Abstract: Storage resource integration layer interfaces are provided. Storage operations associated with interfaces of a plurality of storage resources are normalized and provided as a common set of modules accessible to a storage application. Moreover, configuration modules are provided to the storage application to acquire configuration settings associated with storage residing on the storage resources. In one embodiment, virtualization modules are provided to the storage application to permit the storage application to create and link virtual storage resources from the storage resources.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying methods of quiescing a storage object. Data is received identifying the storage object and a freeze list is generated. The freeze list includes one or more freeze methods appropriate for quiescing the storage object. Generating includes creating a hierarchy of logical storage objects below the identified storage object, associating quiesce characteristics with each logical storage object below the identified storage object and generating freeze vectors as a function of quiesce characteristics associated with each logical storage object below the identified storage object.

Abstract: Embodiments of a distributed storage integration mechanism. A host node may run a proxy for a storage service on another host node locally, and commands generated on the host node for the storage devices may be proxied out to the host node that hosts the storage service. Storage services may be installed on one or more hosts and other hosts may use proxies to the services to access and manage corresponding storage devices. In one embodiment, the distributed storage integration mechanism may support a peer-to-peer type system for accessing and managing storage devices on a network. A host may determine which other host(s) on the network includes a service for a particular storage device. The host may proxy in the object(s) to support the storage device. In one embodiment, the host may dynamically proxy in a GUI (graphical user interface) for the storage service.

Abstract: Methods and systems for storage architectures are provided. Storage resource provider modules interface with storage resources to perform storage operations. A storage management data store maintains storage data associated with a storage environment of the storage resources. The storage resource provider modules retrieve and update the storage management data in response to processing the storage operations. In one embodiment, a storage management application requests a selected storage resource provider module to perform a selected storage operation. The storage management application determines the selected storage resource provider module by acquiring the storage management data in the data store.

Abstract: Methods, functional data, and systems for logically representing a storage environment are provided. A target storage environment having one or more storage data objects is mapped to a data structure. Any subsequent disparate or remote but similar storage environment has direct or indirect access to the data structure such that one or more of the data objects are permissibly directly/indirectly referenced or replicated within the disparate or remote but similar storage storage environment. Changes to the data structure are communicated, thereby ensuring the reliable use of the representation for the target storage environment.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying methods of quiescing a storage object. Data is received identifying the storage object and a freeze list is generated. The freeze list includes one or more freeze methods appropriate for quiescing the storage object. Generating includes creating a hierarchy of logical storage objects below the identified storage object, associating quiesce characteristics with each logical storage object below the identified storage object and generating freeze vectors as a function of quiesce characteristics associated with each logical storage object below the identified storage object.

Abstract: Methods and systems to access storage objects are provided. A reference to a storage object is used to determine a storage stack level associated with the reference. If the storage stack level is not the lowest level of a storage stack, then the reference is translated to a next stack level reference and passed through to a next stack level associated with the stack. References are translated and passed through iteratively until the lowest level of the stack is reached, wherein an absolute reference to the storage object is obtained and propagated back to an original referencing module, thereby providing access to the storage object.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus to interface with storage objects are provided. A storage object handle is provided on request and a storage object is mapped within a first storage environment. Further, a configuration identifier notifies client modules when the storage object's physical locations are altered in the first storage environment. API libraries provide client modules access to use the storage object, even when the client modules reside in a second storage environment.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying methods of quiescing a storage object. Data is received identifying the storage object and a freeze list is generated. The freeze list includes one or more freeze methods appropriate for quiescing the storage object. Generating includes creating a hierarchy of logical storage objects below the identified storage object, associating quiesce characteristics with each logical storage object below the identified storage object and generating freeze vectors as a function of quiesce characteristics associated with each logical storage object below the identified storage object.

Abstract: Storage services and systems are provided. Virtual disks include a number of storage states and are associated with storage operations that are provided with the virtual disks. Moreover, a storage management set of executable instructions is configured based on values assigned to the states when the storage operations are performed against the virtual disks. In some embodiments, a selection set of executable instructions permits the selective execution of the storage operations.

