Abstract: Speed of processing of transferring data stored in a storage apparatus to an external apparatus is increased. A storage apparatus according to the present invention: creates a non-decompression volume set to refer to a compression pool that compresses and stores data; decompresses and provides the data stored in the compression pool to a host computer; and provides the compressed data as is to other external apparatuses via the non-decompression volume.

Abstract: Synchronization of data layouts and resource utilizations at one or more remote replica sites with the workload and data tiering decisions being made at the primary site allows for an efficient and effective workload support transfer in the event of site failover from a primary site to a remote site. Relevant data access information about workload being supported at the primary site is collected and from that raw information, characterized data access information is generated that condenses the raw data access information or otherwise provides relevant encapsulated information about the raw data access information. The characterized data access information is transmitted to the one or more remote sites allowing each remote site to make its own independent decisions on how best to utilize its available resources to match the performance requirements currently being supported by the primary site.

Abstract: This storage system supplies, to a plurality of computers, a plurality of duplicate volumes (CVOLs) (corresponding to duplicates of a master volume (MVOL) upon which is stored an electronic object (EO) that is common to the plurality of computers). Both the MVOL and the CVOLS are virtual logical volumes that follow sync provisioning. In the plurality of CVOLs, a plurality of physical regions that are allocated to the MVOL (i.e. regions in which the electronic object is stored) (PAs) are allocated. A storage, when writing an electronic module (EM) to which the EO is applied to the first CVOL, copies data within a first PA that is allocated to the virtual region (VA) that is the write destination to a second PA, writes the EM to the second PA, and moreover allocates the second PA to a VA of the write destination, instead of the first PA. And the storage allocates the second PA to a VA within the second CVOL corresponding to the VA of the write destination, instead of the PA that is allocated to that VA.

Abstract: A computer system and reclamation control method capable of effectively utilizing storage resources of a storage system even under the circumstance where the storage system is operated according to thin provisioning and a file server can obtain snapshots. The present invention is designed so that if a block, to which a host does not refer, but reference from a snapshot remains, exists in a virtual volume of an operation volume, temporary data is written to this block; and as triggered by this writing, data before writing is saved to a difference volume, so that the reference from the snapshot to this block is released and then this block can be reclaimed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of backing up data comprises selecting a local file stored on a client device to be backed-up, encoding the file into multiple fragments, transmitting the multiple fragments from the client device to a plurality of remote storage areas, storing the multiple fragments at the remote storage areas.

Abstract: Chunks that commonly occur in each content type are aggregated in a first container. To be more specific, a storage device used for content backup is configured with: (1) a memory device that provides a memory region for one or a plurality of first containers used to store first chunks that commonly occur in each content type among chunks extracted from the contents of writing targets, and for one or a plurality of second containers used to store other chunks than the first chunks; and (2) a backup unit that decides whether each of the chunks extracted from the contents of the writing targets is a first duplication chunk duplicating a chunk stored in the first container, and further decides, for only a chunk that is decided not to be the first duplication chunk, whether each of the chunks is a second duplication chunk duplicating a chunk stored in the second container, and then stores only a chunk that is decided not to be the second duplication chunk in the second container.

Abstract: A method for migrating volumes in a storage system includes identifying an extent of data (belonging to a volume) requiring migration from a source extent to a target extent. The method allocates a selected number of copiers to the extent of data to migrate the extent of data from the source extent to the target extent. Each copier is configured to copy a unit of data, which is a smaller division of the extent of data. The method monitors destages (i.e., writes) that occur to the source extent as the copiers migrate the extent of data from the source extent to the target extent. In the event the destages occur faster than the copiers can copy units to the target extent, the method allocates additional copiers to the extent of data to assist in migrating the extent of data. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for more efficient data storage on a computing system. An inode table is provided and populated with information relating to current and N previous locations within data storage that a particular data block has been stored. When a particular data block is modified in a redirect on write system, the modified data block is stored, if possible is a previous storage location for that particular data block and the current data location may be saved for use as the location for a subsequent modification.

