Patent · US Active

Storage area network with target side recognition and routing table upload

US8447860B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
2References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 25, 2008
Grant dateMay 21, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 4, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L67/1097
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A network of data processors for providing access to a resource, such as implemented a Storage Area Network that uses iSCSI and Microsoft MPIO-based network communication protocols. In preferred embodiments, the system or method uses (a) target-side consideration of MPIO disk structures, such as by having iSCSI initiators in from iSCSI targets via an iSCSI session object that is settable by a service action; and/or (b) uploading of routing tables from iSCSI targets to iSCSI initiator(s), such as to a Device Specific Module (DSM). Implementations may also involve, in a preferred embodiment: (1) requesting that the contents of the routing table be provided from the iSCSI target side storage servers to the iSCSI initiators, and using this as one of the factors influencing path selection as performed in the MPIO DSM on the initiator side; and/or (2) transmitting information from the iSCSI initiator to the iSCSI target storage server identifying connections as belonging to the same MPIO disk, and then receiving back from the iSCSI target storage server, information about the connections that should be created, and further then having a connection load balancer on the storage server hand…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.