System and method for authenticating block level cache access on network
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsSteven R. Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A data cache for an iSCSI network caches block-level data from WAN servers for use by clients (e.g., LANs). The cache authenticates itself to the WAN servers, and authenticates clients requesting cache access. Mechanisms are provided to prevent clients from accessing cached data intended for other clients.
Claims82
A cache device including a local data storage for fulfilling requests for block storage from at least one client to at least one block storage server, the device including logic for undertaking method acts comprising:
- maintaining, in the local data storage, an ephemeral copy of at least one write block written from at least a write client to the server;
- subsequently writing the write block to the server from the local data storage;
- authenticating at least a first client, prior to permitting access to data in the local data storage.
A method for communicating data in a network between at least one client and at least one server, comprising:
- placing data at block level onto the network;
- selectively caching at least some data at a cache device located between a client and a server, the cache device having a local data storage;
- and
- using the cache device to authenticate at least one client prior permitting the client to access data at the cache device.
A computer program device comprising:
- a computer program storage device readable by a digital processing apparatus;
- and
- a program on the program storage device and including instructions executable by the digital processing apparatus for caching data flowing between a server and a client in a network, the program comprising:
- means for caching data at a block level in a data storage;
- and
- means for authenticating a client requesting access to data in the data storage.
A system for transferring data between a server side and a client side over a network using iSCSI, comprising:
- a data cache between the server side and client side and caching data in a local storage,
- the data cache authenticating a client prior to sending data in the local storage to the client.
A cache device including a local data storage for fulfilling requests for block storage from at least one client to at least one block storage server, the device including logic for undertaking method acts comprising:
- receiving a request from at least a read client to read at least one read block from the server;
- requesting a read block from a server;
- storing the read block in the local data storage, such that subsequent requests for the read block from the read client can be satisfied from the local storage;
- and
- authenticating at least a first client, prior to permitting access to data in the local data storage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.