Read Cache Device and Methods Thereof for Accelerating Access to Data in a Storage Area Network

摘要

A read cache device for accelerating execution of read commands in a storage area network (SAN) in a data path between frontend servers and a backend storage. The device includes a cache memory unit for maintaining portions of data that reside in the backend storage and mapped to at least one accelerated virtual volume; a cache management unit for maintaining data consistency between the cache memory unit and the at least one accelerated virtual volume; a descriptor memory unit for maintaining a plurality of descriptors; and a processor for receiving each command and each command response travels in the data path serving each received read command directed to the at least one accelerated virtual volume by returning requested data stored in the cache memory unit and writing data to the cache memory unit according to a caching policy.