Storage router and method for providing virtual local storage
DC CAFC
First Claim
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1. A storage router for providing virtual local storage on remote storage devices to devices, comprising:
- a buffer providing memory work space for the storage router;
a first controller operable to connect to and interface with a first transport medium;
a second controller operable to connect to and interface with a second transport medium; and
a supervisor unit coupled to the first controller, the second controller and the buffer, the supervisor unit operable to map between devices connected to the first transport medium and the storage devices, to implement access controls for storage space on the storage devices and to process data in the buffer to interface between the first controller and the second controller to allow access from devices connected to the first transport medium to the storage devices using native low level, block protocols.
1 Assignment
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6 Petitions
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Accused Products
Abstract
A storage router (56) and storage network (50) provide virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) to Fiber Channel devices. A plurality of Fiber Channel devices, such as workstations (58), are connected to a Fiber Channel transport medium (52), and a plurality of SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) are connected to a SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) interfaces between the Fibre Channel transport medium (52) and the SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) maps between the workstations (58) and the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) and implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64). The storage router (56) then allows access from the workstations (58) to the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and the access controls.
399 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A storage router for providing virtual local storage on remote storage devices to devices, comprising:
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a buffer providing memory work space for the storage router;
a first controller operable to connect to and interface with a first transport medium;
a second controller operable to connect to and interface with a second transport medium; and
a supervisor unit coupled to the first controller, the second controller and the buffer, the supervisor unit operable to map between devices connected to the first transport medium and the storage devices, to implement access controls for storage space on the storage devices and to process data in the buffer to interface between the first controller and the second controller to allow access from devices connected to the first transport medium to the storage devices using native low level, block protocols. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
a first protocol unit operable to connect to the first transport medium;
a first-in-first-out queue coupled to the first protocol unit; and
a direct memory access (DMA) interface coupled to the first-in-first-out queue and to the buffer.
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6. The storage router of claim 1, wherein the second controller comprises:
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a second protocol unit operable to connect to the second transport medium;
an internal buffer coupled to the second protocol unit; and
a direct memory access (DMA) interface coupled to the internal buffer and to the buffer of the storage router.
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7. A storage network, comprising:
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a first transport medium;
a second transport medium;
a plurality of workstations connected to the first transport medium;
a plurality of storage devices connected to the second transport medium; and
a storage router interfacing between the first transport medium and the second transport medium, the storage router providing virtual local storage on the storage devices to the workstations and operable;
to map between the workstations and the storage devices;
to implement access controls for storage space on the storage devices; and
to allow access from the workstations to the storage devices using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and access controls. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
a buffer providing memory work space for the storage router;
a first controller operable to connect to and interface with the first transport medium, the first controller further operable to pull outgoing data from the buffer and to place incoming data into the buffer;
a second controller operable to connect to and interface with the second transport medium, the second controller further operable to pull outgoing data from the buffer and to place incoming data into the buffer; and
a supervisor unit coupled to the first controller, the second controller and the buffer, the supervisor unit operable;
to map between devices connected to the first transport medium and the storage devices, to implement the access controls for storage space on the storage devices and to process data in the buffer to interface between the first controller and the second controller to allow access from workstations to storage devices.
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11. A method for providing virtual local storage on remote storage devices connected to one transport medium to devices connected to another transport medium, comprising:
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interfacing with a first transport medium;
interfacing with a second transport medium;
mapping between devices connected to the first transport medium and the storage devices and that implements access controls for storage space on the storage devices; and
allowing access from devices connected to the first transport medium to the storage devices using native low level, block protocols. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeCrossroads Systems (Texas) Incorporated (Crossroads Systems, Inc.)
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Original AssigneeCrossroads Systems (Texas) Incorporated (Crossroads Systems, Inc.)
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InventorsHoese, Geoffrey B., Russell, Jeffry T.
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Primary Examiner(s)Shin, Christopher B.
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Application NumberUS09/965,335Publication NumberTime in Patent Office299 DaysField of Search710/1-5, 710/8-13, 710/36-38, 710/105, 710/100-101, 710/126-131, 711/100, 711/112, 711/113, 714/42US Class Current710/315CPC Class CodesG06F 13/1668 Details of memory controllerG06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particu...G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e...G06F 13/4059 where the synchronisation u...G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapte...G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interac...G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process...G06F 3/0661 Format or protocol conversi...G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emula...G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked st...G06F 3/0673 Single storage deviceH04L 2101/631 Small computer system inter...H04L 2101/645 Fibre channel identifiersH04L 61/106 across networks, e.g. mappi...H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of ...H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at...
