Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for automating application activity is disclosed. In some embodiment, this comprises monitoring an active folder in a computer system for file events, triggering an intermediary application based on the monitoring, and activating an application based on the triggered intermediary application. In some embodiments, an application remote to the computer system is activated. In some embodiments, an application local to the computer system is activated.

Abstract: A distributed storage space for individual users and their selected peers is provided. The personal cloud system allows an individual user to establish and maintain a shared data storage area on a network attached storage device connected to the individual user's private network and accessible to one or more network devices via a public network and the private network. The personal cloud system registers the shared data storage area with a central server and sends an invitation to one or more network peers to join the shared data storage area. The personal cloud system then monitors incoming data packets at the network attached storage device to identify requests from invited network peers to access the shared data storage area. Access is provided in accordance with predetermined access controls upon validation of the request.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for storing information in folders is disclosed. In some embodiment, this comprises performing a setup process, determining an application and a trigger event based on the results of the setup process, and assigning the determination to a folder stored in a storage device. In some embodiments, a setup process includes gathering information from an email service provider, or other web services provider. In some embodiments, the setup process may gather information on a local application.

Abstract: A method is used for managing cache backup and restore for continuous data replication and protection. I/O operations are quiesced at a cache module. A first snapshot of a storage object and a second snapshot of an SSD cache object are taken. The I/O operations at the cache module are unquiesced. A single backup image comprising the first snapshot and the second snapshot is created. The single backup image is sent to a first data protection appliance (DPA) and recorded in a journal.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for allocating resources in a computer system is disclosed. In some embodiment, this comprises monitoring application activity triggered by an active folder, ranking applications based on the monitored activity, and allocating resources to applications based on the ranking. In some embodiments, a higher ranked application is allocated more resources.

Abstract: A method is used for managing incremental cache backup and restore. I/O operations are quiesced at a cache module. A first snapshot of a storage object and a second snapshot of an SSD cache object are taken. The I/O operations at the cache module are unquiesced. A single backup image comprising the first snapshot and the second snapshot is created.

Abstract: A method is used for configuring I/O cache. A file system and a disk volume are identified. The file system is mounted on the disk volume. A cache mapper logical volume is created in response to a cache creation request. A cache volume is dynamically created from an existing cache storage unit, where the cache mapper logical volume is mounted on the disk volume and the cache volume.

Abstract: Described is a technique for gathering information about a property. A request is received at a first node of a plurality of nodes. The request requests information in accordance with the property for a set of one or more objects defined in a portion of the plurality of nodes. The first node determines information about said property for objects of said set which are defined at said first node. Each of the other nodes determines information about said property for objects of said set which are defined at said each node. Information is communicated to the first node from the other nodes about said property for objects of said set which are defined at each of said other nodes. The first node performs processing to produce final information representing information received from said other nodes and information determined by said first node regarding said property.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for capturing a complete baseline image of the operating environment of a host computer system on an external storage device and for generating incremental backups of the operating environment as changes to the operating environment are identified to create an aggregate baseline image of the operating environment of the host computer system. The external storage device can be disconnected from the host computer system and connected to a remote host where the aggregate baseline image can be used launch a remote host environment on a virtual machine running on the remote host. The remote host environment allows a user to make changes to the remote host environment and the changes can be written back to external storage device as a delta image that is included in the aggregate baseline image. The aggregate baseline image can then be synchronized with the native host.

Abstract: Communications connections with data storage systems are managed. A discovery process is executed to identify an iSCSI port on data storage system. Settings for the iSCSI port are accepted as user input at a server. Communication is performed from the server to the data storage system to configure the iSCSI port.

Abstract: A technique of operating a data storage assembly involves providing a series of web pages to a web browser and buffering a set of potential configuration settings from the web browser. The web browser is controlled by a user. The series of web pages details operational aspects of the data storage assembly. The set of potential configuration settings is arranged to direct future operation of the data storage assembly. The technique further includes receiving a commit command from the web browser after the set of potential configuration settings has been buffered. The technique further includes committing, in response to the commit command, a set of configuration changes on the data storage assembly based on the set of potential configuration settings to provide the user with a commit-at-the-end, wizard-style configuration behavior through the web browser.

