Abstract: A storage virtualization computer system. The storage virtualization computer system comprises a host entity for issuing an IO request, a SAS storage virtualization controller coupled to the host entity for executing IO operations in response to the IO request, and at least one physical storage device, each coupled to the storage virtualization controller through a SAS interconnect, for providing data storage space to the storage virtualization computer system through the SAS storage virtualization controller.

Abstract: A redundant external storage virtualization computer system. The redundant storage virtualization computer system includes a host entity for issuing an IO request, a redundant external SAS storage virtualization controller pair coupled to the host entity for performing an IO operation in response to the IO request issued by the host entity, and a plurality of physical storage devices for providing storage to the computer system. Each of the physical storage devices is coupled to the redundant storage virtualization controller pair through a SAS interconnect. The redundant storage virtualization controller pair includes a first and a second SAS storage virtualization controller both coupled to the host entity. In the redundant SAS storage virtualization controller pair, when the second storage virtualization controller is not on line, the first storage virtualization controller will take over the functionality originally performed by the second storage virtualization controller.

Abstract: A hybrid cloud file system enabling a cloud storage volume with a cache storage utilizing local storage media is provided. Files in the hybrid cloud file system are substantially uploaded and stored into a cloud storage server and presented as no difference as storing in a local storage volume. Portion of the local storage media may be allocated as a cache storage storing files to be accessed locally for accelerate data fetching and processing. Besides uploading, fetching and deleting, deduplication mechanism before uploading and prefetch mechanism during/before data fetch are also provided in the present disclosure.

Abstract: A hybrid cloud file system enabling a cloud storage volume with a cache storage utilizing local storage media is provided. Files in the hybrid cloud file system are substantially uploaded and stored into a cloud storage server and presented as no difference as storing in a local storage volume. Portion of the local storage media may be allocated as a cache storage storing files to be accessed locally for accelerate data fetching and processing. Besides uploading, fetching and deleting, deduplication mechanism before uploading and prefetch mechanism during/before data fetch are also provided in the present disclosure.

Abstract: A hybrid cloud file system enabling a cloud storage volume with a cache storage utilizing local storage media is provided. Files in the hybrid cloud file system are substantially uploaded and stored into a cloud storage server and presented as no difference as storing in a local storage volume. Portion of the local storage media may be allocated as a cache storage storing files to be accessed locally for accelerate data fetching and processing. Besides uploading, fetching and deleting, deduplication mechanism before uploading and prefetch mechanism during/before data fetch are also provided in the present disclosure.

Abstract: A redundant external storage virtualization computer system. The redundant storage virtualization computer system includes a host entity for issuing an IO request, a redundant external SAS storage virtualization controller pair coupled to the host entity for performing an IO operation in response to the IO request issued by the host entity, and a plurality of physical storage devices for providing storage to the computer system. Each of the physical storage devices is coupled to the redundant storage virtualization controller pair through a SAS interconnect. The redundant storage virtualization controller pair includes a first and a second SAS storage virtualization controller both coupled to the host entity. In the redundant SAS storage virtualization controller pair, when the second storage virtualization controller is not on line, the first storage virtualization controller will take over the functionality originally performed by the second storage virtualization controller.

Abstract: A redundant external storage virtualization computer system. The redundant storage virtualization computer system includes a host entity for issuing an IO request, a redundant external SAS storage virtualization controller pair coupled to the host entity for performing an IO operation in response to the IO request issued by the host entity, and a plurality of physical storage devices for providing storage to the computer system. Each of the physical storage devices is coupled to the redundant storage virtualization controller pair through a SAS interconnect. The redundant storage virtualization controller pair includes a first and a second SAS storage virtualization controller both coupled to the host entity. In the redundant SAS storage virtualization controller pair, when the second storage virtualization controller is not on line, the first storage virtualization controller will take over the functionality originally performed by the second storage virtualization controller.

