Switching node apparatus for storage network and method of accessing remote storage apparatus

A switching node apparatus comprising:

• a first interface for connection to a relay network;
• a plurality of second interfaces for connection to an area network;
• a third interface for connection to a user terminal in said area network via a dedicated line;
• and
• a path controller having an attribution table defining various bandwidth control parameters for each of attribution classifications of data to be transferred,
• wherein when a path reservation request designating a data attribution is received from said third interface, said path controller reads out bandwidth control parameters in the attribution classification corresponding to said designated data attribution from said attribution table, and executes a communication procedure for setting a path having a reserved bandwidth on said relay network in accordance with the bandwidth control parameters, and
• data is transferred between said user terminal and a remote storage apparatus via said path having the reserved bandwidth in accordance with a command received there after from one of said second interfaces.

A method of accessing a remote storage apparatus in a network including a first storage area network and a second storage area network connected to a relay network via a first switching node and a second switching node, respectively, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a file access instruction from a computer apparatus belonging to said first storage area network to a storage apparatus belonging to said second storage area network;
• receiving the file access instruction by said first switching node;
• executing a communication procedure for setting a communication path on said relay network by said first switching node in cooperation with said second switching node while holding transfer of said instruction to said relay network, said communication path having a reserved bandwidth adapted to a transfer data length designated by said instruction;
• and
• after the communication path is set, transferring said file access instruction from the first switching node to said storage apparatus, whereby performing data transfer according to the file access instruction between said computer apparatus and said storage apparatus via the communication path.

A method of accessing a remote storage apparatus in a network including a first storage area network and a second storage area network connected to a relay network via a first switching node and a second switching node, respectively, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a file access instruction from a computer apparatus belonging to said first storage area network to a storage apparatus belonging to said second storage area network;
• transferring the instruction to said relay network by said first switching node;
• executing a communication procedure for setting a communication path on said relay network by said first switching node in cooperation with said second switching node, said communication path having a reserved bandwidth adapted to a transfer data length designated by said instruction;
• after said file access instruction is received by said storage apparatus, performing data transfer according to said file access instruction between said computer apparatus and the storage apparatus via a standard communication path;
• and
• after said communication path having the reserved bandwidth is set, performing data transfer according to said file access instruction between said computer apparatus and the storage apparatus via the communication path having the reserved bandwidth.

A method of accessing a remote storage apparatus in a network including a first storage area network and a second storage area network connected to a relay network via a first switching node and a second switching node, respectively, comprising the steps of:

• sending a request for reserving a communication path for accessing a storage apparatus belonging to said second storage area network, from a computer apparatus belonging to said first storage area network to said first switching node;
• receiving the request by said first switching node;
• executing a communication procedure for setting a communication path on said relay network by said first switching node in cooperation with said second switching node and, on completion of the communication procedure, notifying said computer apparatus of reservation of the communication path, said communication path having a reserved bandwidth adapted to a data attribution designated by said request;
• and
• after reception of said notification of reservation of said communication path, transmitting a file access instruction from said computer apparatus to said disk, whereby performing data transfer according to said file access instruction between said computer apparatus and the disk apparatus via said communication path having the reserved bandwidth.