KR20110030001A - Network direct attached storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A network connection storing device is provided to access storage space through a file based method and a block based method and to configure a file based method and a block based method to one device. CONSTITUTION: A storage unit(1) approaches to a host. The storage unit actually stores data. An NDAS(Network Direct Attached Storage) host(2) includes a device storage interface, an NDAS host logic, and an Ethernet interface. The NAS host includes the device storage interface, the NAS host logic and the Ethernet interface. The storage unit is connected to the NDAS host.

Description

Network Direct Attached Storage Devices {NETWORK DIRECT ATTACHED STORAGE SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a network direct attached storage device, and more particularly, a block based on a file-based method and a network direct attached storage (NDAS) protocol employing a network attached storage (NAS) protocol, which Ethernet hosts are widely used. An advanced network direct-attached storage device that allows access to the same storage space through both underlying methods.

Storage is the backbone of today's digital life. Storing digital data such as music (MP3) and images from digital cameras, video documents, spreadsheets, presentations, etc. requires storage.

Storage devices and storage media exist in various types. Examples of the storage medium include a hard disk driv, a digital versatile disk (DVD), and the like.

In addition, there are various ways of classifying storage devices. They can be classified according to whether they are HDD based or optical media based, or what application area (personal storage versus mission critical storage), or which interface type is connected to the host.

For the purposes of the present invention we can basically divide the storage device into two types: (1) DAS (Direct Attached Storage) and (2) Networked Storage.

As the name suggests, DAS connects directly to a single host through a physical medium, such as a cable. The protocol used for transmission is a protocol for direct data transmission, such as Parallel ATA (PATA), Serial ATA (SATA), Universal Serial Bus (USB), and Firewire (IEEE 1394). DAS devices range from a single hard disk drive that connects to a host computer via a simple USB cable, to a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) array that connects to the host using the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) protocol. The main feature of the DAS device is that it is connected to one host and used exclusively by this particular host.

The network storage device is attached to a sharing means such as a network, for example, an Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) network shared by a plurality of hosts. A common feature of network storage devices is that they allow the same storage space to be shared by multiple hosts via a sharing means. In addition, network storage devices range from single hard disk drives to network-connected multi-bay arrays.

Furthermore, network storage devices may be classified into file based network storage and block based network storage. File-based network storage-popularly known as Network Attache Storage (NAS)-shares data at the file / folder / share level using one of the common network file system protocols. The common network file system protocols include Common Internet File System (CIFS), Network File System (NFS), Appletalk Filing System (AFP), or even File Transfer Protocol (FTP), SMB (operating at a higher level in the OSI reference model). There are higher level protocols such as Server Message Blocks, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

Block-based network storage provides network access to raw raw blocks rather than files and typically operates at the lower layers of the OSI reference model. As a result, the storage device is shared above the volume level rather than the file and folder level.

Block-based network storage allows for superior transfer rates, but file-based network storage typically provides higher levels of features such as user & quota management, multiple protocols, and access control.

Furthermore, block based network storage devices may be classified according to protocols for accessing the network storage devices. Recently, the following protocols are most widely used.

Fiber channel, iSCSI (Internet SCSI), ATA over Ethernet (AoE) and Network Direct Attached Storage (NDAS). Of these, Fiber Channel is the de facto standard, but recently, iSCSI, AoE, and NDAS-based block-based network storage devices have emerged, and the advantages of block-based network storage devices at a very low cost over Fiber Channel block-based network storage devices have emerged. It is gaining recognition in the market as much as it offers. This is partly due to the fact that most companies and public institutions want to maintain their Ethernet infrastructure rather than require their own network infrastructure.

NDAS type block-level network storage has been developed by Ximeta, Inc., which provides an easy way for a single hard drive to connect to the network and share files, music, photos and videos between host computers. The emphasis has been on consumer network storage.

Current network devices using Ximet's block-based network storage technology provide superior performance, but include multiple access protocols such as CIFS, NFS, AFF, FTP, HTTP, user & quota managetment, and access protocols. There is a problem that does not provide the higher level of features that file-based network storage devices provide.

The present invention combines the advantages of different types of file-based and block-based network direct-attached storage devices, as well as file-based network storage using a well-known and stabilized protocol, as well as block-based network storage using the new NDAS protocol. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of configuring a device that can access the same storage space, whichever is used.

A network direct storage device according to the present invention comprises a storage unit accessed by a host to actually store data; An NDAS host including device storage interfaces, NDAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces; And a NAS host including a device storage interface, a NAS host logic, and an Ethernet interface, wherein the storage unit is connected with an NDAS host, the Ethernet interface of the NDAS host is connected with an Ethernet interface of the NAS host, and the NDAS The host and NAS host are each connected to an external Ethernet through another Ethernet interface.

