Abstract: Data storage system software is installed from nonvolatile memory. A storage processor is booted, transferring information stored in a nonvolatile memory module to a disk drive system, thereby enabling the system processor to boot directly from the disk drive system in subsequent boots. After the information is transferred the storage processor reboots using the information transferred to the disk drive system.

Abstract: A chargeback management station obtains data records including asset information pertaining to storage assets in a data storage system and utilization information pertaining to the use of the storage assets by the users, wherein the storage assets include redundant storage assets and internal and external storage assets. The data records further include grouping information reflecting a grouping of the storage assets and the users into charge-related groups. The asset and utilization information is selectively aggregated according to the grouping to obtain respective asset and utilization values for raw capacities, usable capacities, and the internal and external storage assets. The asset and utilization values are displayed in corresponding information fields of a graphical user interface that is presented to a system operator and that reflects the charge-related grouping of the storage assets and the users.

Abstract: A virtual domain management system is provided which associates application, physical and virtual domains to enable propagation of events, symptoms and other information across the domains. The virtual domain manager collects events and symptom information across multiple domains by correlating domain topology models. Using a causality matrix and codebook technology the virtual domain manager uses the information to perform root cause and impact analysis across domains. Information from the analysis may be fed back into the domains to enhance domain management.

Abstract: A compliance lifecycle management system is provided that addresses policy management issues at each stage of policy maturity throughout a policy lifetime. The compliance lifecycle management system provides functionality for policy control at initialization by enabling specification and creation of policies including identifying redundant and sub/super sets of policies across domains. As an infrastructure and its associated policies mature and change, the compliance lifecycle management system monitors compliance to dynamic policies to check for policy conflicts. The compliance management process may further be used to simulate the introduction of policies into the infrastructure to view the resultant impact that a new or updated policies may have on a network. With such an arrangement, policy management practices become more responsive, predictable and efficient.

Abstract: A system displays a set of alerts in an alert view. Each alert indicates a problem associated with a managed resource operating in a storage area network. The system receives a selection of an alert from the alert view, and performs an analysis of managed resource data associated with the managed resource experiencing the alert to identify performance details concerning the alert in relation to the managed resource data. The system then presents the performance details associated with the alert in a performance view. The performance view includes a topology region identifying a location of the managed resource experiencing the alert within the storage area network, and a graph region identifying the alert in relation to managed resource data for the managed resource experiencing the alert.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for managing allocation of storage resources in a storage network, the storage network including physical data storage on a plurality of storage arrays that are in the storage network, and the network is in communication with one or more hosts and the network further includes a storage network management system, communicatively coupled to the storage arrays via the network, the storage management system includes a storage virtualizer capable of intercepting and virtualizing an IO stream from the one or more hosts and which storage network management system further includes a storage and switch controller in communication with the storage virtualizer for storage network management.

Abstract: A global cylinder group (CG) cache is stored in file server memory and shared by a plurality of file systems supported by the file server. The global CG cache comprises a number CG entries which are pre-allocated in memory. As different file systems are accessed, global CG entries in the CG cache are used to store CG block information for the accesses. With such an arrangement, a file server may support multiple file systems using a single global CG cache without starvation and other the adverse performance impacts of the prior art. According to one aspect of the invention, the global CG cache is periodically scanned to reclaim memory. In contrast to the prior art, where multiple scans were periodically performed of multiple CG caches for memory reclamation, the use of a single CG cache minimizes the impact of CG cache maintenance on file server performance.

Abstract: A method, device and computer product suitable for determining the source of failing to achieve a desired level of service quality in communication between at least two components in a distributed system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of developing a model of the distributed system, the model including at least configuration non-specific representations of types of managed components, and representations of relationships among the managed components, determining associated managed components within each route of data communication between the at least two components, augmenting the representation of the associated managed components with information associated with each of the routes of data communication, monitoring at least one performance criterion of the communication between the at least two components and determining a source of degradation when the performance criteria is indicated to be outside acceptable limits.

Abstract: Novel methods for expressing paths contained in queries are provided. The path expressions are composed from tokens selected from the group consisting of object identifiers, attribute identifiers, a relationship operator, and path qualifiers. Path expressions can be more easily created than by creating the path expressions directly in SQL. The path expressions can easily be incorporated into queries for querying data structured according to an object model. Examples of such queries include queries for implementing rules for checking data corresponding to IT infrastructures to see if the IT infrastructure is compliant with policies created for the IT infrastructure.

Abstract: Techniques for locating and collecting application logs are disclosed. Embodiments disclosed herein can be advantageously utilized to collect application logs from a plurality of computers in a network. For example, embodiments disclosed herein can be used to identify and collect application logs from a plurality of host computers in a storage area network.

