Distributed Network Storage System With Virtualization

Abstract

Abstract of the DisclosureThe present invention is directed to a data storage system for use in achieving distributed data storage over a computer network. One embodiment of the data storage system comprises a storage server system that is comprised of one or more storage servers that each provide data storage, a management server system that is comprised of one or more management servers that each provide management functionality relating to the storage server system, and a driver that is capable of being associated each of the application clients that are to utilize the data storage system. A data storage configuration identifier structure whose value is updated when there is a change to the composition of the storage system or storage allocation within the storage system is used to manage data transfers between the storage system and application clients.

Description

Detailed Description of the InventionCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001] This application is a continuation of United States Patent Application No. 10 / 063,992, entitled "DISTRIBUTED NETWORK STORAGE SYSTEM WITH VIRTUALIZATION", filed on May 31, 2002.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002] The present invention relates to data storage and, in particular, to the distribution of data storage over a computer network.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003] A conventional networked computer system is comprised of a number of computers that each have an operating system, a network for communicating data between the computers, and at least one data storage device that is attached to at least one of the computers but not directly attached to the network. In such a system, the transfer of data between the data storage device and a computer in the system other than the computer with which the device is associated requires that the operating system of the computer with which the data storage device is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention is directed to a system for use in achieving distributed network data storage in a network and that provides the flexibility to achieve additional functionality, such as the ability to scale the data storage, stripe data, replicate data, migrate data, snapshot data, and provide shared access.

Problems solved by technology

Because the operating system of the computer is typically servicing requests from various applications (e.g., a word processing application) executing on the computer, the operating system typically is only able to devote a limited amount of time to the processing of the data transfer.

In other words, the networks, due to their relatively low transfer rates, were the bottleneck in transferring data between a data storage device associated with one computer in the system and other computers in the system.

However, as the data transfer rates for network improved, the operating system became the bottleneck because the operating system was typically servicing requests from various applications when the network was available for data transfers to or from the data storage device.

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