System and method for sharing storage resources
A network includes a management module with a first root complex, a first server with a first endpoint coupled to the first root complex, and a second server with a second root complex, a second endpoint coupled to the second root complex, a third endpoint coupled to the first root complex, and a bridge coupled to the second endpoint and to the third endpoint. A method includes discovering a PCIe host bridge adapter (PHBA) and a storage resource coupled to multiple storage extents in a PCIe domain, creating a first virtual function on the storage resource and sending a first identifier for the first virtual function to the PHBA. A network interface device includes a PCIe endpoint that is coupleable to a PCIe root complex, another PCIe endpoint that is coupleable to another PCIe root complex, and a bridge that couples the first PCIe endpoint with the second PCIe endpoint.
1. A network comprising:
a management module comprising a first root complex;
a first server comprising a first endpoint coupled to the first root complex, wherein the first endpoint and the first root complex are located within a first PCIe domain, and wherein the first PCIe domain is configured to enable peer-to-peer transactions only between endpoints in the first PCIe domain; and
a second server comprising:
a second root complex;
a second endpoint coupled to the second root complex;
a third endpoint coupled to the first root complex and to the first endpoint, wherein the third endpoint is located within the first PCIe domain and sends data to the first endpoint via a peer-to-peer transaction,
a PCIe host bridge adapter including a bridge, the second endpoint, and the third endpoint, the bridge to transfer data between the first PCIe domain and a second PCIe domain by the bridge being adapted to receive data from one of the second and third endpoints and to transfer the data to the other endpoint, wherein the second endpoint is located within the second PCIe domain, and wherein the bridge is not in either the first PCIe domain or the second PCIe domain.
2. The network of claim 1 , wherein the first server further comprises a fourth endpoint.
3. The network of claim 2 , wherein the management module is operable to create the fourth endpoint as a virtual function.
4. The network of claim 2 , wherein the first server further comprises a plurality of storage extents.
5. The network of claim 4 , wherein the management module is operable to map a first subset of the plurality of storage extents to the fourth endpoint.
6. The network of claim 5 , wherein the management module is further operable to map the fourth endpoint to the third endpoint.
7. The network of claim 6 , wherein the second server accesses the first subset of the plurality of storage extents through the second endpoint.
8. The network of claim 7 , further comprising:
a third server comprising:
a third root complex;
a fifth endpoint coupled to the third root complex;
a sixth endpoint coupled to the first root complex; and
a bridge coupled to the fifth endpoint and to the sixth endpoint;
wherein the first server further comprises a seventh endpoint;
wherein the management module is further operable to:
create the seventh endpoint as a virtual function;
map a second subset of the plurality of storage extents to the seventh endpoint; and
map the seventh endpoint to the sixth endpoint; and
wherein the second server accesses the second subset of the plurality of storage extents through the fifth endpoint.
9. The network of claim 1 , wherein the first server further comprises the management module.
10. The network of claim 1 , wherein the second server further comprises the management module.
11. The network of claim 1 , wherein the management module is separate from the first server and the second server.
12. A network interface device comprising:
a first PCIe endpoint that is operably coupleable to a first PCIe root complex, wherein the first PCIe endpoint and the first PCIe root complex are in a first PCIe domain, wherein the first PCIe domain is configured to enable the first peer-to-peer transaction only between endpoints in the first PCIe domain;
a second PCIe endpoint that is operably coupleable to a second PCIe root complex, wherein the second PCIe endpoint and the second PCIe root complex are in a second PCIe domain, wherein the second PCIe domain is configured to enable the second peer-to-peer transaction only between endpoints in the second PCIe domain;
a third PCIe endpoint coupled to the first root complex and to the first endpoint, wherein the third endpoint is located within the first PCIe domain and sends data to the first endpoint via a peer-to-peer transaction; and
a PCIe host bridge adapter including a bridge, the first PCIe endpoint, and the second PCIe endpoint, the bridge to transfer data between the first PCIe domain and the second PCIe domain by the bridge being adapted to receive data from one of the first and second endpoints and to transfer the data to the other endpoint, and wherein the bridge is not in either the first PCIe domain or the second PCIe domain.
13. The network interface device of claim 12 , wherein the bridge is operable to:
communicate information received at the first PCIe endpoint on the second PCIe endpoint; and
communicate information received at the second PCIe endpoint on the first PCIe endpoint.
14. The network interface device of claim 13 , wherein the network interface device is adaptable to be included in a server.