Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer products for communicating between a client and server by identifying and separating file data streams within a file are provided. The method comprises indicating the type of file data stream to be transmitted and transmitting the indicated file data stream. The transmitted file data stream is compared with a stored data stream. A non-redundant file data stream is stored based upon the outcome of the comparison. The transmitted file data stream and stored data stream may be compared according to a deduplication table based on data stream profiles.

Abstract: A method for managing power consumption in a data storage system is provided. The method comprises receiving a first input/output (I/O) request identifying an I/O operation to be performed by a storage device; delaying scheduling of the first I/O request to manage amount of power consumed by servicing the first I/O request; and forwarding the first I/O request to a storage controller associated with the storage device. The storage controller schedules the first I/O request using a scheduling mechanism, and the storage device services the first I/O request according to the scheduling mechanism.

Abstract: A method for replay of program executions using cross-entropy is provided. The method comprises identifying a first sequence of decision points, wherein the first sequence represents a first execution of a logic code; identifying a second sequence of decision points, wherein the second sequence represents a second execution of the logic code; computing a distance between the first and second executions; and minimizing the distance between the first and second executions using cross-entropy, in response to determining that the second execution is not within a predetermined threshold distance of the first execution.

Abstract: A method for maximizing a utility of a service contract by optimizing target response time for a performance service level objective is provided. A set of criteria are provided to ensure that performance requirements for the service are met. The method comprises determining one or more usage windows for providing a service, wherein each usage window is associated with a performance requirement and a time period; extracting usage patterns for each usage window based on historical data provided from monitoring requests for service in each usage window; extracting response time per transaction associated with said requests based on historical data provided from monitoring responses provided to said requests in each usage window; and calculating optimal probability for breach in each usage window (Pi) and determining the associated target response time, based on the usage pattern for each window and the response time per transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely installing software on a computing system while the computing system is running on a first bootable image, so that the computing system is not removed from operation during the installation of a second bootable image. The method comprises constructing the second bootable image on a storage medium accessible to the computing system while the computing system is operating in a first operating environment in association with the first bootable image, customizing the second bootable image so that the computing system can operate in a second operating environment in association with the second bootable image, disassociating the computing system from the first bootable image, and associating the computing system with the second bootable image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing storage virtualization in a storage infrastructure are provided. The method comprises examining storage virtualization configurations across a data storage infrastructure having one or more data storage resources, such that configuration data associated with the storage virtualization configurations applied to the one or more data storage resources is stored in a configuration repository; analyzing the configuration data to detect storage virtualization policy inconsistencies across the data storage infrastructure; reporting potential problems associated with applying the storage virtualization configurations to said one or more data storage resources; and automatically implementing recommendations for corrective action to improve storage virtualization, in response to detecting the virtualization policy inconsistencies.

Abstract: A method of selecting a target volume in a storage system is provided. The method comprises defining one or more parameters for a plurality of storage volumes in the storage system according to user preference; dynamically collecting information related to the parameters while the storage volumes are used; receiving a request to backup a first source volume in the storage system; and selecting or creating the target volume based on the collected information.

Abstract: A method for reading data from a data storage system is provided. The method comprises requesting a virtual data volume to access data from one or more data blocks in the data storage system; requesting a virtual protection information volume to access protection information associated with the data blocks; validating the data using the protection information; and providing the data to the host interface, in response to successful validation of the data. A method for writing data to a data storage system is also provided. The method comprises receiving data to be written to one or more data blocks in the data storage system, wherein the data is stored in a cache; generating protection information to be stored on a virtual protection information volume; requesting a virtual data volume to update the data blocks with the data; and requesting the virtual protection information volume to store the protection information.

Abstract: A practice selection method is provided. The method comprises recording first information describing one or more characteristics of a first project in at least one storage medium; determining whether a first practice is likely to have a successful impact on the first project based on the first information; and suggesting the first practice, in response to determining that the first practice is likely to have a successful impact on the first project. The first information may comprise subjective and objective information and may also be used to select a second practice for a second project.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data swapping in a storage network are provided. The method comprises associating a flag with a first track on a first volume (TA1) and a first track on a second volume (TB1) to indicate that I/O access to TA1 is to be redirected to TB1, and that I/O access to TB1 is to be redirected to TA1; locking TA1 and TB1 to prohibit I/O access to TA1 and TB1; copying data stored on TA1 and TB1 to cache; swapping data between TA1 and TB1; unlocking TA1 and TB1 to allow I/O access to TA1 and TB1; redirecting I/O access to TB1, in response to receiving an I/O request to access TA1, when TA1 is flagged, and redirecting I/O access to TA1, in response to receiving an I/O request to access TB1, when TB1 is flagged.

