TW541495B - Providing client accessible network-based storage - Google Patents

Abstract

A system (100) for accessing storage on a server (50) by clients (30) on a network (40) includes software (60) on the server (50) to process requests and allocate storage based on client needs. The clients (30) include a special BIOS (350) and a disk drive controller proxy (40). The BIOS (350) retrieves operating system software, drivers, and other application software from the server (50). The disk drive controller proxy (400) routes disk requests to the server (50) for processing. In some embodiments, clients (30) may share storage on the server (50).

Description

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drr-5, printed by the Intellectual Property Industry Bureau Consumer Consumption Cooperative. ¾ The present invention relates to a client server environment, and particularly to a non-disk client. f When the average selling price of Tian Tianrenzhi declined, computer manufacturers often looked for ways to serve the market more effectively. In a customer server network environment, many redundant systems exist, which represent opportunities for computer manufacturers. ° One possible redundancy is several customers on top of the same system and apps. Major customers in a small business or educational environment have the same and excess storage space. In particular, the operating system (such as Microsoft Windows) and office applications may use up to 1 GB of free space. However, this is repeated among various customers. The idea of a diskless customer or a diskless work shop is not new. However, with a 100MB Ethernet connection, diskless customers can become more practical. This…, the server of the disk client is designed to provide the client with the amount of disk server specified by the client to each customer. The space on the device may be the equivalent of a "C" disc. The best server storage method for customers is to divide customer files into two types: sharing and private. These files that are not shared by all customers are loaded into a directory structure different from that of a private building. Microsoft uses this method to support non-disk customers in Vision 95. However, this method is problematic because when the operating system files are loaded in multiple directory structures, most applications are not installed and function properly. Partly because Microsoft chose to remove no-disk support after Windows%. / There are other ways without disk support. These methods are very complex and focus on high-level file system protocols, such as network filing systems. Of course