Abstract: Memory is used, including by receiving at a processor an indication that a first piece of metadata associated with a set of backup data is required during a block based backup and/or restore. The processor is used to retrieve from a metadata store a set of metadata that includes the first piece of metadata and one or more additional pieces of metadata included in the metadata store in an adjacent location that is adjacent to a first location in which the first piece of metadata is stored in the metadata store, without first determining whether the one or more additional pieces of metadata are currently required. The retrieved set of metadata is stored in a cache.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling and managing application input/output activity in memory to restore a data store using one or more processors is disclosed. In one embodiments, the method includes processing a restoration request for a data store, wherein the data store is mirrored by another data store, controlling communication of application input/output activity associated with at least one host computer and directed to at least one of the data store or the other data store, restoring various portions of the data store, in accordance with the restoration request, using at least one of at least one prior point in time image or the other data store and servicing the application input/output activity using the data store.

Abstract: To prevent loss of a data volume by unintended deletion, including various versions of the data volume, the data is preserved, and, when needed, is regenerated at a different volume address than that of the deleted volume. In a computer-implemented data storage system, a method responds to a received command to delete a volume of data identified by a volume address, preserving data of the volume prior to deletion, and generates a unique token associated with the volume and version of the volume as of the deletion. The unique token is communicated as associated with the received delete command. The method responds to a received command to regenerate the data of the deleted volume, generating a command to find the data identified by the unique token, and creating a new, different, volume address for the data of the preserved deleted volume, thereby keeping both volume versions.

Abstract: A data copying device that copies data stored in a first data storage device to a second data storage device is disclosed. The data copying device includes a data reading unit that reads data that has an amount determined based on a number of a plurality of logical volumes included in the first data storage device storing the data to be copied and an amount of data to be transferred from each of the logical volumes, a storage unit that stores the data read by the data reading unit, and a data transfer unit that transfers the data stored in the storage unit to the second storage device.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for adding point-in-time copy relationships to a data processing system. A request is received to establish a first point-in-time copy relationship. Responsive to determining that a first target of the first point-in-time copy relationship is target write inhibited, that a source of the first point-in-time copy relationship is a source of a first continuous synchronous copy relationship, that a target of the first continuous synchronous copy relationship is part of a second point-in-time copy relationship, and that the source of the first point-in-time copy relationship is part of a volume swap configuration, a volume swap relationship is added between the first point-in-time target volume and the second point-in-time target volume to the volume swap configuration.

Abstract: A storage apparatus of an embodiment of the invention including one or more storage drives for providing real storage resources and a controller for controlling the one or more storage drives and accesses from a host computer. The controller initializes real storage resources and manages the initialized real storage resources. The controller receives an instruction for allocating an initialized real storage resource to a first virtual storage resource accessed by the host computer. In response to the instruction, the controller allocates a first initialized real storage resource which has been initialized in advance prior to the instruction to the first virtual storage resource.

Abstract: Methods and structure for rapid offloading of cached data in a volatile cache memory of a storage controller to a nonvolatile memory. Features and aspects hereof provide an enhanced storage controller having a volatile cache memory and multiple communication channels each coupled with a corresponding nonvolatile memory device. Responsive to detecting an impending loss of power, control logic of the controller copies data from the volatile cache memory to the multiple nonvolatile memories using the multiple communication channels operating substantially in parallel. Using multiple parallel channels and nonvolatile memory substantially temporally overlapping their operations assures that the cached data can be saved to nonvolatile memory before the controller is inoperable due to power loss. A simple “file system” and error detection and correction codes on the nonvolatile memory help assure that the saved data is valid for return to the volatile memory when power is restored to the controller.

Abstract: A storage apparatus executes a duplication determination, which is a determination as to whether or not a second data, which is identical to a first data stored in a first file system, exists in a second file system, in a case where a migration process for migrating the first data to the second file system is to be performed, executes the migration process in a case where the result of the duplication determination is negative, and does not execute the migration process in a case where the result of the duplication determination is affirmative.