Abstract: Methods and systems to bridge storage management software are provided. A first storage management application communicates with a host and performs an analysis of a storage environment associated with the host. The first storage management application uses the analysis to determine if a storage resource interface is controlled by a second storage management application, and if so a plugin application is accessed by the first storage management application to permit the second storage management application to perform a storage management operation on behalf of the host. In one embodiment, the analysis is updated by the first storage management application upon receiving results from second storage management application, where the results reflect the processing of the storage management operation by the second storage management application.

Abstract: Methods and systems to bridge storage management software are provided. A first storage management application communicates with a host and performs an analysis of a storage environment associated with the host. The first storage management application uses the analysis to determine if a storage resource interface is controlled by a second storage management application, and if so a plugin application is accessed by the first storage management application to permit the second storage management application to perform a storage management operation on behalf of the host. In one embodiment, the analysis is updated by the first storage management application upon receiving results from second storage management application, where the results reflect the processing of the storage management operation by the second storage management application.

Abstract: Methods and systems for storage architectures are provided. Storage resource provider modules interface with storage resources to perform storage operations. A storage management data store maintains storage data associated with a storage environment of the storage resources. The storage resource provider modules retrieve and update the storage management data in response to processing the storage operations. In one embodiment, a storage management application requests a selected storage resource provider module to perform a selected storage operation. The storage management application determines the selected storage resource provider module by acquiring the storage management data in the data store.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying methods of quiescing a storage object. Data is received identifying the storage object and a freeze list is generated. The freeze list includes one or more freeze methods appropriate for quiescing the storage object. Generating includes creating a hierarchy of logical storage objects below the identified storage object, associating quiesce characteristics with each logical storage object below the identified storage object and generating freeze vectors as a function of quiesce characteristics associated with each logical storage object below the identified storage object.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying methods of quiescing a storage object. Data is received identifying the storage object and a freeze list is generated. The freeze list includes one or more freeze methods appropriate for quiescing the storage object. Generating includes creating a hierarchy of logical storage objects below the identified storage object, associating quiesce characteristics with each logical storage object below the identified storage object and generating freeze vectors as a function of quiesce characteristics associated with each logical storage object below the identified storage object.

Abstract: Methods and systems for storage architectures are provided. Storage resource provider modules interface with storage resources to perform storage operations. A storage management data store maintains storage data associated with a storage environment of the storage resources. The storage resource provider modules retrieve and update the storage management data in response to processing the storage operations. In one embodiment, a storage management application requests a selected storage resource provider module to perform a selected storage operation. The storage management application determines the selected storage resource provider module by acquiring the storage management data in the data store.

Abstract: Methods and systems for storage architectures are provided. Storage resource provider modules interface with storage resources to perform storage operations. A storage management data store maintains storage data associated with a storage environment of the storage resources. The storage resource provider modules retrieve and update the storage management data in response to processing the storage operations. In one embodiment, a storage management application requests a selected storage resource provider module to perform a selected storage operation. The storage management application determines the selected storage resource provider module by acquiring the storage management data in the data store.

Abstract: Methods and systems to bridge storage management software are provided. A first storage management application communicates with a host and performs an analysis of a storage environment associated with the host. The first storage management application uses the analysis to determine if a storage resource interface is controlled by a second storage management application, and if so a plugin application is accessed by the first storage management application to permit the second storage management application to perform a storage management operation on behalf of the host. In one embodiment, the analysis is updated by the first storage management application upon receiving results from second storage management application, where the results reflect the processing of the storage management operation by the second storage management application.

Abstract: Storage services and systems are provided. Virtual disks include a number of storage states and are associated with storage operations that are provided with the virtual disks. Moreover, a storage management set of executable instructions is configured based on values assigned to the states when the storage operations are performed against the virtual disks. In some embodiments, a selection set of executable instructions permits the selective execution of the storage operations.

Abstract: Storage resource integration layer interfaces are provided. Storage operations associated with interfaces of a plurality of storage resources are normalized and provided as a common set of modules accessible to a storage application. Moreover, configuration modules are provided to the storage application to acquire configuration settings associated with storage residing on the storage resources. In one embodiment, virtualization modules are provided to the storage application to permit the storage application to create and link virtual storage resources from the storage resources.