541495

This solution is too complicated in a low-level small business environment with a very simple network. Therefore, there is a need to provide a diskless client-server environment that operates seamlessly on operating systems and other software. In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, a preferred embodiment is given below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings for detailed description as follows: Brief description of the drawings: FIG. 1 shows A block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of customer demand processing according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a block order of the disc player distribution software according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the disk player distribution software according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the disk player distribution software according to the embodiment of the present invention; Block diagram of software distribution using a cached disk drive; FIG. 7 is a diagram of a customer's specialized life of BIOS according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a diagram of a customer's virtual boot record according to an embodiment of the present invention Operation flow chart; Fig. 9 According to the embodiment of the present invention, the customer ’s disk controller is acting as agent. The paper size is applicable to the Chinese national standard (CN: S) A1 specification mo X 297 mm. 5. Description of the invention (3) Servo Operation flowchart of the device; and FIG. 10 is a system block diagram of a client according to an embodiment of the present invention. The preferred embodiment describes a system that provides customers with a path-based health storage capability on the network. For purposes of explanation, the particular embodiments are set up to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, to those skilled in the art, the present invention can be implemented without details. Even though this embodiment is described using a disc storage medium, the system can be applied to other non-volatile media including, but not limited to, CD-ROM, optical storage media, and magnetic tape Machine, flash memory and optional ROM. Even the "known components" devices, processes, etc. are described in detail to avoid obscuring the invention. According to several embodiments herein, a feeder system on the network can support several dishless customers. Where possible, the software system on the server and storage space is shared by diskless customers to provide an effective network. Utilizing the special vehicle body on the client 'client can communicate with the software on the server to change the direction of disk access. By providing an agent host for disk drive control on the client, the operating system and other software systems operate as if the client has a regional hard disk. . ^ .; δ'νσ 智 #) Printed by the Consumer Cooperative of the Property Bureau In the first figure, the system 100 includes the server 50 and the client, both of which are connected to the network 4G. Server 5G and customers are processor-based systems. In the embodiment, the server and the customer's 3G are connected to the network by using a high-speed Ethernet local area network (LAN) protocol, which supports a fine transmission rate per second. In an embodiment, the server 50 includes a plurality of software 60. For example, customer demand processor 15 receives the paper size of the representative hard disk from customer 30. Zhongguanjia specifications ⑵ G χ! 541495 A: 5. Description of the invention (4 Network packet. Customer demand processing The server 150 translates these requirements so that other software 60 on the server can handle them. The client demand processor 150 further translates the results of the operations performed on the server 50 so that it can be returned to the client 30. The customer demand processor 150 is described in the second figure below according to the embodiment. The client software 60 further includes a disk drive distribution software 2000. The disk drive distribution software 200 receives a hard disk access request from the customer demand processor 15. The drive distribution software 200 handles this requirement based on the special mapping of hard drives on the server 50. The disc player distribution software 200 is described in FIGS. 3 to 6 according to several embodiments. The word server 50 further includes one or more customer virtual boot records 25. The customer's virtual boot record 250, in the embodiment, can be downloaded to the customer 30, after being requested by the customer 30 to boot. In some embodiments, the server 50 includes a plurality of customer virtual boot records 250, so that each customer 30 on the network 40 can have a flexible architecture. The customer's virtual boot record 250, according to the embodiment, is depicted in the eighth line diagram. In the embodiment, the server 50 further includes a client drive redirection driver 300. The client drive was redirected to the driver 300, similar to the customer's virtual boot record 250, which was downloaded to the customer 30 at the time of initialization. The customer has a virtual boot record of 25 and receives a request to access the hard disk, which does not exist on the customer 30. Once loaded on the client 30, the disc player redirects to the driver Cheng Dong 300 to pass this request to the server 50 via the network 40, so that this demand can serve the hard disk on the server 50. The disc player redirects to the driver program 300, which is described in FIG. 8 according to the embodiment. In addition to the software 60 on the server 50, the customer 30 includes a special paper. The paper size is applicable to the Chinese national standard (C "\ SM4 specification (2) 0 > ^ 97 public love) 541495 Λ: Β: five, Description of the Invention (5) 350 and the disk controller proxy host 400. In the embodiment, the special BIOs 350 is a part of the memory 62, such as a read-only memory (ROM). The special Bi 〇s 35〇 Help the customer 30 during startup so that the customer 30 is connected to the network 40, receive the attention of the server 50, receive the customer's virtual boot record 250 from the server 50, and receive the server 50 Incoming drives are redirected to driver 300. Together, these operations allow diskless clients 30 to serve disk requirements. Special BIOS 350, according to the embodiment, is depicted in Figure 8. Disk Controller Agent Host 400 'According to the embodiment, the software is executed on the client 30' to cause the controller proxy host to exist on the client%. Therefore, the software executed on the client 30 sends a disk request to the disk controller proxy host 400, as The software sends the disk request to the real disk controller. However, in some embodiments, the disk controller proxy host 400 may operate differently from the disk controller. Conversely, in the embodiment, the disk controller proxy host 400 compresses the disk requirements into packets, It can be transmitted on the network, and is finally processed by the disk distribution software 2000 of the server 50. Employees of the Cosmopolitan Intellectual Property Bureau consumes and cooperates. The disk controller proxy host 400 also receives the network 4 〇The packet is transmitted, and the result of the disk drive is returned to the required software. In the implementation side, the disk controller agent host is completely hardware and embedded in a multi-purpose chip, such as a south bridge control chip. In the second embodiment The disk controller proxy host 400 is a carcass, which is stored in the client 62 of the client 30. The disk controller proxy host 400, according to the embodiment, is described in Figure 9. The customer demand processor 15 can receive The disc drive requirements compressed by the client 30 into a network packet, and the operation of transmitting the disc drive to the client 30. In the request, the customer needs the processor 15 to start. According to the embodiment, the paper size is borrowed. Guan Jiayu i 297 541495 V. Description of the invention (6. A packet received on the network 40 on one of the clients 30, Fon Bo Xi Xi Di + (block 152). According to the embodiment, this packet is B *, $,疋 Ethernet packet. However, this packet can be transmitted using other communication protocols. From this packet, the customer demand processor 拉 pulls the drive requirements from the compressed packet (block 154). The customer demand processor 15 then calls the drive The split (the block is called the disk drive distribution software 200. In the embodiment, the disk drive requirements transmitted by the customer 30 are translated into regional health storage requirements, that is, the disk drive requirements of the server 50. The processing is completed here. After the disc player needs, the customer demand processor 15 receives the multi-demand from the tablet distribution software—block 158. Contrary to the previous operation, the customer demand processor 150 compresses the disc drive request into a packet (block 160) 'so that this packet can be transmitted over the network 40 (block 162). Thus, the processor 150 operates according to the customer demand of the embodiment. When the disc distribution software 200 is called by the customer demand processor 150, the demand can be handled in several ways due to the demand. For example, the server 50 can allocate a part of its storage space to each customer 30 on the network 4G. On the traditional network, each customer 30 can start the same operating system or use the same application software. Therefore, according to the embodiment, the system 100 configures the Serving Number in the most commonly used manner, which is the storage of the production bureau and the consumer cooperative. ° In Fig. 3, according to the embodiment, the server 50 includes non-volatile storage, such as a hard disk, including a common storage area 82, and a private health storage area 84 of each customer 30 on the network card. In the second embodiment, the non-volatile storage is an optical disc. In FIG. 3, the network 40 includes the customer's place, the customer's account, and the customer's paper size (CNSM 彳 · ⑵ 541495 V. Description of the invention (30c. Therefore, the hard disk drive 80 includes the customer Private storage area 84a, customer private storage area 84b, and customer private storage area 84c. Furthermore, the server 50 includes a memory 20, which stores a database of information, such as a table, which reserves which client uses a hard disk drive 80. Which part of the record. In the embodiment, the memory 20 includes a bitmap, and each customer has one to supply this information. For each customer 30a, customer 30b, and customer 30c, the memory 20 includes Individual bitmaps: customer bitmaps 22a, customer bitmaps 22b, and customer bitmaps 22c. These bitmaps 22 help the drive allocate software 200 to determine how the hard drive 80 handles the needs of customers 30. Figures 22 and 22 Includes multiple bits. In the embodiment, each element represents the disk storage section available to each customer, such as between common storage 82 and private storage 84. Even in the embodiment, the bit in the bitmap 22 The position of the element η represents the position of the section in the common storage 82. In In Fig. 4, the client bitmap 22a is located in the memory 20 of the server 50 and includes a plurality of bits 12. According to the embodiment, the number of bit 12 in the client bitmap 22a represents The area available for this client 30a is also set, and the number of bits 12 set to "1" represents the number of private sectors available for client 30a. In Figure 4, the common storage of server 50 is 82 It includes a plurality of segments 86. Each element of the client bitmap 22a represents the segments 86 that are stored together. However, in the embodiment, each bit 12 is set in the client bitmap, and the segment 86 The copy is copied from the common storage 82 to the customer's private storage 84a as a private sector 88. In addition to identifying the number of sectors available to the customer 30a, the bitmap 22a is more available

