Abstract: A storage system to be used by a host is automatically configured using an agent running at a management console communicatively coupled to the host and to the storage system. In response to probes initiated by the agent, information regarding the host and the storage system, which information is required for the host and the storage system to establish a connection therebetween is obtained and is provided to the host and the storage system. Thereafter, the agent instructs the host and the storage system to establish the connection and further instructs the host to configure the storage system and, finally, to mount the storage system in some instances, the agent may use instruction compliant with the storage management initiative-specification (SMI-S) or, more generally, with the WBEM standard.

Abstract: In a system management apparatus, a failure detection unit detects a readout failure in one of blocks constituting distributed data stored in a first RAID disk array. A request unit requests a computer to supplement one of the blocks of the distributed data stored in the first RAID disk array in which a readout failure irrecoverable by use of only the data stored in the first RAID disk array occurs, where the computer has a second RAID disk array storing a duplicate of the distributed data stored in the first RAID disk array. And an overwriting unit receives data corresponding to the one of the blocks from the computer, and overwrites the one of the blocks with the received data.

Abstract: Performing data management operations on replicated data in a computer network. Log entries are generated for data management operations of an application executing on a source system. Consistency point entries are used to indicate a time of a known good, or recoverable, state of the application. A destination system is configured to process a copy of the log and consistency point entries to replicate data in a replication volume, the replicated data being a copy of the application data on the source system. When the replicated data represents a known good state of the application, as determined by the consistency point entries, the destination system(s) may perform a storage operation (e.g., snapshot, backup) to copy the replicated data and to logically associate the copied data with a time information (e.g., time stamp) indicative of the source system time when the application was in the known good state.

Abstract: Systems and methods allow for reliably and efficiently managing files stored on a data storage medium associated with a computer system such as a set-top box. The computer system manages a collection of metadata describing each of the files stored on the data storage medium in a memory during operation of the computer system. A current snapshot of the collection of metadata is periodically or otherwise stored to the data storage medium. Following a reboot of the computer system, the collection of metadata can be recovered to the memory from the snapshot of the collection of metadata stored on the data storage medium.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and devices for stripe-based memory operation. One method embodiment includes writing data in a first stripe across a storage volume of a plurality of memory devices. A portion of the first stripe is updated by writing updated data in a portion of a second stripe across the storage volume of the plurality of memory devices. The portion of the first stripe is invalidated. The invalid portion of the first stripe and a remainder of the first stripe are maintained until the first stripe is reclaimed. Other methods and devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module generating a transaction number and generating at least a threshold number of dispersed storage network (DSN) concurrency requests, wherein each of the at least the threshold number of DSN concurrency requests includes a header section and a payload section; each of the payload sections includes the transaction number, a last known slice revision number, and a slice name section, wherein a first slice name section of a first one of the payload sections includes one or more first slice names that includes a first slice name corresponding to a first encoded data slice of a set of encoded data slices; and a second slice name section of a second one of the payload sections includes one or more second slice names that includes a second slice name corresponding to a second encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices.

Abstract: Systems and/or methods that facilitate that facilitate error correction of data stored in memory components, such as flash memory devices are presented. An optimized correction component can be used to break data into two or more data blocks. The optimized correction component can facilitated creating one or two redundancy blocks that can be associated with the data blocks, wherein data blocks and the redundancy blocks can be assembled into a data stripe that can be stored in three or more of the memory components. Upon retrieval of the data stripe, the optimal correction component, an error correction code (ECC) component or a combination thereof can correct data blocks that contain errors wherein the decision whether the optimized correction component or the error correction code (ECC) component corrects the errors can be based in part on a predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A mass storage system and method incorporates a cache memory or a cache management module which handles dirty data using an access-based promotion replacement process through consistency checkpoints. The consistency checkpoints are associated with a global number of snapshots generated in the storage system. The consistency checkpoints are organized within the sequence of dirty data in an invariable order corresponding to storage volumes with the generated snapshots, such that, responsive to destaging a consistency checkpoint the global number of generated snapshots are recorded and then read during recovery of the failed storage system.

