Abstract: A method for preparing data units for access in a data storage system is disclosed. The data storage system includes multiple storage devices having data units. All the storage devices of the data storage system are not powered on at the same time. The method includes preparing and storing the auxiliary data. The auxiliary data is prepared for a data unit on a storage device that will be powered off during an access request of the data unit. The auxiliary data is stored on the storage devices so that the auxiliary data is likely to be available on a powered-on storage device when the data unit is the subject of an access request.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing scalable, reliable, power-efficient, high-capacity data storage, wherein large numbers of closely packed data drives having corresponding metadata and parity volumes are individually powered on and off, depending upon their respective usage. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a RAID-type data storage system which employs a large number of hard disk drives that are individually controlled, so that only the disk drives that are in use are powered on. The reduced power consumption allows the disk drives to be contained in a smaller enclosure than would conventionally be possible. In a preferred embodiment, the data protection scheme is designed to utilize large, contiguous blocks of space on the data disk drives, and to use the space on one data disk drive at a time, so that the data disk drives which are not in use can be powered down.

Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining data reliability in a particular disk drive that is powered off in a storage system are disclosed. The methods include checking a power budget to determine that sufficient power is available, powering on the particular disk drive, and checking the particular disk drive to detect an error. Further, the method includes correcting the particular disk drive when the error is detected.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing scalable, reliable, power-efficient, high-capacity data storage, wherein large numbers of closely packed data drives having corresponding metadata and parity volumes are individually powered on and off, depending upon their respective usage. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a RAID-type data storage system which employs a large number of hard disk drives that are individually controlled, so that only the disk drives that are in use are powered on. The reduced power consumption allows the disk drives to be contained in a smaller enclosure than would conventionally be possible. In a preferred embodiment, the data protection scheme is designed to utilize large, contiguous blocks of space on the data disk drives, and to use the space on one data disk drive at a time, so that the data disk drives which are not in use can be powered down.

Abstract: A web server for efficiently storing web pages for quick downloading at a remote device comprises a fast memory, a disk memory and a storage device. The fast memory stores a first plurality of web pages and receives a first signal from the remote device indicating selection of one of the first plurality of web pages. The disk memory stores a second plurality of web pages linked to the first plurality of web pages and transfers all of the second plurality of web pages that are linked to the selected one of the first plurality of web pages to the fast memory in response to the first signal. The disk memory also transmits a second signal to the storage device in response to the first signal. The storage device stores a third plurality of web pages linked to the first plurality of web pages and transfers all of the third plurality of web pages that are linked to the selected ones of the second plurality of web pages to the disk memory in response to the second signal.

Abstract: Spare disk drive management in a storage system. The storage system comprises disk drives and spare disk drives. Spare disk drives are initially kept in power-off state. The storage system detects the failure of a disk drive and selects a spare disk drive to replace the failed disk drive. The spare disk drive is selected on the basis of spare selection criteria. The selected spare disk drive is powered-on and replaces the failed disk drive. Data on the failed disk drive can be reconstructed on the spare disk drive by using RAID parity techniques.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for maintaining a particular disk drive that is powered off in a storage system are disclosed. The method includes powering on the particular disk drive and executing a test on the particular disk drive. The method further includes powering off the particular disk drive on completing the test.

Abstract: A web server for efficiently storing web pages for quick downloading at a remote device includes first and second storage devices. The first storage device stores a first plurality of web pages and receives a first signal from the remote device indicating selection of one of the first plurality of web pages. The second storage device stores a second plurality of web pages linked to the first plurality of web pages, and transfers all of the second plurality of web pages that are linked to the selected one of the first plurality of web pages to the first storage device in response to the first signal. In such a fashion, the web server facilitates quickly downloading selected web pages to the remote device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing scalable, reliable, power-efficient, high-capacity data storage, wherein large numbers of closely packed data drives having corresponding metadata and parity volumes are individually powered on and off, depending upon their respective usage. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a RAID-type data storage system which employs a large number of hard disk drives that are individually controlled, so that only the disk drives that are in use are powered on. The reduced power consumption allows the disk drives to be contained in a smaller enclosure than would conventionally be possible. In a preferred embodiment, the data protection scheme is designed to utilize large, contiguous blocks of space on the data disk drives, and to use the space on one data disk drive at a time, so that the data disk drives which are not in use can be powered down.

Abstract: A method for processing data on a particular storage device in a plurality of storage devices is disclosed. A system and a computer program product for processing data on a particular storage device in a plurality of storage devices are also disclosed. All the storage devices from among the plurality of storage devices are not powered-on at the same time. A storage device, which is powered-off is selected for background processing. Further, a data-enhancing operation is selected. The selected storage device is powered on and the selected data-enhancing operation is processed on the storage device.

