Patents by Inventor Ross E. Zwisler

Ross E. Zwisler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180032429
    Abstract: A method is described. The method includes recognizing different latencies and/or bandwidths between different levels of a system memory and different memory access requestors of a computing system. The system memory includes the different levels and different technologies. The method also includes allocating each of the memory access requestors with a respective region of the system memory having an appropriate latency and/or bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Min LIU, Zhenlin LUO, George VERGIS, Murugasamy K. NACHIMUTHU, Mohan J. KUMAR, Ross E. ZWISLER
  • Patent number: 9037900
    Abstract: The method includes receiving a command at a first storage system of a block storage cluster. The command is transmitted by the initiator system to the first storage system via a network and includes a request for data. The method further includes transferring the stored data from the first storage system to the initiator system via the network when data requested in the data request is stored by the first storage system. The method further includes transmitting a referral response from the first storage system to the initiator system when a portion of the data requested in the data request is not stored by the first storage system, but is stored by a second storage. system of the block storage cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NETAPP, INC.
    Inventors: Gerald J. Fredin, Andrew J. Spry, Kenneth J. Gibson, Ross E. Zwisler
  • Publication number: 20140365815
    Abstract: The method includes receiving a command at a first storage system of a block storage cluster. The command is transmitted by the initiator system to the first storage system via a network and includes a request for data. The method further includes transferring the stored data from the first storage system to the initiator system via the network when data requested in the data request is stored by the first storage system. The method further includes transmitting a referral response from the first storage system to the initiator system when a portion of the data requested in the data request is not stored by the first storage system, but is stored by a second storage. system of the block storage cluster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Gerald J. Fredin, Andrew J. Spry, Kenneth J. Gibson, Ross E. Zwisler
  • Patent number: 8806267
    Abstract: The method includes receiving a command at a first storage system of a block storage cluster. The command is transmitted by the initiator system to the first storage system via a network and includes a request for data. The method further includes transferring the stored data from the first storage system to the initiator system via the network when data requested in the data request is stored by the first storage system. The method further includes transmitting a referral response from the first storage system to the initiator system when a portion of the data requested in the data request is not stored by the first storage system, but is stored by a second storage. system of the block storage cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Netapp, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald J. Fredin, Andrew J. Spry, Kenneth J. Gibson, Ross E. Zwisler
  • Publication number: 20140164653
    Abstract: A method and/or system may be configured to receive an input/output (I/O) request from an initiator system, add priority information to a multiple path referral for each port on which data can be accessed, selectively omit ports on which data may be accessed, transmit the multiple path referral from the target to the initiator, and/or choose a path on the initiator with the highest performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: LSI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew J. Spry, Ross E. Zwisler, Gerald J. Fredin, Kenneth J. Gibson
  • Patent number: 8732340
    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 method includes receiving an input/output (I/O) at a 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 a 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Ross E. Zwisler, Robert L. Sheffield, Andrew J. Spry, Gerald J. Fredin, Kenneth J. Gibson
  • Patent number: 8661275
    Abstract: A first Network Interface Controller operates in a low power mode. The first Network Interface Controller transitions from low power mode to a power-up sequence if a sleep packet in not received from a second Network Interface Controller at the first Network Interface Controller within a predetermined time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Ross E. Zwisler, Brian McKean
  • Patent number: 8656070
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Ross E. Zwisler, Andrew J. Spry, Gerald J. Fredin, Kenneth J. Gibson
  • Patent number: 8615615
    Abstract: A method and/or system may be configured to receive an input/output (I/O) request from an initiator system, add priority information to a multiple path referral for each port on which data can be accessed, selectively omit ports on which data may be accessed, transmit the multiple path referral from the target to the initiator, and/or choose a path on the initiator with the highest performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Spry, Ross E. Zwisler, Gerald J. Fredin, Kenneth J. Gibson
  • Patent number: 8478934
    Abstract: Contentual metadata of an extended cache is stored within the extended cache. The contentual metadata of the extended cache is approximated utilizing a counting Bloom filter. The counting Bloom filter is stored within a primary cache. Contentual metadata of the primary cache is stored within the primary cache. One of a data read or a data write is executed without accessing the contentual metadata of the extended cache stored within the extended cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventor: Ross E Zwisler