Abstract: The techniques introduced here include storage systems including a storage controller configured to access data and a storage subsystem including a storage device having n ports, where n is an integer greater than one, and where the storage device is configured to store the data and to make the data available to the storage controller via each of the n ports. The storage systems also include a communication fabric configured to couple the storage controller to each of the n ports of the storage device via m paths, where m is an integer greater than n, so that the storage system is configured to tolerate failure in up to m?1 paths through the communication fabric, such that the data in the storage device remains accessible to the storage controller even in the presence of failure in up to m?1 paths of the m paths.

Abstract: A technique for selecting an erasure code from a plurality of erasure codes for use in a fault tolerant system comprises generating a preferred set of erasure codes based on characteristics of the codes' corresponding Tanner graphs. The fault tolerances of the preferred codes are compared based at least on the Tanner graphs. A more fault tolerant code is selected based on the comparison.

Abstract: Realigning storage devices arranged as storage arrays when one of the storage arrays enters a critical state after failure of a storage device is disclosed. The method is particularly useful for RAID groups of storage devices. The method may be used with hard disk drives, solid-state drives, and other storage devices arranged as groups. The method includes identifying that a storage array of a plurality of storage arrays is in a critical condition. A critical condition storage array and a healthy storage array are identified. Both the critical condition storage array and the healthy storage array are rebuilt. The rebuilding includes configuring the critical condition storage array to include a storage device from the healthy storage array and configuring the healthy storage array to function with one less storage device. The method may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A solid state disk device comprises a plurality of nonvolatile memories and a controller. The plurality of nonvolatile memories are electrically connected to a plurality of channels, respectively. The controller controls storing, erasing and reading operations of the nonvolatile memories. The controller divides input data into a number of units corresponding to a number of the plurality of channels and stores the divided input data in the nonvolatile memories through the plurality of channels.

Abstract: A data processing system includes one or more nodes, each node including a memory sub-system. The sub-system includes a fine-grained, memory, and a less-fine-grained (e.g., page-based) memory. The fine-grained memory optionally serves as a cache and/or as a write buffer for the page-based memory. Software executing on the system uses a node address space which enables access to the page-based memories of all nodes. Each node optionally provides ACID memory properties for at least a portion of the space. In at least a portion of the space, memory elements are mapped to locations in the page-based memory. In various embodiments, some of the elements are compressed, the compressed elements are packed into pages, the pages are written into available locations in the page-based memory, and a map maintains an association between the some of the elements and the locations.

Abstract: A user interface is provided through which a user may specify a container for data recovery. In response to the specification of a container for recovery, another user interface is provided through which the user can select a consistency group or a journal file to be utilized for recovery. In response to receiving a selection of a journal file for data recovery, a user interface is provided through which a user may specify a point in time, an event, or a snapshot at which time recovery for the corresponding volume should occur. In response to receiving a selection of a consistency group for recovery, a user interface is provided through which a user may specify a snapshot performed across two or more volumes of the consistency group that should be utilized for recovery.

Abstract: A restoration technique includes storing a collection of blocks having (i) a first baseline of blocks defining a file at a first time within a predefined window, (ii) older blocks, and (iii) newer blocks. The technique further includes providing a direction signal to restore the file at a particular time from the collection of blocks. The direction signal has an older direction value when the particular time is older than the first time and (ii) a newer direction value when the particular time is newer than the first time. The technique further includes forming, from the collection of blocks, a second baseline of blocks from the first baseline of blocks and additional blocks. The additional blocks are either (i) the older blocks or (ii) the newer blocks depending on the direction value. The second baseline defines the file at the particular time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed provide a distributed RAID system comprising a set of data banks. More particularly, in certain embodiments of a distributed RAID system each data bank has a set of associated storage media and executes a similar distributed RAID application. The distributed RAID applications on each of the data banks coordinate among themselves to distribute and control data flow associated with implementing a level of RAID in conjunction with a volume stored on the associated storage media of the data banks. Migration of this volume, or a portion thereof, from one configuration to another configuration may be accomplished such that the volume, or the portion thereof, and corresponding redundancy data may be stored according to this second configuration.

