Netapp, Inc.

Network Appliance, Inc.

Andrew G Reynolds

Daniel S Nydick

Tom Hicks

Michael Kazar

Richard N Sanzi, Jr

Fred Gohh

David Jeffrey Graham

Jeffrey Eric Semke

James Andrew Ignatuk

Samantha L Ranaweera

Daniel Clash

Stuart J Lovett

A system and method for offloading network processes from main processors of a storage system and performing them on parallel processing modules. Embodiments of the present invention improve performance of a clustered storage system by performing certain network processes in an accelerator module of a storage system node. The accelerator module receives multi-protocol protocol data units (PDUs) from a network interface, performs protocol operations on the PDUs to form file system requests and passes the file system requests to a local D-module. If a file system request is directed to a non-local D-module in the cluster, the accelerator module repackages the request for transmission to the appropriate D-module and passes it back to the network without using local D-module processing resources or passing data over the system bus.

Method and apparatus for offloading network processes in a computer storage system

A system and method for offloading network processes from main processors of a storage system and performing them on parallel processing modules. Embodiments of the present invention allocate resources such as memory and/or buffers to particular connections between various storage operating system processes or between storage operating system processes and a network interface. Connections are identified by a connection identifier (CID) and are assigned particular buffers according to parameters such as buffer availability, connection priority, and/or maximum allocation thresholds. A connection associated with a CID is guaranteed access to a certain number of dedicated buffers. Deadlock is avoided even when an operating system process associated with a different CID attempts to exhaust available memory and/or buffers because such processes will only have access to their own allocated resources.

Method and apparatus for allocating network protocol operation resources

Methods and apparatus provide for the combining and filtering of serial data from multiple serial data sources. At least one of the serial data sources frames serial data into packets. The serial data source that frames serial data drives a serial port in an exclusive manner. Another serial data source also provides data to the serial port. As the serial data comes from the sources, the serial port generates a stream of serial data that is sent to a serial stream filter. The serial stream filter extracts the packet from other serial data and selectively forwards the packet and the other serial data to one or more recipients.

Serial stream filtering

An apparatus and method for detecting an interface failure of a first interface of a first expander of a storage system, and retrieving state information from a second expander to the first expander using a second interface of the first expander when the interface failure of the first interface is detected. The state information is normally available to the first expander through the first interface, but is unavailable through the first interface due to the interface failure of the first interface.

Method and system for reliable access of expander state information in highly available storage devices

Growing community of inventors

Mars, PA, United States of America

Andrew G Reynolds