Storage aggregator for enhancing virtualization in data storage networks

A data storage network with virtualized data storage, comprising:

• a communication fabric;
• a server system linked to the communication fabric and running applications that transmit data access commands over the communication fabric;
• a storage system linked to the communication fabric including data storage devices and a controller for managing access to the data storage devices;
• and
• a storage aggregator linked to the communication fabric having virtual drives comprising a logical representation of the data storage devices, wherein the storage aggregator receives the data access commands pertaining to the virtual drives and forwards the data access commands to the controller of the storage system.

A storage aggregation apparatus for virtualizing data access commands, comprising:

• an input and output interface linking the storage aggregation apparatus to a digital data communication fabric, wherein the interface receives a data access command from a host server over the fabric;
• a command processor configured to parse a data movement portion from the data access command and to transmit the data movement portion to a storage controller;
• and
• a mechanism for receiving a reply signal from the storage controller in response to acting on the received data movement portion directly with the host server and for transmitting a data access response to the host server via the interface and fabric based on the storage controller reply signal.