Methods and apparatus for interfacing to a data storage system

In a data storage system, a method allowing access to data by multiple computing devices through a volume of data, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving an access request to the volume by a computing device;
• retrieving access information within the volume from a plurality of sets of access information, wherein the access information retrieved is specific to the computing device requesting access to the volume;
• and
• providing, to the computing device, the access information retrieved to allow the computing device to properly access the volume.

A data storage system comprising:

• a host interface capable of coupling to at least one computing device;
• a storage device interface capable of coupling to one or more storage devices maintained within the data storage system;
• and
• a memory coupled to the host interface and the storage device interface, the memory containing a volume having an associated identifier, the volume existing in the memory as an accessible volume of data storage for access by computing devices via the host interface when there are storage devices associated with the volume, and when there are no storage devices associated with the volume.

A data storage system comprising:

• a host interface capable of coupling to at least one computing device;
• at least one storage device storing data according to at least one particular arrangement;
• a storage device interface capable of coupling to the at least one storage device;
• a memory coupled to the host interface and the storage device interface, the memory containing a volume, the volume containing a plurality of sets of access information allowing a plurality of specific computing devices to access data stored on the at least one storage device according to the a particular arrangement associated to each of the plurality of computing devices.

A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon providing an interface to a data storage system including a plurality of storage devices, such that the computer program logic, when executed on at least one processing unit with the data storage system, causes the at least one processing unit to perform the steps of:

• defining parameters of a volume within the data storage system;
• creating, in the data storage system, the volume from the parameters when there are storage devices of the plurality of storage devices associated with the volume, and when there are no storage devices associated with the volume;
• and
• providing the volume as a volume of available data storage to a computing device which is external to the data storage system, the volume of storage accessible with the associated identifier.

A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon providing access to a volume by multiple computing devices, such that the computer program logic, when executed on at least one processing unit with the data storage system, causes the at least one processing unit to perform the steps of:

• receiving an access request to the volume by a computing device;
• retrieving access information within the volume from a plurality of sets of access information, wherein the access information retrieved is specific to the computing device requesting access to the volume;
• and
• providing, to the computing device, the access information to allow the computing device to properly access the volume.