Patent ID: 7698424

Claim:
An aggregator device for presenting multiple data storage systems to a client as a single aggregated network array, comprising: a network interface; a controller; and a communications bus coupling the network interface to the controller, the controller being configured to: through the communications bus and the network interface, provide the client with a list of storage areas which are offered by the single aggregated network array, the storage areas on the list being provided by the multiple data storage systems and being accessible by the client using data paths which are out-of-band with the aggregator device; through the communications bus and the network interface, receive an iSCSI login request from the client, the iSCSI login request identifying a particular storage area on the list of storage areas; and generate and send, through the communications bus and the network interface, an iSCSI login result to the client in response to the iSCSI login request, the iSCSI login result including a network address of a particular data storage system of the multiple data storage systems which provides the particular storage area to enable the client to directly access the particular storage area using a data path which is out-of-band with the aggregator device.