Abstract: A method for managing power consumption among a plurality of storage devices is disclosed. A system and a computer program product for managing power consumption among a plurality of storage devices are also disclosed. All the storage devices from among the plurality of storage devices are not powered-on at the same time. A request is received for powering on a storage device. A priority level for the request is determined, and a future power consumption (FPC) of the plurality of storage devices is predicted. The FPC is compared with a threshold. If the threshold is exceeded, a signal is sent to power off a powered-on device. The signal is sent only when the powered-on device is being used for a request with a lower priority than the determined priority. Once, the powered-on device is powered off, the requested storage device is powered on.

Abstract: Methods for preventing the failure of disk drives in storage systems are disclosed. A system and a computer program product for preventing the failure are also disclosed. Factors relating to the aging or early onset of errors in a disk drive are monitored. These factors are then compared to thresholds. In case the thresholds are exceeded, an indication for the replacement of the disk drive is given. Sudden rises in the factors are also used to indicate the impeding failure of disk drives.

Abstract: A system and method for coupling a host to a drive in a high-capacity data storage system are disclosed. The data storage system comprises a number of drives arranged in a hierarchical manner. A control system is provided for controlling input/output of data and managing control signals. The control system comprises a hierarchy of controllers and switches. The control system receives a request for a drive from a host and couples the host to the requested drive through the hierarchy of controllers.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for improving the fault tolerance of storage systems by replacing disk drives, which are about to fail, are disclosed. The set of disk drives in a storage system are monitored to identify failing disk drives. A processing unit identifies the failing disk drive and selects a spare disk drive to replace the failing disk drive. The selected spare disk drive is powered on, and data from the failing disk drive is copied to the selected spare disk drive. A memory unit stores attributes and sensor data for the disk drives in the storage system. The attributes and sensor data are used by the processing unit to identify a failing disk drive. Attributes for disk drives are obtained by using SMART, and sensor data is obtained from environmental sensors such as temperature and vibration sensors.

Abstract: Policy based management of storage resources in a storage network. Service level objectives are associated with storage resource requestors such as applications. A set of policy rules is established in connection with these service level objectives. An update of the configuration of the storage network, such as a provisioning of storage resources for the application, is performed according to a workflow that implements the policy rules, which allows the service level objectives of the application to be automatically satisfied by the new provisioning. Metrics are used to ensure that service level objectives continue to be met.

Abstract: An interconnecting unit and method for data communication between a plurality of computer hosts and a plurality of storage devices. The interconnecting unit couples the hosts to the storage devices and enables the data communication. The interconnection includes a plurality device control units. Each of the device control unit allows multiple commands to be distributed to multiple storage devices. The communication through the interconnecting unit is strong enough to tolerate failure across one connection path between the hosts and the storage devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing scalable, reliable, power-efficient, high-capacity data storage, wherein large numbers of closely packed data drives having corresponding metadata and parity volumes are individually powered on and off, depending upon their respective usage. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in a RAID-type data storage system which employs a large number of hard disk drives that are individually controlled, so that only the disk drives that are in use are powered on. The reduced power consumption allows the disk drives to be contained in a smaller enclosure than would conventionally be possible. In a preferred embodiment, the data protection scheme is designed to utilize large, contiguous blocks of space on the data disk drives, and to use the space on one data disk drive at a time, so that the data disk drives which are not in use can be powered down.

Abstract: An end-to-end content management and delivery architecture is disclosed which provided for end-to-end content management from a data storage facility to an requestor remotely located. An End-to-End Content I/O Management (ECIM) contains a Global Infrastructure Control (GIC) that monitors the composite load levels at data centers across network servers, and identifies the best data center from which content request is met. Each data center has a QoS enforcer that monitors content arriving at the data center and controls the entry of all traffic at the data center. Each data center also has a controller, which controls the end-to-end I/O in the local data center.

Abstract: A web server for efficiently storing web pages for quick downloading at a remote device comprises a fast memory, a disk memory and a storage device. The fast memory stores a first plurality of web pages and receives a first signal from the remote device indicating selection of one of the first plurality of web pages. The disk memory stores a second plurality of web pages linked to the first plurality of web pages and transfers all of the second plurality of web pages that are linked to the selected one of the first plurality of web pages to the fast memory in response to the first signal. The disk memory also transmits a second signal to the storage device in response to the first signal. The storage device stores a third plurality of web pages linked to the first plurality of web pages and transfers all of the third plurality of web pages that are linked to the selected ones of the second plurality of web pages to the disk memory in response to the second signal.

Abstract: An adaptive forward error correction (FEC) protocol for use in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communication network is provided. Whether a feasibility condition is met indicating that FEC can compensate for an expected number of burst errors in a FEC encoded payload is determined. Subsequently, FEC encoding is performed on protocol data units (PDUs) within a payload to form the FEC encoded payload only when the feasibility condition is met. Adaptive FEC sending and receiving units which effectuate the adaptive FEC protocol are provided. In addition, an alternative adaptive FEC protocol is provided which determines a feasibility condition based on whether a PDU loss probability between connection service application points for a payload is greater than an effective PDU loss probability for the payload with associated FEC PDUs at a given load on the communication network. Also, a method for determining an overhead parameter for adaptive FEC in a communication network is provided.