Abstract: A modified hard disk drive (HDD) state is provided. The modified HDD state corresponds to a state wherein the heads of a hard disk drive assembly are parked as a baseline setting, but permitted to float over the platters for completing requests on a limited basis. This prioritizes HHD protection in certain contexts.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for updating firmware on a storage device. The apparatus includes a detection module and an update module. The detection module detects, during a boot sequence, an indicator of an available update of firmware controlling a storage device. The available update is stored on non-volatile storage media of the storage device. The update module updates the storage device with the available update in response to the detection module detecting the indicator of the available update.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes performing flash memory operations; receiving a signal from a voltage monitor as being associated with the performed flash memory operations; and, based at least in part on the received signal, setting a limit for performing subsequent flash memory operations. In such a method, the limit can act to avoid resetting flash memory responsive to current demand associated with subsequent flash memory operations. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for concatenating a first RAID and a second RAID. The apparatus includes a concatenation module and a direction module. The concatenation module concatenates a first Redundant Array of Independent Disks (“RAID”) with a second RAID into a top-level RAID. The first RAID and the second RAID may have disparate operational characteristics. The direction module directs storage operations to one of the first RAID and the second RAID based on a direction policy.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for distributing writes asymmetrically. An asymmetric distribution module calculates an asymmetric distribution of writes for a plurality of drives. A write module writes data to each drive in accordance with the asymmetric distribution of writes.

Abstract: An approach is provided that loads software files, such as an operating system, on a hybrid storage device. The hybrid storage device is a device that includes a nonvolatile storage device and a nonvolatile memory cache. The nonvolatile memory cache has less storage capacity than the nonvolatile storage device. The nonvolatile memory cache is preset (“pinned”) to data corresponding to an initial set of address ranges of the nonvolatile storage device, such as all or part of the operating system that was loaded onto the nonvolatile storage device. A system usage metric is initialized along with a threshold value. The nonvolatile memory cache remains pinned to the initial set of address ranges until the system usage metric reaches the threshold value. When the system usage metric reaches the threshold value, then a caching algorithm is used to determine what data should be cached to the nonvolatile memory cache.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate systems, methods and arrangements for managing Adjacent Track Interference (ATI) risk through intelligent management of a table that logs individual tracks creating a risk of ATI in tracks adjacent thereto. Embodiments of the invention provide that tracks considered being at low risk for creating ATI be ejected from the table in order to maintain a track-level log of manageable size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatic solid state drive performance recovery. A detection module detects a first SSD exceeding a fragmentation threshold. A plurality of drives comprises the first SSD and stores a data copy of data stored on the first SSD. An erase module erases a mapping table for the first SSD. The mapping table maps Logical Block Addresses LBA to physical addresses for the first SSD. A rebuild module rebuilds the data and the mapping table on the first SSD from the data copy.

Abstract: The invention broadly contemplates a security solution for storage devices that is inexpensive and robust. The invention allows a store of system specific data to be used to release the hard disk key of full-disk encryption (FDE) drives. This system specific data is passed to the FDE drives and used to calculate the actual encryption key. This allows for safe disposal of an FDE drive containing confidential data, as the lack of available system specific decryption data makes decryption virtually impossible.

Abstract: The instant invention broadly contemplates balancing of asymmetric RAID arrays based on application usage patterns. The instantly claimed invention broadly contemplates balancing the type of workload and delivery of the work load in asymmetric RAID arrays by intelligently implementing different types of applications on disks strategically positioned to deliver workload to the RAID channel that is most capable of handling the work load. The invention makes use of the fact that some applications are more large block, sequential transfer dependant while other applications are more small block, high random, high IOP dependent, and places these applications accordingly within the asymmetric RAID array.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for rapidly grading the operating condition of computer storage. A storage log module 312 logs error information regarding any error in a storage subsystem 302 that occurs during normal operation. A storage test module 314 performs a cursory check 318 of the storage subsystem 302 as requested by a user. A storage diagnostic module 316 grades the storage subsystem 302 on an operating condition scale based at least in part upon the error information logged and upon results of the cursory check 318. In one embodiment, the storage subsystem 302 is graded as pristine if no error has been logged and no error was detected by the cursory check 318, as potentially failing if any error has been logged but no error was detected by the cursory check 318, and as failing if any error was detected by the cursory check 318.

Abstract: A modified hard disk drive (HDD) state is provided. The modified HDD state corresponds to a state wherein the heads of a hard disk drive assembly are parked as a baseline setting, but permitted to float over the platters for completing requests on a limited basis. This prioritizes HHD protection in certain contexts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for easily and at high speed re-encrypting data recorded on a magnetic recording medium when the data is encrypted using an encryption key and the encryption key is changed. A track where effective user data is not recorded is set as a first reserved track, then data is read out from the first updating source track and decrypted using a first encryption key KEY 1, which is reencrypted using a second encryption key KEY 2 and recorded in the first reserved track, next, the first updating source track is set as a second reserved track, and a second updating source track is set, and the encryption key is updated by repeating these steps until all tracks to be subjected to the key updating processing have been subjected to the key updating processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for concatenating a first RAID and a second RAID. The apparatus includes a concatenation module and a direction module. The concatenation module concatenates a first Redundant Array of Independent Disks (“RAID”) with a second RAID into a top-level RAID. The first RAID and the second RAID may have disparate operational characteristics. The direction module directs storage operations to one of the first RAID and the second RAID based on a direction policy.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for updating firmware on a storage device. The apparatus includes a detection module and an update module. The detection module detects, during a boot sequence, an indicator of an available update of firmware controlling a storage device. The available update is stored on non-volatile storage media of the storage device. The update module updates the storage device with the available update in response to the detection module detecting the indicator of the available update.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes performing flash memory operations; receiving a signal from a voltage monitor as being associated with the performed flash memory operations; and, based at least in part on the received signal, setting a limit for performing subsequent flash memory operations. In such a method, the limit can act to avoid resetting flash memory responsive to current demand associated with subsequent flash memory operations. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product is provided that recovers from a sector error affecting a critical file. A damaged sector prevents a critical file from being read prevents the computer system from booting. A controller records a sector number corresponding to the damaged sector. The system is rebooted using an alternative boot media. The system accesses the primary nonvolatile storage media after the rebooting. The damaged sector number is read from the error log and a file map is used to determine the critical file that is stored in the damaged sector. A backup copy of the critical file is retrieved from a backup media. The backup copy is written to the primary media using undamaged sectors and the critical file is mapped to the undamaged sectors. The system is subsequently booted successfully from the primary nonvolatile storage media.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for distributing writes asymmetrically. An asymmetric distribution module calculates an asymmetric distribution of writes for a plurality of drives. A write module writes data to each drive in accordance with the asymmetric distribution of writes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatic solid state drive performance recovery. A detection module detects a first SSD exceeding a fragmentation threshold. A plurality of drives comprises the first SSD and stores a data copy of data stored on the first SSD. An erase module erases a mapping table for the first SSD. The mapping table maps Logical Block Addresses LBA to physical addresses for the first SSD. A rebuild module rebuilds the data and the mapping table on the first SSD from the data copy.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate systems, methods and arrangements for managing Adjacent Track Interference (ATI) risk through intelligent management of a table that logs individual tracks creating a risk of ATI in tracks adjacent thereto. Embodiments of the invention provide that tracks considered being at low risk for creating ATI be ejected from the table in order to maintain a track-level log of manageable size.