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EP 2 297 656 A1

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(43) Date of publication: 23.03.2011 Bulletin 2011/12 (21) Application number: 08747227.0 (22) Date of filing: 30.04.2008

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G06F 17/50(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2008/062074 (87) International publication number: WO 2009/134262 (05.11.2009 Gazette 2009/45)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA MK RS (71) Applicant: NetApp, Inc. Sunnyvale CA 94089 (US)

(72) Inventors: SUSARLA, Sai Rama Krishna Sunnyvale California 94089 (US) NIRANJAN, Thirumale Sunnyvale California 94089 (US) NANDI, Siddhartha Sunnyvale California 94089 (US) EVERHART, Craig F. Sunnyvale California 94089 (US) VORUGANTI, Kaladhar Sunnyvale California 94089 (US) VOLL, Jim Sunnyvale California 94089 (US) (74) Representative: Dendorfer, Claus  Dendorfer & Herrmann Patentanwälte Partnerschaft Bayerstrasse 3 80335 München 80335 München (DE)