Patent ID: 6477618
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A data storage cluster, comprising:a plurality of integrated cached disk arrays (ICDAs), selected ICDAs including respective pluralities of data storage disks, the disks of the selected ICDAs being collectively configured as a set of separately-addressable cluster volumes; and a cluster interconnection network connecting the ICDAs of the cluster together; wherein: a first ICDA in the cluster includes one or more host interfaces at which host data storage requests are received, the first ICDA being operative to (i) determine whether a target disk for a received host request resides within a second ICDA in the cluster, (ii) if the target disk resides within the second ICDA, forward the host request via the cluster interconnection network to the second ICDA for servicing, and (iii) upon receiving an indication from the second ICDA that the request has been serviced, return an indication to the requesting host that the request has been serviced; and the second ICDA includes one or more disk interfaces respectively interfacing to disks within the second ICDA, the second ICDA being operative to (i) receive the host request from the first ICDA via the cluster interconnection network, (ii) service the received host request via the disk interface coupled to the target disk, and (iii) return an indication to the first ICDA that the host request has been serviced.