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Printed by the Consumer Cooperatives of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Intellectual Property Bureau 541495 Λ: ---- — — — — B: __ 5. Description of the Invention (8) The location of the demand section on the hard disk drive 80. For example, in the embodiment, the bitmap 22a in the third position, "0" in the bitmap 22a instructs the drive to allocate software 200 to obtain the third sector from the common storage 82 of the hard drive 80. Phase In contrast, the "1" in bitmap 22a of the ninth bit, and bit 12a in Fig. 4 represents that the obtained segment was originally in the ninth position of common storage 82, ' Section 86a. However, section 86a has been copied to the customer's private storage ® store 84a as private section 88a. Because bit 12a is the first non-zero occurrence in the client bitmap, the first private sector 88a is obtained from the client private storage 84a. Therefore, the bit “12a” of the bitmap 22a instructs the disc player to allocate software 200 to obtain the first private sector 88a from the private storage 84a on behalf of the demand client 30a. Those skilled in the art can know this, but it is only One of several embodiments of the client bitmap 22a. Therefore, when all bits 12 in the bitmap 22a are set to "0", the drive allocation software 200 obtains all sector reads from the common storage 82 of the hard drive 80 Take demand. For some systems 100, co-storage 82 can handle most of the accesses of customers 30 on the network 40. For example, loading the operating system and other application software are usually only frequency-reading. Therefore, the customer 30a and the customer 30c can share the same operating system software located in the common storage 82 in the hard disk drive 80. Occasionally the client 30 can perform writes to its virtual storage. In the embodiment, when the segment writing is requested by the customer 30, the bit 1-related to the demand segment 86 is considered 1 (that is, if the bit 12 is not set). The relevant section 86 is copied to the client's private storage for writing as a private section 88 to be executed next. Once the segment is written, all subsequent accesses to the segment are passed from the private storage 84 of the client 30. K ^ ---------, Μ

