Abstract: Proactively optimizing a storage system, including: generating, at a storage system services provider, a list of problem storage systems among a group of storage systems monitored by the storage system services provider; selecting a problem storage system from the list of problem storage systems based on two or more criteria; determining a system update for the selected problem storage system to address a problem with the selected problem storage system; and applying the system update to the selected problem storage system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for snapshot-based hydration of a cloud-based storage system, including: storing, in a cloud computing environment, a snapshot of a dataset that is stored on a separate storage system, wherein the snapshot includes a self-described copy of the dataset such that the dataset can be reconstructed without accessing the separate storage system; creating, in a cloud computing environment, at least a portion of a cloud-based storage system; and populating, from the snapshot that is stored in the cloud computing environment, at least a portion of a storage layer within the cloud-based storage system, wherein the cloud-based storage system can service I/O operations to the dataset after the storage layer has been populated.

Abstract: Locally providing cloud storage array services for a plurality of storage systems within a data center by: receiving a request for storage resources from an operating system level virtualization service; determining, among the plurality of storage systems; an implementation of the request from the operating system level virtualization service; and providing storage resources to the operating system level virtualization service in accordance with the implementation of the request from the operating system level virtualization service.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for performing remote replication including receiving, by a target storage system, an indication that a dataset stored on a source storage system will be replicated to the target storage system; identifying, by the target storage system, portions of the dataset that are not already stored on the target storage system; and initiating, by the target storage system, replication of one or more of the portions of the dataset that are not already stored on the target storage system from a source other than the source storage system.

Abstract: Locally providing cloud storage array services for a plurality of storage systems within a data center by receiving a request from an operating system level virtualization service; and determining, among the plurality of storage systems, an implementation of the request from the operating system level virtualization service, among the plurality of storage systems.

Abstract: An illustrative apparatus is configured to carry out the steps of: comparing one or more performance metrics of a particular storage array in a plurality of storage arrays to one or more corresponding performance metrics of one or more other storage arrays; identifying, based on the comparing, one or more actions for improving one or more conditions of the particular storage array; and presenting one or more projected effects of implementing the one or more actions on the storage array.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for using a cloud assist service to generate a read-only GUI to view the status of a storage system. An authorized user can login remotely to the cloud assist service to view the read-only GUI of the storage system. The read-only GUI will present a view of the status of the storage system that is similar to a local GUI available to users connecting directly to the storage system. Responses used to generate the local GUI are recorded and simulated by the cloud assist service to create a familiar read-only GUI.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for generating an alert on a failure of a storage subsystem to phone home to the cloud in a replication environment. A dataset is replicated from a first storage subsystem to a second storage subsystem. The first and second storage subsystems also phone home log data to the cloud on a periodic basis. In response to detecting a failure of the first storage subsystem to phone home, the cloud generates and sends an alert to the second storage subsystem. In response to receiving this alert, the second storage subsystem starts disaster recovery operations for the dataset.

Abstract: Proactive management of a plurality of storage arrays in a multi-array system, including: comparing one or more conditions of a particular storage array to conditions of other storage arrays in the multi-array system; and generating an action recommendation based on the comparison, the action recommendation specifying one or more actions for improving the conditions of the particular storage array relative to the conditions of the other storage arrays.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for using a cloud assist service to generate a read-only GUI to view the status of a storage system. An authorized user can login remotely to the cloud assist service to view the read-only GUI of the storage system. The read-only GUI will present a view of the status of the storage system that is similar to a local GUI available to users connecting directly to the storage system. Responses used to generate the local GUI are recorded and simulated by the cloud assist service to create a familiar read-only GUI.

