Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for managing data storage. A first log structured array stores data in a storage device. A second log structured array in the storage device stores metadata for the data in the first log structured array, wherein the second log structured array storing the metadata for the first log structured data storage system is nested within the first log structured array, and wherein the first and second log structured arrays comprise separate instances of log structured arrays. Address space is allocated in the second log structured array for metadata when the allocation of address space is required for metadata for data stored in the first log structured array.

Abstract: Provided is an enclosure for use in a modular storage system, the enclosure comprising a plurality of drive bays, a controller canister, an expansion canister, and a midplane connecting the drive bays to the canisters, wherein the controller canister occupies a greater volume of the enclosure than the expansion canister.

Abstract: Provided is an enclosure for use in a modular storage system, the enclosure comprising a plurality of drive bays, a controller canister, an expansion canister, and a midplane connecting the drive bays to the canisters, wherein the controller canister occupies a greater volume of the enclosure than the expansion canister.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for managing data storage. A first log structured array stores data in a storage device. A second log structured array in the storage device stores metadata for the data in the first log structured array, wherein the second log structured array storing the metadata for the first log structured data storage system is nested within the first log structured array, and wherein the first and second log structured arrays comprise separate instances of log structured arrays. Address space is allocated in the second log structured array for metadata when the allocation of address space is required for metadata for data stored in the first log structured array.

Abstract: Provided is an enclosure for use in a modular storage system, the enclosure comprising a plurality of drive bays, a controller canister, an expansion canister, and a midplane connecting the drive bays to the canisters, wherein the controller canister occupies a greater volume of the enclosure than the expansion canister.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for managing data storage. A first log structured array stores data in a storage device. A second log structured array in the storage device stores metadata for the data in the first log structured array, wherein the second log structured array storing the metadata for the first log structured data storage system is nested within the first log structured array, and wherein the first and second log structured arrays comprise separate instances of log structured arrays. Address space is allocated in the second log structured array for metadata when the allocation of address space is required for metadata for data stored in the first log structured array.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for managing data storage. A first log structured array stores data in a storage device. A second log structured array in the storage device stores metadata for the data in the first log structured array, wherein the second log structured array storing the metadata for the first log structured data storage system is nested within the first log structured array, and wherein the first and second log structured arrays comprise separate instances of log structured arrays. Address space is allocated in the second log structured array for metadata when the allocation of address space is required for metadata for data stored in the first log structured array.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for managing data storage. A first log structured array stores data in a storage device. A second log structured array in the storage device stores metadata for the data in the first log structured array, wherein the second log structured array storing the metadata for the first log structured data storage system is nested within the first log structured array, and wherein the first and second log structured arrays comprise separate instances of log structured arrays. Address space is allocated in the second log structured array for metadata when the allocation of address space is required for metadata for data stored in the first log structured array.

Abstract: A Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) controller receives new data that is to be written, wherein the new data is indicated in blocks of a first block size. The RAID controller reads old data, and old parity that corresponds to the old data, stored in blocks of a second block size that is larger in size than the first block size. The RAID controller computes new parity based on the new data, the old data, and the old parity. The RAID controller writes the new data and the new parity aligned to the blocks of the second block size, wherein portions of the old data that are not overwritten by the RAID controller are also written to the blocks of the second block size.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for managing data storage. A first log structured array stores data in a storage device. A second log structured array in the storage device stores metadata for the data in the first log structured array, wherein the second log structured array storing the metadata for the first log structured data storage system is nested within the first log structured array, and wherein the first and second log structured arrays comprise separate instances of log structured arrays. Address space is allocated in the second log structured array for metadata when the allocation of address space is required for metadata for data stored in the first log structured array.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a log-structured data storage system, operable with a first log-structured data storage area for storing data, comprises a metadata storage component for controlling the first log-structured data storage area and comprising a second log-structured data storage area for storing metadata; and means for nesting the second log-structured data storage area for storing metadata within the first log-structured data storage area. The apparatus may further comprise at least a third log-structured data storage area for storing further metadata, and means for nesting the at least a third log-structured data storage area within the second log-structured data storage area.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a log-structured data storage system, operable with a first log-structured data storage area for storing data, comprises a metadata storage component for controlling the first log-structured data storage area and comprising a second log-structured data storage area for storing metadata; and means for nesting the second log-structured data storage area for storing metadata within the first log-structured data storage area. The apparatus may further comprise at least a third log-structured data storage area for storing further metadata, and means for nesting the at least a third log-structured data storage area within the second log-structured data storage area.

