Patent ID: 9164689
Filing Date: 2015-10-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A data storage system comprising: a plurality of server devices; a plurality of external interface providers each deployed on one of the server devices; a plurality of data storage controllers each deployed on one of the server devices, wherein each of the providers is configured to (i) receive a data access request, (ii) identify one of the controllers that can satisfy the request and (iii) forward the request to the identified controller; and a plurality of data storage units independent of the server devices, wherein the providers, controllers and units are in communication with each other as peers via a peer-to-peer interconnect fabric, and wherein each of the controllers (i) exclusively manages a portion of data content in at least one of the units and (ii) satisfies data access requests received from the providers by accessing the portion of data content in the at least one unit.