System and method for sharing san storage

Abstract

According to various embodiments, systems and methods are provided that relate to shared access to Storage Area Networks (SAN) devices. In one embodiment, a Storage Area Network (SAN) host is provided, comprising: a server component: a first host bus adapter configured to be connected to a SAN client over a first SAN; a second host bus adapter configured to be connected to a SAN storage device over a second SAN; and wherein the server component is configured to manage a data block on the SAN storage device, receive a storage operation request from the SAN client through the first host bus adapter, and in response to the storage operation request, perform a storage operation on the data block, the storage operation being performed over the second SAN through the second host bus adapter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage area network (SAN) client, comprising:
 a client component comprising one or more computer processors; and   a host bus adapter configured to be connected to a SAN host over a first SAN,   wherein the client component is configured to:
 receive from the SAN client a request to perform a first storage operation on a SAN storage device; 
 translate the first storage operation to a SAN host storage operation request; and 
 send the SAN host storage operation request to the SAN host over the first SAN, 
 wherein the SAN host is configured to receive the storage operation request, and in response to the storage operation request, perform a second storage operation on the SAN storage device over a second SAN. 
   
     
     
         2 . The SAN client of  claim 1  wherein the host bus adapter connects to the SAN host over the first SAN using Fiber Channel (FC), InfiniBand, or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). 
     
     
         3 . The SAN client of  claim 1  wherein the host bus adapter is in initiator mode. 
     
     
         4 . The SAN client of  claim 1  wherein the first storage operation or the second storage operation is a file read, a file write, a file create, or a file delete operation. 
     
     
         5 . The SAN client of  claim 1  wherein the first storage operation is a discovery request. 
     
     
         6 . The SAN client of  claim 5  wherein the client component is further configured to:
 receive a discovery response from the SAN host indicating that the SAN host is a traditional SAN storage device; and 
 interpret the discovery response. 
 
     
     
         7 . The SAN client of  claim 1  wherein the client component receives the request to perform first storage operation through an application program interface (API) function call. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a storage area network (SAN) client, comprising:
 receiving with a client component of a SAN client a request to perform a first storage operation on a SAN storage device;   translating with one or more processors of the client component the first storage operation to a SAN host storage operation request; and   electronically sending the SAN host storage operation request to the SAN host over the first SAN,   wherein the SAN host is configured to receive the storage operation request, and in response to the storage operation request, perform a second storage operation on the SAN storage device over a second SAN.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the host bus adapter connects to the SAN host over the first SAN using Fiber Channel (FC), InfiniBand, or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the host bus adapter is in initiator mode. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first storage operation or the second storage operation is a file read, a file write, a file create, or a file delete operation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said receiving is through an application program interface (API) function call. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first storage operation is a discovery request. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 with the client component, receiving a discovery response from the SAN host indicating that the SAN host is a traditional SAN storage device; and 
 interpreting the discovery response with one or more processors of the client component.