Apparatus for coordinating interoperability between devices of varying capabilities in a network
AssigneeCrossroads Systems, Inc.
InventorsJohn B. Haechten, Stephen G. Dale, John F. Tyndall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of a routing device for coordinating the interoperability of devices with varying capabilities that send and/or receive commands in a storage network are disclosed. A host device in the storage network may inquire the capabilities of a storage device in a storage network. A routing device may receive a response from the storage device and pass the response through to the host unaltered or may alter the response to reflect the higher or lower capabilities of the routing device before sending the response to the host.
Claims20
A routing device, comprising:
- a first controller operable to interface with a first data transport medium;
- a second controller operable to interface with a second data transport medium;
- a processing unit connected to the first controller and the second controller, wherein the processing unit is operable to:
- receive a response to an inquiry command sent from a target and destined for an initiator, wherein the response is formatted according to a first command set;
- determine if the routing device is operable to implement greater functionality than the target;
- manipulate the response to a format according to a second command set if the routing device is operable to implement greater functionality, wherein the routing device is operable to implement functionality associated with the second command set;
- and
- forward the response to the inquiry.
A routing device, comprising:
- a processing unit;
- and
- a computer readable medium accessible by the processing unit and storing a set of computer instructions executable by the processing unit, wherein the set of computer instructions comprises:
- code for intercepting a target's response to an inquiry command from an initiator;
- code for determining the target's capabilities;
- code for manipulating the target's response to reflect capabilities of the routing device as compared to the target's capabilities;
- and
- code for forwarding the manipulated response to the initiator.
A routing device, comprising:
- a processing unit;
- and
- a computer readable medium accessible by the processing unit and storing a set of computer instructions executable by the processing unit, wherein the set of computer instructions comprises:
- code for receiving a target's response to a small computer system interface (SCSI) INQUIRY command, wherein the target's response is in a first command protocol which reflects capabilities of the target;
- code for manipulating the target's response from the first command protocol to a second command protocol which reflects capabilities of the routing device;
- and
- code for forwarding the manipulated response to an initiator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.