Abstract: A controller configures a plurality of solid state disks as a redundant array of independent disks (RAID), wherein the plurality of solid state disks store a plurality of blocks, and wherein storage areas of the plurality of solid state disks corresponding to at least some blocks of the plurality of blocks have different amounts of estimated life expectancies. The controller includes in data structures associated with a block that is to be stored in the storage areas of the plurality of solid state disks an indication that the block includes parity information corresponding to the RAID, wherein parity information comprises information corresponding to an error correction mechanism to protect against a disk failure.

Abstract: A method includes providing a persistent common view of a virtual shared storage system. The virtual shared storage system includes a first shared storage system and a second shared storage system, and the persistent common view includes information associated with data and instructions stored at the first shared storage system and the second shared storage system. The method includes automatically updating the persistent common view to include third information associated with other data and other instructions stored at a third shared storage system in response to adding the third shared storage system to the virtual shared storage system.

Abstract: A method for maintaining vital product data (VPD) of each field replaceable unit (FRUs) in a computer system, the computer system including a first FRU and a second FRU operatively coupled with the first FRU. The method includes calculating a parity for the VPD of the second FRU, and upon detecting a failure of the second FRU, regenerating the VPD for the failed second FRU using the parity.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for data redundancy across three or more storage devices is disclosed. The method includes storing a collection of data chunks as a plurality of N-1 data stripes across N storage devices where N is three or more, wherein each data chunk of up to N data chunks forming a data stripe is stored in a different storage device; storing a parity stripe across the N storage devices including N-1 data parity chunks and one meta data parity chunk; wherein each Kth storage device of N-1 storage devices stores a Kth data parity chunk of the N-1 data parity chunks computed as parity of up to N data chunks forming the Kth data stripe; and wherein an Nth storage device of the N storage devices stores the meta parity chunk computed as parity of the N-1 data parity chunks stored in the respective N-1 storage devices.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for redundant data storage may include identifying a storage system. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying a unit of data to be redundantly stored. The computer-implemented method may further include identifying an integer that represents the unit of data. The computer-implemented method may additionally include identifying a set of pairwise coprimes. The computer-implemented method may further include generating a set of shares, with each share including a reduction of the integer modulo a corresponding pairwise coprime in the set of pairwise coprimes. The computer-implemented method may also include redundantly storing the unit of data by storing the set of shares on the storage system. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: To shorten the time from power restoration to the resumption of business operation. During a power failure, a memory controller saves configuration information and directory information of a shared memory to a nonvolatile memory, and saves data of a cache memory to the nonvolatile memory. During power restoration from a power failure, the memory controller returns information of the nonvolatile memory to the shared memory so that it can be updated before the lapse of the initialization time, the micro processor executes online processing based on information of the shared memory, and the memory controller 70 controls the storage area of the cache memory so that it will become gradually writable according to the battery capacity of the battery if the battery capacity of the battery is still gradually increasing even after the lapse of the initialization time.

Abstract: Data storage systems are provided. Some embodiments of data storage systems include a storage device controller and a plurality of storage devices. The plurality of storage devices are illustratively in a redundancy scheme and the storage device controller receives from the plurality of storage devices a plurality of symbols. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of symbols is representative of data in the redundancy scheme, and the storage device controller verifies the consistency of the redundancy scheme based at least in part on the plurality of symbols.

