Abstract: A method for providing virtual private storage array (VPSA) service for cloud users over a computer network includes receiving parameters for the VPSA over the network and creating the VPSA from resources of server computers. Creating the VPSA includes allocating and exposing drives that meets or exceeds specified drive characteristics, drive quantity, and array redundancy criteria to virtual controllers (VCs) in the VPSA, and dedicating parts of processor/memory complexes that each meets or exceeds a specified virtual controller hardware model to the VCs. The VCs run on virtual machines on the dedicated parts of processor/memory complexes on independent server computers. The VCs discover the exposed drives, create a virtual pool from the exposed virtual drives, implement data protection on the virtual pool, create volumes from the virtual pool, expose the volumes over the network to a customer computer, and handle access requests to the volumes from the customer computer.

Abstract: A method for providing virtual private storage array (VPSA) service for cloud users over a computer network includes receiving parameters for the VPSA over the network and creating the VPSA from resources of server computers. Creating the VPSA includes allocating and exposing drives that meets or exceeds specified drive characteristics, drive quantity, and array redundancy criteria to virtual controllers (VCs) in the VPSA, and dedicating parts of processor/memory complexes that each meets or exceeds a specified virtual controller hardware model to the VCs. The VCs run on virtual machines on the dedicated parts of processor/memory complexes on independent server computers. The VCs discover the exposed drives, create a virtual pool from the exposed virtual drives, implement data protection on the virtual pool, create volumes from the virtual pool, expose the volumes over the network to a customer computer, and handle access requests to the volumes from the customer computer.

Abstract: A data storage system includes three or more storage devices, each associated with a unique data volume. A first one of the data storage devices at least has two or more data storage areas but can have more storage areas, which can be either data storage areas or parity storage areas. A second data storage device at least has two storage areas, one of which is a data storage area. A third data storage device at least has a parity storage area but can have more storage areas, which can be either data storage areas or parity storage areas. A first group of corresponding storage areas is defined by at least the data storage areas of the first and second storage devices and the parity storage area of the third storage device. A second group of corresponding storage areas is defined by at least the storage areas of the first and second storage devices.

Abstract: A method for providing virtual private storage array (VPSA) service for cloud users over a computer network includes receiving parameters for the VPSA over the network and creating the VPSA from resources of server computers. Creating the VPSA includes allocating and exposing drives that meets or exceeds specified drive characteristics, drive quantity, and array redundancy criteria to virtual controllers (VCs) in the VPSA, and dedicating parts of processor/memory complexes that each meets or exceeds a specified virtual controller hardware model to the VCs. The VCs run on virtual machines on the dedicated parts of processor/memory complexes on independent server computers. The VCs discover the exposed drives, create a virtual pool from the exposed virtual drives, implement data protection on the virtual pool, create volumes from the virtual pool, expose the volumes over the network to a customer computer, and handle access requests to the volumes from the customer computer.

Abstract: A method for providing virtual private storage array (VPSA) service for cloud users over a computer network includes receiving parameters for the VPSA over the network and creating the VPSA from resources of server computers. Creating the VPSA includes allocating and exposing drives that meets or exceeds specified drive characteristics, drive quantity, and array redundancy criteria to virtual controllers (VCs) in the VPSA, and dedicating parts of processor/memory complexes that each meets or exceeds a specified virtual controller hardware model to the VCs. The VCs run on virtual machines on the dedicated parts of processor/memory complexes on independent server computers. The VCs discover the exposed drives, create a virtual pool from the exposed virtual drives, implement data protection on the virtual pool, create volumes from the virtual pool, expose the volumes over the network to a customer computer, and handle access requests to the volumes from the customer computer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving performance in a storage system utilizing snapshots are disclosed by using metadata management of snapshot data. Specifically, various metadata structures associated with snapshots are utilized to reduce the number of IO operations required to locate data within any specific snapshot. The number of IO operations are reduced by allowing the various metadata structures associated with the temporally current snapshot to locate data directly within any temporally earlier snapshot or on the original root volume.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for active-active support of virtual storage management in a storage area network (“SAN”). When a storage manager (that manages virtual storage volumes) of the SAN receives data to be written to a virtual storage volume from a computer server, the storage manager determines whether the writing request may result in updating a mapping of the virtual storage volume to a storage system. When the writing request does not involve updating the mapping, which happens most of the time, the storage manager simply writes the data to the storage system based on the existing mapping. Otherwise, the storage manager sends an updating request to another storage manager for updating a mapping of the virtual storage volume to a storage volume. Subsequently, the storage manager writes the data to the corresponding storage system based on the mapping that has been updated by the another storage manager.

Abstract: Systems and methods herein provide for protecting data using snapshots and images of those snapshots to quickly recreate data upon request. For example, a storage controller of a data storage system allocates a period of time between creating snapshots of data in a first storage volume of the data storage system. The controller then logs received write requests to the first storage volume and generates snapshot of data in the first storage volume based on the allocated period of time. Thereafter, the controller may receive a request to recreate data. The controller locates the snapshot in the first storage volume based on that request to recreate the data. In doing so, the controller generates a snapshot image in a second storage volume. The controller then retrieves logged write requests and applies them to the snapshot image to recreate the data in the second storage volume.

Abstract: Data segments are logically organized in clusters in a data repository of a data storage system. Each clusters contains compressed data segments and data common to the compression of the segments, such as a dictionary. In association with a write request, it is determined in which of the clusters would the data segment most efficiently be compressed, and the data segment is stored in that data cluster.

