Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving a selection of a portion of data from a backup storage appliance communicatively coupled to a storage system. A copy of the selected portion of the data may be generated on the backup storage appliance, thus defining a data backup copy. One or more hosts may be provided with direct access to the data backup copy using the storage system.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving a selection of a portion of data from a backup storage appliance communicatively coupled to a storage system. A copy of the selected portion of the data may be generated on the backup storage appliance, thus defining a data backup copy. One or more hosts may be provided with direct access to the data backup copy using the storage system.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for creating, with a first replication product, one or more groups of a plurality of groups that is empty in a storage array. A protection policy may be applied to the one or more groups on the first replication product, wherein the protection policy may include a replication rule. A policy profile may be created by the second replication product, wherein the replication rule may be included to the policy profile. The protection policy may be applied to a virtual machine (VM). The policy profile may be applied to the VM. The first replication product may replicate one or more virtual volumes of the VM on a remote system based upon, at least in part, the replication rule.

Abstract: Techniques for taking and managing snapshots comprise: capturing a first snapshot of a virtual machine (VM), wherein the first snapshot is a managed snapshot exposed to a virtualization environment and a data storage system environment providing physical storage for data of the VM; capturing a second snapshot of the VM, wherein the second snapshot of the VM is a managed snapshot of the VM is exposed to the virtualization environment and the data storage system environment; and converting the second snapshot of the VM from a managed snapshot of the VM to an unmanaged snapshot of the VM. Subsequent to completing the converting, the second snapshot of the VM that is an unmanaged snapshot is exposed to the data storage system environment and subsequent to completing the converting, the second snapshot of the VM that is an unmanaged snapshot is not exposed to the virtualization environment.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for creating, with a first replication product, one or more groups of a plurality of groups that is empty in a storage array. A protection policy may be applied to the one or more groups on the first replication product, wherein the protection policy may include a replication rule. A policy profile may be created by the second replication product, wherein the replication rule may be included to the policy profile. The protection policy may be applied to a virtual machine (VM). The policy profile may be applied to the VM. The first replication product may replicate one or more virtual volumes of the VM on a remote system based upon, at least in part, the replication rule.

Abstract: Techniques for taking and managing snapshots comprise: capturing a first snapshot of a virtual machine (VM), wherein the first snapshot is a managed snapshot exposed to a virtualization environment and a data storage system environment providing physical storage for data of the VM; capturing a second snapshot of the VM, wherein the second snapshot of the VM is a managed snapshot of the VM is exposed to the virtualization environment and the data storage system environment; and converting the second snapshot of the VM from a managed snapshot of the VM to an unmanaged snapshot of the VM. Subsequent to completing the converting, the second snapshot of the VM that is an unmanaged snapshot is exposed to the data storage system environment and subsequent to completing the converting, the second snapshot of the VM that is an unmanaged snapshot is not exposed to the virtualization environment.

Abstract: A technique for managing data storage for virtual machines in a data storage system includes receiving, from a virtual machine administrative program, a request to operate a virtual machine disk (VMD) at a different service level from one at which the data storage system is currently operating the VMD. In response to receiving the request, the data storage system migrates the VMD from a first set of storage extents providing a first service level to a second set of storage extents providing a second service level.

Abstract: Techniques for synchronizing snapshot operations in a distributed consistency group of storage volumes. The disclosed techniques employ a schedule of discrete snapshot operations (e.g., pausing I/O requests from host computers, taking snapshots of storage volumes, un-pausing the I/O requests), which is provided to storage appliances storing the storage volumes within the distributed consistency group. By pre-scheduling such discrete snapshot operations to be performed by the storage appliances, an amount of real-time communications (e.g., issuing snapshot commands, receiving snapshot acknowledgements) required to complete the snapshot operations is reduced, allowing data storage systems to more easily satisfy I/O time-out requirements and avoid application unresponsiveness and/or crashes.

Abstract: A file server system having solid-state drive primary storage and magnetic disk drive secondary storage aggressively moves newly created files from the primary storage to selected file systems in the secondary storage to match expected access patterns upon the files to different configurations of the file systems and for load balancing upon the file systems in the secondary storage. Upon read access to a file that has been moved to the secondary storage, or upon migration of a newly created file that was read in primary storage after creation, a corresponding stub file containing file mapping metadata is created in the primary storage. The file mapping metadata in the stub file maps the extent of the file to logical storage addresses in the secondary storage.