Abstract: A “code optimizer” provides various techniques for optimizing arbitrary XOR-based codes for encoding and/or decoding of data. Further, the optimization techniques enabled by the code optimizer do not depend on any underlining code structure. Therefore, the optimization techniques provided by the code optimizer are applicable to arbitrary codes with arbitrary redundancy. As such, the optimized XOR-based codes generated by the code optimizer are more flexible than specially designed codes, and allow for any desired level of fault tolerance. Typical uses of XOR-based codes include, for example, encoding and/or decoding data using redundant data packets for data transmission real-time communications systems, encoding and/or decoding operations for storage systems such as RAID arrays, etc.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for assigning read requests to storage devices in a manner that reduces the likelihood that any storage device will become overloaded or underutilized. Specifically, a read-request handler assigns read requests that are directed to each particular item among the storage devices that have copies of the item based on how busy each of those storage devices is. Consequently, even though certain storage devices may have copies of the same item, there may be times during which one storage device is assigned a disproportionate number of the reads of the item because the other storage device is busy with read requests for other items, and there may be other times during which other storage device is assigned a disproportionate number of the reads of the item because the one storage device is busy with read request for other items.

Abstract: A storage subsystem provides redundancy protection for data associated with files stored in a storage subsystem. A request is received to change the redundancy protection for data associated with at least one of the files, where the request identifies the data for which the redundancy protection is to be changed. The redundancy protection for the data identified by the request is changed, while the redundancy protection for a remainder of the data associated with the files stored in the storage subsystem is maintained unchanged.

Abstract: An image-based backup backs up one or more snapshots of a volume without duplicating common data blocks. A backup engine receives a request to generate a backup image of a volume. In response to the request, the backup engine generates the backup image including data blocks and metadata describing attributes of the data blocks. The data blocks and the metadata arranged in the backup image in a same order as they were retrieved without imposing any additional ordering constraints on the data blocks and the metadata.

Abstract: Goal-based availability and change management are handled over groups of heterogeneous storage controllers. Probabilistic and deterministic methods are employed to determine the allocation and placement of storage volumes to storage controllers, as well as the degree of data redundancy necessary to achieve data availability goals The probabilistic methods can take into account past observations of controller availability, and operator beliefs, as well as the state of storage controller configuration, in coming up with a probabilistic estimate of future availability.

Abstract: Method and system for handling error events on a current path for processing an I/O request for reading information from and writing information to a storage space is provided. A system is able to communicate with the storage space via more than one path. If the current path reports an error event, then an alternate path quality is determined to ascertain whether the alternate path will generate an error similar to the current path. The alternate path quality is determined based on a plurality of factors which are assigned certain weights. The weights are determined based on a likely contribution of each factor to a repetition of the error reported by the current path. If the alternate path quality is equal to or exceeds a programmable threshold value, then the alternate path is selected.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for performing storage operations on electronic data in a network. In response to the initiation of a storage operation and according to a first set of selection logic, a media management component is selected to manage the storage operation. In response to the initiation of a storage operation and according to a second set of selection logic, a network storage device to associate with the storage operation. The selected media management component and the selected network storage device perform the storage operation on the electronic data.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus, systems, and methods of operating and constructing the electronic apparatus and/or systems include an embedded processor disposed in a logic chip to direct, among other functions, self-testing of an electronic device structure in conjunction with a pattern buffer disposed in the logic chip, when the electronic device structure is coupled to the logic chip. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A storage unit adapted for use in a processing system includes a controller including at least two compute nodes, each of the compute nodes including a read/write cache and a persistent cache; and machine executable instructions stored within machine readable media, the instructions including instructions for tracking in-flight data in the persistent cache and composing a list of the in-flight data segments after a failure of the controller. A processing system and a method are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for executing internal operations of memory devices utilizing instructions stored in the memory array of the memory device are disclosed. Decode blocks adapted to interpret instructions and data stored in the memory device are also disclosed. Methods can be used to perform internal self-test operations of the memory device by executing test procedures stored in the memory array of the memory device performing a self-test operation.

Abstract: Shared storage systems and methods are provided. A particular shared storage system is a system including multiple instances of shared storage. Each of the instances of shared storage includes data and file system metadata separated from the data. The file system metadata includes location data specifying storage location information related to the data. A persistent common view is provided of local and remote files, file systems, and services in the shared storage.

