Abstract: Enclosure numbering is performed in redundant array of independent disk (RAID) data storage systems. If first, second, and third boards in an enclosure indicate a first enclosure number, the enclosure is indicated as having the first enclosure number. If at least the first and second boards indicate the first enclosure number, the enclosure is indicated as having the first enclosure number. If the first board does not indicate any enclosure number, indicating that the enclosure's enclosure number is unknown.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method, and program product for understanding, analyzing and troubleshooting performance issues in a data storage environment. More specifically, this invention is a system and method for preparing a trace of workload data for analysis by splitting information related to components on which the workload is experienced and by information type.

Abstract: One aspect is directed to a method for storing, in a persistent manner, a state of the storage process such that the state of the storage operation may be recovered if the storage operation is interrupted. Another aspect is directed to a method and apparatus that stores the state of a storage operation in a non-volatile memory of a computer that stores data on a storage system. Another aspect is directed to a method for recovering the state of the storage process without having to re-perform storage operations. Another aspect is directed to maintaining state information for other purposes such as monitoring access to data storage locations.

Abstract: This invention is an architecture for backup and recovery of data including continuous backup and information protection backup and recovery system components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the number and location of monitoring entities in a distributed system is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of automatically generating a causality mapping model of the dependences between causing events at the nodes of the distributed system and the detectable events associated with a subset of the nodes, the model suitable for representing the execution of at least one system operation, reducing the number of detectable events in the model, wherein the reduced number of detectable events is suitable for substantially representing the execution of the at least one system operation; and placing at least one of the at least one monitoring entities at selected ones of the nodes associated with the detectable events in the reduced model. In another aspect, the processing described herein is in the form of a computer-readable medium suitable for providing instruction to a computer or processing system for executing the processing claimed.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to an object addressable storage (OAS) system that has a plurality of storage devices to store a plurality of content units. The OAS system provides an OAS interface so that each one of the content units stored on the OAS system can be accessed using an object identifier. The OAS system is capable of discovering the addition of newly added storage devices to the plurality of storage devices after the OAS system has been at least partially populated so that at least some of the plurality of storage devices have content units already stored thereon, and in response to the discovery of newly added storage devices, configuring the newly discovered storage devices to increase the storage capacity of the OAS system and to enable content units to be stored thereon.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method of segregating one or more content addressable storage systems into a plurality of virtual pools. The virtual pools can be allocated to different content sources and/or can be assigned to different storage system capabilities. Another embodiment is directed to transmitting with an input/output request for a content unit information specifying at least one storage capability to be applied to the content unit, and/or receiving such an I/O and implementing the specified storage system capabilities. Another embodiment is directed to extracting from an I/O request from a source information relating to an impact of the I/O on at least one characteristic of the content units stored on a CAS system from the source.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for network management for data transfer which may include replication in a data storage environment. It is useful for managing network allocation of resources (e.g., bandwidth) needed for such replication of data in a data storage environment. The invention is particularly useful with a network using an internet protocol environment and allows for management of bandwidth needed for a replication process. The method includes the steps of requesting from a server for services on an internet network, a bandwidth for data transfer over the internet. The data is transferred in response to a bandwidth allocation from the server based on the request. The network traffic characteristics (e.g. packet loss or latency, and session time outs) are monitored during the data transfer. If the process lags behind more bandwidth is allocated.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a host, diplex logic receiving a first, low frequency signal and a second, high frequency signal from the host and injecting the first signal onto a cable and injecting the second signal onto the cable and a first disk array enclosure coupled to the cable to receive the first signal and the second signal. The first disk array enclosure includes a diplexer which receives the first and second signals from the cable and transmits the second signal to a drive array, a microcontroller that receives the first signal from the diplexer, detects a voltage level of the first signal and generates a voltage control signal indicative of the voltage level of the first signal and a switch device that receives the voltage control signal from the microcontroller and sets an operating voltage of the diplexer based on the voltage control signal.

Abstract: Access to content addressable data on a network is facilitated using digital information storing devices or data repositories (“silos”) that monitor broadcast data requests over the network. A number of silos automatically monitor both data requests and data itself that are broadcast over a network. The silos selectively store data. Each silo responds to data requests broadcast over the network with data the silo has previously intercepted. A content addressable file scheme is used to enable the data repositories to reliably identify data being requested. When a data request is received, each silo evaluates whether it has all or a portion of the data being requested and responds to requests when it has the data. Requests for data are implemented by broadcasting a cryptographic hash data identifier of the data file needed. The data identifier is used by a silo to determine which data to receive and store.

