Abstract: A method of protecting a filesystem against metadata corruption while maintaining high performance is provided. The method includes (a) receiving a storage command directing a computing device to store a block of file data to the filesystem and (b) in response: (1) writing the block to a data portion spanning a set of drives using a single-fault tolerant level of RAID, wherein writing the block includes performing exactly two write operations to the set of drives; and (2) writing filesystem metadata associated with the block to a metadata portion spanning a subset of the set of drives using a double-fault tolerant data redundancy scheme different than the single-fault tolerant level of RAID, the subset including at least three drives, the data and metadata portions being non-overlapping, wherein writing the metadata includes performing at least three write operations to the subset of the set of drives.

Abstract: A method of protecting a filesystem against metadata corruption while maintaining high performance is provided. The method includes (a) receiving a storage command directing a computing device to store a block of file data to the filesystem and (b) in response: (1) writing the block to a data portion spanning a set of drives using a single-fault tolerant level of RAID, wherein writing the block includes performing exactly two write operations to the set of drives; and (2) writing filesystem metadata associated with the block to a metadata portion spanning a subset of the set of drives using a double-fault tolerant data redundancy scheme different than the single-fault tolerant level of RAID, the subset including at least three drives, the data and metadata portions being non-overlapping, wherein writing the metadata includes performing at least three write operations to the subset of the set of drives.

Abstract: A technique for replicating a file from a source data storage system (source) to a destination data storage system (destination) includes receiving, by the destination from the source, (i) file data for multiple logical extents of the file and (ii) respective tiering metadata for those logical extents. The destination selects, based on the tiering metadata, one or more storage tiers available on the destination. The destination updates a local replica of the file by placing the logical extents on the selected tier or tiers.

Abstract: Described are techniques for migrating data. A source data storage system includes a source device and a target data storage system includes a target device. A passive path and an active path are provided for a host to access data of a logical device. The host recognizes the passive path and the active path as paths to the logical device. The passive path is between the host and the source data storage system. The active path is between the host and the target data storage system and used in connection with proxying at least some requests directed to the logical device received from the host through the target data storage system while migrating data for the logical device from the source device to the target device. Migrating is performed to migrate data for the logical device from the source device to the target device. Migrating is controlled by a migration module executing on the target data storage system that copies data from the source device to the target device.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a copy command, by a primary data storage device, to copy a data portion stored on the primary data storage device to another location on the primary data storage device; determining, with a mirroring module, whether a local copy of the data portion is stored on a secondary data storage device and whether the another location on the primary data storage device is mirrored by the secondary data storage device, the secondary data storage device at least partially mirroring the primary data storage device; and if the local copy of the data portion is stored on the secondary data storage device and the another location is mirrored by the secondary data storage device, sending a second command to the secondary data storage device to copy the local copy of the data portion to another location on the secondary data storage device.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for defining a master slice pool within a backend storage array of a storage system. The master slice pool includes a plurality of data storage slices. A first portion of the plurality of data storage slices is assigned to a first frontend system included within the storage system, thus defining a first frontend slice pool. One or more data storage slices included within the first frontend slice pool are allocated to one or more storage objects associated with the first frontend system. A quantity of unused data storage slices included within the first frontend slice pool is determined. The quantity of unused data storage slices is adjusted based upon a target slice level.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for lazy compression of data incoming to a data storage entity are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for lazy compression of data incoming to a data storage entity includes defining at least a portion of the data storage area within the data storage entity as a compressed logical unit for storing at least some data in compressed form; receiving a command to write data to the compressed logical unit, and, in response to receiving the command to write data to the compressed logical unit, writing the data in uncompressed form; and monitoring for a trigger condition, wherein, upon detection of a trigger condition, at least a portion of the uncompressed data within the compressed logical unit is compressed.