Abstract: A Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) controller receives new data that is to be written, wherein the new data is indicated in blocks of a first block size. The RAID controller reads old data, and old parity that corresponds to the old data, stored in blocks of a second block size that is larger in size than the first block size. The RAID controller computes new parity based on the new data, the old data, and the old parity. The RAID controller writes the new data and the new parity aligned to the blocks of the second block size, wherein portions of the old data that are not overwritten by the RAID controller are also written to the blocks of the second block size.

Abstract: A Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) controller receives new data that is to be written, wherein the new data is indicated in blocks of a first block size. The RAID controller reads old data, and old parity that corresponds to the old data, stored in blocks of a second block size that is larger in size than the first block size. The RAID controller computes new parity based on the new data, the old data, and the old parity. The RAID controller writes the new data and the new parity aligned to the blocks of the second block size, wherein portions of the old data that are not overwritten by the RAID controller are also written to the blocks of the second block size.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a log-structured data storage system, operable with a first log-structured data storage area for storing data, comprises a metadata storage component for controlling the first log-structured data storage area and comprising a second log-structured data storage area for storing metadata; and means for nesting the second log-structured data storage area for storing metadata within the first log-structured data storage area. The apparatus may further comprise at least a third log-structured data storage area for storing further metadata, and means for nesting the at least a third log-structured data storage area within the second log-structured data storage area.

Abstract: A storage control system is adapted to operate as a primary of a remote copy pair by communicating with a secondary of the remote copy pair, and comprises: an I/O receiving component for receiving read and write commands; a continuous data protection component operatively coupled to the I/O receiving component for maintaining a continuous data protection journal; the continuous data protection journal operable to retain write I/O data items for access by subsequent read commands and to roll back the data at the primary of the remote copy pair; a remote copy controller component adapted to read the write I/O data item from the continuous data protection journal; and a remote copy transmission component operatively coupled to the remote copy controller component to transmit the write I/O data item to the secondary of the remote copy pair.

Abstract: A copy engine (104) is provided as an interface between firmware (108) and memory space (106) for carrying out copy operations. The copy engine has a first register (202, 203) to point to a first address and a second register (204, 205) to point to a second address. One of the first and second addresses is a source address and one is a destination address for data to be copied. The copy engine (104) also has a control register (201). The control register (201) includes a count of the amount of memory space required by a copy operation, an indication of the direction of the copy operation from the first address to the second address or from the second address to the first address, and an indication of whether the first memory address is incremented or decremented. The copy engine (104) includes a locking mechanism for locking the copy engine (104) during a copy operation. The copy engine (104) also includes a serialization mechanism in which a write is made to control register (201) of zero count.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for relating a device name to a physical location of a device (202) on a network is provided. The network may be a serial loop network, for example a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop network. The network includes a plurality of devices (202) on or connected to the network (201) and a control device (205) with control over at least one of the devices (202). Each device (202) has a check output (204) independent of the network (201) with connection means (206) to a control device (205). The method includes the step of sending a device name from the check output (204) of a device (202) to the control device (205). The check output (204) of a device (202) is also connected to an external indication means for indicating the failure of the device (202).

Abstract: According to one general embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product for reducing incidence of errors in connections between a power consumer apparatus operable to draw a load and a power supply apparatus capable of varying the power supplied, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to generate at the power consumer apparatus an identifiable pattern in a load to be drawn from a power supply connection to a power supply apparatus; and computer readable program code configured to monitor at the power consumer apparatus for a change in the load corresponding to the pattern, the monitoring being performed across a signal connection to the power supply apparatus; wherein a positive result of the monitoring indicates a correct configuration. Additional embodiments are also presented.

Abstract: According to a first general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a logic arrangement for reducing incidence of errors in connections between a power consumer apparatus and a power supply apparatus, the logic arrangement comprising: a pattern-generating component for generating an identifiable pattern in a load to be drawn from a power supply connection to a power supply apparatus; and a testing component for monitoring across a signal connection to the power supply apparatus, the testing component monitoring for a change in the load corresponding to the pattern. A positive result of the testing by the testing component indicates a correct configuration. Additional embodiments are also presented.