System for bypassing a server to achieve higher throughput between data network and data storage system

An apparatus for interconnecting at least one data network, at least one storage device, and at least one server, comprising:

• a) a network interface;
• b) a storage interface;
• c) a server interface;
• d) a routing element having a routing table;
• and
• e) a high-level protocol decoding unit, wherein decoded high layer application information is used by said control unit to direct and control traffic received from a data network in real time;
• wherein said apparatus can transfer data between any two of said at least one data network, said at least one storage device and said at least one server;
• wherein said routing table comprises information from the group comprising port to route mapping, priority, delay sensitivity, nature of the applications, or information for Quality of Service measurement;
• wherein said at least one server may be bypassed in serving data to or receiving it from said network, further comprising a control unit, which routes data coming into (or being served from) said network either to (or from) said at least one storage device or to (or from) said at least one server;
• and
• means to provide file system consistency between said apparatus and said at least one server.

An apparatus for interconnecting at least one data network, at least one storage device, and at least one server, comprising:

• a) a network interface;
• b) a storage interface;
• c) a server interface;
• d) a routing element having a routing table;
• and
• e) a high-level protocol decoding unit, wherein decoded high layer application information is used by said control unit to direct and control traffic received from a data network in real time;
• wherein said apparatus can transfer data between any two of said at least one data network, said at least one storage device and said at least one server;
• wherein said routing table comprises information from the group comprising port to route mapping, priority, delay sensitivity, nature of the applications, or information for Quality of Service measurement;
• wherein said at least one server may be bypassed in serving data to or receiving it from said network, further comprising a control unit, which routes data coming into (or being served from) said network either to (or from) said at least one storage device or to (or from) said at least one server;
• and
• means for providing HTTP synchronization between said apparatus and said at least one server.

An apparatus for interconnecting at least one data network, at least one storage device, and at least one server, comprising:

• a) a network interface;
• b) a storage interface;
• c) a server interface;
• d) a routing element having a routing table;
• e) a high-level protocol decoding unit, wherein decoded high layer application information is used by said control unit to direct and control traffic received from a data network in real time;
• f) said a data cache to hold data from said storage device;
• wherein said apparatus can transfer data between any two of said at least one data network, said at least one storage device and said at least one server;
• wherein said routing table comprises information from the group comprising port to route mapping, priority, delay sensitivity, nature of the applications, or information for Quality of Service measurement;
• and
• wherein said at least one server may be bypassed in serving data to or receiving it from said network, further comprising a control unit, which routes data coming into (or being served from) said network either to (or from) said at least one storage device or to (or from) said at least one server.

An apparatus for interconnecting at least one data network, at least one storage device, and at least one server, comprising:

• a) a network interface;
• b) a storage interface;
• c) a server interface;
• d) a routing element having a routing table;
• and
• e) a high-level protocol decoding unit, wherein decoded high layer application information is used by said control unit to direct and control traffic received from a data network in real time;
• wherein said apparatus can transfer data between any two of said at least one data network, said at least one storage device and said at least one server;
• wherein said routing table comprises information from the group comprising port to route mapping, priority, delay sensitivity, nature of the applications, or information for Quality of Service measurement;
• wherein said at least one server may be bypassed in serving data to or receiving it from said network, further comprising a control unit, which routes data coming into (or being served from) said network either to (or from) said at least one storage device or to (or from) said at least one server;
• and
• means for using the storage device to hold data required for TCP retransmission.

An apparatus for interconnecting at least one data network, at least one storage device, and at least one server, comprising:

• a) a network interface;
• b) a storage interface;
• c) a server interface;
• d) a routing element having a routing table;
• and
• e) a high-level protocol decoding unit, wherein decoded high layer application information is used by said control unit to direct and control traffic received from a data network in real time;
• wherein said apparatus can transfer data between any two of said at least one data a network, said at least one storage device and said at least one server;
• wherein said routing table comprises information from the group comprising port to route mapping, priority, delay sensitivity, nature of the applications, or information for Quality of Service measurement;
• wherein said at least one server may be bypassed in serving data to or receiving it from said network, further comprising a control unit, which routes data coming into (or being served from) said network either to (or from) said at least one storage device or to (or from) said at least one server;
• and
• a file system consistency manager configured to provide file system consistency between said apparatus and said at least one server.

An apparatus for interconnecting at least one data network, at least one storage device, and at least one server, comprising:

• a) a network interface;
• b) a storage interface;
• c) a server interface;
• d) a routing element having a routing table;
• and
• e) a high-level protocol decoding unit, wherein decoded high layer application information is used by said control unit to direct and control traffic received from a data network in real time;
• wherein said apparatus can transfer data between any two of said at least one data network, said at least one storage device and said at least one server;
• wherein said routing table comprises information from the group comprising port to route mapping, priority, delay sensitivity, nature of the applications, or information for Quality of Service measurement;
• wherein said at least one server may be bypassed in serving data to or receiving it from said network, further comprising a control unit, which routes data coming into (or being served from) said network either to (or from) said at least one storage device or to (or from) said at least one server;
• and
• an HTTP synchronization manager configured to provide HTTP synchronization between said apparatus and said at least one server.

An apparatus for interconnecting at least one data network, at least one storage device, and at least one server, comprising:

• a) a network interface;
• b) a storage interface;
• c) a server interface;
• d) a routing element having a routing table;
• and
• e) a high-level protocol decoding unit, wherein decoded high layer application information is used by said control unit to direct and control traffic received from a data network in real time;
• wherein said apparatus can transfer data between any two of said at least one data network, said at least one storage device and said at least one server;
• wherein said routing table comprises information from the group comprising port to route mapping, priority, delay sensitivity, nature of the applications, or information for Quality of Service measurement;
• wherein said at least one server may be bypassed in serving data to or receiving it from said network, further comprising a control unit, which routes data coming into (or being served from) said network either to (or from) said at least one storage device or to (or from) said at least one server;
• and
• a TCP retransmission data manager, wherein the TCP retransmission data manager is configured to use the storage device to hold data for TCP retransmission.