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.

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 SAN host server component in communication with the first and second host bus adapters, the SAN host server component configured to:
 receive a discovery request for an amount of available storage on the first SAN; 
 provide a response to the discovery request that provides an amount of storage available on both the first SAN and the second SAN; 
 receive a first SAN storage operation request to perform a first SAN storage operation on one or more first data blocks on the first SAN, the first storage operation sent from the SAN client to the first host bus adapter; and 
 in response to the first SAN storage operation request, the SAN host server component automatically performs the first SAN storage operation request on one or more second data blocks stored on the second SAN, instead of on the one or more first data blocks on the first SAN through the second host bus adapter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The SAN host of  claim 1 , wherein the SAN host server component denies the first SAN storage operation request when the amount of storage on both the first SAN and the second SAN reach capacity. 
     
     
         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 SAN host 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 SAN host 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 SAN host 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 SAN host 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 discovery request for an amount of available storage on a first SAN, wherein the discovery request is received over the first SAN through a first host bus adapter, and wherein a first plurality of SAN storage devices are connected to the first SAN;   providing a response to the discovery request that provides an amount of storage available on both the first SAN and a second SAN available via a second host bus adapter, the second SAN comprising a second plurality of SAN storage devices;   receiving from a SAN client a first storage operation request to perform a first SAN storage operation on one or more first data block on the first SAN, wherein the first storage operation is received over the first SAN through the first host bus adapter; and   in response to receiving the first SAN storage operation request, automatically performing the first SAN storage operation request on one or more second data blocks stored on the second SAN, instead of on the one or more first data blocks on the first SAN through the second host bus adapter.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising denying the first SAN storage operation request when the amount of storage on both the first SAN and the second SAN reach capacity. 
     
     
         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.