System and method for performing virtual device I/O operations
View Patent ↗Systems, methods, apparatus and software can make use separated I/O processors and strategy processors in performing virtual device I/O operations. I/O processors operating on cluster nodes, storage appliance ports, or other devices can receive I/O operation requests directed to virtual devices, e.g., volumes or virtual logical units. Information about the request is forwarded to a strategy processor, operating independently or as part of larger volume management software where corresponding physical device I/O operations are determined. The physical device I/O operations are sent back to the I/O processor which executes the operations and/or passes the operation on to the appropriate storage device.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a virtual device input/output (I/O) operation request;
forming at least one physical device I/O operation using information from the virtual device I/O operation request;
transmitting the at least one physical device I/O operation to an I/O processor for execution against at least one storage device; and
receiving an indication from the I/O processor that the at least one physical device I/O operation has been successfully executed.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining whether the virtual I/O operation request is associated with a node that received the virtual I/O operation request.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the determining further comprises:
determining whether the virtual I/O operation request originates from at least one of an application operating on the node and a client computer system of the node.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one physical device I/O operation further comprises at least one physical device command and data associated with the at least one physical device command.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving the at least one physical device I/O operation; and
executing the at least one physical device I/O operation against at least one storage device.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual device I/O operation request is directed to at least one of a volume and a logical unit.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving data corresponding to the at least one physical device I/O operation; and
storing the data in a buffer.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual device I/O operation request comprises a virtual device destination.
9. An apparatus comprising:
a means for receiving a virtual device input/output (I/O) operation request;
a means for forming at least one physical device I/O operation using information from the virtual device I/O operation request;
a means for transmitting the at least one physical device I/O operation to an I/O processor for execution against at least one storage device; and
a means for receiving an indication from the I/O processor that the at least one physical device I/O operation has been successfully executed.
10. A computer program product comprising:
a computer readable storage medium, said computer readable storage medium comprising
program instructions executable on a processor, wherein the program instructions are operable to implement
receiving a virtual device input/output (I/O) operation request,
forming at least one physical device I/O operation using information from the virtual device I/O operation request,
transmitting the at least one physical device I/O operation to an I/O processor for execution against at least one storage device, and
receiving an indication from the I/O processor that the at least one physical device I/O operation has been successfully executed.
11. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising program instructions operable to implement:
determining whether the virtual I/O operation request is associated with a node that received the virtual I/O operation request.
12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the program instructions for determining further comprise program instructions operable to implement:
determining whether the virtual I/O operation request originates from at least one of an application operating on the node and a client computer system of the node.
13. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the at least one physical device I/O operation further comprises at least one physical device command and data associated with the at least one physical device command.
14. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising program instructions operable to implement:
receiving the at least one physical device I/O operation; and
executing the at least one physical device I/O operation against at least one storage device.
15. A system comprising:
a first memory; and
a strategy processor configured to:
receive a virtual device input/output (I/O) operation request;
form at least one physical device I/O operation using information from the virtual device I/O operation request;
transmit the at least one physical device I/O operation to an I/O processor for execution against at least one storage device; and
determine whether the virtual I/O operation request is associated with a node that received the virtual I/O operation request.
16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:
a first microprocessor coupled to the first memory, wherein the strategy processor is encoded as instructions stored in the first memory and executable on the first microprocessor.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein the strategy processor is further configured to:
determine whether the virtual I/O operation request originates from at least one of an application operating on the node and a client computer system of the node.
18. The system of claim 15 further comprising:
an I/O processor coupled to the strategy processor and configured to:
receive the at least one physical device I/O operation; and
execute the at least one physical device I/O operation against at least one storage device.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the I/O processor is further configured to:
send a message to the strategy processor indicating the at least one physical device I/O operation has been successfully executed.