Abstract: Storage system(s) for storing data in physical storage in a recurring manner, method(s) of operating thereof, and corresponding computer program product(s).

Abstract: According to the presently disclosed subject matter there is provided inter alia, a method and system which enable to uncover errors which are correctible by a data integrity mechanism in a computer system. The same data is read with the help of two different types of read commands. The first command is a read command which does not implement an inherent ECC and therefore does not correct corrupted data. The second command is a read command which includes an ECC and is adapted to correct errors which are detected in the data which is being read. The data obtained by each of the two read commands is compared, and in cases where a difference is identified between the two data, it is determined that an error has been detected and corrected by the ECC.

Abstract: A method of migrating data from a source storage resource to a destination storage resource involves selecting a source volume in the source storage resource; configuring in the destination storage resource a destination volume corresponding to the source volume and having the same properties; and redirecting I/O requests from an application running on a host to the destination volume instead of the source volume, whilst migrating data stored in the source volume to the destination volume. A storage system is operable as a destination storage system for migrating data from a source storage system, including means for configuring a destination volume corresponding to a source volume in the source storage system and a migration module having a non-transitory computer useable medium and operable to initiate read requests addressed to the source volume thereby enabling a background process of migrating data stored in the source volume to the destination volume.

Abstract: There is provided a storage system and a method of moving a source data portion from a source logical volume to a destination logical volume. The method comprises: configuring a source mapping data structure to comprise an entry indicative of mapping between logical addresses corresponding to source data portion and addresses corresponding to source data portion and related to a physical address space; and, responsive to a move command, providing an atomic operation comprising configuring a destination mapping data structure to comprise an entry associated with said at least one destination range and comprising a reference to said entry in the source mapping data structure; and configuring said at least one entry in the source mapping data structure DSsrc to bear an indication that said one or more contiguous ranges of addresses corresponding to said source data portion in the source logical volume Vsrc are unavailable to a client.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter includes a system and method for protecting data stored in a physical storage space of a storage system. According to the teachings disclosed herein, a block key is provided together with a read and a write request and is applied on data, which is related to a logical data block, for calculating a data block signature. A read request according to the presently disclosed subject matter includes, in addition to data indicative of a requested data block, a block key for the purpose of verifying the data block signature that was stored upon the last write of the requested data block. A write request according to the presently disclosed subject matter includes, in addition to data indicative of a data block to be written, a block key for generating a respective data block signature.

Abstract: A storage system and method are provided including physical storage devices controlled by storage control devices constituting a storage control layer operatively coupled to the physical storage devices and hosts. The storage control layer includes: a first virtual layer interfacing with the hosts, operable to represent a logical address space characterized by logical block addresses, characterized by an Internal Virtual Address Space (IVAS) and operable, responsive to I/O requests addressed to logical block addresses, to provide protocol-dependent translation of said logical block addresses into IVAS addresses; and a second virtual layer interfacing with the physical storage space, and operable to represent available physical space to said hosts and characterized by a Physical Virtual Address Space (PVAS). Each address in PVAS having a corresponding address in IVAS.

Abstract: A method is provided for accessing data in an external virtual memory. A host receives from a storage manager a created handle for autonomous access of a volume. The volume forms part of accessible volumes in the virtual memory. The host autonomously provisions the handle to a selected volume from among the accessible volumes, and the host accesses the selected volume through the handle.

Abstract: A storage system and method is provided including physical storage devices controlled by storage control devices constituting a storage control layer operatively coupled to the physical storage devices and hosts. The storage control layer includes a first virtual layer interfacing with the hosts, operable to represent a logical address space available to said hosts and characterized by an Internal Virtual Address Space (IVAS); a second virtual layer characterized by a Physical Virtual Address Space (PVAS), interfacing with the physical storage devices, and operable to represent an available storage space; and an allocation module operatively coupled to the first and second virtual layers and providing mapping between IVAP and PVAS. Each address in PVAS is configured to have a corresponding address in IVAS. The allocation module facilitates management of IVAS and PVAS, enabling separation of a process of deleting certain logical object into processes performing changes in IVAS and PVAS, respectively.

Abstract: According to the teaching disclosed herein there is provided at least a method, system and device for managing a cache memory of a storage system. The storage system is associated with at least one physical storage device and, responsive to a read request, comprising information indicative of a logical address of at least one requested data unit, to obtain a storage physical address associated with the logical address, search the cache memory for a data unit associated with the storage physical address and service the request from the cache in case the data unit to is found in the cache memory.

Abstract: Storage systems which allow atomic write operations, methods of operating thereof, and corresponding computer program products. By way of non-limiting example, a possible method includes: receiving indication of a transaction, where a plurality of blocks directed to at least one destination logical volume and relating to at least one command is to be written as an atomic write operation; generating a transaction identifier number for the transaction; enabling tracking of the transaction at least partly based on the transaction identifier number, including temporary location of any one of the plurality of blocks; accommodating at least one block of the plurality temporarily in the storage system; and upon receiving an indication that all blocks in the plurality have been successfully temporarily accommodated in the storage system, enabling data corresponding to the plurality of blocks to subsequently be stored in the at least destination logical volume and discontinuing tracking of the transaction.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter includes a method, system and apparatus, for dynamically controlling resource allocation in a storage system, the storage system comprises at least one storage device and at least one processing unit, the resources being associated with the processing unit. Responsive to a request from a connection for processing data, information in respect of an Allocation state of the processing unit is obtained. The Allocation state is defined as a Limiting Allocation state if the quantity of free resources associated with the processing unit, is lower than a first threshold value. In case the Allocation state of the processing unit is Limiting Allocation state, information in respect of a Connection state of the connection is obtained. The required memory resources are dynamically allocated to the connection according to the current Allocation state of the processing unit and the current Connection state of the connection.

