NetApp Assigned Three Patents

Efficient storage layout optimization

NetApp, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,359,430) developed by Robert L. Fair, Gary, NC, for "techniques for efficient mass storage layout optimization."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A data storage system can automatically improve the layout of data blocks on a mass storage subsystem by collecting optimization information during both read and write activities, then processing the optimization information to limit the impact of optimization activities on the system’s response to client requests. Processing read-path optimization information and write-path optimization information through shared rate-limiting logic simplifies system administration and promotes phased implementation, which can reduce the difficulty of developing a self-optimizing storage server."

The patent application was filed on Aug. 30, 2007 (11/848,101).

Scalable heterogeneous and homogeneous
unified enterprise storage clusters

NetApp, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,356,072) developed by Subhasish Chakraborty and Pawan Hosakote Nagesh, Sunnyvale, CA, for "systems and methods for scalable heterogeneous and homogeneous unified enterprise storage clusters."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The techniques introduced here include systems and methods for scalable heterogeneous or homogeneous unified enterprise cluster storage systems that include a first cluster-compliant server, a second cluster compliant server, and optionally a non-cluster-compliant server. The first cluster-compliant server can be configured for operation as a member of a cluster with the second cluster-compliant server, and further configured to service a client request from a client of the cluster storage system by utilizing the client request to send a server request to the second cluster-compliant server or the non-cluster-compliant server. The second cluster-compliant server and the non-cluster-compliant server are configured to service the server request from the first cluster-compliant server by retrieving data and sending the data to the first cluster-compliant server. The second cluster-compliant server can transition from clustering operations with the first cluster-compliant server to data serving operations with the optional non-cluster-compliant server."

The patent application was filed on July 14, 2010 (12/835,966).

Encryption-based security system for network storage

NetApp, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,335,915) developed by Serge Plotkin, Palo Alto, CA, and Dan Avida, Belmont, CA, for an "encryption based security system for network storage."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The presently preferred embodiment of the invention provides an encryption based security system for network storage that separates the ability to access storage from the ability to access the stored data. This is achieved by keeping all the data encrypted on the storage devices. Logically, the invention comprises a device that has two network interfaces: one is a clear text network interface that connects to one or more clients, and the other is a secure network interface that is connected to one or more persistent storage servers. Functionally, each network interface supports multiple network nodes. That is, the clear text network interface supports multiple client machines, and the secure network interface supports one or more storage servers."

The patent application was filed on May 14, 2002 (10/478,386).