Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-24
2001-02-06
Breene, John (Department: 2777)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185580
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a data storage systems, and more particularly to physical information and extensions file and a file system translator.
2. Description of Related Art
Computing systems frequently are provided with storage subsystems having multiple storage devices connected to the computing system central processor through a device controller. For example, some computing systems include a plurality of disk arrange into a disk array with parity and sparing. Parity refers to organizing data into parity groups such that each modification of disk data that involves a relatively small write operation requires a read old data, read old parity, write new data, write new parity sequence of operations often referred to as a read-modified-write sequence. Sparing refers to providing spare data blocks to be used in the event of a disk failure.
A disk array controller is provided between the disk array and a computing system. As applications running in the computing system requests blocks of data from the disk array, the disk array controller checks whether the requested data block is located in a cache memory or whether the requested data block is on the disk array.
However, the disk controller often does not enable an open system host to access data on the disk array. Some storage device controller provide a Small Computer Standard Interface (SCSI) interface for allowing open system hosts to access data on the storage devices through the storage device controller thereby allowing an open system host to use an Enterprise System Connection (ESCON) storage device as one of it's own storage devices. Another method is to provide an intermediary disk controller between the open systems host and the legacy disk controller to allow new host types to use legacy disk controllers and storage devices. Thus, these new controllers act as an intermediary between hosts and controller units. These intermediary controllers also provide additional caching.
However, the intermediary controller does not have any provision for data sharing, wherein an originating host normally uses ESCON to access the legacy disk controller that knows where data is stored on the storage device. An open system host connected to an intermediary controller via a SCSI port uses a different operating system than the originating host and therefore the different operating systems refer to and organize the data differently. Accordingly, users or administrators of the open system hosts are not able to identify where data really are or what the data really are from viewing the file system of the intermediary controller.
It can be seen that there is a need for a file translation system that allow a host computer to directly access data from a different host type without moving the actual data.
It can also be seen that there is a need for an apparatus and method that provides information concerning the location of data and the file system the host is viewing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses a file translation system and a physical information and extensions file for an intermediary controller.
The present invention solves the above-described problems by providing a file translation system that allow a host computer to directly access data from a different host type without moving the actual data and a physical information and extension file for providing information concerning the location of data and the file system the host is viewing.
A system in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes an intermediary controller disposed between a legacy disk controller for an originating host of a first type and an open system host, the intermediary controller emulating a virtual storage device using a virtual device file system, the virtual device file system mapping data stored in a storage device by the originating host to objects in a root directory in the virtual device file system.
Other embodiments of a system in accordance with the principles of the invention may include alternative or optional additional aspects. One such aspect of the present invention is that the virtual device file system comprises a transitional node, wherein the data and corresponding object are both mapped to the transitional node thereby linking the object in the root directory to corresponding data on the storage device.
Another aspect of the present invention is that the virtual device file system translates data known as objects in the storage device into a layout viewed by the open system host at data on the virtual storage device.
Another aspect of the present invention is that the virtual device file system further comprises metadata, the metadata providing physical information and extensions to a user of the open system host.
Another aspect of the present invention is that physical information and extension file is provided for enabling the identification of data locations and for indicating configuration data for an intermediary controller, the physical information and extension file comprising controller information for identifying the intermediary controller and logical device information.
Another aspect of the present invention is that the controller information comprises a model number for indicating the type of intermediary controller that is attached to the open system host, a web server name for the intermediary controller, a TCP/IP address, and the number of installed storage devices, the number of connections to legacy disk controllers and the number of connections to open system hosts
Another aspect of the present invention is that the open system host is connected to the intermediary controller via a small computer standard interface connection and to the legacy disk controller via an enterprise system connection.
Another aspect of the present invention is that the logical device information further comprises small computer standard interface address information and enterprise system connection address information for every physical device connected to the intermediary controller.
Another aspect of the present invention is that the small computer standard interface address information comprises a small computer standard interface bus number, the small computer standard interface identification number, and the small computer standard interface logical unit number.
Another aspect of the present invention is that the enterprise system connection address information comprises the volume serial name, an indication of how many paths with different connections through the enterprise system connection can be connected, the control unit image that is used to access the device, the status of the device, the number of paths online, and message statistics including a number of blocks that may be read and written.
Another aspect of the present invention is that the physical information and extensions file further comprises a total number of devices connected to the intermediary controller, a total number of intermediary controllers, available cache memory for the intermediary controller, and performance statistics.
Another aspect of the present invention is that the physical information and extensions file further comprises fields for user defined comments strings to indicate a physical location for the intermediary controller.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described specific examples of an apparatus in accordance with the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 495
Day III Kenneth Fairclough
Dewey Douglas William
Pease David Allan
Altera Law Group LLC
Breene John
International Business Machines - Corporation
Lewis Cheryl
LandOfFree
Physical information and extensions file and file system... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Physical information and extensions file and file system..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Physical information and extensions file and file system... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2613203