Abstract: A controller-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving, by a first controller, data. Metadata associated with the data is stored, by the first controller, in a specified system memory location. Second metadata received from a second controller is also stored, by the first controller, in the specified system memory location, thereby creating combined metadata. In response to the second controller entering a failed state: snapshots of the combined metadata are stored, by the first controller, to resilient storage at a predefined interval. Moreover, additional data continues to be received by the first controller. Metadata associated with the additional data is stored, by the first controller, in the specified system memory location, while changes to the metadata which occur between the snapshots of the combined metadata are also stored by the first controller. According to some approaches, the changes to the metadata are stored in a log structured array.

Abstract: Embodiments for reducing rebuild time in a computing storage environment in by a processor. One or more disk drive failures in a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)-6 may be rebuilt by holding at least three parity strips per stripe while using one or more of the at least three parity strips according the one or more disk drive failures.

Abstract: Embodiments for reducing rebuild time in a computing storage environment in by a processor. One or more disk drive failures in a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)-6 may be rebuilt by holding at least three parity strips per stripe while using one or more of the at least three parity strips according the one or more disk drive failures.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for generating a configuration page for rendering in a graphical user interface (GUI) for managing provisioning of storage resources in a storage system. A determination is made of allocation commitment certainties for virtual storage ranges to allocate from the storage system based on physical capacity in the storage system and an estimated data reduction rate. Each of the allocation commitment certainties indicates a likelihood that a corresponding of the virtual storage ranges will be available for allocation in the storage system. Visual representation of a plurality of user selectable storage spaces indicating the allocation commitment certainties for the virtual storage ranges in the user selectable storage spaces are rendered in the configuration page. A user selection graphic that when selected provisions a selected of the user selectable storage spaces in the storage system is rendered in the configuration page.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, computer system, and method for smart selection of a storage module to be excluded when a connection between two storage modules is broken. An indication is received from a first storage module that a connection between the first storage module and a second storage module is broken. In response to determining that the second storage module is accessible, values of exclusion criteria for the first storage module are determined and summed to identify a first exclusion total. Then, values of exclusion criteria for the second storage module are determined and summed to identify a second exclusion total. In response to determining that the first exclusion total exceeds the second exclusion total, the second storage node is excluded from the cluster. In response to determining that the second exclusion total exceeds the first exclusion total, the first storage node is excluded from the cluster.

Abstract: A controller-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving, by a first controller, data. Metadata associated with the data is stored, by the first controller, in a specified system memory location. Second metadata received from a second controller is also stored, by the first controller, in the specified system memory location, thereby creating combined metadata. In response to the second controller entering a failed state: snapshots of the combined metadata are stored, by the first controller, to resilient storage at a predefined interval. Moreover, additional data continues to be received by the first controller. Metadata associated with the additional data is stored, by the first controller, in the specified system memory location, while changes to the metadata which occur between the snapshots of the combined metadata are also stored by the first controller. According to some approaches, the changes to the metadata are stored in a log structured array.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: splitting received information between two controllers of a system in a normal operating mode, the received information including data and metadata; storing the metadata in resilient storage in response to a first of the controllers entering a failed state; updating the first controller with information received while the first controller was in the failed state, the first controller being updated in response to the first controller being repaired; and returning the system to the normal operating mode in response to the first controller being updated. Storing the metadata in resilient storage includes: saving snapshots of the metadata in the resilient storage, and saving changes to the metadata which occur between the snapshots. The changes to the metadata are saved in a log structured array. Moreover, the two controllers store the received information in a specified system memory location.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that are executed by the processor to specifically configure the processor to implement an initiator entity in a symmetric split-direction connection. The initiator entity generates a custom keepalive command and sends the custom keepalive command to a target entity via the symmetric split-direction connection. Responsive to the initiator entity determining a number of consecutive acknowledgement commands received in response to custom keepalive commands exceed a first threshold, the initiator entity reports the symmetric split-direction connection as sufficient. Responsive to the initiator entity determining a second number of consecutive keepalive commands sent without receiving an acknowledgement is greater than a second threshold, the initiator entity reports the symmetric split-direction connection as insufficient.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that are executed by the processor to specifically configure the processor to implement an initiator entity in a symmetric split-direction connection. The initiator entity generates a custom keepalive command and sends the custom keepalive command to a target entity via the symmetric split-direction connection. Responsive to the initiator entity determining a number of consecutive acknowledgement commands received in response to custom keepalive commands exceed a first threshold, the initiator entity reports the symmetric split-direction connection as sufficient. Responsive to the initiator entity determining a second number of consecutive keepalive commands sent without receiving an acknowledgement is greater than a second threshold, the initiator entity reports the symmetric split-direction connection as insufficient.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: splitting received information between two controllers of a system in a normal operating mode, the received information including data and metadata; storing the metadata in resilient storage in response to a first of the controllers entering a failed state; updating the first controller with information received while the first controller was in the failed state, the first controller being updated in response to the first controller being repaired; and returning the system to the normal operating mode in response to the first controller being updated. Storing the metadata in resilient storage includes: saving snapshots of the metadata in the resilient storage, and saving changes to the metadata which occur between the snapshots. The changes to the metadata are saved in a log structured array. Moreover, the two controllers store the received information in a specified system memory location.

