System, method, and software for a virtual host bus adapter in a storage-area network
US7240098B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 3, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/322
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Accessing some storage-area networks (SANs) requires a client computer to include a special electronic component, known as a host bus adapter (HBA). However, the present inventor recognized that conventional host bus adapters add considerable expense to the cost of accessing the storage-area network. Accordingly, the present inventor devised a host bus adapter that is implemented in software and thus referred to as a “virtual” host bus adapter. One exemplary embodiment of the virtual host bus adapter includes a hardware-emulation module that makes the virtual host bus adapter appear to operating system environments as a conventional host bust adapter with dedicated hardware.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.