission is directed with the network address stored for the VSP, to identify the VSP as the recipient of the IO request, and (ii) locating the host data object within the namespace of the VSP using the pathname; and processing the IO request to complete the requested read or write operation on the identified host data object, wherein the method further comprises; running a container within an operating system of the physical storage processor, the container executing over a kernel of the operating system and providing an isolated userspace instance; operating the VSP within the container; and storing a set of configuration files accessible within the namespace of the VSP, the configuration files defining VSP-specific configuration settings, the configuration settings including a set of domain name system (DNS) definitions providing a host name of the VSP, a domain name of the VSP, and the identity of a DNS server to be used by the VSP to resolve host names, wherein the configuration settings further include settings for configuring a set of network protocol servers running on the physical storage processor to perform network protocol operations on behalf of the VSP, wherein the VSP includes a root file system, the root file system including a set of directories having; a first mount point on which a first host-accessible file system is mounted within the namespace of the VSP; a second mount point on which a second host-accessible file system is mounted within the namespace of the VSP; and a third mount point on which a configuration file system is mounted within the namespace of the VSP, the configuration file system storing the set of configuration files, and wherein the method further comprises exporting on the network the first host-accessible file system and the second host-accessible file system as respective folders. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
8. A data storage apparatus for managing host data, comprising:
-
a physical storage processor including control circuitry, memory accessible by the control circuitry, and a set of network interfaces arranged to connect to a set of host computing devices over a network to enable the set of host computing devices to access host data stored on the data storage apparatus; wherein the memory stores instructions which, when carried out by the control circuitry, cause the control circuitry to; store, for each of multiple virtualized storage processors (VSPs) on the physical storage processor, a network address and a set of host data objects accessible within a namespace of the VSP, the namespace including only names of objects that are specific to the VSP; receive, by the set of network interfaces of the physical storage processor, a transmission over the network from a host computing device, the transmission directed to a network address and including an IO request designating a pathname to a host data object to be written to or read; identify the host data object designated by the IO request by (i) matching the network address to which the transmission is directed with the network address stored for one of the VSPs, to identify that VSP as the recipient of the IO request, and (ii) to locate the host data object within the namespace of the identified VSP using the pathname; and process the IO request to complete the requested read or write operation on the identified host data object, wherein the instructions further cause the control circuitry to store a set of configuration files accessible within the namespace of each VSP, the configuration files defining VSP-specific configuration settings, the configuration settings including a set of domain name system (DNS) definitions providing a host name of the respective VSP, a domain name of the respective VSP, and the identity of a DNS server to be used by the respective VSP to resolve host names, wherein each of the VSP includes a respective root file system, each root file system including a set of directories including; a first mount point on which a first host-accessible file system is mounted within the namespace of the respective VSP; a second mount point on which a second host-accessible file system is mounted within the namespace of the respective VSP; and a third mount point on which a configuration file system is mounted within the namespace of the respective VSP, the configuration file system storing the respective set of configuration files, and wherein the instructions further cause the control circuitry to export on the network each of the first and second host-accessible file systems of each VSP as a respective folder. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions which, when executed by control circuitry of a data storage apparatus, cause the control circuitry to perform a method of managing host data on a data storage apparatus connected to a network, the method comprising:
-
storing a network address and a set of host data objects accessible within a namespace of a virtualized storage processor (VSP) operated by a physical storage processor of the data storage apparatus, the namespace including only names of objects that are specific to the VSP; receiving, by the physical storage processor, a transmission over the network from a host computing device, the transmission directed to a network address and including an IO request designating a pathname to a host data object to be written or read; identifying the host data object designated by the IO request by (i) matching the network address to which the transmission is directed with the network address stored for the VSP, to identify the VSP as the recipient of the IO request, and (ii) locating the host data object within the namespace of the VSP using the pathname; and processing the IO request to complete the requested read or write operation on the identified host data object, wherein the method further comprises storing a set of configuration files accessible within the namespace of the VSP, the configuration files defining VSP-specific configuration settings, the configuration settings including a set of domain name system (DNS) definitions providing a host name of the VSP, a domain name of the VSP, and the identity of a DNS server to be used by the VSP to resolve host names, wherein the VSP includes a root file system, the root file system including a set of directories having; a first mount point on which a first host-accessible file system is mounted within the namespace of the VSP; a second mount point on which a second host-accessible file system is mounted within the namespace of the VSP; and a third mount point on which a configuration file system is mounted within the namespace of the VSP, the configuration file system storing the set of configuration files, and wherein the method further comprises exporting on the network the first host-accessible file system and the second host-accessible file system as respective folders.
-
Specification