Abstract: A storage system (system) includes two storage devices (first device and second device). The first device stores encrypted user data prior to being enrolled with an external key server. The system generates a device access key (DAK) and a device encryption key (DEK) used to encrypt such user data and encrypts the DEK with the DAK to generate an encrypted DEK (DEK?). The system stores DEK? in the second device and stores DAK in the first device. The system enrolls the first device with the key server and receives a secure encryption key (SEK). The system obtains DEK? and DAK, which are subsequently deleted from the first and second storage device, respectively. A new DAK? is generated utilizing SEK and a first device identifier. The DEK is encrypted utilizing DAK? to form DEK?. The system indicates DAK? is an externally derived key and saves DEK? to the second device.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for distributed global data vaulting in a grid of server computers. At each of the server computers, it is determined that there is a system shutdown. For each data element at that server computer, a list of one or more vault devices at other server computers is retrieved from a vault distribution table, and the data element is dumped to the one or more vault devices at the other server computers.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for generating a configuration page for rendering in a graphical user interface (GUI) for managing provisioning of storage resources in a storage system. A determination is made of allocation commitment certainties for virtual storage ranges to allocate from the storage system based on physical capacity in the storage system and an estimated data reduction rate. Each of the allocation commitment certainties indicates a likelihood that a corresponding of the virtual storage ranges will be available for allocation in the storage system. Visual representation of a plurality of user selectable storage spaces indicating the allocation commitment certainties for the virtual storage ranges in the user selectable storage spaces are rendered in the configuration page. A user selection graphic that when selected provisions a selected of the user selectable storage spaces in the storage system is rendered in the configuration page.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, computer system, and method for smart selection of a storage module to be excluded when a connection between two storage modules is broken. An indication is received from a first storage module that a connection between the first storage module and a second storage module is broken. In response to determining that the second storage module is accessible, values of exclusion criteria for the first storage module are determined and summed to identify a first exclusion total. Then, values of exclusion criteria for the second storage module are determined and summed to identify a second exclusion total. In response to determining that the first exclusion total exceeds the second exclusion total, the second storage node is excluded from the cluster. In response to determining that the second exclusion total exceeds the first exclusion total, the first storage node is excluded from the cluster.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for distributed global data vaulting in a grid of server computers. At each of the server computers, it is determined that there is a system shutdown. For each data element at that server computer, a list of one or more vault devices at other server computers is retrieved from a vault distribution table, and the data element is dumped to the one or more vault devices at the other server computers.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for generating a configuration page for rendering in a graphical user interface (GUI) for managing provisioning of storage resources in a storage system. A determination is made of allocation commitment certainties for virtual storage ranges to allocate from the storage system based on physical capacity in the storage system and an estimated data reduction rate. Each of the allocation commitment certainties indicates a likelihood that a corresponding of the virtual storage ranges will be available for allocation in the storage system. Visual representation of a plurality of user selectable storage spaces indicating the allocation commitment certainties for the virtual storage ranges in the user selectable storage spaces are rendered in the configuration page. A user selection graphic that when selected provisions a selected of the user selectable storage spaces in the storage system is rendered in the configuration page.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, computer system, and method for smart selection of a storage module to be excluded when a connection between two storage modules is broken. An indication is received from a first storage module that a connection between the first storage module and a second storage module is broken. In response to determining that the second storage module is accessible, values of exclusion criteria for the first storage module are determined and summed to identify a first exclusion total. Then, values of exclusion criteria for the second storage module are determined and summed to identify a second exclusion total. In response to determining that the first exclusion total exceeds the second exclusion total, the second storage node is excluded from the cluster. In response to determining that the second exclusion total exceeds the first exclusion total, the first storage node is excluded from the cluster.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for distributed global data vaulting in a grid of server computers. At each of the server computers, it is determined that there is a system shutdown. For each data element at that server computer, a list of one or more vault devices at other server computers is retrieved from a vault distribution table, and the data element is dumped to the one or more vault devices at the other server computers.

Abstract: Deduplicated data is packed in a self-contained deduplicated repository having unique data blocks with each being referenced by a globally unique identifier (GUID). The self-contained deduplicated repository has information regarding both deduplicated data files and the unique data blocks of each of the deduplicated data files and a master GUID list containing a location of each of the unique data blocks.

Abstract: Deduplicated data is packed in a self-contained deduplicated repository having unique data blocks with each being referenced by a globally unique identifier (GUID). The self-contained deduplicated repository has information regarding both deduplicated data files and the unique data blocks of each of the deduplicated data files and a master GUID list containing a location of each of the unique data blocks.