Apparatus and method for data virtualization in a storage processing device

A switched fabric for connection to and coupling of at least one host and at least two storage units, the fabric comprising:

• at least one switch for coupling to the at least one host and the at least two storage units;
• and
• a storage processing device coupled to the at least one switch and for coupling to the at least one host and the at least two storage units, where the at least one host and at least two storage units may be directly connected to the storage processing device or may be coupled through the switch, the storage processing device to virtualize a storage unit and to do migration of data between first and second storage units whether the at least one host and at least two storage units are directly connected to the storage processing device or coupled through the at least one switch, the storage processing device including:
• an input/output module including processors to receive, operate on and transmit network traffic, and
• a control module coupled to said input/output module, said input/output module and said control module being configured to interactively support virtualization of a storage unit and migration.

A network comprising:

• at least one host adapted to be connected to a switched fabric;
• at least two storage units adapted to be connected to a switched fabric;
• and
• a switched fabric connected to and coupling the at least one host and the at least two storage units, the switched fabric comprising:
• at least one switch for coupling to the at least one host and the at least two storage units;
• and
• a storage processing device coupled to the at least one switch and for coupling to the at least one host and the at least two storage units, where the host and the at least two storage units may be directly connected to the storage processing device or may be coupled to the storage processing device through the switch, the storage processing device including:
• an input/output module including processors to receive, operate on and transmit network traffic, and
• a control module coupled to said input/output module, said input/output module and said control module being configured to interactively perform virtualization of a storage unit and migration of data between first and second storage units whether the at least one host and the at least two storage units are directly connected to the storage processing device or are coupled through the switch.

A method for supporting virtualization of a storage unit and migrating data between first and second storage units, with at least one host and at least two storage units connected to and coupled by a switched fabric, the switched fabric including at least one switch and a storage processing device coupled to the at least one switch, where the at least one host and at least two storage units may be directly connected to the storage processing device or may be coupled through the at least one switch, the method comprising in a storage processing device:

• providing an input/output module including:
• processors receiving, operating on and transmitting network traffic;
• and
• providing a control module coupled to said input/output module, said input/output module and said control module being configured to interactively support data virtualization and migration whether the at least one host and at least two storage units are directly connected to the storage processing device or are coupled through the at least one switch.