Data Storage and Data Sharing in a Network of Heterogeneous Computers

Abstract

A network of PCs includes an I/O channel adapter and network adapter, and is configured for management of a distributed cache memory stored in the plurality of PCs interconnected by the network. The use of standard PCs reduces the cost of the data storage system. The use of the network of PCs permits building large, high-performance, data storage systems.

1 . A data storage system for use in a first computer connected to a network comprising a plurality of other computers, each computer on the network storing data in a respective data format, the storage system comprising:
 (1) management software enabling any other computer connected to the network to access data stored on the first computer; and   (2) translation software for translating the accessed data into a format compatible with the other computer.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 (1) the management software further enables any other computer to store data on the first computer; and 
 (2) the translation software further facilitates translating data from the other computer into a format compatible with the first computer. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the data on the first computer is stored in a cache memory. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the cache memory comprises a portion of a distributed cache memory stored in the first computer and the other computers on the network. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the computers comprise off-the-shelf hardware and operating systems. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the management software includes a configuration manager that employs a file system from the off-the-shelf operating system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein:
 (1) at least some of the computers comprise at least one storage device; and 
 (2) the file system manages at least some of the storage devices on other computers as virtual data storage devices. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein:
 (1) each storage device comprises a mappable data volume; and 
 (2) the configuration manager includes a configuration file providing mapping between data volumes referenced by computers on the network and data volumes of the first computer. 
 
     
     
         9 . A data sharing system for use in a first computer connected to a network comprising a plurality of other computers, each computer on the network storing data in a respective data format, the sharing system comprising a plurality of computers intercommunicating on the computer network, each computer comprising a virtual device that itself comprises a translation module for translating between a native data format and a data format of at least one other computer connected to the network. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein each computer further comprises a configuration manager program for providing concurrency control for accessing the virtual device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a volume access table employed by the configuration manager. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein each virtual device further comprises:
 (1) an initialization means for registering the virtual device in at least one other computer connected to the network; 
 (2) a read means for allowing the first computer to access data stored on at least one other computer connected to the network using the translation module as an intermediary; and 
 (3) a write means for allowing at least one other computer to store data on the first computer in a shared data format using the translation module as an intermediary. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method of storing and retrieving data in a first computer connected to a network comprising a plurality of other computers, each computer on the network storing data in a respective data format, the method comprising the steps of:
 (1) receiving on the first computer a data request from a second computer over the network;   (2) causing the first computer to respond to the request by translating the requested data into a format compatible with the second computer; and   (3) causing the first computer to make the translated data available to the second computer.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the data on the first computer is stored in a cache memory. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the cache memory comprises a portion of a distributed cache memory located in the first computer and the other computers on the network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the computers comprise off-the-shelf hardware and operating systems. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first computer comprises management software including a configuration manager that employs a file system from the off-the-shelf operating system.