Abstract: Systems and methods herein provide for protecting data using snapshots and images of those snapshots to quickly recreate data upon request. For example, a storage controller of a data storage system allocates a period of time between creating snapshots of data in a first storage volume of the data storage system. The controller then logs received write requests to the first storage volume and generates snapshot of data in the first storage volume based on the allocated period of time. Thereafter, the controller may receive a request to recreate data. The controller locates the snapshot in the first storage volume based on that request to recreate the data. In doing so, the controller generates a snapshot image in a second storage volume. The controller then retrieves logged write requests and applies them to the snapshot image to recreate the data in the second storage volume.

Abstract: Data segments are logically organized in groups in a data repository. Each segment is stored at an index in the data repository. In association with a write request, a hash algorithm is applied to the data segment to generate a group identifier. Each group is identifiable by a corresponding group identifier. The group identifier is applied to a hash tree to determine whether a corresponding group in the data repository exists. Each existing group in the data repository corresponds to a leaf of the hash tree. If no corresponding group exists in the data repository, the data segment is stored in a new group in the data repository. However, if a corresponding group exists, the group is further searched to determine if a data segment matching the data segment to be stored is already stored. The data segment can be stored in accordance with the results of the search.

Abstract: A data storage system includes three or more storage devices, each associated with a unique data volume. A first one of the data storage devices at least has two or more data storage areas but can have more storage areas, which can be either data storage areas or parity storage areas. A second data storage device at least has two storage areas, one of which is a data storage area. A third data storage device at least has a parity storage area but can have more storage areas, which can be either data storage areas or parity storage areas. A first group of corresponding storage areas is defined by at least the data storage areas of the first and second storage devices and the parity storage area of the third storage device. A second group of corresponding storage areas is defined by at least the storage areas of the first and second storage devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving performance in a storage system utilizing snapshots are disclosed by using metadata management of snapshot data. Specifically, various metadata structures associated with snapshots are utilized to reduce the number of IO operations required to locate data within any specific snapshot. The number of IO operations are reduced by allowing the various metadata structures associated with the temporally current snapshot to locate data directly within any temporally earlier snapshot or on the original root volume.

Abstract: Data segments are logically organized in clusters in a data repository of a data storage system. Each clusters contains compressed data segments and data common to the compression of the segments, such as a dictionary. In association with a write request, it is determined in which of the clusters would the data segment most efficiently be compressed, and the data segment is stored in that data cluster.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing RAID volumes are disclosed. Metadata is associated with storage devices that comprise a RAID volume. The metadata identifies each of a plurality of portions as being either initialized or non-initialized. The number of I/O operations performed by a storage controller coupled with the storage devices is reduced in response to a request for the RAID volume based on the metadata.

Abstract: Data segments are logically organized in groups in a data repository. Each segment is stored at an index in the data repository. In association with a write request, a hash algorithm is applied to the data segment to generate a group identifier. Each group is identifiable by a corresponding group identifier. The group identifier is applied to a hash tree to determine whether a corresponding group in the data repository exists. Each existing group in the data repository corresponds to a leaf of the hash tree. If no corresponding group exists in the data repository, the data segment is stored in a new group in the data repository. However, if a corresponding group exists, the group is further searched to determine if a data segment matching the data segment to be stored is already stored. The data segment can be stored in accordance with the results of the search.

Abstract: Methods and systems for virtualizing a storage system within a virtualized server environment are presented herein. A computer network includes a first physical server configured as a first plurality of virtual servers. The computer network also includes a plurality of storage devices. The computer network also includes a first storage module operating on the first physical server. The first storage module is operable to configure the storage devices into a virtual storage device and monitor the storage devices to control storage operations between the virtual servers and the virtual storage device. The computer network also includes a second physical server configured as a second plurality of virtual servers. The second server includes a second storage module that is operable to maintain integrity of the virtual storage device in conjunction with the first storage module of the first physical server.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for active-active support of virtual storage management in a storage area network (“SAN”). When a storage manager (that manages virtual storage volumes) of the SAN receives data to be written to a virtual storage volume from a computer server, the storage manager determines whether the writing request may result in updating a mapping of the virtual storage volume to a storage system. When the writing request does not involve updating the mapping, which happens most of the time, the storage manager simply writes the data to the storage system based on the existing mapping. Otherwise, the storage manager sends an updating request to another storage manager for updating a mapping of the virtual storage volume to a storage volume. Subsequently, the storage manager writes the data to the corresponding storage system based on the mapping that has been updated by the another storage manager.

Abstract: A system comprises a first set of data transfer tools, operable by and exhibited to a first workstation and a second workstation, the first set of data transfer tools including commands for controlling transfer and communication, a second set of data transfer tools, operable by and exhibited to the first workstation and the second workstation, the second set of data transfer tools implementing and processing transfer and communication of data between workstations involved in a communication, and a remote storage device coupled to a communications network, accessible by the first workstation and the second workstation, for temporarily storing data communicated from one workstation to the second workstation.

Abstract: A method for the binary zoning of a Storage Area Network (SAN) for security is disclosed, for a SAN with physical devices consisting of a first array of hosts (1) and a second array of storage devices (4), and a SAN Switch (2, 2A) coupled intermediate the hosts and the storage devices. The SAN Switch routes I/O commands and accepts zoning commands. The method is based on starting operation of the SAN with mutually isolated physical devices and accepting zoning commands only after running security verification procedures requiring that hosts be authenticated and that storage devices be identified. Zoning is dynamically controlled from a workstation (8) operated by a System Administrator entering meta-zoning instructions which are used to automatically program the zoning of the SAN Switch for legitimate physical devices. The method is implemented for security and booting of a SAN.