Importance

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Abstract

A method and a system for storing and/or retrieving data which can be implemented using a storage area network. The system includes a client computer having data to store or desiring data to retrieve, a storage server in communication with the client computer and able to read storage-related requests from the client computer, a high-speed network running at least one data communication protocol for communicating between the client computer and the storage server, a storage device, which has data to retrieve and is used to store data, in communication with the storage server, and a storage manager for allocating and authorizing the storage device. Preferably, the data communication protocol includes at least one of the Internet protocols, including Internet Protocol ('IP'), Transmission Control Protocol ('TCP'), and User Datagram Protocol ('UDP'). Preferably, the system also includes a high-speed switch for communicating between the client computer and the storage server. The high-speed switch and the storage server may be integrated. Preferably, the storage devices include SCSI, Fibre Channel, IDE, and/or ramdisk, although other storage device types and protocols can easily be used. The present invention also provides for mirroring, replication, high availability, and client-free server backup. Preferably, the client computer is capable of operating as both a storage area network ('SAN') client and a network-attached storage ('NAS') client. The storage area network provides a virtualized interface between a client computer and a storage device. A more flexible system for accessing a variety of remote peripheral devices is also described. The communication between the client computer and the peripheral device is virtualized, the remote peripheral device appearing to the client computer to be connected directly to the client computer. Each of the peripheral devices and the storage devices attached to the storage area network can appear as several layers and combinations of virtual and physical devices.

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First Claim