System and method for out-of-band cache coherency

A computer program product residing on a computer readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a data read request on a first array for requested data stored on a multi-array storage network that includes the first array and at least a second array;
• processing the data read request to determine if the requested data is resident on the first array, including processing a data location table to determine a location of the requested data within the multi-array storage network, wherein the data location table is external to the first array and the at least a second array;
• if the requested data is resident on the first array, obtaining the requested data from a storage device included within the first array;
• wherein processing the data read request to determine if the requested data is resident on the first array includes one or more of:
• determining if the requested data is resident on a cache storage device included within the first array;
• and
• determining if the requested data is resident on a data storage device included within the first array;
• storing the requested data on the cache storage device included within the first array based upon, at least in part, determining that the requested data is resident on the data storage device included within the first array;
• and
• if the requested data is not resident on the first array, obtaining the requested data from a storage device included within the at least a second array via an out-of-band cache control process utilizing a dedicated network;
• wherein the data read request is received on the first array before the out-of-band cache control process is triggered;
• wherein the out-of-band cache control process removes at least a portion of cache control functionality from a data path within the multi-array storage network and utilizes the dedicated network to transfer the data.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• receiving a data write request on a first array for data to be stored on a multi-array storage network that includes the first array and at least a second array;
• processing the data write request to determine if the data is to be stored on the first array or the at least a second array;
• initially storing the data on a storage device included within the first array;
• updating a data location table with a location of the data within the multi-array storage network, wherein the data location table is external to the first array and the at least a second array;
• if the data was determined to be stored on the at least a second array, storing the data on a storage device included within the at least a second array via an out-of-band cache control process utilizing a dedicated network;
• and
• if the data is stored on the storage device included within the at least a second array, updating the data location table with the location of the data within the multi-array storage network;
• wherein the data write request is received on the first array before the out-of-band cache control process is triggered;
• wherein the out-of-band cache control process removes at least a portion of cache control functionality from a data path within the multi-array storage network and utilizes the dedicated network to transfer the data;
• and
• wherein storing the requested data on a storage device included within the first array includes storing the data on a cache storage device included within the first array based upon, at least in part, storing the data on a storage device included within the at least a second array via an out-of-band cache control process.

A computer program product residing on a computer readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a data write request on a first array for data to be stored on a multi-array storage network that includes the first array and at least a second array;
• processing the data write request to determine if the data is to be stored on the first array or the at least a second array;
• storing the data on a storage device included within the first array;
• updating a data location table with a location of the data within the multi-array storage network, wherein the data location table is external to the first array and the at least a second array
• if the data was determined to be stored on the at least a second array, storing the data on a storage device included within the at least a second array via an out-of-band cache control process utilizing a dedicated network;
• and
• if the data is stored on the storage device included within the at least a second array, updating the data location table with the location of the data within the multi-array storage network;
• wherein the data write request is received on the first array before the out-of-band cache control process is triggered;
• wherein the out-of-band cache control process removes at least a portion of cache control functionality from a data path within the multi-array storage network and utilizes the dedicated network to transfer the data;
• and
• wherein storing the requested data on a storage device included within the first array includes storing the data on a cache storage device included within the first array based upon, at least in part, storing the data on a storage device included within the at least a second array via an out-of-band cache control process.