Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for maintaining, by a computing device, mapper objects, wherein the mapper objects may be variable size and include tops, mids, and leafs. Only new pointers may be maintained inside successor tops and mids. An overwrite map structure may be maintained on each of the tops, mids, and leafs. In the overwrite map structure on a mid, a snapshotID of a leaf that was last updated may be provided, from which the mid is to be inherited based upon a received IO.

Abstract: Techniques provide communications bandwidth between storage processors (SPs). Such techniques involve electrically coupling the SPs with a first side of a midplane. Such techniques further involve electrically coupling a network interface controller (NIC) device with a second side of the midplane that is opposite the first side of the midplane. Such techniques further involve configuring the NIC device to convey communications between the SPs while the SPs are electrically coupled with the first side of the midplane and while the NIC device is electrically coupled with the second side of the midplane that is opposite the first side of the midplane.

Abstract: A virtual storage appliance receives a request to increase its total storage capacity, and processes the request by performing a resize operation on all backend virtual volumes that are attached to the virtual storage appliance while efficiently considering constraints of the cloud computing platform and its own system constraints. The resize operation increases a size of each one of the backend virtual volumes, e.g., by the same amount. In response to detecting that the resize operation has been completed on all the backend virtual volumes, the virtual storage appliance indicates that a new, increased total storage capacity of the virtual storage appliance is available for use. The resize operation is performed without moving any previously stored contents of the backend virtual volumes, and without changing the total number of backend virtual volumes that are attached to the virtual storage appliance.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a processing device configured to initiate garbage collection for data pages stored in local storage of a storage node of a storage system. The processing device is also configured to determine, for a given data page stored in the local storage of the storage node, a validity score characterizing a size of changed data in the given data page, and to compare the validity score for the given data page to at least one designated threshold. The processing device is further configured to update a given page object for the given data page in an object store of persistent storage responsive to a first comparison result, and to generate, in the object store of the persistent storage, a page delta object for the given data page responsive to a second comparison result, the page delta object comprising the changed data in the given data page.

Abstract: A technique for performing load balancing between storage nodes includes generating a first performance metric for volumes accessed through a first storage node and generating a second performance metric for volumes accessed through a second storage node. The volumes accessed through the first storage node include a set of volumes that belong to a NAS (network-attached storage) file server hosted by the first storage node. In response to detecting a load imbalance based on the first performance metric and the second performance metric, the technique further includes moving the NAS file server from the first storage node to the second storage node and hosting the set of volumes that belong to the NAS file server from the second storage node.

Abstract: A method is provided for use in a storage processor, the method comprising: receiving a write request, the write request including a request to store user data in an array that includes a plurality of solid-state drives (SSD); executing the write request by: identifying metadata that is associated with the write request, and writing the user data and the metadata to different data streams that are opened on the plurality of SSDs; wherein writing the user data and the metadata to different data streams causes: (i) the user data to be stored in one or more first erase units of any of the plurality of SSDs, and (ii) the metadata to be stored in one or more second erase units of any of the plurality of SSDs, such that no part of the metadata is stored on any of the one or more first erase units, and no part of the user data is stored on any of the one or more second erase units.

Abstract: A technique is directed to providing dynamic redundant array of independent disks (RAID) transformation which involves measuring a set of storage array parameters for an existing RAID configuration residing in a storage array. The technique further involves identifying a new RAID configuration to use in place of the existing RAID configuration based on the measured set of storage array parameters. The technique further involves, after the new RAID configuration is identified, transforming the existing RAID configuration into the new RAID configuration.

Abstract: Techniques for address translation can include: performing first processing that maintains a first storage tier including first metadata pages of a hierarchical structure, and performing second processing that maintains a second storage tier including second metadata pages of the hierarchical structure. The first processing can include storing updated versions of the first metadata pages in place at static physical addresses of the first storage tier. The second processing can include storing updated versions of the second metadata pages at new physical storage locations. Prior to updating the second metadata pages, prior versions of the second metadata pages can be stored at other physical storage locations of the second storage tier, where the other physical storage location are different from the new physical storage locations. The first storage tier can be a non-parity RAID configuration such as RAID-1. The second storage tier can be a parity configuration such as RAID-5.

Abstract: A system can use non-volatile solid state drives (SSDs) to provide storage. The SSDs can implement internal log structured systems (LSSs). A reversible write operation can be serviced by an SSD to write first data to an SSD logical address. The reversible write operation can update the SSD logical address to store the first data rather than old data stored at the SSD logical address prior to servicing the reversible write operation. The old data can be stored at an SSD physical address and mapping information indicates the SSD logical address is mapped to the SSD physical address. Servicing the reversible write operation can include: retaining the mapping information and the old data; and adding second mapping information that maps the SSD logical address to a second SSD physical address storing the first data. A subsequent read operation can read the old data using the retained mapping information.

