Network data storage-related operations

A first adapter to use in a first network node, the first adapter comprising:

• circuitry to perform, in response to a request, a data storage-related operation associated with a first set of mass storage devices, the request being issued from a second adapter in a second network node in response to another request received by the second adapter to cause the second adapter to perform, in response to the another request, another data storage-related operation associated with a second set of mass storage devices.

A first input/output (I/O) processor, the first I/O processor being configured so as to able to execute a set of operations comprising:

• execution, in response to a first request, of a first data storage-related operation associated with a first set of mass storage devices;
• issuance, also in response to the first request, of a second request from a first network node to a second I/O processor in a second network node to cause the second I/O processor to perform, in response to the second request, a second data storage-related operation associated with a second set of mass storage devices.

A first input/output (I/O) processor, the first I/O processor being configured to execute a set of operations comprising:

• execution, in response to a request, of a first data storage-related operation associated with a first set of mass storage devices;
• and
• issuance, after completion of the execution of the first data storage-related operation, of a first message from a first network node to a second I/O processor in a second network node to cause the second I/O processor to issue, in response to the first message, a second message to a process in the second network node, the second I/O processor being operatively configurable both to generate the request and to perform a second data storage-related operation associated with a second set of mass storage devices, in response to another request from the process.

A method of using a first adapter in a first network node in a network, the method comprising:

• using the first adapter to perform, in response to a first request, a first data storage-related operation associated with a first set of mass storage devices;
• and
• issuing from the first adapter, also in response to the first request, a second request to a second adapter in a second network node in the network to cause the second I/O adapter to perform, in response to the second request, a second data storage-related operation associated with a second set of mass storage devices.

A method of using a first adapter in a first network node, the method comprising:

• using the first adapter to perform, in response to a request, a data storage-related operation associated with a first set of mass storage devices, the request being issued from a second adapter in a second network node in response to another request received by the second adapter, the second adapter being configured to perform, in response to the another request, another data storage-related operation associated with a second set of mass storage devices.

A method of using a first input/output (I/O) processor, the method comprising:

• using the first I/O processor to execute, in response to a first request, a first data storage-related operation associated with a first set of mass storage devices;
• and
• using the first I/O processor to generate, also in response to the first request, a second request that may be issued from a first network node to a second I/O processor in a second network node to cause the second I/O processor to perform, in response to the second request, a second data storage-related operation associated with a second set of mass storage devices.

A method of using a first input/output (I/O) processor, the method comprising:

• using the first I/O processor to execute, in response to a request, a first data storage-related operation associated with a first set of mass storage devices;
• and
• using the first I/O processor to generate, after completion of the execution of the first data storage-related operation, a first message that may be issued from a first network node to a second I/O processor in a second network node to cause the second I/O processor to issue, in response to the first message, a second message to a process in the second network node, the second I/O processor being operatively configurable both to generate the request and to perform a second data storage-related operation associated with a second set of mass storage devices, in response to another request from the process.

Computer program instructions residing in a computer-readable memory, the computer program instructions comprising a set of instructions that when executed by a first processor cause:

• execution of, in response to a first request, a first data storage-related operation associated with a first set of mass storage devices;
• and
• generation of, also in response to the first request, a second request that may be issued from a first network node to a second processor in a second network node to cause the second processor to perform, in response to the second request, a second data storage-related operation associated with a second set of mass storage devices.

Computer program instructions residing in a computer-readable memory, the computer program instructions comprising a set of instructions that when executed by a first processor cause:

• execution, in response to a request, of a first data storage-related operation associated with a first set of mass storage devices;
• and
• generation, after completion of the execution of the first data storage-related operation, of a first message that may be issued from a first network node to a second processor in a second network node to cause the second processor to issue, in response to the first message, a second message to a process in the second network node, the second processor being operatively configurable both to generate the request and to perform a second data storage-related operation associated with a second set of mass storage devices in response to another request from the process.