Abstract: A virtual storage appliance receives a request to increase its total storage capacity, and processes the request by performing a resize operation on all backend virtual volumes that are attached to the virtual storage appliance while efficiently considering constraints of the cloud computing platform and its own system constraints. The resize operation increases a size of each one of the backend virtual volumes, e.g., by the same amount. In response to detecting that the resize operation has been completed on all the backend virtual volumes, the virtual storage appliance indicates that a new, increased total storage capacity of the virtual storage appliance is available for use. The resize operation is performed without moving any previously stored contents of the backend virtual volumes, and without changing the total number of backend virtual volumes that are attached to the virtual storage appliance.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for use in a clustered storage system are provided. Embodiments may include providing, using a management network, one or more of external access to the clustered storage system, management of intra-cluster traffic, management of hypervisor traffic, and access to infrastructure services. Embodiments may further include allowing, using a storage network, access to the clustered storage system from within the clustered storage system and one or more external hosts. Embodiments may also include providing a migration network to allow for mobility of one or more virtual machines within clustered storage system. Embodiments may further include splitting the management network into a public management network and an internal intra-cluster management network.

Abstract: A unique identifier is stored in shared data storage that is accessible to at least a first virtual storage processor and a second virtual storage processor within a virtual storage appliance. The unique identifier is generated when the virtual storage appliance is first started up, and then used by the first virtual storage processor to obtain at least one Internet Protocol (IP) address for use by a management stack that initially executes in the first virtual storage processor. In response to failure of the first virtual storage processor, the unique identifier is used by the second virtual storage processor to obtain, for use by the management stack while the management stack executes in the second virtual storage processor after the failure, the same IP address obtained by the first virtual storage processor.

Abstract: Network scaling techniques for HCI and/or heterogeneous storage clusters. The techniques are based on the use of cluster-wide logical networks and IP port abstractions. Each logical network represents a pool of IP addresses having a common set of properties. Each logical network has an associated type and a corresponding set of protocols that define its purpose. Each IP port abstraction is associated with physical and/or virtual network objects inherently visible to a storage administrator. Each IP port abstraction functions as a target for assignment of an IP address from a pool of IP addresses represented by a logical network. The IP port abstractions are backed by underlying heterogeneous network objects but have unified sets of capabilities. Network scaling can be implemented by applying one or more IP addresses represented by one or more logical networks to selected sets of IP port abstractions backed by underlying heterogeneous network objects.

Abstract: Network scaling techniques for HCl and/or heterogeneous storage clusters. The techniques are based on the use of cluster-wide logical networks and IP port abstractions. Each logical network represents a pool of IP addresses having a common set of properties. Each logical network has an associated type and a corresponding set of protocols that define its purpose. Each IP port abstraction is associated with physical and/or virtual network objects inherently visible to a storage administrator. Each IP port abstraction functions as a target for assignment of an IP address from a pool of IP addresses represented by a logical network. The IP port abstractions are backed by underlying heterogeneous network objects but have unified sets of capabilities. Network scaling can be implemented by applying one or more IP addresses represented by one or more logical networks to selected sets of IP port abstractions backed by underlying heterogeneous network objects.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing device configured to receive a request to change a given storage network from a first to a second configuration, the given storage network being associated with a heterogeneous storage cluster comprising a plurality of storage targets and initiators having first network addresses in the first configuration. The processing device is also configured to generate a shadow storage network comprising second network addresses having the second configuration, to assign the second network addresses to a subset of a plurality of storage targets and initiators affected by the request to change the given storage network from the first to the second configuration, and, responsive to validating connectivity of the subset of the plurality of storage targets and initiators, to apply the requested change by unassigning ones of the first network addresses assigned to the subset of the plurality of storage targets and initiators.

Abstract: Embodiments included herein may be configured for managing one or more maximum transmission units (MTUs) for clustered and federated storage systems. Embodiments may include providing one or more heterogeneous storage clusters. A logical MTU may be configured on one or more leaf network interfaces of one or more networks. A physical network MTU may be configured on one or more intermediate network objects of the one or more networks. One or more physical network fabrics of the one or more networks may be managed. The physical network MTU may be managed via one of the one or more MTU domains. The physical network MTU may be reconfigured in response to determining the physical network MTU is outside of a pre-determined range.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing device configured to receive a request to change a given storage network from a first to a second configuration, the given storage network being associated with a heterogeneous storage cluster comprising a plurality of storage targets and initiators having first network addresses in the first configuration. The processing device is also configured to generate a shadow storage network comprising second network addresses having the second configuration, to assign the second network addresses to a subset of a plurality of storage targets and initiators affected by the request to change the given storage network from the first to the second configuration, and, responsive to validating connectivity of the subset of the plurality of storage targets and initiators, to apply the requested change by unassigning ones of the first network addresses assigned to the subset of the plurality of storage targets and initiators.

