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) host, comprising:
 a first host bus adapter in communication with a SAN client over a first SAN wherein a first plurality of SAN storage devices are connected to the first SAN;   a second host bus adapter in communication with a second SAN wherein a second plurality of SAN storage devices are connected to the second SAN, and the second plurality of SAN storage devices are not connected to the first SAN; and   a server component in communication with the first and second host bus adapters, the server component configured to receive a first storage operation sent from the SAN client to the first host bus adapter, and in response to the first storage operation, the server component determines whether a second storage operation should be performed on one or more data blocks stored on at least one of the second plurality of SAN storage devices over the second SAN, and based on the determination the server component performs the second storage operation over the second SAN through the second host bus adapter.   
     
     
         2 . The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is further configured to arbitrate between a plurality of storage operations. 
     
     
         3 . The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the first host bus adapter connects to the SAN client through the first host bus adapter using Fiber Channel (FC), InfiniBand, or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). 
     
     
         4 . The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the second host bus adapter connects to the second plurality of SAN storage devices through the second host bus adapter using Fiber Channel (FC), InfiniBand, or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). 
     
     
         5 . The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is further configured to perform dynamic provisioning of storage space on the second plurality of SAN storage devices for the SAN client. 
     
     
         6 . The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is further configured to provide a plurality of SAN clients with concurrent access to the second plurality of SAN storage devices. 
     
     
         7 . The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the first host bus adapter is in target mode. 
     
     
         8 . The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the second host bus adapter is in initiator mode. 
     
     
         9 . The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the server component is further configured to perform data de-duplication while performing the second storage operation. 
     
     
         10 . The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the server component tracks storage of the one or more data blocks on at least one of the second plurality of SAN storage devices. 
     
     
         11 . A method for a Storage Area Network (SAN) host, comprising:
 receiving from a SAN client a first storage operation, wherein the first storage operation is received over a first SAN through a first host bus adapter, wherein a first plurality of SAN storage devices are connected to the first SAN;   in response to receiving the first storage operation, determining with a server component whether a second storage operation should be performed on one or more data blocks stored on at least one of a second plurality of SAN storage devices connected to a second SAN, wherein the second storage operation is performed over the second SAN through a second host bus adapter, and the second plurality of SAN storage devices are not connected to the first SAN; and   performing, based on the determination, the second storage operation over the second SAN through the second host bus adapter.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising arbitrating between a plurality of storage operations. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising connecting the first host bus adapter to the SAN client through the first host bus adapter using Fiber Channel (FC), InfiniBand, or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising connecting the second host bus adapter to the second plurality of SAN storage devices through the second host bus adapter using Fiber Channel (FC), InfiniBand, or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising dynamic provisioning storage space on the second plurality of SAN storage devices for the SAN client. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a plurality of SAN clients with concurrent access to the second plurality of SAN storage devices. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first host bus adapter is in target mode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second host bus adapter is in initiator mode. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising performing data de-duplication while performing the second storage operation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising tracking storage of the one or more data blocks on at least one of the second plurality of SAN storage devices.