541495 Λ: Β: Ⅰ --------- ~ 5. Explanation of the invention (9) In Figure 4, the four bits of the bitmap 22a of customer 30 are set to "Γ ,: 12a, 12b , 12c and 12d. Similarly, the four sections 86 of common storage 82, 86a, 86b, 86b, 86c, and 86d are copied to the customer's private storage 84a, such as private sections 88a, 88b, 88c, and 88d. Therefore, the implementation of For example, the number of bits 12 set to "1 '·" in the customer bitmap 22a represents the number of private sections 88 located in the customer's private storage 84. In FIG. 5, the beginning of the disk drive distribution software 2000, in the embodiment, is to receive the access requirements of the hard disk drive 80 on behalf of the customer 30, as transmitted by the customer demand processor 150 ( Block 202). In the embodiment, all read requests are processed by the hard disk drive 80 first. However, once the read requirements of sector 86 are copied into private sector 88 and private sector 88 is written, subsequent read needs of sector 86 are directed to private storage 84 and related private sectors to customer 30 88. Therefore, the drive distribution software 200 is determined to be currently read or write (diamond box 204). Printed by the General Intellectual Property Bureau § Industrial and Consumer Cooperatives -------- Order --------- If the line is read, the disc distribution software 200 running on the server 50 is from The memory 20 of the server 50 accesses the bitmap 22 of the client 30. The requirements section 70 12 is tested (diamond box 206). If the relevant bit 12 has been set, it is assumed that the private sector 88 was previously written. If it is not set to Yuan 12, the demand section 86 is obtained from the common storage 82 of the server 50 (block 208). The demand section% is then sent to the customer demand processor 15o (block 21o). Thus, the customer demand processor 150 sends the result to the customer 30 via the network 40. If the relevant bit of the customer bitmap 12 is set (diamond box 206), then, although it is read, the private section 88 is obtained from the private storage material of the customer 30 (block 21 "). The paid private section $ is then sent to the customer demand

541495

V. Description of the invention (10)

The processor 130 ′ is packetized and transmitted to the client 30 through 40. In order to process the write request (diamond box 204), the disk allocation software 200 reads the bitmap 22 of the client 30 to determine whether to set the relevant bit ι2 (diamond box). Stored 84, Tiancheng Private Sector 88. Therefore, the private sector 88 is identified (block 2220), and the subsequent write is performed on the private sector 88 of the client's private storage 84 (block 222). If the relevant bit 12 of the client bitmap 22 is not set, the required section 86 is copied from the "storage 82", and is used as the private section 88 by the disk drive distribution software 2000 and stored in the private storage 84 of the client 30 ( (Block 216). The relevant bit 12 is then set in the client bitmap 22 (block 218). This ensures that subsequent accesses are directed to the private section 88 of the private storage 84 of the customer 30, and not from the common storage " Coming from 86. The required private sector 88 is then written into the private storage 84 of the hard drive 80 of the server 50 (block 222). Therefore, according to this embodiment, the operation of the disc player distribution software 2000 is completed. In some embodiments, the commonly used portion of the common storage 82 of the server 50 is stored in a cache, such as a memory cache. Based on this, the reading requirement of the client 30 can be implemented in the cache, rather than the shared storage 82 of the hard disk drive 8 (). In other embodiments, the processor cache is used to store a common use portion of the common storage u. Use the cache to speed up certain operations, such as booting or launching applications requested by the customer 30. In FIG. 6, the server 50 includes a common storage 82, as shown in FIG. The server 5G further includes a cache bitmap 24, which is similar to the client bitmap 22 and can be located in the memory 20 of the server 50. This paper size is applicable to China S House Standard (CNS) A 1 specification? ^ -------- ^ --------- ^ (> t.T Read first3 of the back; is ^ A4; u, s page) 13 541495

