Kenneth D Gibson

US Patent:

8055815, Nov 8, 2011

Filed:

Apr 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/386410

Inventors:

Ross E. Zwisler - Lafayette CO, US
Andrew J. Spry - Wichita KS, US
Gerald J. Fredin - Wichita KS, US
Kenneth J. Gibson - Lafayette CO, US

Assignee:

LSI Corporation - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/00
G06F 13/00
G06F 15/173

US Classification:

710 38, 710 31, 711100, 709238

Abstract:

The present disclosure is directed to a method for communication between an initiator system and a block storage cluster. The method may comprise receiving an initial data request from the initiator system to a first storage system, a portion of the data requested in the initial data request is not stored by the first storage system, but is stored by a second storage system; retrieving the portion of the data that is stored by the second storage system; forwarding the portion of the data to the initiator system; and transmitting a referral list comprising at least one referral from the first storage system to the initiator system, wherein the initiator system is configured for maintaining a referral cache based on the referral list, and a subsequent data request initiated by the initiator system is directed to the block storage cluster based on the referral cache.

US Patent:

8171178, May 1, 2012

Filed:

Sep 3, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/553558

Inventors:

Ross E. Zwisler - Lafayette CO, US
Andrew J. Spry - Wichita KS, US
Gerald J. Fredin - Wichita KS, US
Kenneth J. Gibson - Lafayette CO, US

Assignee:

LSI Corporation - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/00

US Classification:

710 5, 710 3, 710 7, 710 10, 710 15, 710 20

Abstract:

A command is issued to a first data storage system for addressing a set of data and at least one of a first referral response including a referral to at least a second data storage system or at least a first subset of the set of data and the first referral response including the referral to the at least the second data storage system. The at least one of a first referral response is accessed. A command is issued to the second data storage system for addressing the set of data and a second referral response including a referral to at least one of the first data storage system and a third data storage system, the second data storage system including at least a second subset of the set of data. The second subset of the set of data and the second referral response including the referral to the at least one of the first data storage system or the third data storage system is accessed.

US Patent:

8219715, Jul 10, 2012

Filed:

Dec 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/316778

Inventors:

Ross E. Zwisler - Lafayette CO, US
Andrew J. Spry - Wichita KS, US
Gerald J. Fredin - Wichita KS, US
Kenneth J. Gibson - Lafayette CO, US

Assignee:

Netapp, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/00
G06F 5/00

US Classification:

710 5, 719326, 710 38

Abstract:

The present invention is a method for providing multi-pathing via Small Computer System Interface Input/Output (SCSI I/O) referral between an initiator and a storage cluster which are communicatively coupled via a network, the storage cluster including at least a first target device and a second target device. The method includes receiving an input/output (I/O) at the first target device from the initiator via the network. The I/O includes a data request. The method further includes transmitting a SCSI I/O referral list to the initiator when data included in the data request is not stored on the first target device, but is stored on the second target device. The referral list includes first and second port identifiers for identifying first and second ports of the second target device respectively. The first and second ports of the target device are identified as access ports for accessing the data requested in the data request.

US Patent:

8527718, Sep 3, 2013

Filed:

Mar 31, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/384028

Inventors:

Ross Zwisler - Lafayette CO, US
Andrew J. Spry - Wichita KS, US
Gerald J. Fredin - Wichita KS, US
Kenneth J. Gibson - Lafayette CO, US

Assignee:

LSI Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G06F 12/00

US Classification:

711154, 711 6, 711114, 711162, 710 5, 710 36

Abstract:

A method for communication between an initiator system and a block storage cluster may include receiving a first command at a first storage system included in a plurality of storage systems of the block storage cluster. The method may also include transmitting a referral response from the first storage system to the initiator system when at least a portion of the data associated in the first command is stored by a second storage system. The method may further include obtaining a segment start value and a corresponding port identifier based on the referral response, and directing a second command to at least a second storage system included in the plurality of storage systems of the block cluster.

US Patent:

20030187672, Oct 2, 2003

Filed:

Apr 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/113055

Inventors:

Kenneth Gibson - Lafayette CO, US
Daniel Maslowski - Erie CO, US
Joan Prebish - Louisville CO, US

Assignee:

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/001000

Abstract:

Provided are a method, system, and program for servicing customer requests for at least one product. At least one queue is maintained in a service computer indicating at least one customer requesting product support for the at least one product. Requests for customer service are received from customer computers used by customers over a network. Transmitted to the customer computers of customers indicated in the queue is chat session content between a technical support agent and one customer indicated in the queue.

US Patent:

20100153612, Jun 17, 2010

Filed:

Sep 1, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/552058

Inventors:

Ross E. Zwisler - Lafayette CO, US
Robert L. Sheffield - Longmont CO, US
Andrew J. Spry - Wichita KS, US
Gerald J. Fredin - Wichita KS, US
Kenneth J. Gibson - Lafayette CO, US

Assignee:

LSI CORPORATION - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G06F 13/20

US Classification:

710313

Abstract:

The present invention is a method for providing multi-pathing via Small Computer System Interface Input/Output (SCSI I/O) referral between an initiator and a storage cluster which are communicatively coupled via a network, the storage cluster including at least a first target device and a second target device. The method includes receiving an input/output (I/O) at the first target device from the initiator via the network. The I/O includes a data request. The method further includes transmitting a SCSI I/O referral list to the initiator when data included in the data request is not stored on the first target device, but is stored on the second target device. The referral list includes first and second port identifiers for identifying first and second ports of the second target device respectively. The first and second port identifiers are SCSI relative port identifiers. The first and second ports of the target device are identified as access ports for accessing the data requested in the data request.

US Patent:

20100251267, Sep 30, 2010

Filed:

Mar 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/383396

Inventors:

Ross E. Zwisler - Lafayette CO, US
Andrew J. Spry - Wichita KS, US
Gerald J. Fredin - Wichita KS, US
Kenneth J. Gibson - Lafayette CO, US

International Classification:

G06F 9/44
G06F 12/08
G06F 12/06

US Classification:

719326, 711118, 711209, 711E12017, 711E12078

Abstract:

The present disclosure is directed to a method for communication between an initiator system and a block storage cluster. The method may comprise receiving a first referral response from a first storage system included in a plurality of storage systems of the block storage cluster, the first referral response providing information for directing the initiator system to a second storage system included in the plurality of storage systems of the block storage cluster; obtaining a starting logical block address (LBA) and a corresponding port identifier based on the first referral response; storing the starting LBA and the corresponding port identifier in a referral cache accessible to the initiator system; and directing an input/output (I/O) request from the initiator system to the block storage cluster based on the starting LBA and the corresponding port identifier stored in the referral cache.

US Patent:

20100281191, Nov 4, 2010

Filed:

Apr 29, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/387178

Inventors:

Ross E. Zwisler - Lafayette CO, US
Andrew J. Spry - Wichita KS, US
Gerald J. Fredin - Wichita KS, US
Kenneth J. Gibson - Lafayette CO, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/00

US Classification:

710 36

Abstract:

The present disclosure is directed to a method for communication between an initiator system and a block storage cluster. The method may comprise initiating an input/output (I/O) request from the initiator system to a first storage system included in a plurality of storage systems of the block storage cluster, each of the plurality of storage systems comprising a plurality of data segments; receiving a referral response from the first storage system, the referral response providing information describing a layout of data requested in the I/O request; obtaining a virtual disk count, a segment size, and at least one indexed port identifier based on the referral response; and directing the I/O request from the initiator system to the block storage cluster based on the virtual disk count, the segment size, and the at least one indexed port identifier.