Another network direct-attached storage device according to the present invention comprises: a storage unit accessed by a host to actually store data; An NDAS host including device storage interfaces, NDAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces; And a NAS host comprising a device storage interface, a NAS host logic, and an Ethernet interface, wherein the storage unit is connected to an NDAS host and the NDAS host Ethernet interface to an Ethernet interface of the NAS host, wherein the NAS host is another An Ethernet bridging function is connected to an external Ethernet through an Ethernet interface to perform an Ethernet bridging function for the NDAS host.

Another network direct-attached storage device according to the present invention comprises: a storage unit accessed by a host to actually store data; An NDAS host including device storage interfaces, NDAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces; And an Ethernet switch including a NAS storage device, an NAS host logic, and an NAS host, the Ethernet switch having three or more Ethernet interfaces, wherein the storage unit is connected to an NDAS host, and the NDAS host and NAS host are connected to each other. Each Ethernet interface is connected to an Ethernet interface of the Ethernet switch, and the Ethernet switch is connected to an external Ethernet through another Ethernet interface.

Another network direct-attached storage device according to the present invention comprises: a storage unit accessed by a host to actually store data; An NDAS host including device storage interfaces, NDAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces; And an AAMUX comprising a device storage interface, a NAS host logic, and an NAS host, wherein the AAMUX comprises a device storage interface, an AAMUX logic, and at least two host storage interfaces. It is connected to the device storage interface, the host storage interfaces of the AAMUX is connected to the device storage interface of the NDAS and NAS host, respectively, characterized in that the NDAS and NAS host is connected to the external Ethernet through their respective Ethernet interface.

The storage unit may be a single hard disk, a DVD optical disk, or a Blu-ray optical disk, and may be a RAID array including a plurality of hard drives tied to a single virtual storage unit.

In addition, the storage unit may be connected to the device storage interface of the NDAS host or AAMUX via a direct cable as a local storage unit, configured as an NDAS target as a remote storage unit may be connected via an Ethernet interface of the NDAS host. It is done.

The network direct storage device according to the present invention comprises a block-based network storage technology and a file-based network storage technology in a single device, thereby providing excellent performance of the block-based network storage device and a high level of variety of the file-based network storage device. It supports the protocol and has the advantage of being accessible through both block-based and file-based methods when accessing the same storage space through the network.

Definitions of terms used in the present invention are as follows.

Local and remote story  unit ( Local Of Remote Storage Unit ) ( 1  To Figure 2  Reference)

The storage unit 1 means actual storage space.

The storage unit 1 may be a single hard disk or an optical disk such as a DVD or may be a Blu-ray optical disk. It can also be a RAID array consisting of several hard drives tied to a single virtual storage unit.

The local storage unit 100 is directly connected to the storage host through a direct connection. A typical example is a Serial ATA hard disk drive or SAS hard disk drive connected to a storage host through a Serial ATA cable or SAS cable.

The remote storage unit is connected to the storage host via sharing means. A typical example is an NDAS target 200 that is generally connected to a host via Ethernet over a longer distance.

The storage unit refers to a block-based storage space regardless of whether it is connected locally or remotely.

storage  interface( Storage Interface )

The storage interfaces 21, 31, 51 conditionally specify storage protocols for transferring storage data between the storage and their hosts.

The protocol used for the storage interface may be Parallel ATA (PATA), Serial ATA (SATA), Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) or Serially Attached SCSI (SAS). The most recent of these protocols is Serial ATA.

NDAS  Host ( Network Direct Attached Storage Host ) ( 1  Reference)

The NDAS host 2 allows the local storage unit to connect with an external Ethernet network.

The NDAS host consists of device storage interface 21, NDAS host logic 22, and Ethernet interface 23.

The local storage unit 100 is connected to the device storage interface. And the Ethernet interface 23 of the NDAS host is connected to the Ethernet network.

The NDAS host logic 22 bidirectionally transforms data transmission from the device storage interface to the Ethernet interface according to the specification of the condition of the NDAS technology. The NDAS host logic 22 may be implemented not only by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) but also by target software that operates on top of a field programmable grid array (FPGA) or an operating system (OS) and a computing platform. .

NDAS  target( NDAS target )

The NDAS target 200 refers to a remote storage unit other than access by NDAS technology and protocol means.

It is configured by the NDAS host 2 and the storage unit 1, which is connected to the device storage interface 21 of the NDAS through its own host storage interface, the NDAS host is connected to the external Ethernet network Ethernet It has an interface 23.