Abstract: A method and system for backing up computer data uses a network device to select a storage device in a manner that enhances at least one parameter associated with the backup process.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus including a plurality of nodes, each node connecting at least a memory and a processor to a system bus; an interconnection bus that interconnects the nodes; a device that is connected to a system bus on any of the plurality of nodes and performs data processing; and a memory selecting unit that selects a memory connected to the system bus to which the device is connected as a memory to be accessed by the device.

Abstract: Various embodiments for disaster recovery (DR) failback in a computing environment by a processor device are provided. Pursuant to execution of a predetermined failback policy, if a storage device is not preexistent in a source storage system operable in the computing environment, and an owner of the storage device is one of a DR storage system and a storage system having previously withdrawn from a replication grid, and the DR storage system has authorization to transfer ownership of the storage device by a replacement operation, an instance of the storage device is replicated to the source storage system to generate a replicated instance of the storage device on the source storage system, and ownership of the storage device is designated as the source storage system for each of the instance and the replicated instance of the storage device.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module decoding a set of encoded data slices to produce a decoded data segment and determining whether the decoded data segment includes an error. When the decoded data segments includes the error, the processing module identifies one or more errant encoded data slices by decoding another set of encoded data slices to produce another decoded data segment. The method continues with the processing module determining whether the other decoded data segment includes the error. When the other decoded data segment does not include the error, the processing module identifies the one or more errant encoded data slices and corrects the one or more errant encoded data slices. When the other decoded data segment includes the error, the processing module repeats, for yet another set of encoded data slices, the decoding step, the determining step, and the identifying and correcting step or the repeating steps.

Abstract: A storage management apparatus manages a plurality of storage apparatuses connected to each other over a network in a storage system that distributes data among the storage apparatuses and stores the data therein. The storage management apparatus has a patrol process executing unit configured to execute a patrol process to confirm whether a storage area of each storage apparatus operates normally and a patrol flow controlling unit configured to control a patrol flow indicating the speed of the patrol process executed by the patrol process executing unit.

Abstract: A redundant array of independent nodes are networked together. Each node executes an instance of an application that provides object-based storage. The nodes are grouped into a plurality of systems each having multiple nodes. An object recovery method comprises: receiving, by a first system of the plurality of systems from a client application, a read request for an object, the object having been replicated to/from at least one second system among the plurality of systems; if the object of the read request is available in the first system, returning by the first system the object of the read request to the client application; and if the object of the read request is not available in the first system, performing a read from replica process by the first system to access a replica of the object from a second system among the plurality of systems and using the replica of the object to return the object of the read request to the client application.

Abstract: A distributed memory array that supports both file storage and random access operations is provided. The distributed memory array includes at least one memory assembly for storing data, each memory assembly having a plurality of memory modules coupled together through a bi-directionally cross-strapped network, each memory module having a switching mechanism. The distributed memory array further includes at least one gateway coupled to the at least one memory assembly through the bi-directionally cross-strapped network. The gateway also includes a plurality of user access ports for providing access to the at least one memory assembly, and a file manager that is configured to receive a request from a user for access to the at least one memory assembly at the user access ports for either file storage or random access operations and to allocate at least one allocation unit of available memory in the at least one memory assembly based on the request from the user.

Abstract: A disk recovery system and method is provided for recovering data from a redundant array of independent (or inexpensive) disks. The method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions. The computer readable storage medium is operable to: determine input/output (I/O) characteristics of one or more disks in an array; monitor the one or more disks in the array to determine when any of the one or more of the disks have failed in the array; and automatically rebuild the failed disk from a standby pool by nominating a disk in the standby pool based on the I/O characteristics of the one or more failed disks prior to failure.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and machine-readable medium are disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus includes an address swap cache. The apparatus also includes memory segment swap logic that is capable of detecting a reproducible fault at a first address targeting a memory segment. Once detected, the logic remaps the first address targeting the faulty memory segment with a second address targeting another memory segment. The logic stores the two addresses in an entry in the address swap cache. Then the memory segment swap logic receives a memory transaction that is targeting the first physical address and use the address to perform a lookup process in the address swap cache to determine if an entry exists that has the faulty address. If an entry does exist for that address, the logic then swaps the second address into the memory transaction for the first address.

