Storage router and method for providing virtual local storage

[0017]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional network, indicated generally at 10, that provides access to storage through a network server. As shown, network 10 includes a plurality of workstations 12 interconnected with a network server 14 via a network transport medium 16. Each workstation 12 can generally comprise a processor, memory, input / output devices, storage devices and a network adapter as well as other common computer components. Network server 14 uses a SCSI bus 18 as a storage transport medium to interconnect with a plurality of storage devices 20 (tape drives, disk drives, etc.). In the embodiment of FIG. 1, network transport medium 16 is an network connection and storage devices 20 comprise hard disk drives, although there are numerous alternate transport mediums and storage devices.

[0018]In network 10, each workstation 12 has access to its local storage device as well as network access to data on storage devices 20. The access to a local storage device is typicall