Samuel M Cramer

US Patent:

6728897, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Jul 25, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/625234

Inventors:

Samuel M. Cramer - Sunnyvale CA
Scott Schoenthal - San Ramon CA

Assignee:

Network Appliance, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F 1100

US Classification:

714 6, 714 4, 714 5, 714 10

Abstract:

The invention provides a method and system in which a node in a 2-node high availability cluster can declare itself impaired. In doing so, an impaired node can self diagnose or request another node in the cluster assist in diagnosing the problem. An impaired node can then request another node takeover the impaired nodes tasks whereby the impaired node is able to shut down gracefully.

US Patent:

6920579, Jul 19, 2005

Filed:

Aug 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/933866

Inventors:

Samuel M. Cramer - Sunnyvale CA, US
Naveen Bali - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Network Appliance, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F011/07

US Classification:

714 4, 714 6, 714 24

Abstract:

The invention is a method for operating a file server system in a cluster mode that provides for relatively rapid and reliable takeover by one file server of another. This is done by a system operator requesting takeover of file services of a file server, letting the first file server complete existing file service requests from clients, refusing further file service requests addressed to the first file server, and the one file server taking over by transferring file service requests to the one file server. As part of this takeover the one file server takes on the identity of the first filer and activates network interfaces and network addresses that replicate the first server's network addresses.

US Patent:

6920580, Jul 19, 2005

Filed:

Aug 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/933883

Inventors:

Samuel M. Cramer - Sunnyvale CA, US
Scott Schoenthal - San Ramon CA, US

Assignee:

Network Appliance, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F011/07

US Classification:

714 4, 714 6, 714 24

Abstract:

The invention is a method for operating a file server system in a cluster mode that provides for relatively rapid and reliable takeover of a failed file server in the cluster by a partner file server when the failed file server has detected a fault that will cause it to shut down. This is done by the failed file server requesting the one file server to take over its file services after detecting the fault in its operations, the one file server letting the failed file server complete existing file service requests from clients, refusing further file service requests addressed to the failed file server, and the one file server taking over by transferring file service requests to the one file server. As part of this takeover the one file server takes on the identity of the failed filer and activates network interfaces and network addresses that replicate the failed server's network addresses.

US Patent:

7146522, Dec 5, 2006

Filed:

Dec 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/027013

Inventors:

Alan L. Rowe - San Jose CA, US
Richard O. Larson - Cupertino CA, US
Susan M. Coatney - Cupertino CA, US
Joydeep sen Sarma - Redwood City CA, US
Samuel M. Cramer - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

Network Appliance, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F 11/00

US Classification:

714 6, 714 7, 714 42, 711158, 711162, 369 5317, 369 4713

Abstract:

A system and method for a file server to allocate spare disks in a network storage system. The method determines the available spare disks and first selects those disks that satisfy one or more required rules. The method sorts the spare disks by a set of ordered policies to determine a highest-ranked disk that is then selected as the spare to be utilized. If multiple disks are equally ranked, one of the equally ranked disks is randomly chosen to be the spare disk allocated.

US Patent:

7260678, Aug 21, 2007

Filed:

Oct 13, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/964185

Inventors:

Gaurav Agarwal - Sunnyvale CA, US
Susan M. Coatney - Cupertino CA, US
Steven S. Watanabe - San Jose CA, US
Alan L. Rowe - San Jose CA, US
Samuel M. Cramer - Sunnyvale CA, US
Gautam Dev Sharma - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Network Appliance, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F 12/00

US Classification:

711112, 711114

Abstract:

A system and method for determining a disk ownership model to be utilized by a storage system is disclosed. The storage system and method determines the individual disk ownership of each accessible disk to the storage system. If the number of disks utilizing a first ownership model is exceeded, the storage system utilizes the first ownership model. Otherwise, the storage system utilizes a second ownership model.

US Patent:

7296068, Nov 13, 2007

Filed:

Dec 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/027020

Inventors:

Joydeep sen Sarma - Redwood City CA, US
Alan L. Rowe - San Jose CA, US
Samuel M. Cramer - Sunnyvale CA, US
Susan M. Coatney - Cupertino CA, US

Assignee:

Network Appliance, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709223, 711202, 711154, 711156

Abstract:

A system and method for transferring ownership of a volume in a networked storage environment. The method first moves the disks that comprise the volume being transferred from a source-owned state to an un-owned state. Next the disks are moved to a destination-owned state. Each step of the transfer process completes on all disks before the next step begins to ensure consistency and disks that have conflicting owners. Alternate embodiments include logging by the source and destination nodes to permit a resumption of the transfer if one node becomes inactive during the transfer.

US Patent:

7356732, Apr 8, 2008

Filed:

Dec 4, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/633382

Inventors:

Alan L. Rowe - San Jose CA, US
Richard O. Larson - Cupertino CA, US
Susan M. Coatney - Cupertino CA, US
Joydeep sen Sarma - Redwood City CA, US
Samuel M. Cramer - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

Network Appliance, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F 11/00

US Classification:

714 7, 714 5, 714 6

Abstract:

A system and method for a file server to allocate spare disks in a network storage system. The method determines the available spare disks and first selects those disks that satisfy one or more required rules. The method sorts the spare disks by a set of ordered policies to determine a highest-ranked disk that is then selected as the spare to be utilized. If multiple disks are equally ranked, one of the equally ranked disks is randomly chosen to be the spare disk allocated.

US Patent:

7707263, Apr 27, 2010

Filed:

May 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/138918

Inventors:

Samuel M. Cramer - Sunnyvale CA, US
Joydeep sen Sarma - Mountainview CA, US
Richard O. Larson - Cupertino CA, US

Assignee:

NetApp, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709212, 709203, 709201, 709223, 709220, 709204

Abstract:

A system and method for associating a network address with a volume, individual disk or collection of disks in a network storage system. Identifying information is stored on each volume or disk so that a file server can map a network address to a MAC address associated with a particular network interface controller of a file server. Input/output operations directed to the network address associated with a particular volume or disk is directed to the file server that is currently managing that volume or disk. In a system utilizing these address associated volumes, the name and address of data does not change as different file servers manage a particular volume or disk.