초록 ▼

A computer network comprises a number of storage controllers, each coupled to one of a plurality of storage arrays, each storage array including at least one mass storage device. Each storage controller may be coupled to at least one host processing system and to at least one other storage controlle

A computer network comprises a number of storage controllers, each coupled to one of a plurality of storage arrays, each storage array including at least one mass storage device. Each storage controller may be coupled to at least one host processing system and to at least one other storage controller to control access of the host processing systems to the mass storage devices. Multiple copies of data are maintained in storage arrays that are geographically remote to each other, such that any copy can be accessed by any host. Each storage controllers includes an interface with a host that emulates a mass storage device and an interface with a local storage array that emulates a host. The interfaces to the host and local storage arrays are independent of the type of host or devices in the local storage array. Two or more hosts may be dissimilar to each other, and two or more storage arrays may include dissimilar mass storage devices. Hosts access stored data using virtual addressing. During a data access, the storage controller connected to the accessing host maps a virtual address provided by the host to a real physical location in any of the storage arrays, such that the actual location of the data is transparent to the host. The storage controllers provide automatic back-up and error correction as well as write protection of back-up copies.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A storage controller, comprising:a host interface providing a data interface with at least one host processing system independent of a device type of each said at least one host processing system, the storage controller physically separate from each said at least one host

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A storage controller, comprising:a host interface providing a data interface with at least one host processing system independent of a device type of each said at least one host processing system, the storage controller physically separate from each said at least one host processing system;a storage interface providing a data interface with at least one storage array, the storage controller physically separate from each said at least one storage array, each said at least one storage array including at least one mass storage device, the storage interface further providing the data interface with said at least one storage array independent of the device type(s) of the mass storage devices in each said array; andcontrol circuitry coupled to the host interface and the data interface, the control circuitry configured to enable said at least one host processing system to access each said at least one storage array, such that the presence of the storage controller is transparent to each said at least one host processing system and each said at least one storage array.