Abstract: One embodiment is a system for locating content on a storage system, in which the storage system provides a location hint to the host of where the data is physically stored, which the host can resubmit with future access requests. In another embodiment, an index that maps content addresses to physical storage locations is cached on the storage system. In yet another embodiment, intrinsic locations are used to select a storage location for newly written data based on an address of the data. In a further embodiment, units of data that are stored at approximately the same time having location index entries that are proximate in the index.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a computer system comprising at least one host, at least one object addressable storage (OAS) system and at least one communication medium that couples the at least one host to the at least one OAS system. The at least one OAS system has a plurality of storage devices and stores a plurality of content units on the plurality of storage devices. Each of the at least one host and the at least one OAS system has software that provides a OAS interface so that each one of the content units stored on the OAS system may be identified between the at least one host and the at least one OAS using an object identifier. The computer system maps the object identifier for a first of the plurality of content units to at least one of the plurality of storage devices over at least one first path.

Abstract: Caching techniques for use in a computer system comprising a core and at least one edge device. The core comprises at least one object addressable storage (OAS) system that stores a plurality of content units and provides an interface that enables content units to be accessed via object identifiers. The at least one edge device is configured to access at least some of the content units. At least one cache is configured to be disposed logically between the core and the at least one edge device and to temporarily store a subset of the content units. The at least one cache is further configured to have a limit on a maximum number of content units that can be stored on the at least one cache simultaneously.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method and apparatus for modifying a configuration of a computer system including a host computer and at least one computer system resource accessible to at least one application program executing on the host computer. The computer system is dynamically reconfigured, without reinitializing the host computer or the application program, to alter a manner in which the at least one application program accesses the at least one computer system resource. Another embodiment is directed to a method and apparatus for responding to changes in a configuration of the computer system impacting a manner in which the at least one computer system resource is accessed by the host computer. Information relating to a first configuration of the computer system at a first point in time is stored, the first configuration relating to a first manner of accessing the at least one computer system resource by the host computer.

Abstract: A method, system, or computer program product for controlling software installation that can accommodate revisions of software and hardware platforms over time.

Abstract: The present invention augments each entry in a memory frame table to include information associated with the availability of any page that is buffer cache allocated. The availability information may include, for example, a link to a buffer cache descriptor associated with a buffer cache allocated page. Alternatively, the availability information may include a use status of the buffer cache allocated page. During a consecutive multi-page allocation process, pages which are buffer cache allocated are checked for availability. Should a buffer cache allocated page be available for use, it is intelligently pre-empted by the allocation process. By providing a mechanism to readily determine buffer cache page availability, a multi-page allocation process with increased efficiency may make intelligent decisions about the appropriateness of buffer cache page pre-emption.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for managing failover in a data storage environment. Program logic is configured for carrying out such method steps and encoded on a computer readable medium.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for managing and allocating memory used for data movement of data being copied in a data storage environment. In one embodiment, a methodology is provided that allocates and manages data buffers based on bandwidth and memory availability in the data storage environment, that includes adjustment of buffer size allocation and/or number of buffers allocated based on a determination of the bandwidth allocated. In other embodiments, implementations include a system, a computer program product, and an apparatus are disclosed that are configured for carrying out the steps involved in the methodology.

Abstract: A data packet routing mechanism including a plurality of clients for issuing read requests to a host device, the read requests each including a TAG field for identifying which of the plurality of clients issued a particular read request, wherein a completion response corresponding to the particular read request, including the TAG field, is issued from the host to the client that sent the read request, the plurality of clients being organized into M groups, each group including a predetermined number of clients; a first level routing device having an input for receiving completion responses from the host and a plurality of outputs for transmitting completion responses; and a plurality of second level routing devices, each being coupled to the plurality of clients in one of the M groups, and having an input for receiving completion responses from the first level routing device and a plurality of outputs, each output for transmitting completion responses to one of the plurality of clients in the group.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a device interface for receiving data access requests, a plurality of non-volatile memory devices and a controller that accesses the non-volatile memory devices in response to the received data access requests. The plurality of non-volatile memory devices include at least one of flash memory; compact flash memory; magnoresistive RAM; ferroelectric RAM; any type of volatile memories, such as dynamic and static RAM, maintained as non-volatile with the use of a power subsystem; mechanical memory devices and microelectromechanical memory devices.