899 results about "SCSI" patented technology

For enhanced access control, a client includes a token in each read or write command sent to a block storage device. The block storage device evaluates the token to determine whether or not read or write access is permitted at a specified logical block address. For example, the token is included in the logical block address field of a SCSI read or write command. The client may compute the token as a function of the logical block address of a data block to be accessed, or a metadata server may include the token in each block address of each extent reported to the client in response to a metadata request. For enhanced security, the token also is a function of a client identifier, a logical unit number, and access rights of the client to a particular extent of file system data blocks.

A Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) transport for fabric backplane enterprise servers provides for local and remote communication of storage system information between storage sub-system elements of an ES system and other elements of an ES system via a storage interface. The transport includes encapsulation of information for communication via a reliable transport implemented in part across a cellifying switch fabric. The transport may optionally include communication via Ethernet frames over any of a local network or the Internet. Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) and Direct Data Placement (DDP) protocols are used to communicate the information (commands, responses, and data) between SCSI initiator and target end-points. A Fibre Channel Module (FCM) may be operated as a SCSI target providing a storage interface to any of a Processor Memory Module (PMM), a System Control Module (SCM), and an OffLoad Module (OLM) operated as a SCSI initiator.

A system and method for throttling data access rates through data containers prevents starvation of storage system resources by active clients. A SCSI throttle module of a storage operating system of storage system determines if the number of outstanding access requests associated with the client or initiator group exceeds a preset throttle value.

A method and system is disclosed to maintain data consistency over an internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) network, for disaster recovery and remote data replication purposes. Data consistency and replication is maintained between primary and secondary sites geographically distant from each other. According to the method, a primary journal volume logs all changes (data writes) made to a primary volume, transmits the changes based on a preconfigured policy to a secondary journal volume, and thereafter merges the changes stored in the secondary journal volume with a secondary volume. Changes in the journal volumes are ordered in point-in-time (PiT) frames and transmitted using a vendor specific SCSI command utilizing the iSCSI protocol.

A storage device made of flash memory module(s) and a storage device controller and a PCI Express interface unit, is implemented to be compatible with (1) either ATA, ATAPI, SCSI or proprietary specification, and (2) PCI Express platform such as, with then, ExpressCard Standard or PCI Express Card Specification or PCI Express Mini Card Specification. The device includes memory module(s), which can accept data transfer and configuration and status report to/from non-volatile solid-state memory herein referred to as flash memory module(s). The storage device controller and the PCI Express interface unit work together to provide (A) PCI Express interface functionality and compatibility, and (B) ATA, ATAPI or SCSI or proprietary programming interface functionality and compatibility, alone with common flash memory operations such as programming reading, writing, erasing, and data transferring from/to PCI Express host platform.

An enhanced SCSI storage adapter with multiple queues for use by different server processors or partitions. For a non-partitioned server, the operating system (OS) owns the SCSI storage adapter, controls the adapter queues, both creation of and changes to the queues, and updates the queue table(s) in the storage adapter with queue address information, device list, message signaled interrupt (MSI) information and optional queue priorities. An OS operator can specify that one or more SCSI devices can be accessed by a specific processor or group of processors. The processor or group of processors is given an adapter queue to access the SCSI device or devices. For a partitioned server, one partition, which may be a hosting partition, owns the SCSI storage adapter, controls the adapter queues, both creation of and changes to the queues, and updates the queue table(s) in the storage adapter with queue address information, device list, message signaled interrupt (MSI) information and optional queue priorities. A system operator can assign one or more SCSI devices under a storage adapter to a partition. Each partition that has access to a SCSI device(s) under a SCSI adapter is given an adapter queue to access the device(s).

The present invention is generally directed to a system and method for virtualizing storage in a networked system. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, in a system having an initiator and at least one storage device, an inventive method determines, based upon a SCSI command received by a manager from the initiator, which of the data storage devices are implicated by the SCSI command. The method then forms an iSCSI command that is sent from the manager to each of the implicated storage devices, and receives at the manager an iSCSI response from each of implicated storage devices, after each of the storage devices has completed its implicated data transactions with the initiator. Finally, the method forms a SCSI response that is sent by the manager to the initiator. A corresponding system is also provided.

A computer system including several nonconcurrently active hard disk drives ordinarily loaded with unique software bundles. Each active hard drive introduces an especial operating system setup and applications installation which is unconditionally denied access by activities obtained under another hard disk drive's software instructions. An absolute isolation between two or more user's application programs and data files is achieved while sharing a common set of computer system hardware and peripherals. Each category of nonconcurrent user operates independently without a threat of corruption from activities of another prior or subsequent user utilizing the same computer system for another disparate activity. In an IDE/ATA interface environment, a typical arrangement includes a setting of ROM-BIOS to only recognize a MASTER drive with a subsequent user determined swapping of MASTER and SLAVE modes between at least two hard drives utilizing a manual switch-over to obtain operation under operating system and programs uniquely installed on each of the intently selected MASTER drives, while denying access to the alternant SLAVE drive. In an SCSI interface environment, several drives set with the same SCSI-ID number are selected between by manually controlling a completion of the SCSI bus SEL line to the active intended drive and interrupting the SEL line to designated inactive drives. Virus corruption of one primary drive is fire-walled against inadvertent transfer into an alternate primary drive thereby assuring system operating integrity for one user category in spite of virus contamination, command errors, or careless or malicious hacking introduced by another user category.

