Dell Products Inc.

Dell Inc.

Alan Ray Merrell

Shari J Nolan

Michael G Panas

Jerry Parker Lane

George W Harris, Jr

Alastair Taylor

Joseph Altmaier

James A Taylor

Stephen Gouze Luning

Craig McDermott

Jeffery S Nespor

Ronald L Parks

Richard A Lagueux, Jr

Jeffrey S Nespor

Oliver C Field, Iii

An intermediate system, such as a switch or storage domain manager, in a storage area network includes a plurality of clients, a file server which manages access to storage according to a file system architecture using file system parameters, and one or more storage systems. Processing resources are included in the intermediate system, which manage communication according to a storage area network protocol, such as SCSI and variations like FCP, which identifies units of storage according to storage area network parameters. The processing resources farther include logic to identify a particular message received from one of the plurality of clients under the storage area network protocol as a message relating to the file system architecture, to parse the particular message for file system parameters of an access according to the file system architecture, and to translate the file system parameters to an access using storage area network parameters. The access is then carried out in the storage area network between the client and the storage, using the such storage area network parameters. The translation of file system parameters to storage area network parameters is confined to the intermediate system, in one preferred embodiment enhancing security and efficiency of the file system transactions.

Architecture for access to embedded files using a SAN intermediate device

A storage network that facilitates the transfer of a data set from a first storage device to a second storage device, without blocking access to the data set during the transfer is provided. An intermediate device for the storage network is provided. The intermediate device comprises a plurality of communication interfaces. Data transfer resources are coupled to the plurality of interfaces, and are used for transferring data access requests identifying the data set from a third interface at least one of a first and second interfaces. A logic engine within the intermediate device is coupled to the interfaces, and is responsive to a control signal to manage the transfer of the data set through the interfaces.

Method and system for managing data migration for a storage system

A storage domain management system supports storage domains. The storage server 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 for use in a storage domain. Data processing resources in the 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. 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. A display and a user input device are included with data processing structures to manage images displayed on the display.

Method for configuration and management of storage resources in a storage network

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that supports resizing of file system partitions. The system includes one or more storage devices that are divided into a plurality of partitions, wherein each partition includes a different file system. The system operates by receiving a request to allocate storage within a partition. In response to the request, the system adds a request size to a current partition size to produce a predicted size for the partition. Next, the system compares the predicted size for the partition with a size limit for the partition. If the predicted size exceeds the size limit, the system signals an error condition. If the predicted size does not exceed the size limit, the system allocates the requested storage for the partition in the nonvolatile random access memory. The system also makes the current partition size equal to the predicted partition size. In a variation on the above embodiment, the system receives a request to deallocate storage from the partition. In response to the request, the system deallocates the storage, and decreases the current partition size to reflect the deallocated storage.

Method and apparatus for supporting resizing of file system partitions

A storage server architecture supporting virtual devices and virtual circuits for storing data is provided. The storage server 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 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. 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.

Virtual device architecture having memory for storing lists of driver modules

A storage server comprising: a processing unit, a bus system coupled with the processing unit, including a plurality of slots, slots in the plurality of slots including interfaces to respective data stores; a communication interface; and an operating system coupled with the processing unit the operating system including: logic controlling transfers among the plurality of slots over the bus system according to an internal format, logic for translating a storage transaction received over the communication interface into the internal format, and logic for configuring the plurality of slots according to a configuration data.

Storage server system including ranking of data source

A card management system architecture for managed startup of a system and for monitoring its operation is provided. Both a method and device particularly suited to carrying out the method are provided. According to one embodiment of the method, a second controller evaluates the status of power supplies and then powers up a first controller and processors on input-output processors (IOPs). The first controller evaluates the status of individual IOPs and enables additional power and data interfaces. Additional embodiments involve additional structures and steps. Redundant channels for communications among controllers and IOPs are preferred. In one embodiment, the first bus is implemented as five serial communication lines. Communication between redundant first controllers and between redundant second controllers allows determination of which controllers should be active. Determining which controllers are active may depend on whether the same controllers are in the system as had been in the system during the last proper operation of the system. Enabling a supply of power may depend on whether two or more power supplies are available. Availability of power supplies cooled by fans may depend on whether AC power is available and within appropriate voltage ranges, what the operating temperature is for the power supplies and the speed and status of the cooling fans.

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Alan Ray Merrell