Patent ID: 7174360
Filing Date: 2007-02-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of a virtualization controller coupled to a client and a plurality of network storages, and forming a virtual network storage by using said plurality of network storages so that accesses to said plurality of network storages are done just like accesses to one network storage, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a file list request from said client to said virtualization controller, said file list request being used to request a file list from a virtual directory of said virtual network storage; transferring first and second file list requests corresponding to said received file list request to each of first and second network storages after converting a source address and a target address of said received file list request for access to each of directories of said first and second network storages, said directories corresponding to said virtual directory, said converted source address being an address of said virtualization controller, said converted target address being an address of said first or second network storage; receiving a first file list from said first network storage in response to said transferred first file list request; receiving a second file list from said second network storage in response to said transferred second file list request, said second file list being different from said first file list; combining both said first and second file lists into a combined file list; sending said combined file list from said virtualization controller to said client; receiving a request generated by said client according to said combined file list sent to said client; determining a network storage to which said received request is to be transferred according to said combined file list received from said network storage; transferring said request to said determined network storage; receiving a response from said network storage in response to said transferred request; and transferring said received response to said client.