Abstract: Described are techniques for migrating data. A source data storage system includes a source device and a target data storage system includes a target device. A passive path and an active path are provided for a host to access data of a logical device. The host recognizes the passive path and the active path as paths to the logical device. The passive path is between the host and the source data storage system. The active path is between the host and the target data storage system and used in connection with proxying requests directed to the logical device received from the host through the target data storage system while migrating data for the logical device from the source device to the target device. Migrating is controlled by a migration module executing on the target data storage system that copies data from the source device to the target device.

Abstract: A technique of managing thin pool logical unit (TLU) recovery is performed in a data storage array that forms TLUs from a slice storage pool of logical unit (LUN) slices. The technique involves allocating a set of LUN slices of the slice storage pool to support TLU recovery. The technique further involves, after the set of LUN slices has been allocated, taking offline a TLU which currently requires TLU recovery. The technique further involves, while the TLU is offline, performing a TLU recovery procedure to recover the TLU. The TLU recovery procedure utilizes the set of LUN slices that was allocated to support TLU recovery.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for controlling prioritization of tiering and spin down features in a data storage system. The method is performed at a data storage array comprising a plurality of physical data storage disks for storing data and includes identifying data that is infrequently accessed. The infrequently accessed data is relocated to a subset of the physical data storage disks designated for storing infrequently accessed data and the spin rate of the subset of the disks is reduced.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for improving synchronization performance after partially completed writes are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for improving synchronization performance after partially completed writes includes receiving, from a requesting entity, data to be written to storage. The data to be written is sent to each of a plurality of data storage entities, including a primary data storage entity and at least one secondary data storage entity for providing a duplicate of the primary data storage entity. For each of the plurality of data storage entities, the portion of the data that was stored to the respective data storage entity is determined.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for performing an input/output (I/O) operation that includes a virtual drain. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for performing an input/output operation that includes a virtual drain. The method includes receiving a request to perform a consistent operation involving a storage entity, and in response to receiving the request: arresting write requests to the storage entity; performing a virtual drain, where performing a virtual drain includes identifying, and indicating as deferred, pending writes to the storage entity; performing the consistent operation; releasing write requests to the storage entity; and processing each deferred write using information that is associated with the write and that describes the context in which the write request was accepted.

Abstract: A method, system, or computer program product for controlling access to software component features is disclosed. There are three available states for selectable component features. The three available states, of which one is selected, are: (i) enabled access to the selected software component features for users and other software component features on a data storage system, (ii) enabled access to the selected software component features by other software component features on a data storage system, or (iii) disabled access to the software component features.

Abstract: This invention is an architecture, system, method, program product, licensing method, or apparatus for sharing and protecting data in a data storage environment, wherein there is more than one site for data storage and a connection broker is used.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method related to restoring data in a data storage environment and includes program logic.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for assisting the performance of incremental copying of data in a data storage environment and includes a tracking mechanism. In one embodiment, the tracking mechanism is implemented in such a way that it is able to track changes while allowing access to production data by carrying out unique methodology. In other embodiments, implementations include a system, a computer program product, or an apparatus, wherein each embodiment is configured for carrying out the steps involved in the methodology.

Abstract: A system and method related to maintaining consistency of replicated data in a data storage environment. The system handles Input/Output (IO)-Requests in a data storage environment having a server and production data stored on a data storage volume on a data storage system. A copy of the production data is stored on another data storage volume of a second data storage system, wherein IO-Requests to update production data are handled so that the data copy is consistent with the production data after processing the IO-Request.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for MLU replication, storage, and retrieval in a RAID environment are disclosed. According to one method, a data storage extent pool representing a portion of a RAID array is provisioned. A replica vault including a second data storage extent pool and representing a portion of a RAID array is provisioned. An MLU for allocating data storage extents from the data storage extent pool is created and, in response to a data write operation, a data storage extent from the data storage extent pool is allocated and data associated with the data write operation is stored in the data storage extent. The MLU is replicated to create a second MLU by allocating a second data storage extent in the second data storage extent pool in the replica vault and copying data stored in the data storage extent to the second data storage extent.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method related to restoring data in a data storage environment and includes program logic.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method related to copying and/or restoring data in a data storage environment and includes program logic.