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US 2002/0120706 A1Published application
Method for determining master or slave mode in storage server subnet
OwnerCiaran Murphyinventor
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OwnerCiaran Murphyinventor
Estimating the term…
A plurality of storage servers (5, 7, 8, 9) are connected in a subnet (1) that is connected to a main network (2) via a single one of the storage servers (5). All traffic from the main network passes through the single storage server which operates in file mode and has an internal protocol server, such as a DHCP server, turned on. The other servers operate in a slave mode with their internal protocol servers turned off and function at block level. An automated master/slave recognition system operates on start up. All the storage servers power up as slaves requesting IP addresses. The storage server connected to the main network recognizes that it has received its address from the main network by virtue of receipt of standard protocol. It then turns on its own internal protocol server and adopts master mode. The master servers internal protocol server sends out the IP addresses for the storage subnet in a modified protocol, and on receipt of these the other storage servers remain in slave mode.
A storage area network comprising a plurality of storage servers, a first of which (5) is directly connected (as herein defined) to a network (2) and others of which (7, 8 and 9) are connected via the first storage server, the first storage server having an internal protocol server that inserts an identifier into the protocol package so that the protocol package differs from the protocol of the main network and the first storage server supplies the protocol to the other storage servers which recognise the identifiers.
A storage area network according to any preceding claim in which the first storage server is configured to start up with its internal protocol server inoperative and upon receipt of a standard event from the main network, the internal protocol server commences operation.
A storage area network according to any preceding claim in which the storage servers are similar and interconnected via Ethernet connection.
A storage area network according to any preceding claim in which a cluster of storage servers are directly connected to the main network and to said other storage servers and only one of said cluster inserts the identifier into the protocol package.
A method of establishing mode of operation for a storage server in a storage area network, the storage area network comprising a plurality of storage servers a first of which (5) is directly connected (as herein defined) to a main network (2) and others of which (7, 8 and 9) are connected to the first storage server, and said server for which the mode of operation is to be established being capable of operating in a master or slave modes, the method comprising
A method of establishing mode of operation for a device capable of functioning in a master or slave mode, the device to operate in master mode when connected to experience events on a network and to operate in slave mode when a device operating in master mode is interposed between it and connection to the network,
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.