Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Shared memory area
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-13
2001-04-03
Bragdon, Reginald G. (Department: 2185)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Shared memory area
C711S148000, C711S151000, C711S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212606
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the computer field and, in particular, to a computer system and method for establishing and standardizing a shared level for each storage unit located in a multi-server environment.
2. Description of Related Art
A current computer system incorporating multiple servers capable of sharing at least one storage unit has a time consuming task of identifying the specific capabilities of a particular storage unit prior to utilizing that storage unit. The specific capabilities of any storage unit often include functionalities related to access, availability, ownership, management and security (optional). Of course, the current computer system uses valuable resources in determining the different capabilities of every storage unit located within the computer system.
Accordingly, there is a need for a computer system and method for establishing a standardized shared level for each storage unit located in a multi-server environment, where each shared level is indicative of the specific capabilities (e.g., parametrics) of a corresponding storage unit. In other words, there is a need for a computer system and method having a scheme for standardizing and unifying the description of the various capabilities of different storage units using standardized shared levels based on parametrics. This and other needs are satisfied by the computer system and method of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a computer system and method using a standardized shareability scheme for establishing a shared level for each of a plurality of storage units located in the computer system. The computer system includes a plurality of hosts and controllers coupled to a peer network (storage area network). Each storage unit is coupled to one of the controllers and includes at least one parametric from a group of parametrics used in classifying the shared level of a particular storage unit. The hosts using the standardized shared levels are able to identify a shareability characteristic of each storage unit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5586258 (1996-12-01), Conterno et al.
“Virtual Interface Architecture for SANs”, Compaq Technology Brief, First Edition, May 1997, pp. 1-12.
“Making Enterprise-Class Clusters Come Alive”, Tandem Computers Incorporated, Apr. 1997, pp. 1-21.
Robert W. Horst, David Garcia, “ServerNet SAN I/O Architecture,” Tandem Computers Incorporated, Hot Interconnects V, 1997, pp. 1-8.
“Fibre Channel Overview,” www.fibrechannel.com, May 5, 1998, pp. 1-13.
Bragdon Reginald G.
Compaq Computer Corporation
Fletcher Yoder & Van Someren
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