Abstract: A method for determining power consumption in a data storage system is provided. The method comprises determining data access patterns for at least a first storage device in a storage system based on operations performed by the first storage device; and calculating power consumption for the storage system by interpolating costs associated with the operations performed by the first storage device, wherein the cost associated with each operation is determined based on: (1) various levels of activities for the first storage device and a mix of workload characteristics, and (2) predetermined power consumption measurements obtained from one or more benchmarks for same operations performed by a second storage device in a test environment.

Abstract: A method for managing data transfer in a network environment, the method is provided. The method comprises receiving a request to transfer first data from a first source in a source domain comprising a plurality of sources to a first target in a target domain comprising a plurality of targets. If the first source is configured to transfer data in a first mode or if the first source is configured to transfer data in a second mode and the first data has previously been transferred to the target domain, a signature of the first data is transferred to the first target instead of the first data. If the first source is configured to operate in the second mode and the first data has not previously been transferred to the target domain, the first data is transferred to the first target.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing storage virtualization in a storage infrastructure are provided. The method comprises examining storage virtualization configurations across a data storage infrastructure having one or more data storage resources, such that configuration data associated with the storage virtualization configurations applied to the one or more data storage resources is stored in a configuration repository; analyzing the configuration data to detect storage virtualization policy inconsistencies and redundancies across the data storage infrastructure; and reporting potential problems associated with applying the storage virtualization configurations to said one or more data storage resources, in response to detecting the virtualization policy inconsistencies.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer products for separating file data streams for improved progressive incremental processing are provided. The method comprises identifying data in a file, prior to transmission of the data in a data stream to a second system, such that the second system can distinguish first data from second data in the file. The method further comprises processing the first and second data to determine whether the first or second data has changed, and transmitting the first data to the second system in response to determining the first data has changed, so that the first data is stored in a data storage medium in association with third and fourth data previously stored without replacing the third data and fourth data, wherein the third and fourth data comprise older versions of the first and second data, respectively.

Abstract: A carrying apparatus comprising: an upper portion having at least one terminal end cantileverly extending from a first point in the upper portion; a lower portion comprising at least one terminal end having a receiving area formed on a first side of the lower portion on which at least a looped handle of a carrying item may rest, wherein at least one terminal end of the upper portion engages in an interlocking operational relationship with at least one terminal end of the lower portion.

Abstract: A data processing method is provided. The method comprises collecting a stream of data records from one or more devices in a network; loading one or more persistent indexes associated with the stream of data records into memory; identifying duplicate data records in the stream of data records using the in-memory indexes; and updating a repository such that the duplicate data records are not stored in the repository or managed differently than non-duplicate data records.

Abstract: A method for validating data in a data storage system comprising associating a first data chunk with first check data and storing the first data chunk and the first check data on a first storage device. Additional associated data chunks of the first data and associated additional check data are stored on at least one of the first storage device or one or more additional storage devices. At least a portion of the first check data and at least a portion of the additional check data are stored to a second storage device, which is distinct from the first storage device and the additional storage devices. I/O access to the second storage device is minimized by retaining at least a portion of the first check data and at least a portion of the additional check data in a readily accessible storage medium, during servicing of a first I/O request.

Abstract: A method for managing a storage system comprises ejecting a first drive in the storage system having a plurality of drives, in response to determining a fault associated with the first drive, wherein the ejecting takes place in response to a command issued by a management tool utilized for determining the fault associated with the plurality of drives in the storage system.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a storage policy for a storage system based on simulation results associated with a state of the storage system is provided. The method comprises receiving a target function applicable to a storage system, wherein the target function represents a measure of values associated with storage parameters related to productivity and loss tolerance of the storage system; wherein the simulation results for a state of the storage system are calculated based on a least one of (a) the storage system simulated response to a set of simulated file-related storage operation requests generated based on one or more simulation rules, (b) the state of the storage system before responding to the set of simulated file-related storage operation requests, (c) the storage system target function; and (d) rules for simulating file-related storage operation requests.

Abstract: A backup method that uses snapshot delta views to create backups of a data collection is provided. The method comprises taking a first snapshot of the data collection, in response to determining that a previous snapshot used to create a backup does not exist; creating a backup of the data collection using the first snapshot, in response to determining that the previous snapshot does not exist; recording that the first snapshot was used as a source for the creation of a backup; and taking a second snapshot of the data collection, in response to determining that the previous snapshot that was used as a source for a backup does exist.