Abstract: A storage system includes a redundant array of independent disks (RAID), a file subsystem, and a multiple device control unit. The RAID includes a plurality of disks and a bitmap. The file subsystem is used for executing a write command and a trim command. The multiple device control unit does not execute a first synchronization operation on the plurality of disks during the RAID is built, does not execute a second synchronization operation on expansion capacity of the plurality of disks during the RAID is expanded, executes a third synchronization operation on at least one added disk according to the blocks of the plurality of disks occupied by the data during the RAID is reshaped, and/or executes a corresponding operation on at least one added disk according to the blocks of the plurality of disks occupied by the data during the RAID is recovered.

Abstract: The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for variable rate coding in a data processing system.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a first information processing apparatus, a second information processing apparatus, and a third information processing apparatus, wherein the first information processing apparatus includes: a first reproducing unit reproducing a moving image, a first receiving unit receiving an operation related to the moving image, a first control unit controlling the reproduction of the moving image, a first recording unit recording a time elapsed and a reproduction position, and a first transmitting unit transmitting the recording result, the second information processing apparatus includes: a second receiving unit receiving the recording result, a second generating unit generating a variable for adjusting a reproduction speed, and a second transmitting unit transmitting the variable, and the third information processing apparatus includes: a third receiving unit receiving the variable, a third reproducing unit reproducing the moving image, and a third control unit controlling th

Abstract: A compressing unit generates a plurality of types of compressed blocks for each of divided blocks of data, by using a plurality of algorithm executing units. A comparing unit stores, in a storage unit, comparison result information on a compressed block having the smallest size. A writing start determining unit makes a decision to start writing of a write block and compression of a next block, when a quotient obtained by dividing the size of the compressed block that is indicated in the comparison result information by a writing speed is determined to be less than or equal to an elapsed time. A writing unit selects, as a write block, a compressed block having the smallest size among the generated compressed blocks at the time the start decision is made by the writing start determining unit, and writes the selected write block to a block storage unit.

Abstract: A storage system coupled to a host has a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device that includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory configured by a plurality of pages, and a storage controller coupled to the semiconductor storage device. In the case where data stored in the plurality of pages become unnecessary, with this plurality of pages being the basis of a region of a logical volume based on the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device, the storage controller transmits, to the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device, an unnecessary reduction request for reducing the number of pages that are the basis of the region having the unnecessary data stored therein. On the basis of the unnecessary reduction request, the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device invalidates the plurality of pages that are the basis of the region having the unnecessary data stored therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cache memory and method for controlling access to data. According to the invention, a control area which is advantageously formed separate from a data area is provided for controlling the access to data stored in the cache and to be read by applicative processes. The control area includes at least one release area with offsets and data version definition sections. Application to shared memories for client server architectures.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may create a first full backup of a set of data units at a first point in time. The method may create, at a second point in time, a representation of one or more data units in the set of data units that have been modified since the first point in time. The method may determine, based at least in part on the representation of one or more data units that have been modified since the first point in time, a difference between a state of the set of data units at the first point in time and a state of the set of data units at the second point in time. The method may use the difference to update the first full backup to a second full backup that comprises modifications made to the set of data units between the first and second points in time.

Abstract: A storage system comprises storage devices providing logical volumes. The storage devices are divided into a plurality of types of tiers having different performance levels. A controller is operable to control to store data to a logical volume of the logical volumes. The controller is configured to receive a command commanding to copy data to deploy a template to a logical volume of the logical volumes or to back up data to a logical volume of the logical volumes. In response to the command, the controller is configured to allocate a storage area of a tier of the plurality of types of tiers to the logical volume. The tier of the storage area to allocate to the logical volume is determined based on whether the command received by the controller is to copy data to the template to the logical volume or to back up data to the logical volume.

