Abstract: A method for upgrading storage processors in a storage system includes a first storage processor performing IO requests on a first one or more logical units, and a second storage processor performing IO requests on a second one or more logical units of the plurality of logical units. The method includes causing the first storage processor to stop performing the IO requests on the first one or more logical units and the second storage processor to perform the IO requests on the first one or more logical units. The method includes causing the second storage processor to stop performing the IO requests on the first one or more logical units of the plurality of logical units and a third storage processor to perform the IO requests on the first one or more logical units.

Abstract: A storage system uses a block-level file system to manage physical storage of data blocks of logical units, the file system being mounted on an owning one of a set of storage processors. The storage processors redirect received storage requests to the owning storage processor, and periodically the amount of redirection is evaluated. If the amount of redirection is higher than a threshold, then the file system is dismounted at the owning storage processor and mounted at another storage processor to reduce the amount of redirection.

Abstract: In a data storage system, a layered operating stack includes a file system layer, a file cache layer, and a unified cache layer including page descriptors each capable of referencing a data block stored in either/both DRAM or/and flash memory. A reference structure associates file references with corresponding page descriptors. The unified cache layer manages use of the memory for caching data blocks of files being written at the file system layer, including allocation, access, and eviction/destaging. Allocation establishes associative references in the reference structure, and access uses the reference structure to locate cached data blocks based on file references. Eviction/destaging relocates cached data blocks as necessary and includes first-level destaging from DRAM to flash and second-level destaging flash to physical storage. The first-level destaging maintains existing associative references and modifies page descriptors to add references to the flash.

Abstract: A method of storing data on a data storage device having a cache, includes receiving, by the data storage device, a write command indicating a data portion and a range of addresses on the data storage device, the write command instructing the data storage device to write the data portion to each address in the range of addresses; and storing, in the cache, indicia that each address in the range of addresses comprises the data portion.

Abstract: A method, performed at a first storage processor (SP) connected to a mirroring second SP, includes (a) receiving a write command at the first SP from a host directed to a particular address of a data storage array, (b) identifying a reference in a first cache that is uniquely associated with the particular address, the reference having a token count field, (c) determining whether the reference is synchronized with a corresponding reference in a second cache, and (d) if the reference is synchronized with the corresponding reference, then (1) performing a cache write operation on a cache page pointed to by the reference if the reference stores a maximum token count value and (2) otherwise, sending a token request message from the first SP to the second SP over a cache mirroring bus to request a token from the second SP prior to performing the cache write operation.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention include a method, system and computer program product for managing spinlocks in a multi-core computer system. The method comprises providing a spinlock per core in the multi-core computer system and storing each spinlock in a respective memory location configured to be access independently by respective cores of the multi-core computer system. A request is then received at a core in the multi-core computer system to perform an operation on a spinlock in the multi-core computer system. A multi-reader/single writer spinlock is obtained in response to the request.

Abstract: An architecture for protecting against failure in a switched storage network using virtualization.

Abstract: Method and system for managing port failover in storage system comprising first storage processor and first port and second storage processor and second port. Storage system adapted to communicate with FC switch. Storage system providing first and second names characterizing first and second ports to switch for registration such that the first name associated with first port and second name associated with second port. Storage system detects the state of first and second processors. Failure state in first or second processor activates deregistration of port associated therewith. Storage system providing to switch for re-registration one of the names in response to detecting failure in processor associated with one of the ports. The one of the names provided to switch such that the one of the names characterizing the one of the ports is associated with the other of the ports.

Abstract: A method is used in managing drive problems in data storage systems. It is determined, by a physical drive object, whether an I/O with a drive is able to be retried by another object. An overall retry time for the I/O is tracked. If the overall retry time is excessive, the drive is taken offline.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for managing provisioning of resources for one or more data storage networks using a new architecture.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for managing provisioning of resources for one or more data storage networks using a new architecture.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product for managing a plurality of storage area networks including a plurality of data storage volumes and one or more hosts, wherein the volumes are in a storage network, wherein the network includes one or more processors in the network, the program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable program code enabling controlling virtualization of volumes in the storage network and managing a SCSI virtualization service; wherein the volume virtualization controller service supports virtualization enabling virtual Storage Area Networks (SAN)s by parsing between front-end SANs and back-end SANs regardless of physical configuration of the front and back-end SANs, to enable mapping from virtual volumes to back-end storage elements across virtual SANs.

Abstract: A method is used in measuring data access activity. I/O data is analyzed that describes I/O activity for a slice of a logical volume. Based on the I/O data, a first value of data access activity is determined for the slice corresponding to a first time period, and a second value of data access activity is determined corresponding to a second time period. From the first and second values, an exponential moving average of data access activity is derived for the slice.

Abstract: A method is used in applying data access activity measurements. A slice relocation candidate list is generated which identifies slices to be relocated along with respective destination tier information. Slices in a pool are matched to respective matching tiers based on the slices' respective temperatures and tier preferences. Based on whether a current tier for a slice differs from the matching tier for the slice, the slice is listed in the relocation candidate list.

Abstract: Technology for minimizing disruptions when host data on a physical volume is encapsulated into a virtualization layer or de-encapsulated is disclosed. Evaluation of a physical volume used as data storage for a virtualization layer before committing to direct access to the physical volume is enabled by preventing direct access before presenting the physical volume directly to the host and by preventing the virtualization layer from moving data on the physical volume while redirecting to the physical volume a first plurality of I/O requests that were directed to the virtualization layer.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for optimizing the number of data writes to virtually provisioned logical units of a physical data storage array. The method is performed at a virtual provisioning layer associated with a physical storage array and includes receiving, from a client, a first write request for writing data to a first portion of a first data block of a virtually provisioned logical unit (VLUN) of the physical data storage array, wherein the size of the first portion is less than the size of the first data block. In response to receiving the first write request, a combined write request is generated from the virtual provisioning layer, where the combined write request is for writing the first portion of the data from the received write request and a second portion of fill data such that a size of the first portion and the second portion is equal to a size of the first data block.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for managing provisioning of resources for one or more data storage networks using a new architecture.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for managing allocation of storage resources in a storage network, the storage network including physical data storage on a plurality of storage arrays that are in the storage network, and the network is in communication with one or more hosts and the network further includes a storage network management system, communicatively coupled to the storage arrays via the network, the storage management system includes a storage virtualizer capable of intercepting and virtualizing an IO stream from the one or more hosts and which storage network management system further includes a storage and switch controller in communication with the storage virtualizer for storage network management.

Abstract: An architecture for protecting against failure in a switched storage network using virtualization.

Abstract: An architecture for managing a plurality of storage area networks including a plurality of data storage volumes and one or more hosts, wherein the volumes are in a switched storage network in the storage area networks the architecture comprising one or more processors in communication with switching capability for the switched storage network, wherein the one or more processors include program logic for embodying logical constructions of a storage presentation layer including target virtualization and logical unit (LU) virtualization; and a volume presentation layer including volume virtualization for replication of data.