Abstract: This specification discloses a method of managing data snapshot images in a storage system. The method includes the steps of: establishing a section allocation system that includes at least a media extent; establishing a section allocation table and a block association set in the media extent, wherein the section allocation table has a field containing information pointing to the block association set and the block association set corresponds to a Source Volume as the basis for performing a snapshot backup thereof; establishing a block association table in the block association set, wherein the block association table is used to store cross-reference information in order to correspond to backup data with the original storage addresses; and copying the data before updating the data into the section association set, when the data in the Source-Volume need to be updated.

Abstract: A storage virtualization computer system. The storage virtualization computer system comprises a host entity for issuing an IO request, a SAS storage virtualization controller coupled to the host entity for executing IO operations in response to the IO request, and at least one physical storage device, each coupled to the storage virtualization controller through a SAS interconnect, for providing data storage space to the storage virtualization computer system through the SAS storage virtualization controller.

Abstract: This invention discloses a storage visualization subsystem and system with host-side redundancy via SAS connectivity. The I/O interconnect interface between the storage visualization controller and the host is a serial-attached SCSI (SAS) interface. At least one SAS expander is inserted on the I/O interconnect path of the host side to provide the function of device expansion. Or, a built-in virtual SAS expander is disposed inside the storage virtualization controller to provide multiple virtual IDs for each SAS port. When one controller in the storage virtualization controller pair malfunctions or fails, the invention provides solutions in accord with different embodiments so that the surviving controller can inherit the ID of the failed one. Thus, the host can keep functioning normally as it is not aware of any change in the device status.

Abstract: A storage virtualization computer system. The storage virtualization computer system comprises a host entity for issuing an IO request, a SAS storage virtualization controller coupled to the host entity for executing IO operations in response to the IO request, and at least one physical storage device, each coupled to the storage virtualization controller through a SAS interconnect, for providing data storage space to the storage virtualization computer system through the SAS storage virtualization controller.

Abstract: This specification discloses a method of managing data snapshot images in a storage system. The method includes the steps of: establishing a section allocation system that includes at least a media extent; establishing a section allocation table and a block association set in the media extent, wherein the section allocation table has a field containing information pointing to the block association set and the block association set corresponds to a Source Volume as the basis for performing a snapshot backup thereof; establishing a block association table in the block association set, wherein the block association table is used to store cross-reference information in order to correspond to backup data with the original storage addresses; and copying the data before updating the data into the section association set, when the data in the Source-Volume need to be updated.

Abstract: This invention discloses a storage visualization subsystem and system with host-side redundancy via SAS connectivity. The I/O interconnect interface between the storage visualization controller and the host is a serial-attached SCSI (SAS) interface. At least one SAS expander is inserted on the I/O interconnect path of the host side to provide the function of device expansion. Or, a built-in virtual SAS expander is disposed inside the storage virtualization controller to provide multiple virtual IDs for each SAS port. When one controller in the storage virtualization controller pair malfunctions or fails, the invention provides solutions in accord with different embodiments so that the surviving controller can inherit the ID of the failed one. Thus, the host can keep functioning normally as it is not aware of any change in the device status.

Abstract: A redundant external storage virtualization computer system. The redundant storage virtualization computer system includes a host entity for issuing an IO request, a redundant external SAS storage virtualization controller pair coupled to the host entity for performing an IO operation in response to the IO request issued by the host entity, and a plurality of physical storage devices for providing storage to the computer system. Each of the physical storage devices is coupled to the redundant storage virtualization controller pair through a SAS interconnect. The redundant storage virtualization controller pair includes a first and a second SAS storage virtualization controller both coupled to the host entity. In the redundant SAS storage virtualization controller pair, when the second storage virtualization controller is not on line, the first storage virtualization controller will take over the functionality originally performed by the second storage virtualization controller.

Abstract: A storage virtualization computer system. The storage virtualization computer system comprises a host entity for issuing an IO request, a SAS storage virtualization controller coupled to the host entity for executing IO operations in response to the IO request, and at least one physical storage device, each coupled to the storage virtualization controller through a SAS interconnect, for providing data storage space to the storage virtualization computer system through the SAS storage virtualization controller.