Abstract: A method for improving performance in a storage system is provided. The method comprises receiving a request to destage a partial stride of data from a storage cache; reserving space for a full stride of data on one or more storage devices; allocating the partial stride of data to the reserved space; adding padding for unallocated blocks, wherein the unallocated blocks are reserved for future updates; and destaging the full stride of data to the storage devices, wherein the full stride of data comprises the allocated partial stride of data and the padded unallocated blocks.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus for controlling data volume creation at the storage system. In one embodiment, a storage system comprises a processor; a memory; and a plurality of chunks that are to be allocated to data volumes, each chunk having one or more data blocks. The plurality of chunks include zero or more used chunks which are allocated to one or more data volumes, and zero or more remaining chunks which are not used chunks. A new data volume creation operation to create a new data volume is prohibited or warned against before the new data volume is created, in accordance with a total number of the remaining chunks in the storage system. The remaining chunks may further include reserved chunks which are reserved for use in one or more data volumes but have not been allocated.

Abstract: This specification discloses a method of managing data snapshot images in a storage system. The method includes the steps of: establishing a section allocation system that includes at least a media extent; establishing a section allocation table and a block association set in the media extent, wherein the section allocation table has a field containing information pointing to the block association set and the block association set corresponds to a Source Volume as the basis for performing a snapshot backup thereof; establishing a block association table in the block association set, wherein the block association table is used to store cross-reference information in order to correspond to backup data with the original storage addresses; and copying the data before updating the data into the section association set, when the data in the Source-Volume need to be updated.

Abstract: In a storage apparatus using AW technology, deterioration in I/O performance accompanying saving of data for creating a snapshot is suppressed as much as possible. When saving a snapshot image after returning a write completion response to a host computer, a storage apparatus according to the present invention performs the saving preferentially for a storage area with a low priority of snapshot image deletion.

Abstract: A method for data storage, including configuring a first logical volume on a first storage system and a second logical volume on a second storage system. The second logical volume is configured as a mirror of the first logical volume, so that the first and second logical volumes form a single logical mirrored volume. The method also includes receiving at the second storage system a command submitted by a host to write data to the logical mirrored volume, and transferring the command from the second storage system to the first storage system without writing the data to the second logical volume. On receipt of the command at the first storage system, the data is written to the first logical volume. Subsequent to writing the data to the first logical volume, the data is mirrored on the second logical volume.

Abstract: A management computer manages the pool application information that indicates a pool application for a pool and the application condition information that indicates the condition for the pool application. The management computer calculates an excess storage capacity based on a pool usage status for the pool. The management computer specifies a pool application for the pool and the condition for the pool application based on the pool application information and the application condition information. The management computer judges whether the specified condition is satisfied even in the case in which a storage area having a storage capacity equivalent to or less than the calculated excess storage capacity is deleted from the pool. In the case in which the result of the judgment is positive, the management computer defines a capacity equivalent to or less than the excess storage capacity as an unused capacity.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes writing data to locations in non-volatile solid-state memory and deciding whether to move data written to one location in the memory to another location in the memory based on generation of the data and wear of the other location. Such a method may be used for non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: Migrating data may include determining to copy a first data block in a first memory location to a second memory location and determining to copy a second data block in the first memory location to the second memory location based on a migration policy.

Abstract: A method for controlling a nonvolatile memory device includes reading a sub stripe including a plurality of sub pages stored in a first region, writing data stored in valid sub pages of the sub stripe to a second region different from the first region, and generating parity data using the data written to the second region and constituting a new sub stripe.

Abstract: An address selector replaces an address pointing to a defective instruction in a built-in firmware. The address selector includes a comparing unit and a multiplexer. The comparing unit provides a comparison result by comparing a current address received from a processor with a predetermined address pointing to the defective instruction.

Abstract: A technique manages a virtual hard disk tree in a computing system executing a hypervisor to provide a client virtualization environment. The technique involves linking, by a client executing within a control virtual machine of the client virtualization environment, a first delta image of a virtual hard disk generated later in time to a base image of the virtual hard disk. The technique further involves modifying contents of the first delta image, the base image, and a second delta image which is linked to the base image; and deleting the second delta image after modifying the contents of the first delta image, the base image, and the second delta image. The base image and the first delta image, together with additional delta images of the virtual hard disk comprise a tree of images of the virtual hard disk.

