Abstract: A recovery unit for recovering data includes an antenna and a first wireless transceiver. The first wireless transceiver is configured to communicate via the antenna only with a second wireless transceiver of a storage unit that holds records associated with the data. When an event damaging at least some of the data occurs and the recovery unit is brought into proximity with the storage unit, the recovery unit receives the records from the storage unit for recovery of the data.

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 network appliance (40) includes a processor (48) and a Host Bus Adapter (HBA-44). The processor is configured to execute storage commands in one or more storage devices (28A, 28B). The HBA is coupled to a network (32) so as to receive communication frames sent over the network to the network appliance, and is configured to filter the received communication frames so as to pass through to the processor only a subset of the received communication frames, which correspond to the storage commands that have been sent by one or more applications for processing by the network appliance.

Abstract: A storage device includes a memory and a wireless transmitter, both contained in a disaster-proof enclosure. The memory is configured to receive and store data, and the wireless transmitter is coupled to read and transmit the data from the memory. The disaster-proof enclosure is surrounded by a thermally-insulating layer, and is configured to protect the memory and the transmitter from environmental conditions caused by a disaster event, such that the memory and the wireless transmitter remain functional during and after the disaster event and the transmitter is able to transmit at least a portion of the data to a receiver from within the disaster-proof enclosure after the disaster event.

Abstract: A system of managing remote resources that includes a local storage associated with a local storage manager constituting a local storage system. A remote storage associated with a remote storage manager constituting a local storage system. The local storage system is associated with a remote storage system by means of a first link. The local storage system is configured to send through the first link I/O remote commands complying with the SCSI protocol, for execution in the remote storage system. The system includes a second link associating the local storage system and the remote storage system. The local storage manager being responsive to remote storage management commands and being configured to send through the second link corresponding cross-storage-remote management commands that comply with the SCSI protocol, for execution in the remote storage.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring a sequence of transactions in one or more volumes. The transactions are transferred to a primary storage (112) in a given order, and are replicated to a secondary storage (114). The volumes belong to a volume group (204) for which the transactions are guaranteed to be replicated while retaining the given order. Artificial write transactions (228) are periodically issued to a protection application field, which is redefined in a given volume (212) belonging to the volume group. Records indicative of the transactions, including the artificial transactions, are stored in a disaster-proof storage unit (144). Upon verifying that a given artificial transaction has been successfully replicated in the secondary storage, the records, corresponding to the given artificial write transaction and the transactions that precede it in the sequence are deleted from the disaster-proof storage unit.

Abstract: A recovery unit (90) for recovering data, including an antenna (102) and a first wireless transceiver (100). The first wireless transceiver is configured to communicate via the antenna only with a second wireless transceiver (76) of a storage unit (48) that holds records associated with the data. When an event damaging at least some of the data occurs and the recovery unit is brought into proximity with the storage unit, the recovery unit receives the records from the storage unit for recovery of the data.

Abstract: A method for data protection includes accepting data for storage from one or more data sources (24). The data is sent for storage in a primary storage device (28) and in a secondary storage device (32). While awaiting an indication of successful storage of the data in the secondary storage device, a record associated with the data is temporarily stored in a disaster-proof storage unit (48) adjacent to the primary storage device. When an event damaging at least some of the data in the primary storage device occurs, the data is reconstructed using the record stored in the disaster-proof storage unit and at least part of the data stored in the secondary storage device.

Abstract: A method for data protection includes, in a first operational mode, sending data items for storage in a primary storage device and in a secondary storage device, while temporarily caching the data items in a disaster-proof storage unit and subsequently deleting the data items from the disaster-proof storage unit, wherein each data item is deleted from the disaster-proof storage unit upon successful storage of the data item in the secondary storage device. An indication of a fault related to storage of the data in the secondary storage device is received. Responsively to the indication, operation is switched to a second operational mode in which the data items are sent for storage at least in the primary storage device and are cached and retained in the disaster-proof storage unit irrespective of the successful storage of the data items in the secondary storage device.

Abstract: There are provided a storage system, storage control unit and method of operating thereof. A storage system comprises a permanent storage subsystem comprising a first cache memory and a non-volatile storage medium, and a storage control unit operatively coupled to said subsystem and to a second cache memory operable to cache “dirty” data pending to be written to the permanent storage subsystem and to enable, responsive to at least one command by the control storage unit, destaging said “dirty” data or part thereof to the permanent storage subsystem.

Abstract: A method for data protection includes accepting data for storage from one or more data sources (24). The data is sent for storage in a primary storage device (28) and in a secondary storage device (32). While awaiting an indication of successful storage of the data in the secondary storage device, a record associated with the data is temporarily stored in a disaster-proof storage unit (48) adjacent to the primary storage device. When an event damaging at least some of the data in the primary storage device occurs, the data is reconstructed using the record stored in the disaster-proof storage unit and at least part of the data stored in the secondary storage device.

