Patent ID: 7865677
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A system for use in enhancing access to data storage, comprising: a data storage system having a system memory used within a computer system; a logical volume defining a set of block based data storage resources in the data storage system, the logical volume being presented as a first volume providing a first path to the logical volume, wherein I/O requests directed to the first volume are sent through the first path to the logical volume; a first virtual logical unit number (LUN) portal mechanism serving as a first alias for the first volume, the first virtual LUN portal mechanism being presented as a second volume providing a second path to the same logical volume, wherein I/O requests directed to the second volume are sent through the second path to the same logical volume; a second virtual LUN portal mechanism serving as a second alias for the first volume, the second virtual LUN portal mechanism being presented as a third volume providing a third path to the same logical volume, wherein I/O requests directed to the third volume are sent through the third path to the same logical volume; a first block based data manipulation mechanism associated with the second path configured to apply a first replication feature to a first I/O request sent through the second path and a second block based data manipulation mechanism associated with the third path configured to apply a second replication feature to a second I/O request sent through the third path, wherein the first and second block based data manipulation mechanisms are not configured to apply the first or second replication features to a third I/O request sent through the first path, wherein the first I/O request sent through the second path and the second I/O request sent through the third path create an independent storage system replication separate from the first logical volume, wherein absent application of the first and second block based data manipulation mechanisms the second volume and the third volume presents a same resultant storage as the first volume; and wherein the first I/O request, the second I/O request, and the third I/O request utilize the same defined set of block based data storage resources.