Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating backup files by creating an overhead segment for each file that is to be backed up and creating a data segment containing the data that is to be backed up for each file. After creating overhead segment and the data segment, the overhead segment is placed into an overhead stream and the data segment is stored in a memory. The overhead segment is also positioned in the overhead stream with a pointer that identifies the location of the data within the memory. As such, the backup file comprises a data segment and an overhead stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing and maintaining information for the operation of a client, locally to the client. This information is updated (or, initially, retrieved) as necessary and appropriate, by accessing corresponding information stored locally to a server.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided to synchronize data maintained in separate storage areas using a copy-on-read technique. The separate storage areas may be distributed across a network, and the replicas of the data may be used for backup and/or disaster recovery purposes. Storage objects containing data and information relevant to managing the data by a particular application are identified, and only those storage objects are read. Data contained in the storage objects read are then copied to the replica storage area. This process avoids reading non-useful data, making the synchronization more efficient and conserving bandwidth of connections over which the data are sent.

Abstract: A method and system for virtualization switch failover is disclosed. According one embodiment of the present invention, a failure of a first virtualization device within storage a area network interconnect and associated with a unique interconnect device identifier is detected and the unique interconnect device identifier is responsively associated with a second virtualization device of the storage area network interconnect.

Abstract: System and method for protecting data systems such as file systems, volume managers, databases, and backup systems. In embodiments, rather than encrypting the data of a data system, one or more elements or levels of metadata may be encrypted. Some embodiments may encrypt metadata that is not accessed frequently to minimize the cost of encryption and decryption. Alternatively, instead of encrypting an entire metadata, only a portion, such as a header block, of the metadata may be encrypted. The encrypted metadata may be stored in the data system. At startup of the data system, the encrypted metadata may be decrypted and an unencrypted copy of the metadata may be cached in memory for use by the data system software. If the decrypted metadata is modified, then the encrypted metadata may be replaced with an encrypted version of the modified metadata. Format(s) of the metadata that is encrypted may be copyrighted.

Abstract: Replication of application files in a clustered environment may be automated based on the state and/or configuration of the application in the cluster. A clustering engine executing on one or more clustered computing nodes may notify one or more replication agents regarding changes in a clustered application's state and/or configuration. An application's status may include information indicating one or more cluster nodes on which the application is currently executing and also may include information indicating one or more cluster nodes on which the application is configured to execute. Replication agents executing on cluster nodes may, either individually or through collective coordination, modify a replication policy for replicating one or more application files based on the received status information. Subsequently, the replication agents may replicate the application files from one of the clustered computing nodes to one or more other nodes, according to the modified replication policy.

Abstract: A virtual copy of data stored in a first memory is created in a second memory. Creating the virtual copy includes, in one embodiment, creating first and second tables in memory each one of which comprises a plurality of multibit entries. Each entry of the first table corresponds to a respective memory region of the first memory. Each entry of the second table corresponds to a respective memory region of the second memory. The first bit of the first and second tables indicates whether the corresponding memory region of the first and second memories, respectively, contains valid data. The second bit of the first and second tables indicates whether data in the corresponding memory region of the first and second memories, respectively, has been modified since the creation of the first and second tables, respectively.

Abstract: A method for determining changed code in a second program binary relative to a first or baseline program binary, where the second program is a different version of the first program, includes translating, responsive to symbol tables and/or control flow representations, machine addresses of both program binaries to symbols. The first and second program binaries are disassembled using the translated symbols. Differences between the two resulting disassemblies are determined, and a list of the differences is created. Differences between the program binaries can be determined by textually comparing the disassemblies, or alternatively, by determining the differences between the control flow representations of the programs. The list of differences can be presented to a user, or alternatively, can be passed to another process for further processing, such as test coverage analysis, code change analysis, or failure analysis, among other analyses.

Abstract: System and method for performing operations in a multi-class file system without requiring split mirrors. For one or more storage classes in the multi-class file system, operations that require stable copies of the storage classes may be performed without using split mirrors. In one embodiment, read-only data may be assigned and/or migrated to lower storage classes, and operations may be performed on the read-only storage classes without using split mirrors. In one embodiment, to perform an operation without using a split mirror, a write lock of a storage class may be examined to determine if the write-locked storage class has been written to during the operation on the storage class and, if so, the operation may be retried for the storage class. In one embodiment, the file system software may be blocked from enabling a storage class for writing for the duration of the operation on the storage class.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer accessible medium comprises a plurality of instructions which, when executed, parse at least a section of an input file to identify: (i) one or more driver information files, if at least one driver information file is listed in the section, and (ii) one or more first device drivers, if at least one device driver is listed in the section. If at least one driver information file is listed in the section, the plurality of instructions parse each of the one or more driver information files to identify: (i) one or more second device drivers, if at least one device driver is included in the driver information file, and (ii) one or more miniport drivers, if at least one miniport driver is included in the driver information file. The plurality of instructions select a selected device driver from the first device drivers, the second device drivers, and the miniport drivers.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods for performing volume-based incremental backups are disclosed. A method may involve generating a snappoint of a volume. The snappoint indicates which portions (e.g., blocks or extents) of the volume have been modified between a time at which the snappoint was generated and a time at which a subsequent snappoint was generated. The method may also involve accessing information mapping the file to the volume and, if the snappoint identifies as having been modified any blocks of the volume to which the file maps, copying those blocks from the subsequent snappoint to the backup device. Portions not identified as having been modified by the snappoint are not copied. Program instructions implementing such a method may be stored on a computer accessible medium.