Abstract: A system comprising a processor and a memory, wherein said memory comprises instructions that when executed by said processor implement a method. The method includes loading a first portion of a set of redundancy data into a register of the processor for each redundant sector of a plurality of redundant sectors. A second portion of a set of redundancy data is also loaded into the volatile memory for each redundant sector of the plurality of redundant sectors. Loading the second portions of the sets of redundancy data comprises loading a third portion of redundancy data comprising a plurality of second portions of redundancy data for the plurality of redundant sectors.

Abstract: A snapshot volume is migrated by using a primary volume of a migration destination storage apparatus. The management server comprises a controller for generational management, by means of the snapshot volumes, of differential data for the logical volume which is the parent volume of the snapshot volume, and, if an instruction to copy a snapshot volume of a designated generation is received and a snapshot volume prior to the designated generation of the copy instruction-target snapshot volume exists, the controller copies the differential data between the designated-generation snapshot volume and the existing snapshot volume, and associates the copied differential data with the existing snapshot volume.

Abstract: A RAID data storage system incorporates permanently empty blocks into each stripe, distributed among all the data storage devices, to accelerate rebuild time by reducing the number of blocks that need to be rebuilt in the event of a failure.

Abstract: A drop in the access performance to a source volume is prevented by executing various control methods according to the snapshot usage method. A storage apparatus comprises one or more storage devices which provide storage areas; and a controller which creates a logical volume in the storage area provided by the one or more storage devices, and which reads and writes data from/to the logical volume according to a request from a host, wherein the controller acquires one or more snapshots which are data images at certain time points of the logical volume, wherein the controller determines whether the logical volume is subject to abrupt load fluctuations on the basis of performance information of the logical volume and the snapshots, and wherein, if the logical volume is subject to abrupt load fluctuations, the controller executes predetermined control processing according to usage cases of the snapshots.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to write new data of a first block size are provided. A particular method may include writing old data from a destination block of a second block size of a data drive to a first buffer of the second block size. The old data may be written according to address information of the old data and without overwriting the new data in the first buffer. The method may further include writing zeros to a second buffer of the second block size according to the address information of the old data. The zeros written in the second buffer may correspond with the old data written in the first buffer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for managing access to a fast non-volatile storage device, such as a solid state device, and a slower non-volatile storage device, such as a magnetic hard drive, can include a method of managing a sparse logical volume in which unmapped blocks of the logical volume are not allocated until use. In one embodiment, a method of sparse hole filling operates in which range locks are dynamically adjusted to perform allocations for sparse hole filling, and then re-adjusted to perform standard operations using a byte range lock. In one embodiment, a high level data structure can be used in the range lock service in the form of an ordered search tree, which could use any search tree algorithm, such as red-black tree, AVL tree, splay tree, etc.

Abstract: A virtual LU astride a plurality of storage devices is a virtual volume composed of a plurality of partial volumes. Functions of the storage system, Zoning information of a SAN and a host group information of the virtual volume are inherited to a partial volume created for each physical device. When a page granularity data migration is executed, volume or data are migrated to other storage devices without depending on the relationship between a physical port and the physical device. When a host IO request is received when migration is on-going, response processing is performed by synchronizing storage devices within the range of migration data. The host IO request related to the page being migrated sends a partial complete response including information for re-routing the request to a path of the appropriate data migration destination device capable of issuing the IO.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a RAID controller with multi PCI bus switching for a storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type that supports a low-speed data processing speed for a host. Specifically, embodiments of this invention provide a RAID controller having multiple (e.g., two or more) sets of RAID circuitry that are interconnected/coupled to on another via a PCI bus. Each set of RAID circuitry is coupled to a one or more (i.e., a set of) semiconductor storage device (SSD) memory disk units. Among other things, the SSD memory disk units and/or HDD/Flash memory units adjust a synchronization of a data signal transmitted/received between the host and a memory disk during data communications between the host and the memory disk through a PCI-Express interface and simultaneously support a high-speed data processing speed for the memory disk, thereby supporting the performance of the memory to enable high-speed processing in an existing interface environment at the maximum.

