Dynamic network storage for cloud console server

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for virtualizing mass storage. In various implementations, the management server may allocate resources of a network storage server for use by a separate game server in running a computer application, turn on the game server after allocating the resources, and provide the game server with information on how to access the storage server.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In a management server connected by a network to a storage server and one or more separate game servers, a method for storage management, comprising:
 allocating resources of the network storage server for use by a separate game server in running a computer application in response to a request from a remote client device to run the computer application;   turning on the separate game server after allocating the resources of the network storage server; and   providing information on how to access the storage server to the game server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reporting a number of unused game servers to a cloud controller connected to the management server over the network. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the request from the remote client computing device and passing the request to the separate game server with the management server. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an authentication result for the remote client device with the management server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an authentication result for the remote client device from a cloud services server that is separate from the management server and the game server with the management server. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an authentication result for the remote client device from the remote client device with the management server. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the management server provides the information on how to access the storage server to the game server over dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing operations to prepare the game server for streaming application output data to the client computing device with the management server. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising checking if the application is available for streaming with the management server. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising checking if a requesting user is allowed to use the application with the management server. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, assisting the game server in locating necessary operating system data stored by the storage server with the management server. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising pointing either the same server or the storage server to appropriate application data with the management server, wherein the management server is also unable to read the stored application data. 
     
     
         13 . A management server, comprising:
 a processor, and   a memory coupled to the processor;   executable instructions stored in the memory that, upon execution by the processor, cause the management server to
 allocate resources of a network storage server for use by a separate game server in running a computer application in response to a request from a remote client device to run the computer application; 
 turn on the game server after allocating the resources of the network storage server; and 
 provide information on how to access the storage server to the game server. 
   
     
     
         14 . The management server of  claim 13 , further comprising a network interface coupled to the processor and configured to communicate with the network storage server, game server, and remote client device over a network. 
     
     
         15 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the management server to report a number of unused game servers to a cloud controller connected to the management server over the network when executed. 
     
     
         16 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the management server to receive the request from the remote client computing device and passing the request to the separate game server when executed. 
     
     
         17 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the management server to receive an authentication result for the remote client device when executed. 
     
     
         18 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the management server to receive an authentication result for the remote client device from a cloud services server that is separate from the management server and the game server when executed. 
     
     
         19 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the management server to receive an authentication result for the remote client device from the remote client device when executed. 
     
     
         20 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the management server is configured to provide the information on how to access the storage server to the game server over dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP). 
     
     
         21 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the management server to perform operations to prepare the game server for streaming application output data to the client computing device with the management server when executed. 
     
     
         22 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the management server to check if the application is available for streaming with the management server when executed. 
     
     
         23 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the management server to check if a requesting user is allowed to use the application with the management server when executed. 
     
     
         24 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the management server to assist the game server in locating necessary operating system data stored by the storage server with the management server when executed. 
     
     
         25 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the management server to point either the same server or the storage server to appropriate application data with the management server, wherein the management server is also unable to read the stored application data when executed. 
     
     
         26 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the management server is configured to turn on the game server through a hardware control interface on the game server. 
     
     
         27 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the management server is configured to turn on the a hardware control interface via toggling a power switch signal using general purpose input output (GPIO). 
     
     
         28 . The management server of  claim 13 , wherein the management server is configured to turn on the a hardware control interface by utilizing a wake up signal. 
     
     
         29 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having processor-executable instructions embodied therein, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor of a management server cause the processor to implement a method for storage management, the method comprising:
 allocating resources of a network storage server for use by a separate game server in running a computer application in response to a request from a remote client device to run the computer application;   turning on the separate game server after allocating the resources of the network storage server; and   providing information on how to access the storage server to the game server.