Printed by the Technology and Intellectual Property Bureau of the Intellectual Property Bureau and the Industrial Cooperative Cooperative. V. Description of the Invention (11) The memory 20 further includes a server cache 44. Similar to the client private storage 84 in Figure 4, the server cache can be used to transfer sector 86 from the common storage 82 as a new sector 92, such as a frequently used sector. Unlike the client private storage 84 located on the hard drive 80, the server cache 44 is located in the memory 20. Therefore, in the embodiment, the access to the section 92 in the server cache 44 is processed at a higher speed than the access of the hard disk drive 80 of the server 50. In Figure 6, the 'usually used' sections, 86e to 86b, are represented by bits 12e to 121 in the cache bitmap 24, which can be accessed in server cache 44 as in sections 92e to 921. . In another embodiment, the client bitmap 22 and the cache bitmap 24 can distinguish between blocks that are moved to the client private storage 84 or the server cache 44 and the segment size. The hard disk sector is generally 5-12 bytes. However, existing file systems are handled with a block size of several sectors. A larger box size is used to make the knowledge verification system more efficient. For example, if a single section is changed to the middle of a seven-segment file system block, according to an embodiment, all seven sections are 'restored' into the private storage 84 of the client 30 (or the server cache). 44). Therefore, bits 2 related to the seven sector blocks are set. In another embodiment, the client bitmap 22 and the cached bitmap 24 can be reset, so that all the bits 12 in the bitmap 22 are cleared to “0,”. For the client bitmap 22, the status is Identified as the default state of the customer 30. The ability to reset the customer 30 to the default state is especially useful in a user-changed environment of the customer 30. For example, in the education setting, students can reach every six months to One year changed on the customer 30. Back to the first figure, the customer requires the processor 15 and the disc distribution software 2000, 1 This paper size applies to the Chinese National Standard (CNS) A4 specification (2) ϋ X 297 Meal) " -------- (* · !. Called the first note on the back page Ran Qiao Qiao page) 0 Installation-line-Description of the invention (12) In the embodiment, it is not Execute, unless the client 30 establishes a connection to the server 50. The special BIOS 350 of the client 30 is connected to the server 50, so that the client 30 can receive the virtual boot record 250 and one or more client drive modifications from the server 50 To the driver 300. In addition, the drive controller proxy host, disguised as application software executed by the client 30, making the hard The operation was successfully performed on the client 30, even if the client 30 itself does not have a hard disk. In short, according to the embodiment, the special BIOS 350 of the client 30 is immediately obtained by the server 50 after the client turns on the power. The virtual boot record 250 and one or more client disk drives are redirected to the driver 300. Once received, the virtual boot record 250 is executed on the client 30. At this time, any hard disk access, which is performed by the virtual boot record 250 The attempt was to change the client drive to the driver 300, so that the drive controller agent host 400 of the client 30 was accessed. Then, the drive controller agent host 400 was accessed by access The disk drive operation is performed by the hard disk drive 80 of the server 50. As shown in FIG. 2, the packet includes the disk drive requirements of the disk drive controller proxy host 400 迗 to the servo 50, which is handled by the customer's demand processor 15〇 Processing. The drive controller agent host 400 operates from the viewpoint of the virtual boot record 250 (or other application software), although the disk operating system is implemented in the area. Therefore, the client 30 can support health and other people, some money related The existence of hard disk 'without actually hard drive. The operation of the 'special BI0s 35o' in FIG. 7 is initiated by connecting the client 30 to the network 40 according to the embodiment to access the ship (block 352). The special BI0S 35G then broadcasts the demand for servo requests (block 354). In the embodiment, the client 3 () and the word server 5 () act as pre-boot execution 541495

