Real-time storage area network
AssigneeSilicon Graphics, Inc.
InventorMichael A. Raymond
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cluster of computing systems is provided with guaranteed real-time access to data storage in a storage area network. Processes issue requests for bandwidth reservation which are initially handled by a daemon on the same node as the requesting processes. The local daemon determines whether bandwidth is available and, if so, reserves the bandwidth in common hardware on the local node; then forwards requests for shared resources to a master daemon for the cluster. The master daemon makes similar determinations and reservations for resources shared by the cluster, including data storage elements in the storage area network and grants admission to the requests that don't exceed total available bandwidth.
Claims17
A method of accessing a storage area network by real-time applications, comprising:
- requesting, from a master daemon by the real-time applications executing on nodes in the storage area network, reservation of bandwidth to access resources in the storage area network;
- and
- scheduling, by the master daemon, access to the resources in the storage area network by each real-time application.
A computer readable storage controlling a computing system to perform a method of accessing a storage area network by real-time applications, comprising:
- requesting, from a master daemon by the real-time applications executing on nodes in the storage area network, reservation of bandwidth to access resources in the storage area network;
- and
- scheduling, by the master daemon, access to the resources in the storage area network by each real-time application.
A cluster of computer systems, comprising:
- a storage area network having sharable resources;
- and
- computer system nodes, coupled to said storage area network, to execute real-time applications issuing requests to a master daemon running on one of the computer system nodes for reservation of bandwidth to access the sharable resources in the storage area network, the master daemon in response to the requests scheduling access to the sharable resources in the storage area network by each real-time application.
At least one computer readable medium storing data structures comprising:
- a master database of reserved network bandwidth and total available network bandwidth of components capable of being shared by real-time applications executing on nodes in a storage area network;
- and
- client node databases, each storing reserved local bandwidth and total local available bandwidth for local node components shared by the real-time applications executed at a local node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.