Selective Message Processing by External Processors for Network Data Storage Devices

Abstract

A storage product manufactured as a computer component to facilitate network storage services. The storage product has a bus connector, a network interface, and a local storage device. A message selection configuration can be written into the storage product to control separation of incoming messages received in the network interface into first messages and third messages. The first messages are sent through the bus connector for processing by a local host system to generate second messages. The second messages and the third messages are sent to the local storage device. The local storage device processes the second messages and the third messages to implement the network storage services.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a first interface;   a memory configured to be accessible via the first interface;   a second interface connectable to a processor that is external to the device;   a logic circuit configured to separate incoming messages received in the first interface into first messages and second messages, communicate the second messages via the second interface for processing by the processor to generate third messages, and process the first messages and the third messages.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first interface is a network interface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the second interface is a host interface operatable on a bus connected to the processor. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the device is configured to receive via the host interface a message selection configuration identifying first criteria, and identify the second messages based on the first criteria. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the device is configured to receive the third messages via the host interface from the processor. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the device is configured to process the first messages and the third messages without assistance from the processor in provision of network storage services responsive to the incoming messages received in the first interface. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the message selection configuration further is configured to identify second criteria; and the device is configured to identify the first messages based on the second criteria. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the device is further configured to identify, among the incoming messages received in the first interface, fourth messages that do not meet the first criteria and do not meet the second criteria, and reject or block the fourth messages. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the network storage services are based on a storage protocol according to:
 internet small computer systems interface;   fibre channel;   fibre channel over ethernet;   network file system; or   server message block.   
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, via a first interface of a device, incoming messages to access a memory of the device;   separating, by the device, the incoming messages received via the first interface into first messages and second messages;   communicating, via a second interface of the device, the second messages to a processor that is external to the device to generate third messages; and   processing, by the device, the first messages and the third messages responsive to the incoming messages to access the memory of the device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the incoming messages are configured to access the memory of the device using a storage protocol. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the storage protocol is according to:
 internet small computer systems interface;   fibre channel;   fibre channel over ethernet;   network file system; or   server message block.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first interface is a network interface; and the second interface is a host interface operatable on a bus connected to the processor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the host interface, a message selection configuration identifying first criteria; and   identifying the second messages based on the first criteria.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the host interface from the processor, the third messages.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the message selection configuration is further configured to identify second criteria; and the method further comprises:
 identifying, based on the second criteria, the first messages among the incoming messages.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 identifying, among the incoming messages received via the first interface, fourth messages that do not meet the first criteria and do not meet the second criteria; and   rejecting or blocking the fourth messages.   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer storage medium storing instructions which, when executed in a device, cause the device to perform a method, comprising:
 receiving, via a first interface of the device, incoming messages to access a memory of the device;   separating, by the device, the incoming messages received via the first interface into first messages and second messages;   communicating, via a second interface of the device, the second messages to a processor that is external to the device to generate third messages; and   processing, by the device, the first messages and the third messages responsive to the incoming messages to access the memory of the device.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, via the second interface, a message selection configuration identifying first criteria; and   identifying the second messages based on the first criteria.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the message selection configuration is further configured to identify second criteria; and the method further comprises:
 identifying, based on the second criteria, the first messages among the incoming messages;   identifying, among the incoming messages received via the first interface, fourth messages that do not meet the first criteria and do not meet the second criteria; and   rejecting or blocking the fourth messages.