Smart rack architecture for diskless computer system
AssigneeQuanta Computer Inc.
InventorsMaw-Zan JAU, Ching-Chih SHIH, Chin-Lung CHANG
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for efficient allocation of remote storage devices to computing devices in a rack is disclosed. An end of the rack switch is provided with physical storage devices and a storage service. The switch includes ports that are coupled to network interface cards of computing servers. The storage service allows each of the computing servers to access the physical storage devices. The network interface card includes a controller that can be configured into virtual storage controllers to allow access to different storage volumes.
Claims19
A storage system comprising:
- a switch having a plurality of ports, a plurality of physical storage devices, and a storage service operable to manage the plurality of physical storage devices;
- a plurality of computing devices, each having a processor, a network port and a network interface card operable to be coupled to one of the ports of the switch, wherein the switch is operable to network the plurality of computing devices;
- and
- wherein the storage service allows the processor of each of the computing devices to access at least one of the physical storage devices as local storage.
A method of providing remote access to physical storage devices in a switch for computing devices, the method comprising:
- connecting each of the plurality of computing devices to a corresponding port of an array of ports of a switch;
- providing a network connection for each of the connected plurality of computing devices via the switch;
- allocating at least one of the physical storage devices to the computing device via a storage service on the switch;
- and
- reallocating the at least one of the physical storage device to another computing device via the storage service.
A rack based computing system comprising:
- a rack assembly having a plurality of slots;
- a top of rack switch located in one of the plurality of slots, the top of rack switch including a plurality of ports, a plurality of physical storage devices, and a storage service;
- a plurality of computing servers, each computing server located in a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, each of the plurality of computing servers including a network interface card, wherein the network interface card is coupled to one of the ports of the top of rack switch;
- wherein the top of rack switch allows network communication to the plurality of computing servers;
- and
- wherein the storage service allocates storage in at least one of the physical storage devices to at least one of the computing servers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.