Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a capability to validate volume status on the host and storage system stored virtual machine image in the datacenter management server. In one embodiment, a server system includes a storage system having a plurality of volumes, a plurality of host systems, and a management server coupled with the storage system and the host systems via a network. A method of managing the server system comprises: generating a golden image in the storage system corresponding to a virtual machine image file; copying virtual machine data from the golden image to some of the plurality of volumes in the storage system; and keeping track, by the management server, of status of the volumes which have copied virtual machine data by monitoring activity of the virtual machines.

Abstract: A method selects an interface in a storage subsystem for processing storage operations, each interface associated with a corresponding processor. A management server has plural providers, each for executing storage operations on one of the processors via the corresponding interface. The method comprises: collecting information on status of each of the providers; based on the status of each provider, determining an operational characteristic of operation time as a function of a number of operational units for each provider; comparing the operational characteristics of the providers; for a given number of operational units in the storage operations to be processed, selecting from among the providers one provider which has the lowest operation time for the given number of operational units; and identifying the interface based on the selected provider to be used for executing the storage operations via the identified interface on the corresponding processor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a capability to validate volume status on the host and storage system stored virtual machine image in the datacenter management server. In one embodiment, a server system includes a storage system having a plurality of volumes, a plurality of host systems, and a management server coupled with the storage system and the host systems via a network. A method of managing the server system comprises: generating a golden image in the storage system corresponding to a virtual machine image file; copying virtual machine data from the golden image to some of the plurality of volumes in the storage system; and keeping track, by the management server, of status of the volumes which have copied virtual machine data by monitoring activity of the virtual machines.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide rapid creation and deployment of virtual machines by reducing communication processes between virtual machine user and storage and server administrators. One embodiment is a method for deploying virtual machines of host computers. A storage subsystem provides a pool of pre-created virtual volumes in the storage subsystem prior to deploying the virtual machines, the pre-created virtual volumes having pre-copied images for the virtual machines. The method comprises: selecting one of the pre-created virtual volumes for deploying one of the virtual machines; calculating a volume size for the selected virtual volume based on a specified image size for data and OS image; resizing the selected virtual volume according to the calculated volume size; and requesting one of the host computers to deploy the virtual machine using the resized virtual volume.

Abstract: A method selects an interface in a storage subsystem for processing storage operations, each interface associated with a corresponding processor. A management server has plural providers, each for executing storage operations on one of the processors via the corresponding interface. The method comprises: collecting information on status of each of the providers; based on the status of each provider, determining an operational characteristic of operation time as a function of a number of operational units for each provider; comparing the operational characteristics of the providers; for a given number of operational units in the storage operations to be processed, selecting from among the providers one provider which has the lowest operation time for the given number of operational units; and identifying the interface based on the selected provider to be used for executing the storage operations via the identified interface on the corresponding processor.