Abstract: A data processing method includes receiving data objects for storage by a primary storage device. A first instance of each of at least some of the received data objects is cached in a disaster-proof storage unit. A second instance of each received data object is sent for storage in a secondary storage device. A list of identifiers of the data objects that are cached in the disaster-proof storage unit at a given point in time is sent from the disaster-proof storage unit to the secondary storage device. Following an event that renders at least some of the data objects on the primary storage device inaccessible, a request sent to the secondary storage device to access a given data object is received. A selection is made, responsively to the list, to serve the cached first instance or the stored second instance of the given data object in response to the request.

Abstract: A storage device includes a memory and a wireless transmitter, both contained in a disaster-proof enclosure. The memory is configured to receive and store data, and the wireless transmitter is coupled to read and transmit the data from the memory. The disaster-proof enclosure is surrounded by a thermally-insulating layer, and is configured to protect the memory and the transmitter from environmental conditions caused by a disaster event, such that the memory and the wireless transmitter remain functional during and after the disaster event and the transmitter is able to transmit at least a portion of the data to a receiver from within the disaster-proof enclosure after the disaster event.

Abstract: A method for data protection includes accepting data for storage from one or more data sources (24). The data is sent for storage in a primary storage device (28) and in a secondary storage device (32). While awaiting an indication of successful storage of the data in the secondary storage device, a record associated with the data is temporarily stored in a disaster-proof storage unit (48) adjacent to the primary storage device. When an event damaging at least some of the data in the primary storage device occurs, the data is reconstructed using the record stored in the disaster-proof storage unit and at least part of the data stored in the secondary storage device.

Abstract: A method for data protection includes accepting data for storage from one or more data sources (24). The data is sent for storage in a primary storage device (28) and in a secondary storage device (32). While awaiting an indication of successful storage of the data in the secondary storage device, a record associated with the data is temporarily stored in a disaster-proof storage unit (48) adjacent to the primary storage device. When an event damaging at least some of the data in the primary storage device occurs, the data is reconstructed using the record stored in the disaster-proof storage unit and at least part of the data stored in the secondary storage device.

Abstract: There is provided a SAS grid storage system and a method of operating thereof. The system comprises a) a storage control grid comprising a plurality of interconnected data servers operable in accordance with at least one SAS protocol and b) a plurality of disk units adapted to store data at respective ranges of logical block addresses (LBAs), said addresses constituting an entire address space. Each disk unit comprises at least one input/output (IO) module comprising at least one internal SAS expander configured as a target with regard to the storage control grid. The plurality of disk units is operatively connected to the storage control grid in a manner enabling to each data server comprised in the storage control grid an access to each disk unit among the plurality of disk units.

Abstract: A method for data protection includes, in a first operational mode, sending data items for storage in a primary storage device and in a secondary storage device, while temporarily caching the data items in a disaster-proof storage unit and subsequently deleting the data items from the disaster-proof storage unit, wherein each data item is deleted from the disaster-proof storage unit upon successful storage of the data item in the secondary storage device. An indication of a fault related to storage of the data in the secondary storage device is received. Responsively to the indication, operation is switched to a second operational mode in which the data items are sent for storage at least in the primary storage device and are cached and retained in the disaster-proof storage unit irrespective of the successful storage of the data items in the secondary storage device.

Abstract: A method for data protection includes accepting data for storage from one or more data sources (24). The data is sent for storage in a primary storage device (28) and in a secondary storage device (32). While awaiting an indication of successful storage of the data in the secondary storage device, a record associated with the data is temporarily stored in a disaster-proof storage unit (48) adjacent to the primary storage device. When an event damaging at least some of the data in the primary storage device occurs, the data is reconstructed using the record stored in the disaster-proof storage unit and at least part of the data stored in the secondary storage device.

Abstract: A data processing method includes receiving data objects for storage by a primary storage device. A first instance of each of at least some of the received data objects is cached in a disaster-proof storage unit. A second instance of each received data object is sent for storage in a secondary storage device. A list of identifiers of the data objects that are cached in the disaster-proof storage unit at a given point in time is sent from the disaster-proof storage unit to the secondary storage device. Following an event that renders at least some of the data objects on the primary storage device inaccessible, a request sent to the secondary storage device to access a given data object is received. A selection is made, responsively to the list, to serve the cached first instance or the stored second instance of the given data object in response to the request.

Abstract: A computer is disclosed having a semiconductor memory; a disk data storage device of the type which automatically switches to a low power consumption mode when disk access is not required; and means for associating an application program with a plurality of data files which are usable by the application. The computer is arranged to load the plurality of data files from the disk data storage device into the semiconductor memory before use of the application and to save at least any modified ones of the plurality of files back to the disk data storage device after use of the application. In this way, access to the disk data storage device is not required during use of the application program, thereby reducing power consumption of the device.