Abstract: A network storage system includes a network storage system controller/virtualizer which includes at least one transaction processor. When a host access request is received by the network storage system controller/virtualizer, the transaction processor calculates one or more cost functions. In one exemplary embodiment, a cost function associated with storage system volume load and a cost function associated with communication path load are calculated. The cost function result(s) are utilized by the storage system controller/virtualizer to form a request for servicing the host access request while balancing the load of the network storage system.

Abstract: A transaction processor pipeline architecture and associated apparatus for processing multiple queued transaction requests incorporates multiple processing elements working in parallel. Each processing element is configured to perform a specific function within the transaction processor system. Certain processing elements are assigned as function controllers, which are assigned to process specific transaction request subtask categories and may be augmented with dedicated hardware to accelerate certain subtask functions. Other processing elements are configured as list managers, which are optimized for managing data structure operations in memory. The processing elements are connected by a cross-point interconnect. The transaction processor system is configurable and scalable based on application needs.

Abstract: A system for processing a plurality of tasks is disclosed. Each task has a plurality of component subtasks. The system may process N tasks and each task includes a first subtask, and a second subtask. The system for processing the plurality of tasks comprises a scalable transaction processing pipeline (STPP). The STPP comprises a plurality of processing elements, including at least a first processing element and a second processing element, the first processing element is adapted to process the first subtask of each task. The second processing element is adapted to process the second subtask of each task. Each successive processing element is adapted to process a corresponding subtask or subtasks of each task. The first processing element processes the first subtask of each task. When the first processing element finishes the processing of the first subtask, the second processing element processes the second subtask of each task.