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: A method of providing security as a service in a cloud storage environment includes storing, through a cloud manager of the cloud storage environment, a security level of access of a storage controller associated with a customer of the security as a service, and receiving a request from the customer to access security information of the storage controller associated therewith. The method also includes providing, through the cloud manager, security information of the storage controller associated with the customer in accordance with the request and the stored security level of access of the storage controller associated with the customer.

Abstract: A method of improving storage security in a cloud environment includes interfacing a secure microcontroller with a storage controller associated with a client device in the cloud environment to authenticate a platform associated with the storage controller and registering the storage controller with an authentication server configured to be set up in the cloud environment. The method also includes authenticating the storage controller based on a communication protocol between the client device, the authentication server and the storage controller, and obtaining, at the client device, a signature data of the storage controller following the authentication thereof. The signature data is configured to be stored in the secure microcontroller interfaced with the storage controller.

Abstract: A method and system for caching filenames of a directory that is striped across the volumes serviced by a plurality of storage server nodes. The method comprises storing a filename in a first volume and a second volume of the striped volume set in the same locations within the respective volumes. The same locations within the respective volumes refer to the same locations with respect to a reference point of a directory structure in the respective volumes.

Abstract: The present invention includes dynamically analyzing look-up requests from a cache look-up algorithm to look-up data block tags corresponding to blocks of data previously inserted into a cache memory, to determine a cache related parameter. After analysis of a specific look-up request, a block of data corresponding to the tag looked up by the look-up request may be accessed from the cache memory or from a mass storage device.

Abstract: In a processing system which includes a physical processor that includes multiple logical processors, multiple domains are defined for multiple processes that can execute on the physical processor. Each of the processes is assigned to one of the domains. Processor utilization associated with the logical processors is measured, and each of the domains is allocated to a subset of the logical processors according to the processor utilization.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mapping data-management requirements to the provisioning of a data storage system to conform to a set of user-defined data-management policies. A conformance engine with storage system awareness translates the set of data-management policies to a corresponding set of storage-provisioning policies and provisions the resources of the storage system thereby to conform the storage system to the data-management policies. A conformance checker continuously and automatically compares the provisioning of the storage system resources to the provisioning required to meet the data-management policies. When nonconformance is detected, the conformance engine automatically re-provisions the available resources of the storage system to conform the storage system to the data management policies.

Abstract: Just-in-time segment cleaning obtains the location of blocks of a storage system predicted to be targeted by a future write operation and cleans the blocks targeted for the future write operation prior to the occurrence of the future write operation. In one aspect, just-in-time segment cleaning is performed in proportion to previous user-initiated write operations. In another aspect, just-in-time segment cleaning applies a cost analysis determination to minimize the work of cleaning.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method that allow a quota to be implemented over a data storage system having data associated with the user stored in multiple volumes or directories across multiple storage servers. The quota limits a user or a group of users to a defined amount (e.g., quota) of storage resources of the storage system. The method may include monitoring input-output (IO) data access requests on each of the multiple storage servers, for example, using a pluggable quota filter on each of the storage servers, determining a total usage of storage resources for a particular user over the multiple storage servers, and limiting the user to the quota over the multiple storage servers.

Abstract: Image-based data restoration restores an entire image of a volume or selective files. A restore engine receives a request to restore data from a backup image that includes a plurality of data blocks and metadata describing attributes of the data blocks. In response to the request, the restore engine determines a restore mode. If it is determined to be a logical restore mode, the restore engine restores a file by retrieving the metadata associated with the file and the data blocks that are pointed to by the metadata. If it is determined to be an image restore mode, the restore engine restores an entire image of the volume by using the data blocks in the backup image without using the metadata.

