Abstract: Methods and apparatus automatically identify certain types of data storage system problems, such as a flawed storage device or an incompatibility between a data storage system and a data storage device or an incompatibility between the storage system and a user computer. The existence of such a problem may be highlighted to a user through an indicator on the storage system and/or through a “dashboard” application being executed by the user computer, and the problem may be automatically corrected by automatically downloading a fix (e.g., new firmware or a “patch”) from a server (e.g., a server managed by the storage device manufacturer, a server managed by the storage system manufacturer and/or a server managed by a third party) and automatically implementing the fix.

Abstract: A filesystem-aware storage system locates and analyzes host filesystem data structures in order to determine storage usage of the host filesystem. To this end, the storage system might locate an operating system partition, parse the operating system partion to locate its data structures, and parse the operating system data structures to locate the host filesystem data structures. The storage system manages data storage based on the storage usage of the host file system. The storage system can use the storage usage information to identify storage areas that are no longer being used by the host filesystem and reclaim those areas for additional data storage capacity. Also, the storage system can identify the types of data stored by the host filesystem and manage data storage based on the data types, such as selecting a storage layout and/or an encoding scheme for the data based on the data type.

Abstract: A storage system condition indicator and method provides a visual display representing the operating condition of a set of storage devices. Various operating conditions may be defined based on available storage capacity and capacity to store data redundantly. One or more indicators may be used to represent the operating condition of the set of storage devices. The indicator(s) may be used to indicate whether additional storage capacity is recommended and, in a storage array, which slot in the array should be updated with additional storage capacity.

Abstract: A filesystem-aware storage system locates and analyzes host filesystem data structures in order to determine storage usage of the host filesystem. To this end, the storage system might locate an operating system partition, parse the operating system partion to locate its data structures, and parse the operating system data structures to locate the host filesystem data structures. The storage system manages data storage based on the storage usage of the host file system. The storage system can use the storage usage information to identify storage areas that are no longer being used by the host filesystem and reclaim those areas for additional data storage capacity. Also, the storage system can identify the types of data stored by the host filesystem and manage data storage based on the data types, such as selecting a storage layout and/or an encoding scheme for the data based on the data type.

Abstract: A storage system condition indicator and method provides a visual display representing the operating condition of a set of storage devices. Various operating conditions may be defined based on available storage capacity and capacity to store data redundantly. One or more indicators may be used to represent the operating condition of the set of storage devices. The indicator(s) may be used to indicate whether additional storage capacity is recommended and, in a storage array, which slot in the array should be updated with additional storage capacity.

Abstract: A dynamically upgradeable fault-tolerant storage system permits a storage device to be replaced with a larger storage device. Data stored redundantly across multiple storage devices is reproduced on the replacement device, and the additional storage space on the replacement device is made available for redundantly storing additional data.

Abstract: A dynamically expandable and contractible fault-tolerant storage system permits variously sized storage devices. Data is stored redundantly across one or more storage devices if possible. The layout of data across the one or more storage devices is automatically reconfigured as storage devices are added or removed in order to provide an appropriate level of redundancy for the data to the extent possible. A hash-based compression technique may be used to reduce storage consumption. Techniques for freeing unused storage blocks are also disclosed.