Abstract: In a storage system, a technique for promptly reading the backup data stored in the child storage device in the remote site side in case of disaster for the master site is provided. In this system, a parent storage device having a primary volume (V1) and a secondary volume (V2) is arranged at a master site, and a child storage device having a backup volume to store data of V2 is arranged at a remote site, and remote backup of data of V1 is carried out. In the remote site side, management information of objective volume is stored in one of devices. When the data of the backup volume is read, for example in one child storage device, a process is carried out where the management information is read, and on the basis thereof, data of a plurality of backup volumes is collected and integrated as one volume.

Abstract: Techniques for performing memory management to mitigate memory errors. In accordance with the principles described herein, a memory management module may be implemented that acts in different modes of operation for each of one or more software modules that are instances of applications. In one mode of operation, memory operations may be performed in accordance with one or more mitigation actions, and in another mode of operation, the memory management module performs memory operations as requested, without performing mitigation actions. A memory management module may maintain a record in a data store associated with the memory management module that may be used to determine whether to enable the mitigations. In some implementations, records maintained by each of a plurality of computing devices may be aggregated at a central server and this aggregated information may be used to adjust the entries on each of the computing devices.

Abstract: An information system including: a first and second storage apparatus including a first and second volume; a failure detection storage apparatus including a third volume; wherein, for backup purposes, the first and second volumes form a remote copy pair, and, for I/O request purposes, are recognized as a single volume labeled with a same volume identifier, but accessible by alternative access paths designated with differing priorities; wherein, if one apparatus detects a failure in the other or a connection failure, the apparatus detecting the failure stores, in the third volume, a failure information flag showing failure; wherein, upon receiving the I/O request through the second access path, the second storage apparatus determines whether the failure information flag is stored in the third volume, and sends an error reply of the I/O request to the host computer if the failure information flag is stored in the third volume.

Abstract: An electronic system includes a framework, data storage circuitry and a controller. The framework includes multiple device slots. The data storage circuitry is arranged to access storage devices installed in the framework. The controller is arranged to receive a current storage device identifier in response to installation of a storage device into a particular device slot of the framework, and perform an electronic storage device location assessment operation based on the current storage device identifier. The controller is further arranged to provide a control signal in response to performing the electronic storage device location assessment operation. The control signal selectively (i) permits the data storage circuitry to overwrite the storage device while the storage device resides in the particular device slot, and (ii) prevents the data storage circuitry from overwriting of the storage device while the storage device resides in the particular device slot.

Abstract: In a nonvolatile memory system, data received from a host by a memory controller is transferred to an on-chip cache, and new data from the host displaces the previous data before it is written to the nonvolatile memory array. A safe copy is maintained in on-chip cache so that if a program failure occurs, the data can be recovered and written to an alternative location in the nonvolatile memory array.

Abstract: A restarting method restarts a computing device when the computing device has a memory error. The computer device include a central processing unit (CPU) comprising a memory controller, a baseboard management controller (BMC) comprising a storage module, and a basic input output system (BIOS). The memory controller records error information of the memory module. A BMC reads the error information of the memory module from the memory controller of the CPU and saves the error information into a storage module of the BMC. The BIOS reads the error information from the storage of the BMC to determine a first memory module from the one or more memory modules that has a memory error. The BIOS sets a command in the CPU to avoid the memory controller to access the first memory module when the computing device is restarted.

Abstract: A redundant system includes a redundant apparatus and a control unit that controls power supplied to the redundant apparatus. The redundant apparatus includes a state management unit that manages an operational state of the redundant apparatus, and a response unit that returns the operational state to the control unit. The control unit includes a first requesting unit that requests a redundant apparatus that operates as an operation system for the operational state information, a first determination unit that determines whether the response to the request is returned within a predetermined time, a second determination unit that determines whether the operational state is normal if the response is returned within the predetermined time, and a shutdown unit that shuts down the power supply to the redundant apparatus, if the second determination unit determines that the operational state is not normal.