NDAS  Client( NDAS client )

The NDAS Client is basically any kind of device that has NDAS Initiator entitlement. The most common form would be a computer with the NDAS driver installed.

NAS  Host ( Network Attached Storage Host )

The NAS host 3 functions to export block-based local or remote storage units as Ethernet-based storage devices as file-based storage devices.

It consists of one or more device storage interfaces 31, NAS host logic 32, and one or more Ethernet interfaces 33.

The external Ethernet network is connected to the Ethernet interface 33.

The NAS host logic 32 exports the local or remote storage unit, which essentially means block-based storage space, as file-based storage, according to the conditions specified by common NAS protocols such as SMB, NFS, AFP, FTP, HTTP, and the like.

The NAS host logic 32 is typically implemented by a computing platform operated by an operating system (OS), which can export block-based storage to file-based storage using common NAS protocols. Have the ability to In addition, it can be implemented as a System on Chip (SoC) solution in which all components can be integrated in a single chip in the form of FPGA or ASIC.

NAS  target( NAS target )

The NAS target 300 device is configured by a NAS host and a storage unit connected thereto.

Ethernet network ( Ethernet Network )

This is a packet switch network conforming to the IEEE802.3 standard.

AAMUX  unit ( activ - activ multiplexer  unit)

The AAMUX unit 5 typically allows a local storage unit to be connected to two hosts simultaneously or optionally to one port.

The AAMUX unit 5 is composed of a device storage interface 51, an AAMUX logic 52, and two or more host storage interfaces 53.

The local storage unit 100 is connected with the device storage interface 51. Through the host storage interface 53, the AAMUX unit can be connected to the device interfaces 21, 31 of two different hosts.

AAMUX logic is intelligently enabled on two host ports, sending multiple signals to a single device storage interface. Typically, the AAMU logic can be configured in an ASIC and in FPGA form.

The two host ports may be in active-activ mode. In this mode, two hosts 2 and 3 can actively access the storage unit 1 simultaneously.

Host ports may be in port selection mode in which only one host is active at a time.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail.

There may be several ways to configure a network attached storage device in accordance with the present invention.

External switching ( External Switching ) Method ( Figure 4  Reference)

According to the invention this method employs external Ethernet network switching.

The NDAS host 2 and the NAS host 3 are housed in one device. The storage unit 100 couples with and configures an NDAS target with it.

One or more NDAS targets are directly connected to the Ethernet network through their own Ethernet interface 23a. NDAS targets are accessed by the NDAS client via their respective Ethernet interface 23b.

One or more NAS targets are also directly connected to the same Ethernet network 33 via their respective Ethernet interfaces.

The NAS host becomes an NDAS client that accesses the NDAS target via the NDAS protocol. The access path of these NAS hosts employs an external Ethernet network. Therefore, this method depends on the existence and proper operation of an external Ethernet network that provides its full functionality.

Bridging ( Bridging ) Method ( Figure 5  Reference)

This method employs an Ethernet bridge that conforms to the IEEE802.1d standard.

One or more NDAS targets, consisting of storage units 100 attached to each NDAS host 2, are directly connected to the Ethernet interfaces 33a of the NAS host 3 via their respective Ethernet interfaces 23.

The NAS target is connected to an external Ethernet network via another Ethernet interface 33b. Therefore, the NAS host 2 needs to have at least two Ethernet interfaces. One Ethernet interface 33a is directly connected with the Ethernet interface of the NAS target and another 33b is connected with the external Ethernet network.

The Ethernet interface of the NAS host is mediated by employing the Ethernet bridging function which is the original function of the NAS host.

The NAS host is itself one NDAS client accessing the NDAS target via the NDAS protocol. The imported NDAS target becomes a storage unit attached and exported by a NAS host that ultimately constitutes a NAS target that can be accessed by various NAS clients.

Other hosts in the Ethernet network access the NAS target as well as the NDAS target through the same Ethernet interface. Therefore, only one Ethernet interface needs to be exposed to an external Ethernet network.

Internal switching ( Internal Switching Method (see Figure 6)

In this way an internal Ethernet switching device 4 can be used.

One or more NDAS targets configured with the storage unit 100 attached to the respective NDAS host 2 are directly connected to the Ethernet interface 41a of the internal Ethernet switch via their own Ethernet interface 23.

One or more NAS hosts 3 are also connected to the Ethernet interface 41b of the internal Ethernet switch via their respective Ethernet interface 33.

The internal Ethernet switch also has an additional Ethernet interface 41c connected to the external Ethernet network.