Printed by the Consumers' Cooperatives of the Wisdom and Time Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. 5. Part of the invention description (l3 WPXE). ρχΕ specifications (September 20, 1999, 2 "version) were provided by Yangter Corporation. The client 30 initiates the ρχΕ agreement by broadcasting a special instruction ' which discerns that this requirement is from the customer implementing the PGX agreement. After several intermediate steps, the server 50 sends a list of appropriate boot servers to the client 30. The client 30 then discovers the selected boot server and receives the execution file name on the selected boot server. In an embodiment, the execution file received by the client 30 is a client virtual startup record 250 (block 356). Furthermore, the special BIOS 350 obtains the client drive redirection driver 300 from the server 50 (block 358). Finally, the special BIOS 3 50 performs a virtual boot record 250 (block 360). For example, the special BIOS 350 executes the BIOS function INT 19h to execute the virtual boot record 250 stored in the customer's memory. Therefore, the operation of the special BI0s 35o is completed, according to the embodiment. Now, the customer virtual boot record 250 is stored in the customer memory, and the virtual boot record 250 can be executed. It should be noted that when the boot log is located on the hard disk, it is generally stored in memory and executed. Although obtained from a remote hard disk, the virtual boot record 250 also follows this operation. In Figure 8, the operation of the 'customer virtual boot record 250, according to the embodiment', begins by issuing an instruction to load the operating system core (block 2 $ 2). In the conventional technology, the operating system is generally loaded by issuing INT 1 3h to obtain the operating system from the hard disk. Here, instead, the disk drive is redirected to the driver 300, which is obtained from the server 50 by the special BIOS 350, and sends the request to the disk controller controller agent host 400 (block 254). In other embodiments, instead of using a disk drive to load INT 13h, the special BIOS 350 itself can change all INT 13h (called 乇 closed c $ 4f face; 1φ, $; ηϋτ :: this page). 4ir, I. — — — — — — IIIIIIII. 16 541495

To the disk drive controller proxy host 400. / For processing requirements' In the embodiment, the disk drive controller proxy host 400 obtains the operating system from the server 50, and then uses the protocol (Fang Gui 256) operating system core described in Figure 9 below to load into the customer memory (Block 258). Once loaded, the operating system is executed (block 260). For all subsequent disk requirements (such as execution time requirements), the drive redirection driver 300 can handle this requirement (block 262). Therefore, according to the embodiment, the operation of the client virtual boot record 250 is completed. The drive controller agent host 400 is started by the customer's virtual boot record 25, and the software running on the customer 30 can be regarded as a normal disk controller. This means that the drive controller proxy host 400 receives the disk access request. The operation of the disc player controller agent host 400 is described in FIG. 9 according to the embodiment.

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Printed by the Consumers ’Cooperative of the Time Bureau. First, the disc controller controller agent host 400 receives a request from the client's operating system or other software to access the hard disk (block 402). The drive controller agent host 400 compresses this disk request into a packet suitable for transmission over the network (block 404). In an embodiment, the client 30 applies a protocol to request access to a section of the server via the network. This agreement includes private command and response structures, including a command header area, a data content area, and an error handling area. Because the customer demand processor 150 can receive the server 50 $ demand, the instructions sent by the disk drive controller agent host 400 can be simple types, such as `` read sections a, b, e, d "Or, write sections e, f, g, h". Secondly, according to the embodiment, the disk drive controller agent host 400 applies the Chinese national standard car (CNSMJ specification, PCT) via the paper standard of the network. 17 541495 V. Description of the invention (l5) The package with the compressed disk requirements is delivered. To the server 50 (the outline of the box. The disk drive controller proxy host 400 then waits for a response from the server 50. 'At some point, the disk drive controller proxy host 400 receives the client demand processor 150 switched by the server. The response packet includes the disk result (Square 408). The drive controller agent host 400 then needs to solve the compressed disk to the disk result data (block 41G). The result data is then stored In the memory of the client (block 412), this data can be obtained by the required application. Therefore, the operation of the disk controller controller agent host 400 of the embodiment is completed. Referring to FIG. 10, the server 50 Includes processor 10 and memory 20, including decision 44 as described in Figure 6. Processor 10 includes a microcontroller, x86 processor'arm microprocessor, or Pentium processor, etc. Memory Zhao 2 〇Including various machine access S memory, such as DRAM, SDRAM, SRAM, SIMM or DIMM, etc. The processor 10 and the memory 20 are all connected through the system bus 14. In the embodiment, the bridge chip 16 is also coupled to the system bus μ, It includes a second bus 16, such as a PCI bus 18. The ρα specification is made by pci Special

