SAS storage virtualization controller, subsystem and system using the same, and method therefor
AssigneeInfortrend Technology, Inc.
InventorsChing-Te Pang, Michael Schnapp, Shiann-Wen Sue, Cheng-Yu Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A storage virtualization computer system. The storage virtualization computer system comprises a host entity for issuing an IO request, a SAS storage virtualization controller coupled to the host entity for executing IO operations in response to the IO request, and at least one physical storage device, each coupled to the storage virtualization controller through a SAS interconnect, for providing data storage space to the storage virtualization computer system through the SAS storage virtualization controller.
Claims49
A storage virtualization computer system comprising:
- a host entity for issuing IO requests;
- an external storage virtualization controller coupled to said host entity for executing IO operations in response to said IO requests;
- and
- at least one physical storage device (PSD), each coupled to the storage virtualization controller through a SAS interconnect, for providing data storage space to the storage virtualization computer system through the storage virtualization controller.
A storage virtualization subsystem for providing data storage space, comprising:
- an external storage virtualization controller for connecting to a host entity and executing IO operations in response to IO requests issued from said host entity;
- and
- at least one physical storage device, each coupled to the storage virtualization controller through a SAS interconnect, for providing data storage space to the host entity through the storage virtualization controller.
An external storage virtualization controller, comprising:
- a central processing circuitry for performing IO operations in response to IO requests from a host entity;
- at least one IO device interconnect controller coupled to said central processing circuitry;
- at least one host-side IO device interconnect port provided in a said at least one IO device interconnect controller for coupling to said host entity;
- and
- at least one SAS device-side IO device interconnect port provided in a said at least one IO device interconnect controller for coupling to and performing point-to-point serial-signal transmission with at least one physical storage device.
A method for performing storage virtualization in a computer system with an external storage virtualization controller of the computer system, comprising:
- receiving an IO request from a host entity of the computer system with the storage virtualization controller;
- parsing the IO request with the storage virtualization controller to decide at least one IO operation to perform in response to said IO request;
- and
- performing at least one IO operation with the storage virtualization controller to access at least one physical storage device of the computer system in point-to-point serial-signal transmission complying with SAS protocol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.