A storage router and method for creating a first session to a first information-handling system on a first network supporting IP packets, the network having a plurality of information-handling systems, creating a second session to the first information-handling system on a second network supporting IP packets, supporting iSCSI operations in the first session through an internet protocol (IP) port coupled to the first network, supporting management operations in the second session through an internet protocol (IP) port coupled to the second network, wherein the first and second sessions use a common IP layer, and preventing iSCSI operations from using the second network.

The Fibre. Channel standard was created by the American National Standard for Information Systems (ANSI) X3T11 task group to define a serial I/O channel for interconnecting a number of heterogeneous peripheral devices to computer systems as well as interconnecting the computer systems themselves through optical fiber and copper media at gigabit speeds (i.e., one billion bits per second). Multiple protocols such as SCSI (Small Computer Serial Interface), IP (Internet Protocol), HIPPI, ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) among others can concurrently utilize the same media when mapped over Fibre Channel. A Fibre Channel Fabric is an entity which transmits Fibre Channel frames between connected Node Ports. The Fibre Channel fabric routes the frames based on the destination address as well as other information embedded in the Fibre Channel frame header. Node Ports are attached to the Fibre Channel Fabric through links.

A method and apparatus for providing multi-path I/O in non-concurrent clustering environment is disclosed. Shared non-concurrent access to logical volumes through multiple paths is provided by using SCSI-3 persistent reserve commands. Open options of the operating system are mapped to SCSI persistent reserve commands to allow all of the multiple paths to register with the logical unit number of the shared storage system and to allow the second of the multiple paths to access the logical unit number of the shared storage system after obtaining a persistent reservation with the shared storage system.

Novel storage area networks (SANs) and methods of operation thereof utilize a plurality of hosts coupled via an interconnect with one or more storage units. A manager device, process or other functionality in communication with a plurality of agent processes, devices or other functionality, each of which is associated with a host. The agents identify attributes of (i) their associated hosts, (ii) interconnect to which that host is coupled, and/or (iii) storage units to which that host is coupled via the interconnect. The manager responds to these attributes identified by the agents to manage the SAN. The manager can be implemented on a first digital data processor and the hosts on further digital data processors. These digital data processors can be coupled via a first network, e.g., an IP or other network, to support communications between the manager and the agents. A second network, e.g., SCSI and/or fiber channel based fabric, separate from the first network, can be utilized as the interconnect between the hosts and the storage devices.

A converter system that allows a host system using a first interface to use a second storage using a second interface. The invention provides a method to allow an ECKD MVS DASD storage using an ESCON interface to be used by an open system using a SCSI-type interface without changes to the ESCON storage or the open storage interfaces. The method also permits the SCSI-type interfaced open system to be physically located greater than 25 meters from the ESCON storage system. The method involves mapping the SCSI-type interface data and commands into parameters used and understood by the ESCON storage. The invention may also be implemented to provide a digital data storage medium containing the method of the invention and a digital apparatus capable of executing the invention.

A digital electronic camera which can accept various types of input/output cards or memory cards. When an I/O card is inserted into and connected with the camera, a processor within the camera determines the type of I/O card which has been connected by reading a memory location within the card. A control program which is contained in the I/O card is transferred to a memory within the camera in order for the camera to perform I/O functions which correspond to the type of the inserted card. Different types of I/O cards which may be used include a modem card, a LAN card, a SCSI card, or an ISDN interface. Image signals and audio signals are transmitted between the camera and an external processor, information describing the status of the camera is transmitted from the camera to the external processor, and commands to control the camera are transmitted to the camera from the external processor.

The present invention provides a system and method for inband management of a virtual disk. A novel volume information command, which is a vendor-specific SCSI command, is sent by a client to a storage appliance, in response, generates a data structure containing various path and networking data associated with a vdisk. This data structure is then returned to the requesting client via a SCSI connection. A client may then utilize the returned information for generating snapshots or other data integrity/backup features offered by the storage appliance.

An electronic flash-memory card has additional pipes for commands and status messages so that data pipes are not clogged with commands and status messages, allowing for a higher data throughput. The command and status pipes are activated when a UAS/BOT detector detects that a host is using a USB-Attached-SCSI (UAS) mode rather than a Bulk-Only-Transfer (BOT) mode. The host can send additional commands and data without waiting for completion of a prior command when operating in UAS mode but not while operating in BOT mode. A command queue (CQ) in the device re-orders commands for accessing flash memory and merges data in a RAM buffer. Smaller 1 KB USB packets in the data pipes are merged into larger 8 KB payloads in the RAM buffer, allowing for more efficient flash access.

A method and apparatus for transferring data between IP devices (including, but not limited to, Gigabit Ethernet devices) and SCSI or Fibre Channel devices. The device interfaces may be either SCSI, Fibre Channel or IP interfaces such as Gigabit Ethernet. Data is switched between SCSI and IP, Fibre Channel and IP, or between SCSI and Fibre Channel. Data can also be switched from SCSI to SCSI, IP to IP and FC to FC. The port interfaces provide the conversion from the input frame format to an internal frame format, which can be routed within the apparatus. The amount of processing performed by each port interface is dependent on the interface type. The processing capabilities of the present invention permit rapid transfer of information packets between multiple interfaces at latency levels meeting the stringent requirements for storage protocols. The configuration control can be applied to each port on a switch and, in turn, each switch on the network, via an SNMP or Web-based interface, providing a flexible, programmable control for the apparatus.