Robert D Higgins

US Patent:

6538669, Mar 25, 2003

Filed:

Jul 15, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/354110

Inventors:

Joel H. Stave - New Boston NH
John B. Yeaman - Bedford NH
Brian E. Stevens - Nashua NH
Robert M. Higgins - Nashua NH
James M. Collins - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Dell Products L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

345764, 345853, 711170

Abstract:

A storage server architecture supporting virtual devices and virtual circuits for storing data is provided. The storage server includes a plurality of communication interfaces. A first set of communication interfaces in the plurality is adapted for connection to all kinds of users of data. A second set of communication interfaces in the plurality is adapted for connection to respective devices in a pool of storage devices. Data processing resources in the server are coupled to the plurality of communication interfaces for transferring data among the interfaces. The data processing resources comprise a plurality of driver modules and configurable logic linking driver modules into data paths. Each configured data path acts as a virtual circuit that includes a set of driver modules selected from the plurality of driver modules. A data storage transaction which is received at a communication interface is mapped to one of the configured data paths.