Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for managing snapshots in storage systems. One method includes logically linking a plurality of snapshots to a logical disk in a storage network; and splitting the snapshots from the logical disk to form a snapshot tree that includes the snapshots split from the logical disk.

Abstract: A method for writing data to a RAID 5 configuration of hard disks writes two or more items of data to a data stripe together. The method includes the determining of the suitability of data items to be written together, the storing of the new data items to temporary buffers, the reading of the original data and parity from the hard disk to the temporary buffers, the modification of the parity and the writing of the new data and new parity to the hard disks.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to an instant snapshot-tree-copy operation that, when directed to an existing snapshot tree, generates a data-structure framework for a copy of the existing snapshot tree that can be immediately accessed while a background-copy process copies data from the existing snapshot tree to the copy snapshot tree. The background-copy process copies data from the existing snapshot tree to the copy snapshot tree in top-down fashion, from the source logical device through each of the snapshot logical devices. While copying each logical device, the background-copy process sequentially copies data-storage units from a corresponding logical device of the existing snapshot tree to the copy-snapshot-tree logical device, making sure to adjust chains of dependencies within the copy snapshot tree to reflect modifications to the snapshot copy tree that occur independently from the background-copy process.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to an instant snapshot-tree-copy operation that, when directed to an existing snapshot tree, generates a data-structure framework for a copy of the existing snapshot tree that can be immediately accessed while a background-copy process copies data from the existing snapshot tree to the copy snapshot tree. The background-copy process copies data from the existing snapshot tree to the copy snapshot tree in top-down fashion, from the source logical device through each of the snapshot logical devices. While copying each logical device, the background-copy process sequentially copies data-storage units from a corresponding logical device of the existing snapshot tree to the copy-snapshot-tree logical device, making sure to adjust chains of dependencies within the copy snapshot tree to reflect modifications to the snapshot copy tree that occur independently from the background-copy process.

Abstract: Exemplary storage network architectures, data architectures, and methods for data restore operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a storage device comprises a processor, a memory module communicatively connected to the processor, and logic instructions in the memory module which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to receive a signal that identifies a source volume and a first target snapshot that represents a point in time copy of the source volume, update metadata to define an restore relationship between the first target snapshot and the source volume, execute a background copy process between the first target snapshot and the source volume, and manage input/output operations during the background copy process to permit input/output operations to the source volume during the background copy process.

Abstract: A method for writing data to a RAID 5 configuration of hard disks writes two or more items of data to a data stripe together. The method includes the determining of the suitability of data items to be written together, the storing of the new data items to temporary buffers, the reading of the original data and parity from the hard disk to the temporary buffers, the modification of the parity and the writing of the new data and new parity to the hard disks.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for managing snapshots in storage systems. One method includes logically linking a plurality of snapshots to a logical disk in a storage network; and splitting the snapshots from the logical disk to form a snapshot tree that includes the snapshots split from the logical disk.

Abstract: Exemplary storage network architectures, data architectures, and methods for data restore operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a storage device comprises a processor, a memory module communicatively connected to the processor, and logic instructions in the memory module which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to receive a signal that identifies a source volume and a first target snapshot that represents a point in time copy of the source volume, update metadata to define an restore relationship between the first target snapshot and the source volume, execute a background copy process between the first target snapshot and the source volume, and manage input/output operations during the background copy process to permit input/output operations to the source volume during the background copy process.

Abstract: A block of data is written to a location on a first storage system. Version checking data associated with the block of data and having a predetermined initial value is also written to the first storage system. The version checking data is then written to a second storage system. Upon subsequent writing of data to the same location on the first storage system, the version checking data on the first storage system is incremented and the incremented version checking data is stored on the second storage system. When reading the group of data from the first storage system, the data is validated by comparing the version checking data on the first storage system with version checking data on the second storage system.