Method, apparatus and computer program product for emulating an iSCSI device on a logical volume manager

• US 20040078521A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hawks, Adam William, Price, Charles William II, Meth, Kalman Zvi
• Application Number:
  US10/273,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078521A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0643 Management of files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

In one form, a method for accessing data stored on an Internet storage device includes receiving iSCSI formatted information by an Internet based storage device. The information describes commands directed to a target storage device. The commands are redirected to a SCSI emulator configured to emulate the target storage device. The emulator generates file input/output information in response to the commands. The file input/output information identifies a location and size of a file controlled by a file system manager of the Internet storage device.

Claims

1. A method of accessing data stored on an Internet storage device using an iSCSI standard, the method comprising:

receiving iSCSI formatted information by an Internet based storage device, wherein the information describes commands directed to a target storage device;

redirecting the commands to a SCSI emulator configured to emulate the target storage device; and

generating file input/output information by the emulator in response to the commands, the file input/output information identifying a location and size of a file controlled by a file system manager of the Internet storage device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the file system manager receives the file input/output information to access the data stored in the file, the file residing on a logical volume controlled by the file system manager.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a sender device sends the iSCSI formatted information, wherein from a point of view of the sender device the target storage device appears as a SCSI device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the commands include information to identify a physical partition of the target storage device to access the data stored.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein configuration of the SCSI emulator to emulate the target storage device comprises:

configuring the SCSI emulator to translate input and output characteristics of the target storage device request by an initiator of the commands to a logical volume manager (LVM) file request.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the file system manager is consistent with a logical volume manager (LVM) standard.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the file system manager manages a logical volume of data storage, the logical volume being assignable to a physical volume, the physical volume including at least one hard disk drive.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the file system manager manages a modification of the physical volume while accessing the file.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the logical volume is modified without having to reboot the Internet storage device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the logical volume is modified while the Internet storage device is operating on-line.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the Internet storage device appears as the target storage device to a client coupled to the Internet.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein generating file input/output information comprising:

parsing the commands to generate the file input/output information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the data stored on the Internet storage device comprising:

accessing the file.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory storing instructions operable with the processor for accessing data stored on an Internet storage device using an iSCSI standard, the instructions being executed for;

receiving iSCSI formatted information, wherein the information describes commands directed to a target storage device;

redirecting the commands to a SCSI emulator configured to emulate the target storage device; and

generating file input/output information in response to the commands, the file input/output information identifying a location and size of a file controlled by a file system manager of the Internet storage device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the file system manager receives the file input/output information to access the data stored in the file, the file residing on a logical volume controlled by the file system manager.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a sender device sends the iSCSI formatted information, wherein from a point of view of the sender device the target storage device appears as a SCSI device.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the commands include information to identify a physical partition of the target storage device to access the data stored.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein configuration of the SCSI emulator to emulate the target storage device comprises:

configuring the SCSI emulator to translate input and output characteristics of the target storage device request by an initiator of the commands to a logical volume manager (LVM) file request.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the file system manager is consistent with a logical volume manager (LVM) standard.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the file system manager manages a logical volume of data storage, the logical volume being assignable to a physical volume, the physical volume including at least one hard disk drive.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the file system manager manages a modification of the physical volume while accessing the file.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the logical volume is modified without having to reboot the Internet storage device.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the logical volume is modified while the Internet storage device is operating on-line.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the Internet storage device appears as the target storage device to a client coupled to the Internet.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein generating file input/output information comprising:

parsing the commands to generate the file input/output information.

26. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein accessing the data stored on the Internet storage device comprising:

accessing the file.

27. A computer program product for use in accessing data stored on an Internet storage device using an iSCSI standard, the computer program product comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes control circuitry to perform:

receiving iSCSI formatted information, wherein the information describes commands directed to a target storage device;

redirecting the commands to a SCSI emulator configured to emulate the target storage device; and

generating file input/output information in response to the commands, the file input/output information identifying a location and size of a file controlled by a file system manager of the Internet storage device.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the file system manager receives the file input/output information to access the data stored in the file, the file residing on a logical volume controlled by the file system manager.

29. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein a sender device sends the iSCSI formatted information, wherein from a point of view of the sender device the target storage device appears as a SCSI device.

30. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the commands include information to identify a physical partition of the target storage device to access the data stored.

31. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein configuration of the SCSI emulator to emulate the target storage device comprises:

configuring the SCSI emulator to translate input and output characteristics of the target storage device request by an initiator of the commands to a logical volume manager (LVM) file request.

32. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the file system manager is consistent with a logical volume manager (LVM) standard.

33. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the file system manager manages a logical volume of data storage, the logical volume being assignable to a physical volume, the physical volume including at least one hard disk drive.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the file system manager manages a modification of the physical volume while accessing the file.

35. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the logical volume is modified without having to reboot the Internet storage device.

36. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the logical volume is modified while the Internet storage device is operating on-line.

37. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the Internet storage device appears as the target storage device to a client coupled to the Internet.

38. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein generating file input/output information comprising:

parsing the commands to generate the file input/output information.

39. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein accessing the data stored on the Internet storage device comprising:

accessing the file.

40. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory storing instructions operable with the processor for accessing data stored on an Internet storage device using an iSCSI standard, wherein the instructions comprise;

means for receiving iSCSI formatted information, wherein the information describes commands directed to a target storage device;

means for redirecting the commands to a SCSI emulator configured to emulate the target storage device; and

means for generating file input/output information in response to the commands, the file input/output information identifying a location and size of a file controlled by a file system manager of the Internet storage device.