Accelerating internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) proxy input/output (I/O)

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for accelerating proxy Input/Output (proxy I/O), said method comprising:

• receiving a command at a primary target storage system included in a plurality of storage systems of a clustered storage array, the command being transmitted by an initiator system to the primary target storage system via a storage area network, the command including a request for data;
• forwarding the command to a session layer of the primary target storage system;
• when a virtualization layer of the primary target storage system determines that a portion of the data requested in the data request is not stored by the primary target storage system, but is stored by a proxy target storage system included in the plurality of storage systems, providing a proxyIO request to a proxy initiator of the primary target storage system;
• and
• based on the proxyIO request, generating a proxyDataIn request and providing the proxyDataIn request to an I/O controller for the primary target storage system.

A system, comprising:

• means for receiving a command at a primary target storage system included in a plurality of storage systems of a clustered storage array, the command being transmitted by an initiator system to the primary target storage system via a storage area network, the command including a request for data;
• means for forwarding the command to a session layer of the primary target storage system;
• when a virtualization layer of the primary target storage system determines that a portion of the data requested in the data request is not stored by the primary target storage system, but is stored by a proxy target storage system included in the plurality of storage systems, means for providing a proxyIO request to a proxy initiator of the primary target storage system;
• and
• based on the proxyIO request, means for generating a proxyDataIn request and providing the proxyDataIn request to an I/O controller for the primary target storage system.