Patent ID: 9122406
Filing Date: 2015-09-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An appliance for sharing block level data among a plurality of computers with each said computer being equipped for initiating discovery commands, transferring data with removable block devices and transferring data with non-removable block devices, said appliance comprising: a non-removable device for storing the block level data; processing circuitry coupled with said non-removable device for receiving a discovery command from a said computer and forwarding said discovery command to said non-removable device, said discovery command including an inquiry as to the removability of said non-removable device; processing circuitry coupled with said non-removable device for receiving a response from the non-removable device, the received response including a value identifying said non-removable device as a non-removable device, and modifying the value included in the response, the modified value identifying said non-removable device as a removable device; processing circuitry for sending the modified response including said value identifying said non-removable device as a removable device to the said computer; and processing circuitry coupled with said non-removable device for receiving read/write commands from each said computer and controlling access to said non-removable device among said plurality of computers to allow sequential processing of said received read/write commands by said non-removable device, said read/write commands identifying data to be accessed via said non-removable device.