The NAS hosts 3 are themselves NDAS clients accessing the NDAS target via the NDAS protocol. It imports NDAS as block-based storage and exports it as file-based storage. The imported NDAS target is a storage unit of NAS hosts that ultimately constitutes a NAS target that can be accessed by various NAS clients.

Other hosts in the Ethernet network access the NAS target as well as the NDAS target through the same Ethernet interface. Therefore, only one Ethernet interface is required to be exposed to an external Ethernet network.

Active-active Multiplexing ( Active - Active Multipexing Method (see Figure 7)

This method employs an AAMUX unit 5 that allows drive sharing at the hardware level.

One storage unit 100 is connected to the device storage interface 51 of AAMUX via its host storage device interface.

The AAMUX unit also has two storage interfaces. It is connected with the device storage interface of the NDAS host through its first host storage interface 53a and with the device storage interface of the NAS host through the second host storage interface 53b.

The AAMUX unit allows the NAS host 3 as well as the NDAS host 2 to simultaneously access the storage unit 100.

The NDAS target may be connected to external Ethernet via its own Ethernet interface 23, and the NAS target may also be connected to external Ethernet via its own Ethernet interface 33.

NDAS clients and NAS clients access storage via external Ethernet. Thus, at least two external device network interfaces need to be exposed to the external Ethernet network.

The bridging method and the switching method may be used for combining the AAMUX method.

1 is a configuration diagram of an NDAS target according to the present invention;

2 is a NAS target configuration diagram according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of an AAMUX unit according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a block diagram of an external switching network direct storage device according to the present invention.

5 is a block diagram of a bridging network direct storage device according to the present invention;

6 is a block diagram of an internal switching network direct storage device according to the present invention;

7 is a block diagram of a network direct storage device using an AAMUX unit according to the present invention;

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: storage unit 100: local storage unit

2: NDAS host

21: Device storage interface on NDAS host

22: NDAS Host Logic 23: Ethernet Interface on NDAS Host

200: NDAS Target 3: NAS Host

31: Device storage interface on the NAS host

32: NAS host logic 33: Ethernet interface of NAS host

300: NAS target 4: Ethernet switch

41: Ethernet interface of the Ethernet switch

5: AAMUX unit 51: device storage interface of AAMUX unit

52: logic of AAMUX unit

53: Host storage interface on AAMUX units

Claims (8)

A storage unit accessed by the host to actually store data; An NDAS host including device storage interfaces, NDAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces; And NAS hosts including device storage interfaces, NAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces, The storage unit is connected to the NDAS host, the Ethernet interface of the NDAS host is connected to the Ethernet interface of the NAS host, the NDAS host and NAS host is connected to the external Ethernet through another Ethernet interface, respectively Network direct attached storage. A storage unit accessed by the host to actually store data; An NDAS host including device storage interfaces, NDAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces; And NAS hosts including device storage interfaces, NAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces, The storage unit is connected to an NDAS host and the NDAS host Ethernet interface is connected to the Ethernet interface of the NAS host, the NAS host is connected to the external Ethernet through another Ethernet interface to perform an Ethernet bridging function for the NDAS host Network direct attached storage device, characterized in that. A storage unit accessed by the host to actually store data; An NDAS host including device storage interfaces, NDAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces; And A NAS host including device storage interfaces, NAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces, It further includes an Ethernet switch having three or more Ethernet interfaces, The storage unit is connected to an NDAS host, and the NDAS host and NAS host are respectively connected to the Ethernet interface of the Ethernet switch through their respective Ethernet interfaces, and the Ethernet switch is connected to the external Ethernet through another Ethernet interface. Featured network direct attached storage. A storage unit accessed by the host to actually store data; An NDAS host including device storage interfaces, NDAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces; And A NAS host including device storage interfaces, NAS host logic, and Ethernet interfaces, Further includes AAMUX, which consists of a device storage interface, AAMUX logic, and two or more host storage interfaces, The storage unit is connected to the device storage interface of the AAMUX, and the host storage interfaces of the AAMUX are connected to the device storage interfaces of the NDAS and NAS host, respectively, and the NDAS and NAS host are connected to external Ethernet through their respective Ethernet interfaces. Network connected directly storage device, characterized in that connected. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, And said storage unit is a single hard disk, a DVD optical disk or a Blu-ray optical disk. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, And said storage unit is a RAID array comprising a plurality of hard drives tied to a single virtual storage unit. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, And said storage unit is connected to a device storage interface of said NDAS host or AAMUX via a direct cable as a local storage unit. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And said storage unit is configured as a remote storage unit as an NDAS target and connected via an Ethernet interface of said NDAS host.

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