Method and system for accessing data

A system for distributing and accessing data over multiple controllers wherein data is broken down into one or more fragments over the multiple controllers comprising:

• a primary host;
• a first storage controller;
• and
• a second storage controller;
• wherein the primary host makes a request for data to the first storage controller;
• wherein the first storage controller responds to the primary host with the request if the first storage controller contains the requested data;
• wherein the first storage controller forwards the request to the second storage controller if the first storage controller does not contain the requested data;
• wherein the second storage controller responds to the first storage controller with the request;
• and
• wherein the first storage controller responds to the primary host with the request.

A computer program product encoded in a computer readable medium for instructing a system to distribute and access data over multiple storage controllers wherein data is broken down into one or more fragments over the multiple storage controllers and wherein each storage controller owns a fragment of the data, the program code configured to cause the computer to perform the method comprising:

• receiving a request for data in a first storage controller from one of a plurality of hosts;
• responding to the host by the first storage controller with the request if the first storage controller contains the requested data;
• forwarding the request to the second storage controller from the first storage controller if the first storage controller does not contain the requested data;
• responding to the first storage controller from the second storage controller with the request;
• and
• responding to the host from the first storage controller with the request.