Abstract: A technique involves managing configuration information used by an application. The technique involves disposing a first file in a first physical device. The first file includes first configuration information. The technique further involves disposing a second file in a second physical device. The second file includes second configuration information. The second physical device is different than the first physical device. The technique further involves providing access to a top level file having a first path string to the first file in the first physical device and a second path string to the second file in the second physical device. The top level file in combination with the first and second files operates as a single virtual document which includes the first configuration information of the first file and the second configuration information of the second file.

Abstract: Storage is provisioned. By a user interface hosted at a storage system, a user is allowed to affect a set of storage system configuration settings residing on the storage system. The set of storage system configuration settings has options for different levels of redundant array of independent disks (RAID) data protection. Based on the set of storage system configuration settings, the storage system is configured for RAID data protection.

Abstract: A technique for easily making modifications to a graphical user interface (GUI). XML files each containing different rules for making a tree display are easily written by code developers. The files are merged into a document object model (DOM) stored in memory. The GUI display presentation can thus be easily updated by the code developers by modifying the rules stored in the DOM by merging additional XML files containing rule additions, deletions and/or modifications into the DOM. The DOM is parsed for certain object classes for which object instances are needed. The object instances having certain display properties are retrieved from the system or network with which the GUI is operative and are combined with certain display attributes or display rules stored in the DOM. The object instances including their display properties and attributes are returned to the GUI to be displayed on the terminal screen in accordance therewith.

Abstract: There is disclosed a technique for achieving scalable communication within a distributed system using dynamic communication trees. In a client server environment, and particularly in such an environment in which storage systems and storage area networks are managed by distributed management software, embodiments of the present invention are presented by which communication trees are built in a manner that evenly distributes load throughout nodes in the network, whereby scalability is enhanced allowing a larger number of nodes than otherwise allowable without such trees. Other advantages achievable by utilization of such trees are also disclosed.

Abstract: A technique for enhancing the startup operation of a user application within a client server network. At least the client is running software in JAVA language. Java Archive (JAR) files needed for startup are housed in the server. Rather than hard code the Jar files which makes upgrades difficult, embodiments of the present invention employ two applets operating on the same HTML page in the client. One applet, the Jar finder applet obtains all Jar files needed for startup from lists of Jar files stored in a directory which is also housed in the server. This directory is readily accessible to software developers allowing its easy modification by adding or removing Jar files or by substituting an entirely new directory. Another applet, the Jar user applet (or user application) receives the lists of Jar files from the Jar finder applet and thereafter obtains the actual Jar files from the directory in the server.

Abstract: There is disclosed a technique for creating a plug and play interface for user actions on a graphical user interface (GUI) on a computer system such as might be used in a client-server network. A text file is prepared in XML language containing all possible user actions. The text file is read by GUI framework application software running on the operating system, and the results are stored in at least one table as Java code. The framework application software calls the Java code in response to user requests. The technique lends itself to modularization and therefore to ease of manufacture of such software plug and play interface. Such software can be easily modified at any time up to runtime.

Abstract: A technique for handling failure modes which may occur during the processing of indications. In a client-server environment such as a client-server network used in computer data storage running object-oriented software, the client may subscribe for certain indications on certain objects in the servers. When the state of any of those certain objects change, an indication is fired back to the client to indicate a state change. Failures in the client, server, or connection therebetween reduce the effectiveness of this state-change notification scheme. The present invention mitigates the impact of such failures, employing a technique by which a failed storage processor in a server can failover to another storage processor in the same server to enable the seamless transition of the processing of such indications to the other processor without stopping and by which the server can destroy any of its resources that were dedicated to the processing of indications for a specific client if and when such client fails.

Abstract: There is disclosed a technique for achieving scalable communication within a distributed system using dynamic communication trees. In a client server environment, and particularly in such an environment in which storage systems and storage area networks are managed by distributed management software, embodiments of the present invention are presented by which communication trees are built in a manner that evenly distributes load throughout nodes in the network, whereby scalability is enhanced allowing a larger number of nodes than otherwise allowable without such trees. Other advantages achievable by utilization of such trees are also disclosed.

Abstract: A protocol translator for use in a storage system or storage area network for translating between incompatible communication protocols. Apparatus, methodology, computer program product and interface embodiments are disclosed, and code examples are provided, for translating between Common Information Model/eXtensible Markup Language/Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (CIM/XML/HTTP) and Windows Management Interface/Distributed Component Object Model (WMI/DCOM) communication protocols for distributed management software used within a storage system or storage area network in a client server environment.