System and method for managing I/O access policies in a storage environment employing asymmetric distributed block virtualization

A system comprising:

• a volume server;
• a volume client;
• and
• one or more physical block devices;
• wherein the volume server is configured to:
• aggregate storage in the one or more physical block devices into a first logical volume and a second logical volume;
• make the first logical volume accessible to the volume client using a first I/O access policy;
• make the second logical volume accessible to the volume client using a second I/O access policy;
• wherein the first I/O access policy differs from the second I/O access policy.

A method comprising:

• aggregating storage in one or more physical block devices into a logical volume;
• making the logical volume accessible to a first volume client using a first I/O access policy;
• making the logical volume accessible to a second volume client using a second I/O access policy;
• wherein the first I/O access policy differs from the second I/O access policy;
• and
• maintaining an entry in a configuration database for each of the first and second volume clients, wherein the entry associates a particular I/O access policy with a given logical volume.

A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

• aggregate storage in one or more physical block devices into a logical volume;
• make the logical volume accessible to a first volume client using a first I/O access policy;
• make the logical volume accessible to a second volume client using a second I/O access policy;
• wherein the first I/O access policy differs from the second I/O access policy;
• and
• maintain an entry in a configuration database for each of the first and second volume clients, wherein the entry associates a particular I/O access policy with a given logical volume.