Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control Input/Output (IO) access to the storage mediums. In operation, the controller is arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all IO access for the image to the second storage medium, and periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium.

Abstract: A storage management method for use in a storage area network is provided. The storage area network comprises a plurality of host data processors coupled to a virtualization engine, which is coupled to a plurality of physical storage media. Each physical storage media is assigned a tier level. The method comprises storing a threshold storage access value associated with each tier level, presenting virtual disk(s) to a host data processor and receiving I/O requests to the virtual disk from the host data processor. Additionally, metadata is stored which identifies the tier level of the physical storage to which the block corresponds, mappings between the block and blocks of a virtual disk, and an access rate to the data. The access value is periodically compared to at least one threshold rate associated with its tier level. Depending on the result, storage block(s) may be marked for migration to another tier level.

Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control I/O access to the storage mediums. The controller is further arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all I/O access for the image to the second storage medium, periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium, create a new empty bitmap for each period, and in response to an I/O access for data in the image, update the latest bitmap to indicate that the data has been accessed and update the previous bitmaps to indicate that the data has not been accessed.

Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control I/O access to the storage mediums. The controller is further arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all I/O access for the image to the second storage medium, periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium, create a new empty bitmap for each period, and in response to an I/O access for data in the image, update the latest bitmap to indicate that the data has been accessed and update the previous bitmaps to indicate that the data has not been accessed.

Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control I/O access to the storage mediums. The controller is further arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all I/O access for the image to the second storage medium, periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium, create a new empty bitmap for each period, and in response to an I/O access for data in the image, update the latest bitmap to indicate that the data has been accessed and update the previous bitmaps to indicate that the data has not been accessed.

Abstract: A method, and system for employing the method, for virtual data storage migration providing a plurality of data storage devices communicating with at least one computer system. A plurality of data being managed by the computer system and an archive data storage device is selected from the plurality of data storage devices. Specified data is selected for archiving in the archive data storage device when the archive data meets a specified archive criteria. After the archived specified data is accessed in the archive data storage device at a predetermined frequency, the archive data is migrated to an active data storage device in a powered up state. The archive data storage device is then powering down.

Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control I/O access to the storage mediums. The controller is further arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all I/O access for the image to the second storage medium, periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium, create a new empty bitmap for each period, and in response to an I/O access for data in the image, update the latest bitmap to indicate that the data has been accessed and update the previous bitmaps to indicate that the data has not been accessed.

Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control Input/Output (IO) access to the storage mediums. In operation, the controller is arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all IO access for the image to the second storage medium, and periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium.

Abstract: A storage management method for use in a storage area network is provided. The storage area network comprises a plurality of host data processors coupled to a virtualization engine, which is coupled to a plurality of physical storage media. Each physical storage media is assigned a tier level. The method comprises storing a threshold storage access value associated with each tier level, presenting virtual disk(s) to a host data processor and receiving I/O requests to the virtual disk from the host data processor. Additionally, metadata is stored which identifies the tier level of the physical storage to which the block corresponds, mappings between the block and blocks of a virtual disk, and an access rate to the data. The access value is periodically compared to at least one threshold rate associated with its tier level. Depending on the result, storage block(s) may be marked for migration to another tier level.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operational risk in a data processing system comprises a risk domain segmenter for segmenting the data processing system into a plurality of risk domains, a domain risk threshold selector for selecting a domain risk threshold for at least one of the plurality of risk domains, a system element monitor operable to query the data processing system for an indication of presence of system elements, a risk quantizer for evaluating a system element for element risk and for computing the potential contribution of the element risk to a domain risk total, a risk threshold comparator for comparing the domain risk total with the domain risk threshold, and a domain assignor operable to assign the system element to a risk domain in dependency upon an output of the risk threshold comparator.

Abstract: A storage management method for use in a storage area network is provided. The storage area network comprises a plurality of host data processors coupled to a virtualization engine, which is coupled to a plurality of physical storage media. Each physical storage media is assigned a tier level. The method comprises storing a threshold storage access value associated with each tier level, presenting virtual disk(s) to a host data processor and receiving I/O requests to the virtual disk from the host data processor. Additionally, metadata is stored which identifies the tier level of the physical storage to which the block corresponds, mappings between the block and blocks of a virtual disk, and an access rate to the data. The access value is periodically compared to at least one threshold rate associated with its tier level. Depending on the result, storage block(s) may be marked for migration to another tier level.

