Abstract: An improved system and method for providing updates, drivers and other utilities to target systems utilizes a directory service. A target object, a policy object and a virtual media image object are provided within the directory service. The virtual media image object includes one or more updates needed by the associated target system. The target system may automatically access the directory service and interface with the target object and policy object to locate the virtual media image object and gain access to the virtual media image object.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a first and second storage volumes each having a plurality of storage resources and a management module. An upper layer management module acts to manage the mirroring of the first and second storage volumes and to receive detected storage resource failure notifications from the management modules. The upper level management module then initiates a rebuild of the failed storage resource, without requiring a rebuild of an entire storage volume.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing read performance of at least one storage array using a spare storage array of coupled spare drives, wherein the at least one storage array includes coupled drives configured to store data according to a redundant storage methodology. Data is copied from at least one logical disk of data from the at least one storage array onto the spare storage array and read from the least busy array of the at least one storage array or the spare storage array.

Abstract: A method of clustering in an information handling system is disclosed. The method includes defining at each of two nodes a logical storage unit corresponding to a locally attached storage device. The logical storage units are then interfaced through iSCSI targets at the nodes to expose iSCSI logical units. Each node is connected to both iSCSI logical units using an iSCSI initiator. Each node uses a local volume manager to configure a RAID 1 set comprising both iSCSI logical units. The RAID 1 sets are then identified to a clustering agent on each node as quorum drives.

Abstract: A cluster network is disclosed in which of the storage drives of the network are distributed across the nodes of the network. Data is stored to the drives of the network according to a RAID storage methodology and without the necessity for shared external storage.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and data structures are provided for identifying host information at a physical layer of an information handling system. The method includes issuing a command from a host computer and sending a host information command to a device. The command may be issued in a first transport protocol. The host information command may include a host identifier identifying the host that issued the command and a tag identifying a reissued command, the reissued command including the command reissued in a second transport protocol.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are disclosed for assigning logical storage units to host computers in an information handling system. The method includes associating an application program to one or more storage units and assigning each storage unit to an associated host computer.

Abstract: The system and method is described herein for preventing HBA port logins to a networked target device unless the HBA has been authorized to perform a port login to that networked device. The HBA driver selectively performs a port login with a target device based on whether the unique hardware address of the target device is included on the HBA driver's unique hardware address access table. During the storage assignment step of the login process, the user selects the target devices that will be assigned to the host. The unique hardware addresses of these target devices will be stored on a unique hardware address access list. During the device discovery step of the login process, the HBA driver compares the unique hardware address of the target device with the unique hardware address access list. If the target device's unique hardware address is listed on the unique hardware address access list, then the HBA driver will proceed with a port login with that target device.

Abstract: A system and method for providing reliable access by a plurality of user systems in a computer network to data in a centralized storage system. The method includes the steps of placing all storage subunits of the centralized storage system in a default locked state wherein data stored in the storage subunits is not accessible by any user system, providing a user system with an initial key corresponding to a storage subunit, and the user system using the initial key to assign the storage subunit to itself so that no other user system can access data stored therein. When so assigned the storage subunit cannot be reassigned to another user system until the storage subunit has been placed back in the default locked state. One manner of implementing the above steps is using SCSI commands.