Abstract: A unique identifier is stored in shared data storage that is accessible to at least a first virtual storage processor and a second virtual storage processor within a virtual storage appliance. The unique identifier is generated when the virtual storage appliance is first started up, and then used by the first virtual storage processor to obtain at least one Internet Protocol (IP) address for use by a management stack that initially executes in the first virtual storage processor. In response to failure of the first virtual storage processor, the unique identifier is used by the second virtual storage processor to obtain, for use by the management stack while the management stack executes in the second virtual storage processor after the failure, the same IP address obtained by the first virtual storage processor.

Abstract: Embodiments included herein may be configured for supplementary network discovery of one or more zero-configuration-based clustered systems. Embodiments may include providing, via one or more client machines, at least a first cluster node and a second cluster node. Each of the first cluster node and the second cluster node may include at least one of a link-local internet protocol (IP) address, a primary cluster and a secondary cluster. One or more floating link-local IP addresses may be included within the secondary cluster. A discovery host configured to be connected to the local-area network may be provided. The first cluster node and the second cluster node may be configured concurrently. An IP address conflict between one or more of the link-local IP address of the first cluster, the link-local IP address of the second cluster, and the one or more floating link-local IP addresses of the secondary cluster may be detected.

Abstract: Embodiments included herein may be configured for supplementary network discovery of one or more zero-configuration-based clustered systems. Embodiments may include providing, via one or more client machines, at least a first cluster node and a second cluster node. Each of the first cluster node and the second cluster node may include at least one of a link-local internet protocol (IP) address, a primary cluster and a secondary cluster. One or more floating link-local IP addresses may be included within the secondary cluster. A discovery host configured to be connected to the local-area network may be provided. The first cluster node and the second cluster node may be configured concurrently. An IP address conflict between one or more of the link-local IP address of the first cluster, the link-local IP address of the second cluster, and the one or more floating link-local IP addresses of the secondary cluster may be detected.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for use in a clustered storage system are provided. Embodiments may include providing, using a management network, one or more of external access to the clustered storage system, management of intra-cluster traffic, management of hypervisor traffic, and access to infrastructure services. Embodiments may further include allowing, using a storage network, access to the clustered storage system from within the clustered storage system and one or more external hosts. Embodiments may also include providing a migration network to allow for mobility of one or more virtual machines within clustered storage system. Embodiments may further include splitting the management network into a public management network and an internal intra-cluster management network.

Abstract: Embodiments included herein may be configured for managing one or more maximum transmission units (MTUs) for clustered and federated storage systems. Embodiments may include providing one or more heterogeneous storage clusters. A logical MTU may be configured on one or more leaf network interfaces of one or more networks. A physical network MTU may be configured on one or more intermediate network objects of the one or more networks. One or more physical network fabrics of the one or more networks may be managed. The physical network MTU may be managed via one of the one or more MTU domains. The physical network MTU may be reconfigured in response to determining the physical network MTU is outside of a pre-determined range.

Abstract: A method, performed by a computing device, includes (a) building a data structure that describes dependence relationships between components of a virtual appliance, the components comprising respective computational processes which may be invoked during booting, a dependence relationship indicating that one component must complete before a second component may be invoked, (b) identifying, with reference to the data structure and an essential set of components which were pre-defined to be essential to the virtual appliance, a set of components that must complete for booting to be considered finished, and, after identifying the required set of components, repeatedly (c) querying each required component for its respective completion status, (d) calculating an estimated completion percentage for booting the virtual appliance with reference to the respective completion statuses of each required component versus all required components, and (e) displaying an indication of the completion percentage to a user via a u

Abstract: A method, of scheduling storage commands for processing on a virtual machine (VM) operating on a computing device includes (a) intercepting, by a front end storage scheduler module running on the VM, a set of storage commands each of which is directed at one of a plurality of virtual disks assigned to the VM, the plurality of virtual disks sharing underlying storage, (b) queueing the intercepted storage commands for each virtual disk into a respective front-end queue for each virtual disk, and (c) selectively dequeueing storage commands from the front-end queues onto their respective virtual disks in a manner that prioritizes certain virtual disks over others, wherein the selectively dequeueing is performed in a different order than the queueing. An apparatus, system, and computer program product for performing a similar method are also provided.

Abstract: A method, performed by a computing device, includes (a) building a data structure that describes dependence relationships between components of a virtual appliance, the components comprising respective computational processes which may be invoked during booting, a dependence relationship indicating that one component must complete before a second component may be invoked, (b) identifying, with reference to the data structure and an essential set of components which were pre-defined to be essential to the virtual appliance, a set of components that must complete for booting to be considered finished, and, after identifying the required set of components, repeatedly (c) querying each required component for its respective completion status, (d) calculating an estimated completion percentage for booting the virtual appliance with reference to the respective completion statuses of each required component versus all required components, and (e) displaying an indication of the completion percentage to a user via a u