Abstract: In a large network, it can be difficult to pinpoint and track down the causes of breaches of established policies. A compliance policy server allows traversal of notifications according to breaches, organizes the breaches (vulnerabilities and violations) according to severity and recurrence, and identifies related rules and application services and network entities which may be related to the breach. An integrated graphical user interface (GUI) provides efficient, timely traversal and analysis of rule breaches across the network to allow quick, efficient identification of the underlying cause or condition of the rule breach, as well as identify impact on application services and network entities. A discoverer gathers configuration data including notifications of changes, alerts, and conditions in the network that are pertinent to the rule breaches. A compliance engine evaluates the configuration and topological data against the rules to identify breaches.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a managed resource simulator for storage area networks are disclosed. To simulate a managed resource, a first template of generic communication information is executed. The execution of the first template establishes communications between an agent and a server of a storage area network, wherein the agent is a type of agent that manages the managed resource to be simulated. A second template is then populated with data specific to the managed resource to be simulated. The second template further includes generic communication information used to establish communications between an agent and a store process. This generic communication information corresponds to the managed resource to be simulated. The managed resource is then simulated by executing the second template. This allows the simulated managed resource to be tested, and any causes of failed transactions may be corrected, without having access to the actual physical managed resource.

Abstract: Methods and systems for separating presentation and business models for common management platform tasks in a storage area network (SAN) are disclosed. A graphical user interface (GUI) object may be mapped to a task object, which include action(s) performed on a SAN. A selection of task objects from a collection of task objects is received, which are needed to implement the underlying functionality of a GUI object. The collection of task objects is part of a task framework. An arrangement of the task objects according to a hierarchy of the framework is received. The hierarchy includes simple task objects, corresponding to actions performed on a SAN, and composite task objects, corresponding to at least two simple task objects and may include other composite task objects. The arranged task objects are mapped to the GUI object by extending a presentation object to encapsulate the GUI object and the arranged task objects.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to creating a snapshot of a file system on an OAS system. A snapshot of a file system is an image of a file system at a particular point in time. A snapshot of a file system may be used to restore the file system to its state at the time of creation of the snapshot in, for example, situations where the file system has become corrupted.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a migration policy that controls migration of content from a transactional storage system to a fixed content storage system. In some embodiments, content may be migrated from the transactional storage system to the fixed content storage system based on at least one criteria that relates to whether at least a portion of the content is binding.

Abstract: An architecture for protecting against failure in a switched storage network using virtualization.

Abstract: A SAN management application maintains configuration information in a near real-time (RT) manner for timely and accurate responses to queries. A database manager responsive to the management application aggregates information concerning both current and historical configurations by combining current and historical information sets as a common (DB) database portal responsive to an individual query for configuration data from both current and historical data. The common portal avoids redundant and duplicative entries between the current and historical information sets, and is responsive to the management application for maintaining each change on only one of the current and historical information sets. Configuration changes add, update and move data items between the current and historical information sets, but need not store a configuration change in both the current and history information sets.

Abstract: An architecture for managing a plurality of storage area networks including a plurality of data storage volumes and one or more hosts, wherein the volumes are in a switched storage network in the storage area networks the architecture comprising one or more processors in communication with switching capability for the switched storage network, wherein the one or more processors include program logic for embodying logical constructions of a storage presentation layer including target virtualization and logical unit (LU) virtualization; and a volume presentation layer including volume virtualization for replication of data.

Abstract: A storage area network (SAN) license validator manages data collection policies (DCPs) in deployed SAN agents by identifying data collection policies corresponding to unlicensed features, and disabling the DCPs for the unlicensed features. Thus, the agents need not expend computational and memory resources to gather data for unlicensed features that will not be queried. Agents receive a set of data collection policies (DCPs) for licensed features for which the corresponding data will be gathered and reported to the MODB. DCPs for unlicensed features are disabled in the agents that would have executed them, either by removing or canceling from an active DCP list or by omitting the unlicensed DCPs from the startup sequence of the agent. In this manner, agents operate with only the DCPs for licensed products and corresponding features, and need not gather extraneous data.

Abstract: Deployment of new elements in a computer network can result in development of patch kits adapters, and other software and trigger corresponding regressive test efforts. In a storage area network, a method is disclosed for defining a general, extensible model of a manageable entity for use in management of the entity. The method includes obtaining a set of attribute values related to the manageable entity in relation to the storage area network. A deployment engine identifies corresponding entity categories within a storage area network entity model that contains attribute definitions that correspond to respective attribute values in the set of attribute values obtained from the manageable entity. The deployment engine assigns the respective attribute values of the manageable entity to the corresponding respective attribute definitions identified in the model. The deployment engine then determines if all attribute values of the manageable entity have been assigned.