Abstract: Exemplary storage network architectures, data architectures, and methods for creating and using snapdifference files in storage networks are described. One exemplary method may be implemented in a processor in a storage network. The method comprises detecting a failure in a source volume, and in response to the failure: terminating communication with one or more applications that generate I/O requests to the source volume; refreshing the source volume; copying a backup data set to the source volume, and while the backup data set is being copied: activating a new snapdifference file; restarting communication with one or more applications that generate I/O requests to the source volume; and recording I/O operations to the source volume in the snapdifference file.

Abstract: Exemplary storage network architectures, data architectures, and methods for creating and using snapdifference files in storage networks are described. One exemplary method may be implemented in a processor in a storage network. The method comprises receiving a request to execute a snapclone operation; generating, in response to the received service request, a snapclone copy of a source disk volume contemporaneous with the generation of the snapclone file, opening a first snapdifference file; and recording I/O operations to the source disk volume in the snapdifference file. The methods described herein may be embodied as logic instructions on a computer-readable medium.

Abstract: Exemplary storage network architectures, data architectures, and methods for performing backup operations in storage networks are described. One exemplary method may be implemented in a processor in a storage network. The method comprises generating a snapclone of a source volume at a first point in time; contemporaneously activating a first snapdifference file logically linked to the snapclone; recording I/O operations that change a data set in the source volume to the first snapdifference file; closing the first snapdifference file; generating a backup copy of the snapclone at a second point in time, after the first point in time; and generating a backup copy of the first snapdifference file at a third point in time, after the second point in time.

Abstract: Exemplary storage network architectures, data architectures, and methods for creating and using snapdifference files in storage networks are described. One exemplary method may be implemented in a processor in a storage network. The method comprises detecting a failure in a source volume, and in response to the failure: terminating communication with one or more applications that generate I/O requests to the source volume; refreshing the source volume; copying a backup data set to the source volume, and while the backup data set is being copied: activating a new snapdifference file; restarting communication with one or more applications that generate I/O requests to the source volume; and recording I/O operations to the source volume in the snapdifference file.

Abstract: Exemplary storage network architectures, data architectures, and methods for creating and using snapdifference files in storage networks are described. One exemplary method may be implemented in a processor in a storage network. The method comprises receiving a request to execute a snapclone operation; generating, in response to the received service request, a snapclone copy of a source disk volume contemporaneous with the generation of the snapclone file, opening a first snapdifference file; and recording I/O operations to the source disk volume in the snapdifference file. The methods described herein may be embodied as logic instructions on a computer-readable medium.

Abstract: A method, system and program product of block formatting a data storage medium in or to be added to an array of data storage media to a desired block format, the method comprising in one embodiment, writing initially only to any region of the data storage media that will be read during initialization of the array of data storage media; and setting a write size for writing steps to be performed after initialization to be greater than or equal to a read size.

Abstract: A method of block formatting a first data storage medium in or to be added to an array of data storage media to a desired block format is provided comprising the steps of sensing a current block format of the first data storage medium that is different from the desired block format, flagging the first data storage medium with the current block format different from the desired block format, and block formatting the flagged data storage media, wherein at least one of the step of sensing a current block format and the step of block formatting the flagged data storage media is based on a criteria.