Group, Portland, Oregon 97214. In the Bayesian example, the bridge chip 16 further supports the hard disk drive 80, including the software 60 of the i-th figure. The PCI bus 18 also supports the NIC 42 to connect the server 50 to the network 40. The client 30 is also a processor-based system including a processor 58, a memory 64 and a ROM 62 'each coupled to a system bus 56. Like the processor 10 on the server 50, the processor 58 includes various processors. Like the server 50, the paper size of the notebook is applicable to the Chinese National Standard (Ci \ s) Xf specification (21ϋ χ 297 ?, issued) ---- -18-(Jing Shi) read ^ on the back; 1 emergency office -uirc 'this page) Binding: Printed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Bureau of Intelligent Production and Industrial Affairs, 8th Industrial Cooperative, 541495 V. Description of Invention (Ιό) Memory 64 can be any random access memory. As shown in FIG. 1, the ROM 62 includes a special Bios 350. The ROM 62 may be a program ROM (PROM), an EPROM, and an EEPROM. For example, the server 50 and the client 30 include a bridge chip 52 coupled between the system bus 56 and the PCI bus 48. The PCI bus 48 also supports a NIC card 46 for connection to the network 40. In the embodiment, the disk controller controller proxy host 400, as shown in FIG. 1, may be a part of the multifunctional bridge chip 52. In another embodiment, the drive controller proxy host 400 may be an independent component coupled to the system bus 56 or the PCI bus 48. The embodiment of Fig. 10 represents one possible embodiment of the system 100. / Line Therefore, in some embodiments, a system that supports diskless customers takes advantage of excess customer demand on the network. Possibly, customers can share hard drive access to the server. Customers can maintain private storage on the server if needed. In some embodiments, the customer includes a special rule 5 to connect to the feeder and download the operating system. In some embodiments, the client further includes a drive controller proxy host to change the disk requirements to the server. The server includes special software to handle remote requirements, allocate disk space to customers, and download operating systems and drivers to customers. Knowing the above, "Although the present invention has been disclosed in the preferred embodiment as above, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make various changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention." Retouching, so the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the attached patent application. 19 541495 π: __ V. Description of the invention (17) The reference of the components is printed on the staff consumer cooperatives of Wah Chi Smart and Smart Bureau i «10 ··· Processor 62 ... ROM 12, 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d 64 ... memory • • Bit 8… Hard disk drive 14… System bus 82 ... Common storage area 16… Bridge chips 84, 84a, 84b, 84c 18 ... P CI bus… Private storage area 2 〇 ·· Memory 86, 86a, 86b, 86c and 86d 22, 22a, 22b, 22c ... Sector ... Customer bitmap 88, 88a '88b, 88c and 88d 30, 30a, 30b, 30c ... Customer · Private zone 40 ... Network 92 ... Zone 4 2 ... NIC (network card) 100 ... System 44 ... Server cache 150 ... Customer requirements processor 46 ... NIC card 200. ·· Disc distribution software 4 8 ··. P CI bus 2 5 0 ... Customer virtual boot record 5 0 ·· .Server 5 2 ... Bridge chip 300 ... Customer drive modification To the driver 56 ... system bus 350 ... special BIOS 58 ... processor 400 ... disk controller agent host 60 ... software ^ 乇 ^ read on the back; 1 urgently poor. 岣 do ^, Page) K.. Line.

