Patent ID: 6985956
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. In a digital network comprising a plurality of data storage elements, at least one client, and a switch element operable to receive access requests from the client and provide access to data on the storage elements in response to the access requests, a method of managing storage on the data storage elements, the method comprising: providing, within the switch element, configuring, within the switch element, a replicated storage domain including connections to a set of storage elements; replicating at least a subset of data stored on one storage element of the domain to all other storage elements in the replicated storage domain; configuring the switch element to receive file system requests from at least one client; and upon receipt of a request whose execution would result in modification of data stored in a storage element, operating the switch element to transmit the request to at least a set of storage elements in the replicated storage domain.