Abstract: Storage systems which allow atomic write operations, methods of operating thereof, and corresponding computer program products. By way of non-limiting example, a possible method includes: configuring volatile memory into cache memory and pre-cache memory; receiving an indication that a plurality of blocks relating to a command is to be written as an atomic write operation; enabling tracking of the atomic write operation; caching at least one block from the plurality in the pre-cache memory; and upon receiving an indication that all blocks in the plurality have been successfully accommodated in the pre-cache memory, enabling data corresponding to the plurality of blocks to subsequently be cached in the cache memory and discontinuing tracking of the atomic write operation.

Abstract: There are provided a mass storage system and a method of operating thereof. The method comprises: a) dividing the storage space into a first portion configured to be available to a client and a second portion configured to be unavailable to a client, thus giving rise, respectively to an available storage space and a spare storage space; b) distributing the available space and the spare space over the disk drives thus giving rise to available space and spare space allocated to each given disk drive; c) detecting underperformance of at least one disk drive among the plurality of disk drives; d) responsive to detecting underperformance, decreasing respective available space allocated to said at least one underperforming disk drive and respectively increasing spare space allocated to said at least one underperforming disk drive thus giving rise to a re-configured allocation of the available space; and e) transferring the stored data in accordance with said re-configured allocation of the available space.

Abstract: A method for a takeover in a case of a failure of a server in a storage system includes: a) configuring each virtual partition (VP) to be controlled by a primary data server and a secondary data server b) configuring each data server to have primary responsibility over all logical block addresses (LBAs) corresponding to at least two virtual partitions and to have secondary responsibility over all LBAs corresponding to at least two other virtual partitions; c) responsive to a failure of a data server, i) re-configuring primary responsibility over each VP previously primary controlled by the failed server such that it becomes primary controlled by a server previously configured as a secondary server with respect to this VP; and ii) re-allocating secondary responsibility over each VP previously secondary controlled by the failed server in a manner that each such VP becomes secondary controlled by a server other than the newly assigned server with primary responsibility.

Abstract: A storage system that includes a management communication interface coupled to a storage management layer and further includes a data communication interface. Upon receiving a request for accessing the storage management layer, from the host, via the data communication interface, the management layer sends to the host, access information necessary for allowing access of the host to the storage management layer via the management communication interface; and upon receiving a management command, from the host via the management communication interface, the host is provided with access to the storage management layer, in cases where the management command conforms to the access information.

Abstract: According to certain aspects, the presently disclosed subject matter includes a method, system and apparatus, for managing a plurality of disk drives in a storage system. The workload of at least one disk drive among the plurality of disk drives is monitored, wherein the monitoring comprises receiving data indicative of a temperature of the at least one disk drive. In case the measured temperature matches a predefined criterion, the modification of workload distribution across the plurality of disk drives is enabled, in order to reduce workload of the at least one disk drive.

Abstract: A storage system, a disk controller, a disk drive and a method of operating thereof. The method includes: configuring a disk drive in a manner enabling executing one or more read requests concurrently with executing one or more write requests addressed to the same data track of the disk drive; responsive to a received write request addressed to a certain track of the disk drive, identifying with the help of the control layer one or more read requests concurrent to received write request and addressed to the same track; if the received write request and the identified one or more read requests match a predefined criterion, generating and issuing, with the help of the control layer, a command to the disk drive for executing a single task corresponding to the concurrent read and write requests combined in accordance with a certain mask.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for storage optimization. Data parts and metadata within a source data unit are identified and the data parts are compared with data which is already stored in the physical storage space. In case identical data parts are found within the physical storage, the data parts from the source data unit are linked to the identified data, while the data parts can be discarded, thereby reducing the required storage capacity. The metadata parts can be separately stored in a designated storage area.

Abstract: A method for hot backward compatible upgrade of a storage system includes: a) configuring each virtual partition (VP) to be controlled by a primary data server and a secondary data server b) configuring each data server to have primary responsibility over all logical block addresses (LBAs) corresponding to at least two virtual partitions and to have secondary responsibility over all LBAs corresponding to at least two other virtual partitions; c) responsive to a shut-down of a data server, i) re-configuring primary responsibility over each VP previously primary controlled by the shut-down server such that it becomes primary controlled by a server previously configured as a secondary server with respect to this VP; ii) re-allocating secondary responsibility over each VP previously secondary controlled by the shut-down server in a manner that each such VP becomes secondary controlled by a server other than the newly assigned server with primary responsibility.

Abstract: In order to avoid loss of data, computer systems are often connected to a UPS which provides power backup in case of an emergency shutdown resulting from a power failure. However, as UPS units are costly, they take up a lot of physical space and can provide power for a limited period of time, it would be advantageous to improve the efficiency of UPS devices and enable to utilize as much as possible of the UPS power in order to save data to a permanent storage before shutdown. There is provided a method and system for controlling the frequency of one or more processors in computer systems, responsive to an indication of a power failure, and thereby reduce its power consumption, so as to provide more power for writing write-pending data to a non-volatile data storage.