Claims (1)

6. In the abbreviated side of the scope of patent application, please "please amend the scope of the patent. A method to provide customers with access to network-based storage. 91.12.26 method, including: Feijian's ability to save people =: = : To access the non-volatile storage; the need, and, and the non-volatile storage agent host to access the non-volatile storage agent by the non-volatile storage agent. Access-feeder. The storage agent host accesses A, and the steps for accessing the non-volatile f state on a server by the non-^ .. ^ wood include: I $ 5 but 5 Hai needs to be suitable for ,,,, ^ _ For packets transmitted through a network, · 1 packet is transported to the server connected to the network by i-serving. 3. The method described in item 2 of the scope of patent application, further includes: receiving by the server. Decompress the request from the packet; and generate a result based on the request. 1.2 The method described in item 3 of the patent scope, wherein the step of generating a 2 Hai result according to the demand further includes identifying the server The block of the non-volatile storage; «Row - the operation on the money; and 2" receives the results from one of the feed origin server non-volatile storage within the host agent. Apply. The method described in item 4 of the monthly patent scope, which includes the steps of identifying the paper size of the feeder as appropriate for the country of the country_7 ^ 81 specification ⑵ 541495 ~, the block of the non-volatile storage on the scope of patent application Including: accessing the server-a table in the volatile memory related to the client; and searching for an item in the table related to the box. 6. The method according to item 5 of the application, wherein the step of receiving the results from the feeder in the non-volatile storage agent host further comprises: receiving and compressing the results generated by the feeder. A second packet; and decompressing the result from the second packet. 7. The method as described in item 5 of the scope of patent application, further comprising: checking the item related to the block; identifying the block as previously written by the client and obtained by the non-volatile on the server The first part of the box is related to the part 8. The method described in item 5 of the scope of patent application, further includes: checking the item related to the box; identifying that the box was not previously written by the client The person obtains the block by the non-volatile server on the server. /, 冋. M point 9. The method described in item 5 of the scope of patent application, further comprising: storing the result in the client's volatile memory. System 10 ·-A type to provide customers with access to network-based storage systems, including · _ I force 22 6. Patent Application Scope-Servers, including non-volatile storage '· One network' transfer To the feeder; and-the client 'is coupled to the network, the client includes _nonvolatile storage = agent "' received through the network-storage access requirements Asia storage access f seek to send to the server. Patent coverage 丨. The system described in item 1, wherein the non-volatile storage management host sends the storage access request to the server through the network by: compressing the storage access request into a packet; and through the network The packet is sent to the server. The system described in the scope of application for patents, wherein the feeding device further receives a packet from the customer on the network; decompresses the storage access requirement from the packet; and. . Accessing the non-volatile storage in response to the storage access request 13. The system as described in item 12 of the patent application scope, wherein the server further comprises: generating a ticket associated with accessing the non-volatile storage Result · Compress the result into a second packet; and send the second packet to the client through the DH network. 14. The system described in item 13 of the scope of patent application, wherein the non-volatile storage agent host further comprises: receiving the second packet from the customer via the network · The result is decompressed from the second packet; and the result is sent to the client—memory • as described in item 10 of the scope of patent application: a software program to perform the following actions; This includes broadcasting a server request on the network; the server obtains a virtual boot record; and executes the virtual boot record. 16.- Use: a processor that handles non-volatile storage access requirements;-a network interface that 'lightly connects the system to a network; and a non-volatile storage proxy host, which transfers to the processing The non-volatile storage agent host is: receiving a non-volatile storage access request; reducing the non-volatile storage access request I into a packet; and sending the packet to the network interface through the network interface. A server. π The system as described in item 16 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the material storage agent agent further: receives a second packet from the server; and decompresses a result from the second packet. 1δ. As described in the application section § § m, where the result is an action of accessing a non-volatile storage on the server in response to the demand received by the feeder by the system Then, it is generated by the server. 19 · The system described in item 16 of the patent application scope, including: This paper standard is applicable to the Zhongguanjia Standard (CNS) A4 specification (2iGX297W7 24 541495 AB c D. 6. Application scope for patents-Non-volatile memory, Storing a software program executed when the system is started, wherein the program: broadcasts a server request on the network; obtains a virtual boot record from the server; stores the virtual boot record in the memory; and executes the virtual Boot record 20. The system described in item 19 of the scope of patent application, wherein the program further: obtains a redirection driver from the server; stores the redirection driver in the memory; and loads the redirection Driver. This paper size applies to China National Standard (CNS) A4 (210X297 mm) 25