Storage unit for high performance computing system, storage network and methods
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsDavid Michael Davis, Kenneth Kevin Claffey, Christopher Bloxham
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Abstract
There is disclosed a storage unit for high performance computing system, a storage network and a method of providing storage and of accessing storage. The storage unit includes an enclosure constructed and arranged to receive plural storage devices to provide high density, high capacity storage. The unit also includes a network connector and at least one integrated application controller constructed and arranged to run a scalable parallel file system for accessing data stored on the storage devices and providing server functionality to provide file access to a client via the network connector.
Claims21
1-22. (canceled)
A storage unit, comprising:
- an enclosure with
- a plurality of storage drives arranged in the enclosure;
- at least two network connectors, the network connectors configured to facilitate communication with the storage drives by a plurality of clients;
- and
- at least two server modules embedded in the enclosure and communicatively connected via a plurality of inter-controller links across a common midplane, each server module comprising a hardware application controller configured to run a parallel file system for accessing data stored on the storage drives and to provide file access to the plurality of clients via the network connectors.
A system comprising:
- a plurality of storage units, each comprising:
- a plurality of storage devices;
- at least two network connectors, the network connectors configured to facilitate communication with the storage devices by a plurality of clients;
- and
- at least two hardware modules communicatively connected via a plurality of inter-controller links across a common midplane, each hardware module comprising a controller configured to run a parallel file system for accessing data stored on the storage devices and to provide file access to the plurality of clients via the network connectors;
- a switch coupled to each of the storage units in a star topography and configured to provide access to at least one user;
- and
- a cluster management unit.
A method, comprising:
- connecting a plurality of storage units to a switch in a star topography to provide a high performance computing system network;
- and
- connecting a host of a high performance computing system to the switch, each storage unit comprising:
- an enclosure housing a plurality of storage devices;
- at least two network connectors configured to facilitate communication with the storage devices by the client;
- and
- at least two server modules embedded in the enclosure and communicatively connected via a plurality of links across a common midplane, each server module comprising an application controller configured to run a distributed parallel file system for accessing data stored on the storage devices and to provide file access to the host via the network connectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.