Redundant multi-processor and logical processor configuration for a file server

A redundant file server comprising at least a first processor board and a second processor board, each of the first and second processor boards being programmed to perform file server functions, the first processor board being programmed to assume the file server functions of the second processor board upon failure of the second processor board, and the second processor board being programmed to assume the file server functions of the first processor board upon failure of the first processor board,

• wherein each of the first and second processor boards includes at least a first physical processor and a second physical processor,
• wherein each of the first and second physical processors has an on-chip cache, multiple functional units, and more than one processor register set sharing the on-chip cache and the multiple functional units to provide a first logical processor and a second logical processor;
• wherein the first logical processor of the first physical processor of each of the first and second processor boards is programmed to perform storage functions including logical-to-physical mapping and access to multiple storage devices, the second logical processor of the first physical processor of each of the first and second processor boards is programmed to execute file server control functions, the first logical processor of the second physical processor of each of the first and second processor boards is programmed to execute data mover functions including network communication with clients and file system access, and the second logical processor of the second physical processor of each of the first and second processor boards is programmed to be in a stand-by state for execution of data mover functions;
• wherein the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board is programmed to assume the storage system functions of the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board upon failure of the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board;
• and the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board is programmed to assume the storage system functions of the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board upon failure of the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board;
• wherein the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board is programmed to assume the file server control functions of the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board upon failure of the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board;
• and the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board is programmed to assume the file server control functions of the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board upon failure of the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board;
• and
• wherein the second logical processor of the second physical processor of the first processor board is programmed to assume the data mover functions of the first logical processor of the second physical processor of the second processor board upon failure of the second physical processor of the second processor board, and the second logical processor of the second physical processor of the second processor board is programmed to assume the data mover functions of the first logical processor of the second physical processor of the first processor board upon failure of the second physical processor of the first processor board.

A redundant file server comprising:

• a first processor board,
• a second processor board, and
• multiple storage devices;
• wherein each of the first and second processor boards includes at least a first physical processor, a second physical processor, random access memory shared between the first physical processor and the second physical processor, a first port for responding to file access requests from clients in a data network, a second port, and a third port;
• wherein the second port of the first processor board is linked to the second port of the second processor board for transfer of data between the first processor board and the second processor board;
• wherein each of the first and second physical processors has an on-chip cache, multiple functional units, and more than one processor register set sharing the on-chip cache and the multiple functional units to provide a first logical processor and a second logical processor;
• wherein each of the multiple storage devices has at least one port linked to the third port of the first processor board for data transmission from said each of the multiple storage devices to the third port of the first processor board, and another port linked to the third port of the second processor board for data transmission from said each of the multiple storage devices to the third port of the second processor board;
• wherein the first logical processor of the first physical processor of each of the first and second processor boards is programmed to execute storage system code, the second logical processor of the first physical processor of each of the first and second processor boards is programmed to execute file server control station code, the first logical processor of the second physical processor of each of the first and second processor boards is programmed to execute data mover code, the second logical processor of the second physical processor of each of the first and second processor boards is programmed to be in a stand-by state for execution of data mover code;
• wherein the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board is programmed to assume storage system functions of the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board upon failure of the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board;
• and the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board is programmed to assume storage system functions of the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board upon failure of the first logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board;
• wherein the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board is programmed to assume file server control station functions of the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board upon failure of the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board;
• and the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the second processor board is programmed to assume file server control station functions of the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board upon failure of the second logical processor of the first physical processor of the first processor board;
• and
• wherein the second logical processor of the second physical processor of the first processor board is programmed to assume data mover functions of the first logical processor of the second physical processor of the second processor board upon failure of the second physical processor of the second processor board, and the second logical processor of the second physical processor of the second processor board is programmed to assume data mover functions of the first logical processor of the second physical processor of the first processor board upon failure of the second physical processor of the first processor board.