Transparent Intellectual Network Storage Device

摘要

The invention is an intellectual network storage device that uses a network to store and retrieve data, and that connects to an existing storage controller of a host computer. The device is transparent to the operating system of the host computer, and thus does not require additional software, such as a device driver, to operate. The device includes a device board, which is connected to an existing storage controller of a host computer via any suitable interface, a set of hardware or software acting as a remote storage server, and a connection that carries signals between the device board and the remote storage server.

主权项

1. A storage system, comprising:
(a) a device board that emulates a storage interface dependent device, said device board comprising a cache but no other on-board memory, and a simple central processing unit without firmware, and said emulation including said device board receiving at least one storage interface command sent from a storage controller of a computer and, depending on whether data responsive to said at least one storage interface command is located in said memory, said device board either analyzing and responding to said at least one storage interface command by itself, or wrapping said at least one storage interface command into a network interface dependent protocol; (b) means for connecting said device board to said storage controller, in order that said computer recognizes said device board as co-working with said storage controller; and (c) a remote storage server communicating with said device board and containing firmware for the device board, said communication between said remote storage server and said device board being bi-directional and occurring over a network using network packets; whereby said storage device does not require an associated device driver on said computer to operate.