Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Multicomputer data transferring via shared memory
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-02
2003-04-22
Lim, Krisna (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Multicomputer data transferring via shared memory
C711S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06553408
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of mass storage systems. In particular, the invention relates to the management of storage transactions in, and the configuration of, intelligent storage area networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
The storage of large amounts of data in so-called mass storage systems is becoming a common practice. Mass storage systems typically include storage devices coupled to file servers on data networks. Users in the network communicate with the file servers for access to the data. The file servers are typically connected to specific storage devices via data channels. The data channels are usually implemented with point-to-point communication protocols designed for managing storage transactions.
As the amount of storage increases, and the number of file servers in communication networks grows, the concept of a storage area network (SAN) has arisen. Storage area networks connect a number of mass storage systems in a communication network which is optimized for storage transactions. For example, fiber channel arbitrated loop FC-AL networks are being implemented as SANs. The SANs support many communication sessions between users of the storage systems and the specific storage systems on the SAN.
File servers and other users of the storage systems are configured to communicate with specific storage media. As the storage systems expand or media is replaced in the system, re-configuration is required at the file servers and other users. Also, if a need arises to move the data from one device to another, in a so-called data migration operation, it is often necessary to block access to the data during the migration process. After migration is complete, re-configuration at the user system must be executed to make the data available from the new device.
Overall, as the complexity and size of storage systems and networks increase, the problems of managing configuration of the users of the data and of the storage systems themselves multiply. Accordingly, there is a need for systems that simplify management of storage systems, while taking advantage of the flexibility and power of the SAN architecture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a storage server architecture supporting virtual devices and virtual circuits for storing and managing data. The storage server according to the present invention includes a plurality of communication interfaces. A first set of communication interfaces in the plurality is adapted for connection to all kinds of users of data. A second set of communication interfaces in the plurality is adapted for connection to respective devices in a pool of storage devices. Data processing resources in the storage server are coupled to the plurality of communication interfaces for transferring data among the interfaces. The data processing resources comprise a plurality of driver modules and configurable logic linking driver modules into data paths, which are implemented in pairs for redundancy in a preferred system. Each configured data path acts as a virtual circuit that includes a set of driver modules selected from the plurality of driver modules. A data storage transaction which is received at a communication interface is mapped to one of the configured data paths.
According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality of driver modules includes a protocol server for a protocol supported on a communication interface in the plurality of communication interfaces. The protocol server recognizes target identifiers which identify particular storage extents according to the protocol on the interface. Transactions addressed to the particular storage extent are mapped to a particular configured data path in the server.
The data paths configured in this manner act as virtual storage devices. Users of the data communicate with a communication interface on the storage server according to a protocol for a particular storage device. Inside the server, the transactions according to that protocol are mapped to a virtual storage device implemented by sets of drivers. Setting up and changing the storage tasks performed in a particular data path, and setting up and changing the mapping of a storage extent from one data path to another are accomplished by configuring the sets of driver modules within the storage server.
According to an aspect of the invention, the plurality of driver modules includes one or more hardware driver modules that manage respective communication interfaces, and one or more internal driver modules that perform data path tasks independently of the plurality of communication interfaces. The data path tasks include, for example, cache memory management, memory mirroring management, memory partition management, data migration management, and other tasks for managing storage transactions. By providing data path tasks of this type in a virtual device architecture, the configuration of the storage system to manage such tasks is essentially transparent to the users. In addition, providing the virtual device capability at a storage server optimized to perform such tasks allows for improved performance and greater flexibility.
Also, according to an aspect of the invention, the plurality of driver modules includes logic for communicating data within the server environment according to an internal message format. Incoming storage transactions are translated into the internal message format, and placed in the configured data path for the particular transaction. In one preferred embodiment, the protocol server performs the protocol translation and virtual circuit mapping function.
The configurable logic includes a user interface for accepting configuration data and a memory that stores tables or lists of the respective sets of driver modules that comprise the data paths. The configurable logic in one embodiment is implemented using a graphical user interface, for example on a display including a touch screen for accepting input signals. The graphical user interface allows for implementation of configuration tools that are flexible and easy to use.
According to another aspect of the invention, the configuration logic includes memory for storing configuration data in the form of tables that identify the data paths for virtual circuits. The memory in one embodiment is implemented using a persistent tables storage process which maintains the tables in a non-volatile memory that survives a reset and/or power down of the storage system. In addition, the configuration logic implements the data paths for the virtual circuits using redundant driver modules on redundant hardware in the system. Thus, no single point of failure on the storage system will interfere with a particular storage transaction.
The communication protocols supported on the interfaces adapted for communication with users of the data in various embodiments include fiber channel FC protocols such as the Fiber Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL), and the Fiber Channel—Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) based protocol known as FCP. Other protocols include such protocols as the Internet Protocol (IP), the High Performance Parallel Interface (HIPPI), the Intelligent Peripheral Interface (IPI) and other protocols combined with or in place of these examples. According to each of these protocols, storage transactions can be executed which identify particular target storage extents, such as using the SCSI target ID and a Logical Unit Number (LUN). Thus, in this example, a storage transaction which identifies a SCSI target ID and a LUN, can be mapped in response to the target ID and the LUN to a particular virtual circuit in the storage server.
Internal protocols for communicate on among the plurality of drivers include a variety of block transfer protocols, such as formats similar to the standard I2O block storage architecture (BSA) format.
The present invention provides an intelligent storage routing device which manages logical and physical access to a pool of shared storage devices. The device is logically close
Altmaier Joseph
Lane Jerry Parker
Merrell Alan
Panas Michael G.
Dell Products L.P.
Hamilton & Terrile LLP
Lim Krisna
Terrile Stephen A.
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