Patent ID: 7827251
Filing Date: 2010-11-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, at a virtualizer, a write command from an initiator in a storage area network, wherein the storage area network includes the initiator and a plurality of mirrored storages; sending, from the virtualizer, a write command to the plurality of mirrored storages; receiving, at the virtualizer, a transfer ready message from a first of the plurality of mirrored storages; sending a transfer ready message from the virtualizer to the initiator in response to the receiving of the transfer ready message from the first of the plurality of mirrored storages; receiving, at the virtualizer, a data message from the initiator; sending, from the virtualizer, a data message to the plurality of mirrored storage once transfer ready messages have been received from each of the plurality of mirrored storages, wherein the transfer ready message received from the first of the plurality of mirrored storages contains an indication of an amount of available space and the transfer ready message sent to the initiator contains the indication of the amount of available space; and buffering the transfer ready message received from the first of the plurality of mirrored storages if the transfer ready message received from the first of the plurality of mirrored storages contains an indication of an amount of available space that is less than an indication of a requested amount of space contained in the write command received from the initiator.