Abstract: A host can include a programmable network interface card (NIC) or “Smart NIC” which accesses host-local drives hidden from a host processor. One configuration can include a switch with a one logical partition including the NIC as a root complex (RC) and the local drives as end points (EPs), and with another logical partition including the host processor as an RC and the NIC as an EP. A second configuration can include the NIC and switch directly connected to the host processor with an access control component (ACC) configured on switch ports connected to the local drives. A third configuration can include the NIC and local drives directly connected to the host processor with the ACC configured on host processor ports connected to the local drives. The NIC can use a multi-layer driver to communicate with the ACC and local drives hidden behind the ACC.

Abstract: A storage system in one embodiment comprises a front-end device and a first storage node corresponding to the front-end device. The first storage node comprises a processor that is separate from the front-end device. The front-end device is configured to obtain a write operation that comprises at least a first block of data and to calculate a hash digest based at least in part on the first block of data. The front-end device is configured to provide the hash digest to the processor. The processor is configured to identify a first data page that comprises a second block of data that is a target for replacement by the first block of data and to identify a second storage node based at least in part on the first data page. The processor is configured to transmit the hash digest to the second storage node.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for deploying a storage processor of a storage system as a target of a non-volatile memory express (NVMe) over fabric (NVMe-oF) network. One or more NVMe storage devices coupled to the storage processor may be identified, thus defining one or more local NVMe storage devices. A smart network interface card may be coupled to the NVMe-oF network. The smart network interface card may be provided with access to the one or more local NVMe storage devices via the NVMe-oF network.

Abstract: A technique protects user data within a storage system. The technique involves, in response to a request signal that directs the storage system to store the user data, generating first parity and second parity based on the user data. The technique further involves storing the first parity and the user data in a data uber of the storage system, the data uber providing redundant array of independent disks (RAID) protection. The technique further involves storing the second parity in designated free storage of the storage system, the designated free storage being separate from the data uber.

Abstract: A technique garbage collects user data within a storage system. The technique involves, in response to a request signal that directs the storage system to garbage collect user data, coalescing first user data and second user data to form new user data. The technique further involves generating first parity and second parity based on the new user data. The technique further involves storing the first parity and the new user data in a data uber of the storage system, the data uber providing redundant array of independent disks (RAID) protection. The technique further involves storing the second parity in designated free storage of the storage system, the designated free storage being separate from the data uber.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for determining that one non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) drive of a pair of NVRAM drives of a storage system is offline, thus defining an offline NVRAM drive and an online NVRAM drive. A virtual disk may be generated on a plurality of solid-state disks (SSDs) of the storage system. The contents of the online NVRAM drive may be copied to the virtual disk. The virtual disk may be exposed to the storage system as a representation of the offline NVRAM drive.

Abstract: A system can use non-volatile solid state drives (SSDs) to provide storage. The SSDs can implement internal log structured systems (LSSs). A reversible write operation can be serviced by an SSD to write first data to an SSD logical address. The reversible write operation can update the SSD logical address to store the first data rather than old data stored at the SSD logical address prior to servicing the reversible write operation. The old data can be stored at an SSD physical address and mapping information indicates the SSD logical address is mapped to the SSD physical address. Servicing the reversible write operation can include: retaining the mapping information and the old data; and adding second mapping information that maps the SSD logical address to a second SSD physical address storing the first data. A subsequent read operation can read the old data using the retained mapping information.

Abstract: A file storage application that processes file operations is communicably connected with a block storage application that processes block operations by establishing multiple communication sessions between the file storage application and the block storage application. Multiple logical volumes provided by the block storage application are exposed to the file storage application over the multiple communication sessions established between the file storage application and the block storage application using a total number of logical paths to the logical volumes that is equivalent to the total number of the logical volumes provided by the block storage application to the file storage application.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for identifying, by a computing device, storage containers that contain cold data. At least a portion of the storage containers may be processed to determine whether a first compression technique will result in a higher level of compression above a threshold level of compression than a second compression technique. The storage containers may be processed using the first compression technique based upon, at least in part, determining that the first compression technique will result in the higher level of compression above the threshold level of compression than the second compression technique.

Abstract: A technique of performing data reduction includes, upon detecting a match between similarity hashes of a candidate dataset and a target dataset, evaluating an adjacent candidate dataset and an adjacent target dataset for similarity with each other and, in response to confirming such similarity, performing data reduction of the adjacent candidate dataset with reference to the adjacent target dataset.

Abstract: Techniques providing connectivity between a CPU and physical storage devices (PDs) can use a loop back path formed between two connectors of an extended PO slot when an extended I/O card is inserted therein. The two connectors can include a first connector having connectivity with the CPU over a first set of lanes, and a second connector having connectivity with the PDs over a second set of lanes. While the extended I/O card is inserted into the I/O slot, connectivity can be provided between the CPU and the PDs using connectivity provided between the CPU and the first connector and the first set of lanes; using the loop back path provided between the first and second connectors; and using connectivity provided between the second connector and the PDs over the second set of lanes.