Abstract: Methods of obtaining and comparing data processing system configurations, and producing reports of differences between the configurations, where the configurations include elements to control access from a remote client to a storage facility of a data processing system, are described. Systems to receive and alter a configuration based on local conditions, and to use the altered configuration to control data exchange logic are also described. Software to display configuration elements, identify differences between configurations, and attach attributes to configuration elements is also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide a multi-level buffer cache having queues corresponding to different priority levels of queuing within the buffer cache. One or more data blocks are buffered in the buffer cache. In one embodiment, an initial level of queue is identified for a data block to be buffered in the buffer cache. The initial level of queue can be modified higher or lower depending on a value of a cache property associated with the data block. In one embodiment, the data block is monitored for data access in a queue, and the data block is aged and moved to higher level(s) of queuing based on rules for the data block. The rules can apply to the queue in which the data block is buffered, to a data type of the data block, or to a logical partition to which the data block belongs.

Abstract: A storage system includes a storage space provisioning system coupled to a primary storage server and a secondary storage server to resize a thin provisioned secondary volume on the secondary storage server. The storage space provisioning system detects data stored on a primary volume that is to be transferred to a secondary volume and obtains a point-in-time copy of the data stored on the primary volume. The storage provisioner determines a maximum transfer size of the data to be transferred using the point-in-time copy, and compares the maximum transfer size to a difference between the thin provisioned size of the secondary volume and a used size of the secondary volume. The storage space provisioning system increases the thin provisioned size of the secondary volume to be greater than the used size of the secondary volume plus the maximum transfer size when the maximum transfer size is greater than the difference.

Abstract: A mechanism by which a server system executing a host application monitors utilization of a fractionally reserved space on a volume storing application data. The server system executes space reservation policies to ensure that the host application is not halted due to inability to create snapshots on the volume. In one implementation, the server system alerts a system administrator if the rate of change in the size of data snapshots exceeds a specified threshold and initiates deletion of backup datasets stored on the volume if the size of a data snapshot exceeds the available space on the volume.

Abstract: A storage system includes a storage server and a storage subsystem having an I/O module coupled to disks. The storage server includes a storage adapter coupled to the I/O module creating an in-band (data) path to access data stored on the disks. The storage server sends a data command through the in-band path to the I/O module for accessing the data stored on the disks. The storage server further includes a network adapter coupled to the I/O module creating an out-of-band control path to control the I/O module. The storage server detects through the in-band path that the I/O module is non-responsive to a data command and automatically changes the behavior of the I/O module (e.g., resets the I/O module) through the out-of-band control path to recover the non-responsive I/O module. The storage server also collects and outputs status data of the I/O module through the out-of-band control path.

Abstract: A support center receives an error message from a remote storage system indicating that an error, such as a kernel panic, has occurred on the remote storage system. The error message is processed to determine the type of error, whether the type of error is known and whether a solution is known for the type of error. If the type of error is unknown, a core file upload request is automatically generated and sent to the remote storage system.

Abstract: A first storage server head and a second storage server head are operated and are configured redundantly to provide a host with access to a plurality of mass storage devices. A diagnostic process is executed in the first storage server head to assess operational status of the second storage server head while the second storage server head is in a mode for providing the host with access to the plurality of mass storage devices.

Abstract: A system and method that provides users of network data storage systems with the ability to gain the advantages of a clustered storage server system, in which volumes stored on multiple server nodes are linked into a virtual global hierarchical namespace, without first having to migrate their data to the clustered storage server system. The system employs an extended virtual global hierarchical namespace that allows client systems to access, via the extended global namespace, volumes stored on the clustered storage server system and on one or more storage servers that are remote from and do not constitute a part of the clustered system. The extended global namespace can also be employed to perform migration of volume data among the multiple nodes of the clustered storage server system and the remote storage servers.

Abstract: Storage servers use a fast, non-volatile or persistent memory to store data until it can be written to slower mass storage devices such as disk drives. If the server crashes before a write can complete, the data remains safely stored in non-volatile memory. If the data cannot be committed to disk when the server reboots (e.g. because the destination mass storage device is unavailable), it is stored in a file. When the disk reappears, the data in the file may be used to restore a file or file system on the disk to a consistent state.

Abstract: A method of managing power states of memory modules while performing memory access operations is disclosed. Memory modules are in a power saving state until an access operation involving the module is to be performed. The module is placed in an operational mode, then the access operation is performed, then the module is returned to the power saving state. Apparatus and systems using the method are also disclosed and claimed.