Assimilation of foreign logical units in a network storage controller
AssigneeNetApp, Inc.
InventorsRobert L. Fair, Rebecca S. Beaman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of making a foreign law in usable in a network storage controller includes transparently converting the foreign logical unit to the native format of the file system in place, by progressively increasing the binding between the file system of the storage controller and the foreign logical unit, while the foreign logical unit remains online, without requiring copying of the foreign logical unit.
Claims22
A method comprising:
- managing a file system in a network storage controller, the file system having a native format;
- accessing a foreign logical unit from the network storage controller, the foreign logical unit having a format different from the native format of the file system;
- and
- progressively increasing a binding between the file system and the foreign logical unit while the foreign logical unit remains online, to convert the foreign logical unit to the native format of the file system.
12-13. (canceled)
A network storage controller comprising:
- a processor;
- a network interface through which to communicate with a remote storage host;
- a storage interface through which to communicate with a storage subsystem, the storage subsystem including a foreign logical unit;
- and
- a memory accessible to the processor and storing code which, when executed by the processor, causes the network storage controller to perform a process that comprises managing a file system which has a native format, the foreign logical unit having a format different from the native format, and converting the foreign logical unit to the native format by progressively increasing a binding between the file system and the foreign logical unit while the foreign logical unit remains online.
22-28. (canceled)
A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions to be implemented by a processor, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause a network storage controller to:
- manage a file system in the network storage controller, the file system having a native format;
- access a foreign logical unit from the network storage controller, the foreign logical unit having a format different from the native format of the file system;
- and
- progressively increase a binding between the file system and the foreign logical unit while the foreign logical unit remains online, to convert the foreign logical unit to the native format of the file system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.