Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for collecting forensics associated with a failure of a storage controller. For example, a storage node, of a cluster environment, may comprise a service processor and a storage controller. The storage controller may manage a storage device accessible, through the storage controller, to one or more client devices. The service processor may manage the storage controller (e.g., collect operational statistics of the storage controller, perform software and/or firmware updates for the storage controller, etc.). The service processor may obtain forensics associated with a failure of the storage controller, and may provide the forensics to a cluster health monitor notwithstanding the storage controller being in an inoperable state (e.g., the service processor may send the forensics through a network interface controller of the storage node, over a non-client storage management network, to the cluster health monitor).

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for collecting forensics associated with a failure of a storage controller. For example, a storage node, of a cluster environment, may comprise a service processor and a storage controller. The storage controller may manage a storage device accessible, through the storage controller, to one or more client devices. The service processor may manage the storage controller (e.g., collect operational statistics of the storage controller, perform software and/or firmware updates for the storage controller, etc.). The service processor may obtain forensics associated with a failure of the storage controller, and may provide the forensics to a cluster health monitor notwithstanding the storage controller being in an inoperable state (e.g., the service processor may send the forensics through a network interface controller of the storage node, over a non-client storage management network, to the cluster health monitor).

Abstract: An existing disk drive storage enclosure is converted into a standalone network storage system by removing one or more input/output (I/O) modules from the enclosure and installing in place thereof one or more server modules (“heads”), each implemented on a single circuit board. Each head contains the electronics, firmware and software along with built-in I/O connections to allow the disks in the enclosure to be used as a Network-Attached file Server (NAS) or a Storage Area Network (SAN) storage device. An end user can also remove the built-in head and replace it with a standard I/O module to convert the enclosure back into a standard disk drive storage enclosure. Two internal heads can communicate over a passive backplane in the enclosure to provide full cluster failover (CFO) capability.

Abstract: A storage system includes a plurality of mass storage devices and a first storage server head to access the mass storage devices in response to client requests, wherein the first storage server head has ownership of the plurality of mass storage devices. Ownership of at least one of the mass storage devices is reassigned to a second storage server head independently of how the second storage server head is connected to the plurality of mass storage devices.

Abstract: A circuit external to a memory controller in a processing system places a dynamic random access memory into a self-refresh state in response to a predetermined condition associated with a power-down or reset event.

Abstract: Volatile memory is placed into a data-preserving safe state in a computer system in response to any one of a reduction in power applied to the volatile memory, a bus reset signal on a data communication bus of the computer system, and an absence of a bus clock signal on the bus. The volatile memory is powered from an auxiliary uninterruptible power supply in response to the reduction in power. The volatile memory is also placed into the data-preserving safe state in response to a cessation in executing software instructions by a CPU of the computer system. Placing the volatile memory into the safe state in response to and under these conditions enhances the opportunity to preserve data in response to error and malfunction conditions.

Abstract: An existing disk drive storage enclosure is converted into a standalone network storage system by removing one or more input/output (I/O) modules from the enclosure and installing in place thereof one or more server modules (“heads”), each implemented on a single circuit board. Each head contains the electronics, firmware and software along with built-in I/O connections to allow the disks in the enclosure to be used as a Network-Attached file Server (NAS) or a Storage Area Network (SAN) storage device. An end user can also remove the built-in head and replace it with a standard I/O module to convert the enclosure back into a standard disk drive storage enclosure. Two internal heads can communicate over a passive backplane in the enclosure to provide full cluster failover (CFO) capability.

Abstract: A general-purpose personal computer is converted into a dedicated mass storage appliance, and a mass storage operating system for performing mass data storage functions is booted from a solid-state, nonvolatile memory card in response to BIOS boot probe signals. The memory card emulates a disk drive for booting purposes, so the BIOS need not be modified to incorporate chain booting. A relatively low latency intermediate memory reads and writes data from a primary expansion bus of the personal computer, and the intermediate memory is separately backed up with power to sustain the data upon a reduction in power, a reset signal, or the absence of a bus clock signal. The conversion may be accomplished by inserting a conversion card into a bus slot of a primary expansion bus of the personal computer.

Abstract: An existing disk drive storage enclosure is converted into a standalone network storage system by removing one or more input/output (I/O) modules from the enclosure and installing in place thereof one or more server modules (“heads”), each implemented on a single circuit board. Each head contains the electronics, firmware and software along with built-in I/O connections to allow the disks in the enclosure to be used as a Network-Attached file Server (NAS) or a Storage Area Network (SAN) storage device. An end user can also remove the built-in head and replace it with a standard I/O module to convert the enclosure back into a standard disk drive storage enclosure. Two internal heads can communicate over a passive backplane in the enclosure to provide full cluster failover (CFO) capability.

Abstract: An existing disk drive storage enclosure is converted into a standalone network storage system by removing one or more input/output (I/O) modules from the enclosure and installing in place thereof one or more server modules (“heads”), each implemented on a single circuit board. Each head contains the electronics, firmware and software along with built-in I/O connections to allow the disks in the enclosure to be used as a Network-Attached file Server (NAS) or a Storage Area Network (SAN) storage device. An end user can also remove the built-in head and replace it with a standard I/O module to convert the enclosure back into a standard disk drive storage enclosure. Two internal heads can communicate over a passive backplane in the enclosure to provide full cluster failover (CFO) capability.

Abstract: A storage system includes a plurality of mass storage devices and a first storage server head to access the mass storage devices in response to client requests, wherein the first storage server head has ownership of the plurality of mass storage devices. Ownership of at least one of the mass storage devices is reassigned to a second storage server head independently of how the second storage server head is connected to the plurality of mass storage devices.

Abstract: A circuit external to a memory controller in a processing system places a dynamic random access memory into a self-refresh state in response to a predetermined condition associated with a power-down or reset event.