Network area storage block and file aggregation

摘要

A system for allowing storage servers that operate on an external file level protocol to be incorporated in a storage network that operates with a block level protocol. A functional unit in a main server aggregator 3 retains a block map referred to files on the file level server. The block map is input to the aggregation layer of the aggregator server as if it were a block level store. Block access requests are mapped back to the relevant file and file offset location and the functional unit sends file protocol access requests to the remote file level server and has a file access acceleration system.