LINK LAYER VIRTUALIZATION IN SATA CONTROLLER

摘要

A SATA-compatible storage controller that can be configured to allow computers assigned to multiple different computer domains connected by at least one switch fabric to share resources of a common set of storage devices. The storage controller includes a plurality of virtual storage controllers, each providing an interface to a respective computer domain connected to the switch fabric, a virtualization mechanism configured to implement link layer virtualization for the common set of storage devices, and a split serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) protocol stack, the processing of which is partitioned between the respective virtual storage controllers and the virtualization mechanism.

主权项

1. A SATA-compatible storage controller for use in allowing computers assigned to multiple different computer domains connected by at least one switch fabric to share resources of a common set of storage devices, comprising:
a plurality of virtual storage controllers, each virtual storage controller being communicably coupleable to a group of one or more computers assigned to a different one of a plurality of computer domains; a virtualization mechanism communicably coupleable to a set of one or more storage devices; a switch fabric operative to route control and data traffic between each virtual storage controller and the virtualization mechanism; and a protocol stack, processing of the protocol stack being partitioned between the respective virtual storage controllers and the virtualization mechanism.