A virtual stored data management system is provided. In one embodiment, the management
system includes one or more hosts and a plurality of data storage elements functionally
coupled to the hosts. Each data storage element includes a host network attachment,
data transfer means, a storage controller, and permanent data storage media. The
permanent data storage media is organized with management information uniquely
associated with units of the data such that the management information may be manipulated
in several different locations within the management system substantially simultaneously.
Thus, the organization of the management processes allows for the management information
to be processed, used, changed, or modified in several different locations within
the management system at any particular instance. Provision is made for the internal
processes to discover the current location of the processing, for the location
to be changed as directed, and for the processing to be kept consistent when done
in more than one place simultaneously.