Abstract: Placing workloads in a multi-array system comprising a plurality of storage arrays, including: determining, for each of a plurality of storage arrays, a current system activity level trend of the storage array; receiving a performance profile of a workload to be executed on one of the storage arrays; generating, for each of the plurality of storage arrays in dependence upon the current system activity level trend of the storage array and the performance profile of the workload, a projected system activity level trend for the storage array; identifying, in dependence upon the projected system activity level trend for each of the plurality of storage arrays, an optimal storage array for receiving the workload; and placing the workload on the optimal storage array.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for replicating data to the cloud. A first dataset is replicated from a first storage subsystem to the cloud, with only the changes made to the first dataset since a previous replication event being replicated to the cloud. Additionally, the data may be deduplicated and compressed before being replicated from the first storage subsystem to the cloud. In some cases, the first dataset may be replicated to the cloud in a stream format which is not directly usable and then, at a later point in time, loaded onto a second storage subsystem from the cloud.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for generating an alert on a failure of a storage subsystem to phone home to the cloud in a replication environment. A dataset is replicated from a first storage subsystem to a second storage subsystem. The first and second storage subsystems also phone home log data to the cloud on a periodic basis. In response to detecting a failure of the first storage subsystem to phone home, the cloud generates and sends an alert to the second storage subsystem. In response to receiving this alert, the second storage subsystem starts disaster recovery operations for the dataset.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for using a cloud assist service to generate a read-only GUI to view the status of a storage system. An authorized user can login remotely to the cloud assist service to view the read-only GUI of the storage system. The read-only GUI will present a view of the status of the storage system that is similar to a local GUI available to users connecting directly to the storage system. Responses used to generate the local GUI are recorded and simulated by the cloud assist service to create a familiar read-only GUI.

Abstract: Proactive management of a plurality of storage arrays in a multi-array system, including: comparing one or more conditions of a particular storage array to conditions of other storage arrays in the multi-array system; and generating an action recommendation based on the comparison, the action recommendation specifying one or more actions for improving the conditions of the particular storage array relative to the conditions of the other storage arrays.

Abstract: Placing workloads in a multi-array system comprising a plurality of storage arrays, including: determining, for each of a plurality of storage arrays, a current system activity level trend of the storage array; receiving a performance profile of a workload to be executed on one of the storage arrays; generating, for each of the plurality of storage arrays in dependence upon the current system activity level trend of the storage array and the performance profile of the workload, a projected system activity level trend for the storage array; identifying, in dependence upon the projected system activity level trend for each of the plurality of storage arrays, an optimal storage array for receiving the workload; and placing the workload on the optimal storage array.

Abstract: Placing workloads in a multi-array system comprising a plurality of storage arrays, including: determining, for each of a plurality of storage arrays, a current system activity level trend of the storage array; receiving a performance profile of a workload to be executed on one of the storage arrays; generating, for each of the plurality of storage arrays in dependence upon the current system activity level trend of the storage array and the performance profile of the workload, a projected system activity level trend for the storage array; identifying, in dependence upon the projected system activity level trend for each of the plurality of storage arrays, an optimal storage array for receiving the workload; and placing the workload on the optimal storage array.

Abstract: Proactive management of a plurality of storage arrays in a multi-array system, including: comparing one or more conditions of a particular storage array to conditions of other storage arrays in the multi-array system; and generating an action recommendation based on the comparison, the action recommendation specifying one or more actions for improving the conditions of the particular storage array relative to the conditions of the other storage arrays.

Abstract: Capacity planning in a multi-array system that includes a plurality of storage arrays, includes: receiving data representing projected capacity utilization for at least one of the plurality of storage arrays, where the projected capacity utilization is generated in dependence upon capacity utilization patterns of a plurality of other storage arrays; and presenting the projected capacity utilization.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for generating an alert on a failure of a storage subsystem to phone home to the cloud in a replication environment. A dataset is replicated from a first storage subsystem to a second storage subsystem. The first and second storage subsystems also phone home log data to the cloud on a periodic basis. In response to detecting a failure of the first storage subsystem to phone home, the cloud generates and sends an alert to the second storage subsystem. In response to receiving this alert, the second storage subsystem starts disaster recovery operations for the dataset.