Abstract: Write back caching of Operating System (OS) boot data in a UEFI environment is disclosed. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a non-volatile memory, a storage device, and a processor. The non-volatile memory caches boot data for an OS. The storage device stores the OS. The processor receives a write request for the storage device, and determines whether the write request modifies boot data accessed within a UEFI pre-OS boot environment. The processor directs the write request to the storage device responsive to determining that the write request modifies boot data accessed within the UEFI pre-OS boot environment, and directs the write request to the non-volatile memory responsive to determining that the write request does not modify boot data accessed within the UEFI pre-OS boot environment.

Abstract: Methods and structure for utilizing a Solid State Drive (SSD) to enhance boot time for a computer. The computer includes an SSD that stores a boot cache for an Operating System of a computer, a Hard Disk Drive that stores the Operating System, and a processor. The processor is able to load an interrupt handler that intercepts Input/Output requests directed to the Hard Disk Drive prior to loading a kernel of the Operating System. The interrupt handler is able to determine whether each intercepted request can be serviced with data from the boot cache, and to redirect a request to the SSD instead of the Hard Disk Drive if the request can be serviced with data from the boot cache.

Abstract: Systems and methods maintain cache coherency between storage controllers utilizing bitmap data. In one embodiment, a storage controller processes an I/O request for a logical volume from a host, and generates one or more cache entries in a cache memory that is based on the request. The storage controller identifies a backup storage controller for managing the logical volume, and generates bitmap data that identifies cache entries in the cache memory that have changed since synchronizing with the backup storage controller. The storage controller provides the bitmap data to the backup storage controller to allow the backup storage controller to synchronize its cache memory with the cache memory of the storage controller based on the bitmap data.

Abstract: A method and controller device for upgrading firmware in a virtualized storage environment having a virtual machine manager, guest virtual machines and a storage device. The method includes downloading a new firmware solution bundle to a first logical area of the storage device, and installing the new firmware containing the virtual machine manager and guest virtual machines. The installation includes moving the solution bundle to a scratch area carved out of a P-cache area in the storage device, extracting the new firmware, copying the new firmware to the first logical area, marking the first logical area as the Active area, and marking the second logical area as the Staging area. The method also includes rebooting the virtualized storage environment with the installed new firmware, committing to the new firmware if the installation is successful, and rolling back the firmware version from the new firmware to the current firmware if the installation is not successful.