  • Publication number: 20120303894
    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 method includes receiving an input/output (I/O) at a 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 a 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: LSI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ross E. Zwisler, Robert L. Sheffield, Andrew J. Spry, Gerald J. Fredin, Kenneth J. Gibson
  • Patent number: 8307240
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for communication between an initiator system and a block storage cluster. The method includes receiving a command at a first storage system of a block storage cluster. The command is transmitted by the initiator system to the first storage system via a network and includes a request for data. The method further includes transferring the stored data from the first storage system to the initiator system via the network when data requested in the data request is stored by the first storage system. The method further includes transmitting a referral response from the first storage system to the initiator system when a portion of the data requested in the data request is not stored by the first storage system, but is stored by a second storage system of the block storage cluster. The referral response indicates to the initiator system that: a) not all of the requested data was transferred; and b) that the second storage system stores the portion of the requested data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Netapp, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald J. Fredin, Andrew J. Spry, Kenneth J. Gibson, Ross E. Zwisler
  • Patent number: 8219715
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Netapp, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross E. Zwisler, Andrew J. Spry, Gerald J. Fredin, Kenneth J. Gibson
  • Patent number: 8171178
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Ross E. Zwisler, Andrew J. Spry, Gerald J. Fredin, Kenneth J. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20120084590
    Abstract: A first Network Interface Controller operates in a low power mode. The first Network Interface Controller transitions from low power mode to a power-up sequence if a sleep packet in not received from a second Network Interface Controller at the first Network Interface Controller within a predetermined time threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: LSI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ross E. Zwisler, Brian McKean
  • Publication number: 20120017041
    Abstract: Contentual metadata of an extended cache is stored within the extended cache. The contentual metadata of the extended cache is approximated utilizing a counting Bloom filter. The counting Bloom filter is stored within a primary cache. Contentual metadata of the primary cache is stored within the primary cache. One of a data read or a data write is executed without accessing the contentual metadata of the extended cache stored within the extended cache.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: LSI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ross E. Zwisler
  • Patent number: 8065558
    Abstract: A data volume rebuilder reduces the time required to reconstruct lost data in a RAID protected data volume operating with a failed physical disk drive. A data volume rebuilder uses the remaining functioning physical disk drives in the RAID protected data volume operating with the failed disk to regenerate the lost data and populate a virtual hot spare store allocated in a separate RAID protected data volume. The recovered data is distributed across the physical disk drives supporting the virtual hot spare store. Once the virtual hot spare store is populated, the data volume can recover from a subsequent failure of a second physical disk drive in either RAID group. After replacement of the failed physical disk drive, the data volume rebuilder moves the recovered data from the virtual hot spare store to the new physical disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Ross E. Zwisler, Brian D. McKean
  • Patent number: 8055815
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Ross E. Zwisler, Andrew J. Spry, Gerald J. Fredin, Kenneth J. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20110029729
    Abstract: A set of data is allocated into a plurality of data chunks, wherein the plurality of data chunks is thinly provisioned and erasure coded. A plurality of storage devices is divided into a first and a second set of storage devices, wherein the first set of storage devices is powered up and the second set of storage devices is powered down. The data chunks are distributed on the first set of storage devices to equally load each of the first set of storage devices. A storage device from the second set of storage devices is powered up to reassign the storage device from the second set of storage devices to the first set of storage devices. Data chunks are migrated to a reassigned storage device until the data chunks are evenly distributed on the first set of storage devices and the reassigned storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Ross E. Zwisler, Brian McKean, Kevin Kidney
  • Publication number: 20110004707
    Abstract: A method and/or system may be configured to receive an input/output (I/O) request from an initiator system, add priority information to a multiple path referral for each port on which data can be accessed, selectively omit ports on which data may be accessed, transmit the multiple path referral from the target to the initiator, and/or choose a path on the initiator with the highest performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: LSI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew J. Spry, Ross E. Zwisler, Gerald J. Fredin, Kenneth J. Gibson