Abstract: A data storage system has at least two universal nodes each having CPU resources, memory resources, network interface resources, and a storage virtualizer. A system controller communicates with all of the nodes. Each storage virtualizer in each universal node is allocated by the system controller a number of storage provider resources that it manages. The system controller maintains a map for dependency of virtual appliances to storage providers, and the storage virtualizer provides storage to its dependent virtual appliances either locally or through a network protocol (N_IOC, S_IOC) to another universal node. The storage virtualizer manages storage providers and is tolerant to fault conditions. The storage virtualizer can migrate from any one universal node to any other universal node.

Abstract: A data storage system has at least two universal nodes each having CPU resources, memory resources, network interface resources, and a storage virtualizer. A system controller communicates with all of the nodes. Each storage virtualizer in each universal node is allocated by the system controller a number of storage provider resources that it manages. The system controller maintains a map for dependency of virtual appliances to storage providers, and the storage virtualizer provides storage to its dependent virtual appliances either locally or through a network protocol (N_IOC, S_IOC) to another universal node. The storage virtualizer manages storage providers and is tolerant to fault conditions. The storage virtualizer can migrate from any one universal node to any other universal node.