Abstract: A system and a method of providing a dynamic computing environment to a user, in which the dynamic computing environment is configured to communicate and to operate under the control of the user. The dynamic computing environment has one or more virtual resources including at least one virtual computing device and one or more computer programs associated with the at least one virtual computing device. According to the present invention, the user has access, for example, to interact with, to modify, and to use the dynamic computing environment including the at least one virtual resource and the at least one physical resource.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for rule-based proactive storage path optimization for SANs. Embodiments may evaluate paths between an application and its storage on a SAN based on current and/or historical path quality of service. Performance of alternative paths may be monitored to determine if a better path than a path currently in use is available. If a better path is determined, then the path may be switched to the better path. In one embodiment, one or more zones may be reconfigured to migrate to a different path. Path migration may be performed automatically without user intervention. Alternatively, a user may be given the option to manually migrate to a new path. Embodiments may proactively change paths between an application and its storage before path performance becomes a problem. Embodiments may be integrated with a SAN management system or, alternatively, may be standalone mechanisms.

Abstract: Various embodiments of volume replication are disclosed. A request may be received to replicate a storage layout of a first storage system to a second storage system. A storage layout (e.g., configuration) of the first storage system may be determined, and one or more storage options of the second storage system may be determined. The storage options of the second storage system may include one or more storage devices available to the second storage system. A storage layout for the second storage system may be determined based on the storage options of the second storage system and the storage layout of the first storage system. Determining the storage layout of the second storage system may be based on the user input. The determined storage layout for the second storage system may be implemented, and data from the first storage system may be replicated onto the second storage system.

Abstract: A method is provided for maintaining a connection between a local application and a remote application while the local application is unavailable or inactive. The method includes pausing the local application and sending data over the connection to maintain the connection. A connection filter on the same computing node as the local application sends data to maintain the connection by responding to acknowledgements and heartbeats from the remote application. The connection filter is configured to initiate the restoration of the local application in response to data that it is not configured to handle.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a user interface for creating a dynamic computing environment using allocateable resources. The interface enables the fast, efficient selection and configuration of resources for the computing environment. The resources are fully selectable and allocable by a system architect. In a first embodiment, the ability is provided that allows a customer or system architect to design a system by allocating resources and specifying how the resources are to be used. The system architect may create a computing environment from a remotely accessible user interface such as a web page on the Internet. Thus, the system architect can create, modify and operate the environment from anywhere in the world.

Abstract: Methods and systems to backup data are provided. A first computing device identifies data to backup and stabilizes a frozen image of that data. Next, the frozen image is decomposed into physical storage addresses housing the data. The decomposed storage addresses are sent to a second computing device. The second computing device uses the storage addresses along with existing operating system I/O operations to backup the data to computer readable media.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system may include a storage device configured to provide a storage space for data storage and a file system configured to map files to the storage space for storage and to manage application accesses to the storage device. The file system may be configured to determine a signature of a first file stored on the storage device dependent upon at least a portion of the first file, detect an operation to access content of the first file, where the operation is generated by an application distinct from the file system, and, subsequent to detecting the operation, store a record of the operation associated with the first file, where the record includes a signature corresponding to the first file, information indicating the operation type and information identifying the application.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus and software can make use of persistent reservation commands to establish the port of a shared device that is to be used as an active port by one or more host computer systems coupled to the shared device. Information about one or more paths used to transmit data between a host computer system and the shared device can be used by other host computer systems.

Abstract: A storage management system may provide virtual storage devices for use by an operating system. The storage management system may map files representing the virtual storage devices to a plurality of volumes to be stored on physical storage devices. In various embodiments, the storage management system may include storage management components which manage the files representing the virtual storage devices. In one implementation, the storage management system may support a set of storage commands for the virtual storage devices, including standard commands used by the operating system to communicate with storage devices, and additional commands for communicating with the storage management components.