Abstract: Provided is a hybrid RAID controller for a storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type that supports a low-speed data processing speed for a host. Specifically, embodiments of this invention provide a hybrid RAID controller coupled to one or more (i.e., a set of) semiconductor storage device (SSD) memory disk units and one or more hard disk drive (HDD)/Flash memory units. Among other things, the SSD memory disk units and/or HDD/Flash memory units adjust a synchronization of a data signal transmitted/received between the host and a memory disk during data communications between the host and the memory disk through a PCI-Express interface and simultaneously support a high-speed data processing speed for the memory disk, thereby supporting the performance of the memory to enable high-speed processing in an existing interface environment at the maximum.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented for out-of-band backup and/or restore of information handling system components. Such out-of-band backup and restore operations may be performed, in one embodiment, to backup and/or restore hardware profile information such as firmware images and corresponding system configuration information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to correcting erasures in a storage array. A read stripe is received from a plurality of n storage devices. The read stripe includes an array of entries arranged in m rows and n columns with each column corresponding to one of the storage devices. The entries include data entries and mr+s parity entries. Each row contains at least r parity entries generated from the data entries according to a partial maximum distance separable (PMDS) code. It is determined that the read stripe includes at least one erased entry, at most mr+s erased entries and that no row has more than r+s erased entries. The erased entries are reconstructed from the non-erased entries, resulting in a recovered read stripe.

Abstract: A method of managing reservation-control in a storage system that consists of a plurality of interfaces and a common storage resource, the method comprising responsive to receiving at an originator interface a reservation command related to the common storage resource, implementing a multi-phase reservation synchronization protocol including a lock phase consisting of locking the resource on a central controlling process, backing up respective lock phase data on a backup control process, and issuing a lock phase completion indication; an execution phase consisting of executing locally on each one of the plurality of interfaces a reservation operation, and issuing an execute phase completion indication; and an unlock phase consisting of unlocking the resource on the central controlling process; backing up respective unlock phase data on a backup control process, and issuing an unlock phase completion indication.

Abstract: A method for backing up data of a storage system, where at least two mirroring channels are provided between a first mainboard and a second mainboard of a storage system, and the method includes: transmitting data through at least one effective mirroring channel if all the mirroring channels are effective; and transmitting the data through remaining mirroring channel(s) if at least one of the mirroring channels for transmitting the data fails. The method enables traffic to be transmitted evenly on normal mirroring channels, and ensures maximized utilization of the bandwidth of mirroring channels.

Abstract: Provided is a RAID controlled storage device of a serial attached small computer system interface/serial advanced technology attachment (PCI-Express) type, which provides data storage/reading services through a PCI-Express interface. The PCI-Express type storage device includes: a memory disk unit which includes a plurality of memory disks provided with a plurality of volatile semiconductor memories; a PCI-Express host interface unit which interfaces between the memory disk unit and a host; and a controller unit which adjusts synchronization of a data signal transmitted/received between the PCI-Express host interface unit and the memory disk unit to control a data transmission/reception speed between the PCI-Express host interface unit and the memory disk unit.

Abstract: A storage system is provided with a plurality of storage devices that are basis of a pool and a primary volume and a controller that is coupled to the plurality of storage devices and the host computer and that is provided with a cache region. (A) In the case in which the controller receives a write request that specifies a secondary volume that is a snapshot of a primary volume from the host computer, (a1) the controller stores the write data that is data that conforms to the write request into a first cache sub region of the cache region and (a2) the controller transmits a response to the write request to the host computer after the (a1), and (B), (b1) in the case in which a page in the pool is unallocated to a virtual region of a write destination of the write data, the controller allocates a page to the virtual region, and (b2) the controller stores the write data in the first cache sub region into the allocated page.