Parallel I/O network file server architecture

Abstract

A file server architecture is disclosed, comprising as separate processors, a network controller unit, a file controller unit and a storage processor unit. These units incorporate their own processors, and operate in parallel with a local Unix host processor. All networks are connected to the network controller unit, which performs all protocol processing up through the NFS layer. The virtual file system is implemented in the file control unit, and the storage processor provides high-speed multiplexed access to an array of mass storage devices. The file controller unit control file information caching through its own local cache buffer, and controls disk data caching through a large system memory which is accessible on a bus by any of the processors.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Network server apparatus for use with a data network and a mass storage device, comprising: 
 an interface processor unit coupleable to said network and to said mass storage device;    a host processor unit capable of running remote procedures defined by a client node on said network; and    means in said interface processor unit for satisfying requests from said network to store data from said network on said mass storage device, for satisfying requests from said network to retrieve data from said mass storage device to said network, and for transmitting predefined categories of messages from said network to said host processor unit for processing in said host processor unit, said transmitted messages including all requests by a network client to run client-defined procedures on said network server apparatus.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said interface processor unit comprises: 
 a network control unit coupleable to said network;    a data control unit coupleable to said mass storage device;    a buffer memory; and means: 
 for transmitting to said data control unit requests from said network to store specified storage data from said network on said mass storage device,  
 for transmitting said specified storage data from said network to said buffer memory and from said buffer memory to said data control unit,  
 for transmitting to said data control unit requests from said network to retrieve specified retrieval data from said mass storage device to said network,  
 for transmitting said specified retrieval data from said data control unit to said buffer memory and from said buffer memory to said network,  
 and for transmitting said predefined categories of messages from said network to said host processing unit for processing by said host processing unit.  
   
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said data control unit comprises: 
 a storage processor unit coupleable to said mass storage device;    a file processor unit;    means on said file processor unit: 
 for translating said file system level storage requests from said network into requests to store data at specified physical storage locations in said mass storage device,  
 for instructing said storage processor unit to write data from said buffer memory into said specified physical storage locations in said mass storage device,  
 for translating file system level retrieval requests from said network into requests to retrieve data from specified physical retrieval locations in said mass storage device,  
 and for instructing said storage processor unit to retrieve data from said specified physical retrieval locations in said mass storage device to said buffer memory if said data from said specified physical locations is not already in said buffer memory; and  
   means in said storage processor unit for transmitting data between said buffer memory and said mass storage device.    
     
     
         4 . Network server apparatus for use with a data network and a mass storage device, comprising: 
 a network control unit coupleable to said network;    a data control unit coupleable to said mass storage device;    a buffer memory; and    means: 
 for transmitting from said network control unit to said data control unit requests from said network to store specified storage data from said network on said mass storage device,  
 for transmitting said specified storage data by DMA from said network control unit to said buffer memory and by DMA from said buffer memory to said data control unit,  
 for transmitting from said network control unit to said data control unit requests from said network to retrieve specified retrieval data from said mass storage device to said network,  
 and for transmitting said specified retrieval data by DMA from said data control unit to said buffer memory and by DMA from said buffer memory to said network control unit.  
   
     
     
         5 . A data control unit for use with a data network, a mass storage device and a buffer memory, and in response to file system level storage and retrieval requests from said data network, comprising: 
 a storage processor unit coupleable to said mass storage device;    a file processor unit;    means on said file processor unit: 
 for translating said file system level storage requests into requests to store data at specified physical storage locations in said mass storage device,  
 for instructing said storage processor unit to write data from said buffer memory into said specified physical storage locations in said mass storage device,  
 for translating said file system level retrieval requests into requests to retrieve data from specified physical retrieval locations in said mass storage device,  
 and for instructing said storage processor unit to retrieve data from said specified physical retrieval locations in said mass storage device to said buffer memory if said data from said specified physical locations is not already in said buffer memory; and  
   means in said storage processor unit for transmitting data between said buffer memory and said mass storage device.    
     
     
         6 . A data control unit for use with a data network and a mass storage device, and in response to file system level storage and retrieval requests from said data network, comprising: 
 a data bus;    a buffer memory bank coupled to said bus;    storage processor apparatus coupled to said bus and coupleable to said mass storage device;    file processor apparatus coupled to said bus, said file processor apparatus including a local memory bank;    means on said file processor unit for translating said file system level storage requests into requests to store data at specified physical storage locations in said mass storage device and for translating said file system level retrieval requests into requests to retrieve data from specified physical retrieval locations in said mass storage device, said means including means for caching file control information through said local memory bank in said file processor unit; and    means for caching the file data, to be stored or retrieved according to said storage and retrieval requests, through said buffer memory bank.    
     
     
         7 . A network node for use with a data network and a mass storage device, comprising: 
 a system buffer memory;    a host processor unit having direct memory access to said system buffer memory;    a network control unit coupleable to said network and having direct memory access to said system buffer memory;    a data control unit coupleable to said mass storage device and having direct memory access to said system buffer memory;    means for satisfying requests from said network to store data from said network on said mass storage device, for satisfying requests from said network to retrieve data from said mass storage device to said network, and for transmitting predefined categories of messages from said network to said host processor unit for processing in said host processor unit, said means comprising means 
 for transmitting from said network control unit to said system memory bank by direct memory access file data from said network for storage on said mass storage device,  
 for transmitting from said system memory bank to said data control unit by direct memory access said file data from said network for storage on said mass storage device,  
 for transmitting from said data control unit to said system memory bank by direct memory access file data for retrieval from said mass storage device to said network,  
 and for transmitting from said system memory bank to said network control unit said file data for retrieval from said mass storage device to said network;  
   at least said network control unit including a microprocessor and local instruction storage means distinct from said system buffer memory, all instructions for said microprocessor residing in said local instruction storage means.    
     
     
         8 . A network file server for use with a data network and a mass storage device, comprising: 
 a host processor unit running a Unix operating system;    an interface processor unit coupleable to said network and to said mass storage device, said interface processor unit including means for decoding all NFS requests from said network, for performing all procedures for satisfying said NFS requests, for encoding any NFS reply messages for return transmission on said network, and for transmitting predefined non-NFS categories of messages from said network to said host processor unit for processing in said host processor unit.