Abstract: A storage control apparatus, in communication with a cluster of storage devices in a storage network having plural administrator systems, comprises a cluster lock requester component, a cluster lock receiver component and a configuration component, wherein, responsive to receipt of a cluster lock by said cluster lock receiver component, the configuration component is operable to configure a logical resource object within said cluster. The apparatus may also include a cluster lock granter component operable to grant a cluster lock to the cluster lock receiver component responsive to said cluster lock requester component. A method of operating a storage control apparatus includes method steps corresponding to functional components of an apparatus and may be embodied in computer program codes.

Abstract: A storage network includes a path processor for directing data onto one of two or more paths between an application host and two or more storage controllers in a storage subsystem. To determine a data path within the storage network, the operational status of a storage controller in the storage subsystem is monitored. It is determined whether a change in the operational status of the storage controller is a failure or a potential failure. This determination is sent to the path processor. The path processor redirects application host data from the path controller on the basis of the determination.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for update of configuration cache data in a disk storage subsystem in which a cache memory (110) is updated using two-phase (220, 250) commit technique. This provides the advantage that known changes to the subsystem do not require an invalidate/rebuild style operation on the cache. This is especially important where a change will invalidate the entire cache.

Abstract: A large population of mass-produced devices (80) such as a particular model of computer hard disk drive, are distributed around the world. Each device (80) includes an arrangement for collecting failure analysis data of the device (50). Each device (80) is arranged to transmit this data to the device manufacturers server (10) via the internet (20). The server (10) analyses the data in order to determine trends in failure performance of the population of devices in order to improve future designs and to provide updated software for distribution to the devices (80) via the internet (20).

Abstract: A method, and system for employing the method, for virtual data storage migration providing a plurality of data storage devices communicating with at least one computer system. A plurality of data being managed by the computer system and an archive data storage device is selected from the plurality of data storage devices. Specified data is selected for archiving in the archive data storage device when the archive data meets a specified archive criteria. After the archived specified data is accessed in the archive data storage device at a predetermined frequency, the archive data is migrated to an active data storage device in a powered up state. The archive data storage device is then powering down.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program for acquiring analyzed device control support information in a field population of distributed devices operable to be connected in a network to a virtualizer has an aggregator adapted to be coupled to said virtualizer. The virtualizer is adapted to be coupled to at least one device in the field population and operable to query device control support data from the device and forward the device control support data to the aggregator; and the aggregator is operable to aggregate device control support data and forward aggregated data. A host is arranged to receive the aggregated data across the network and to analyze the aggregated data to provide analyzed device control support information for the field population of distributed devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovery from faults in a loop network (500) is provided. The loop network (500) has a plurality of ports (520, 530, 532, 534) serially connected with means for bypassing the ports (520, 530, 532, 534) from the loop network (500). A control device (522, 524) is provided with bypass control over at least one of the ports (530, 532, 534). A host means (502) sends a command to the control device (522, 524) at regular intervals and the control device (522, 524) has a counter which restarts a time period at the receipt of each command. If the time period expires, the control device (522, 524) activates the means for bypassing all the ports (530, 532, 534) under its control. The loop network (500) may have two loops (516, 518) with at least some of the ports (520, 530, 532, 534) common to both loops (516, 518).

Abstract: An arrangement and method for update of configuration cache data in a disk storage subsystem in which a cache memory (110) is updated using two-phase (220, 250) commit technique. This provides the advantage that known changes to the subsystem do not require an invalidate/rebuild style operation on the cache. This is especially important where a change will invalidate the entire cache.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for update of configuration cache data in a disk storage subsystem in which a cache memory (110) is updated using two-phase (220, 250) commit technique. This provides the advantage that known changes to the subsystem do not require an invalidate/rebuild style operation on the cache. This is especially important where a change will invalidate the entire cache.