Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to techniques of scalable replication of data in persistent or volatile data storage devices. In particular, a computing device comprises a host acting as a device host for a data storage device and a plurality of data storage devices capable of persistent storage of data. A data storage replication component in the computing device acts as a data storage device. This data storage replication component comprises a device interface and a plurality of host interfaces. Each of the host interfaces acts as a device host for one or more data storage devices in the plurality of data storage devices. The primary data storage replication component may cause instructions (e.g., read, write, and control instructions) and data received from the host to be replicated on each data storage device in the plurality of data storage devices.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to techniques of scalable replication of data in persistent or volatile data storage devices. In particular, a computing device comprises a host acting as a device host for a data storage device and a plurality of data storage devices capable of persistent storage of data. A data storage replication component in the computing device acts as a data storage device. This data storage replication component comprises a device interface and a plurality of host interfaces. Each of the host interfaces acts as a device host for one or more data storage devices in the plurality of data storage devices. The primary data storage replication component may cause instructions (e.g., read, write, and control instructions) and data received from the host to be replicated on each data storage device in the plurality of data storage devices.

Abstract: A system includes a processor, a storage system having one or more physical storage devices, and a controller coupled to the processor and the storage system. The controller maintains a virtual physical drive (VPD) map that defines a set of virtual physical drives, and maps the virtual physical drives to storage media of the physical storage devices. The controller receives access requests from the processor and controls the physical storage media according to the VPD map such that the virtual physical drives appear to the processor as physically independent drives. The controller provides hardware-level security to prevent unauthorized access by the processor or any software application executing on processor. In addition, the controller may maintain primary virtual storage and secondary virtual storage within the virtual physical drives, and may dynamically reallocate the virtual storage to backup and restore data in a manner that appears almost instantaneous to the user.

Abstract: Restoration of a storage device for a computer, such as a hard disk drive, is provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a host device such as a processor or computer, a connection point at the host device such as a communications bus, a primary storage and a secondary storage. The primary storage has stored thereon first data, and sends this data to the host device in response to receiving a corresponding read command at the connection point. The secondary storage stores second data in response to receiving a write command including this data at the connection point, and sends the second data in response to receiving a corresponding read command at the connection point.

Abstract: A system is described including a processor, a storage system having one or more physical storage devices, and a controller coupled to the processor and the storage system. The controller maintains a virtual storage map (VSM) allocating a primary virtual storage and a secondary virtual storage within a storage system. The controller stores data received from the processor prior to a time T0 on the primary virtual storage, stores data received from the processor after time T0 on the secondary virtual storage. The controller updates the VSM in response to a save command to reallocate the primary virtual storage to include data written to the secondary virtual storage. In this manner, the system can backup data in a manner that appears almost instantaneous to the user.

Abstract: A computing system includes a processor having an operating system executing thereon, a storage system having one or more storage media, and a controller coupled between the processor and the storage system. The controller maintains partition data defining one or more partitions for the storage media in response to commands received from the operating system, and controls access to the storage media in accordance with the partition data. The controller selects a subset of the partitions as active partitions, and communicates to the operating system a portion of the partition data that defines the active partitions. The controller may, for example, select the subset based on a current authenticated user. The controller intercepts storage access requests from the processor, and rejects storage accesses requests that are not directed to the active partitions.

Abstract: A storage device for a computer, combining an audit trail storage with (1) a connector adapted for connecting the storage device to a connection point of the computer, (2) a primary storage having first data stored thereon, and adapted for sending the first data to the computer in response to a corresponding read command received at the connection point, and (3) secondary storage adapted for storing second data in response to a corresponding write command received at the connection point and further adapted for sending the second data to the computer in response to a corresponding read command received at the connection point. The audit trail storage is adapted for recording a log of communication activity occurring at the connection point.

Abstract: A system includes a processor, a storage system having one or more physical storage devices, and a controller coupled to the processor and the storage system. The controller maintains a virtual physical drive (VPD) map that defines a set of virtual physical drives, and maps the virtual physical drives to storage media of the physical storage devices. The controller receives access requests from the processor and controls the physical storage media according to the VPD map such that the virtual physical drives appear to the processor as physically independent drives. The controller provides hardware-level security to prevent unauthorized access by the processor or any software application executing on processor. In addition, the controller may maintain primary virtual storage and secondary virtual storage within the virtual physical drives, and may dynamically reallocate the virtual storage to backup and restore data in a manner that appears almost instantaneous to the user.

Abstract: A system is described including a processor, a storage system having one or more physical storage devices, and a controller coupled to the processor and the storage system. The controller maintains a virtual storage map (VSM) allocating a primary virtual storage and a secondary virtual storage within a storage system. The controller stores data received from the processor prior to a time T0 on the primary virtual storage, stores data received from the processor after time T0 on the secondary virtual storage. The controller updates the VSM in response to a save command to reallocate the primary virtual storage to include data written to the secondary virtual storage. In this manner, the system can backup data in a manner that appears almost instantaneous to the user.

Abstract: Restoration of a storage device for a computer, such as a hard disk drive, is provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a host device such as a processor or computer, a connection point at the host device such as a communications bus, a primary storage and a secondary storage. The primary storage has stored thereon first data, and sends this data to the host device in response to receiving a corresponding read command at the connection point. The secondary storage stores second data in response to receiving a write command including this data at the connection point, and sends the second data in response to receiving a corresponding read command at the connection point.

Abstract: Restoration of a storage for a computer, such as a hard disk drive, is provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a host device such as a processor or computer, a connection point at the host device such as a communications bus, a primary storage and a secondary storage. The primary storage has stored thereon first data, and sends this data to the host device in response to receiving a corresponding read command at the connection point. The secondary storage stores second data in response to receiving a write command including this data at the connection point, and sends the second data in response to receiving a corresponding read command at the connection point.