Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.p.

Lefthand Networks, Inc.

John Spiers

Sebastian Piotr Sobolewski

Mark G Hayden

Robert N Mastors

Zbigniew S Sobolewski

Sebastian Sobolewski

Donald Kehn

Kelly Long

A network storage system is provided. A storage server system can comprise at least two data storage servers. Each server can comprise a network interface operable to transmit/receive communications to/from a network infrastructure; at least one data storage device; a processor operable to receive, from said network interface; an iSCSI network command and generate, to carry out said iSCSI network command, one or more device specific commands for said at least one data storage device. Each server can further comprise a host computer containing a host network interface operable to transmit/receive network communications; and a host processor operable to receive a storage command; determine if said at least two data storage servers are needed; generate one or more iSCSI network commands; and transmit said one or more iSCSI network commands to each of said at least two data storage servers using said host network interface.

System for providing multi-path input/output in a clustered data storage network

A distributed network storage system provides capability to send and receive storage information from multiple network storage servers in a storage area network using iSCSI commands. A storage server system comprising at least two data storage servers stores one or more logical volumes of data. A host computer receives a storage command from a host application, and determines one or more data storage servers has information to complete the storage command. The host computer generates one or more iSCSI network commands to carry out the storage command, and transmits the iSCSI network commands directly to each data storage server having necessary information. The storage servers receive iSCSI network commands, and return a response to the host. The host and storage servers verify the configuration of the storage network and are capable of correcting or updating the configuration as required.

The present invention provides the ability to transfer data between a initiating computer system and a target computer system with a block data storage device, where the target computer system is remote relative to the initiating computer system, that is interface independent relative to the type of the block data storage device employed. In one embodiment, a virtual device driver is employed that implements a command set that is interface independent relative to the block data storage device.

Block data storage within a computer network

The present invention is directed to a network attached data storage system. In one embodiment of the invention, the system provides high data density by providing the capability to mount four data storage devices, such as disk drives, in a row that extends across the width of an enclosure that conforms to the 1U specification. In a further embodiment, the system includes a latch that allows a data storage device that is disposed on a carriage to be attached and detached from a receiving bay within a disclosure. The latch includes a sensor that provides an electrical signal which is indicative of when a user is disengaging the latch to remove the data storage device from the enclosure. This signal can be used to prevent any data that is being transferred to or from the data storage device from being lost and/or corrupted during removal of the data storage device. Another embodiment of the system includes an elastomeric vibration dampener that isolates a data storage device from vibrations that can adversely affect the operation of the data storage device. A further embodiment incorporates a electrical connector structure that dampens vibrations between a data storage device and the structure to which it is electrically connected. Yet another embodiment of the system includes an electrical connector that is capable of accommodating the different locations that various manufacturers of IDE disk drives, one type of data storage device that can be placed in the enclosure, place the power and data interfaces on the drive. This ability allows a customer to use IDE drives in the system that have varying locations for their power and/or data interfaces.

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Louisville, CO, United States of America

John Spiers