Abstract: A method for resolving conflicts related to states of multiple iSCSI sessions between an iSCSI initiator and an iSCSI target, the method may include: comparing between (a) iSCSI initiator information that is indicative of states of the multiple iSCSI sessions as viewed by the iSCSI initiator, and (b) iSCSI target information that is indicative of the states of the multiple iSCSI sessions as viewed by the iSCSI target; wherein the comparing is preceded by utilizing a non-iSCSI connection for gathering at least one of the iSCSI initiator information and the iSCSI target information; and participating in a resolution of a conflict related to a given iSCSI session out of the multiple iSCSI sessions when the comparing shows that a state of the given iSCSI session as indicated in the iSCSI initiator information conflicts with the state of the given iSCSI session as indicated in the iSCSI target information.

Abstract: A method that may include receiving, by a storage system, a write request for storing in the storage system multiple input data units that are related to a certain file; comparing, by the storage system, the multiple input data units to stored data units of the certain file to find matching and non-matching input data units; wherein each matching input data unit equals a corresponding stored data unit and each non-matching input data unit differs from a corresponding stored data unit; preventing a storage of each matching input data unit; storing each non-matching input data unit; and updating at least one storage system management data structure to reflect a reception of non-matching input data units while not reflecting a reception of matching input data units.

Abstract: A mass storage system obtains an hierarchical cluster mapping information; Host port state information, which is indicative of a state of at least one host port, is received from an intermediate device of a network that couples hosts to the mass storage system; The mass storage system estimates a state of an entity, which may be one or more host computers or a cluster of host computers. The estimating is based on the hierarchical cluster mapping information and the host port state information. The mass storage system determines whether to generate an alert, in response to the estimated state of the at least one entity. If it is determined to generate an alert then an alert is generated.

Abstract: A method that may include receiving, by a storage system, storage system configuration information that is indicative of access permissions of multiple host computer ports to storage logical units that are associated with a certain set of storage system ports; sending, by the storage system, in response to the storage system configuration information and to at least a first switch of a group of switches that is coupled to the storage system, access permission requests for allowing the multiple host computer ports to access the certain set of storage system ports; determining, by the storage system, to revoke an access permission from a certain host computer port of the multiple host computer hosts, when the certain host computer port failed to follow a predefined login pattern; and sending, by the storage system and to at least a second switch of the group of switches, a request to revoke the access permission of the certain host computer port.

Abstract: A method for resolving conflicts related to states of multiple iSCSI sessions between an iSCSI initiator and an iSCSI target, the method may include: comparing between (a) iSCSI initiator information that is indicative of states of the multiple iSCSI sessions as viewed by the iSCSI initiator, and (b) iSCSI target information that is indicative of the states of the multiple iSCSI sessions as viewed by the iSCSI target; wherein the comparing is preceded by utilizing a non-iSCSI connection for gathering at least one of the iSCSI initiator information and the iSCSI target information; and participating in a resolution of a conflict related to a given iSCSI session out of the multiple iSCSI sessions when the comparing shows that a state of the given iSCSI session as indicated in the iSCSI initiator information conflicts with the state of the given iSCSI session as indicated in the iSCSI target information.

Abstract: A method that may include receiving, by a storage system, storage system configuration information that is indicative of access permissions of multiple host computer ports to storage logical units that are associated with a certain set of storage system ports; sending, by the storage system, in response to the storage system configuration information and to at least a first switch of a group of switches that is coupled to the storage system, access permission requests for allowing the multiple host computer ports to access the certain set of storage system ports; determining, by the storage system, to revoke an access permission from a certain host computer port of the multiple host computer hosts, when the certain host computer port failed to follow a predefined login pattern; and sending, by the storage system and to at least a second switch of the group of switches, a request to revoke the access permission of the certain host computer port.

Abstract: A method for managing a filesystem by a storage system, the method may include maintaining, by a storage system, a filesystem data structure that comprises filesystem pathnames metadata related to a filesystem that is stored in the storage system; receiving, from a client that is coupled to the storage system via a network, a request to obtain a client filesystem object list related to at least a certain portion of the filesystem; generating, in response to the request and in response to the filesystem data structure, the client filesystem object list, wherein the client filesystem object list comprises at least one pathname of at least one filesystem object that belongs to the at least certain portion of the filesystem; and sending the client filesystem object list to the client.

Abstract: A method for managing a filesystem by a storage system, the method may include maintaining, by a storage system, a filesystem data structure that comprises filesystem pathnames metadata related to a filesystem that is stored in the storage system; receiving, from a client that is coupled to the storage system via a network, a request to obtain a client filesystem object list related to at least a certain portion of the filesystem; generating, in response to the request and in response to the filesystem data structure, the client filesystem object list, wherein the client filesystem object list comprises at least one pathname of at least one filesystem object that belongs to the at least certain portion of the filesystem; and sending the client filesystem object list to the client.

Abstract: A method that may include receiving, by a storage system, a write request for storing in the storage system multiple input data units that are related to a certain file; comparing, by the storage system, the multiple input data units to stored data units of the certain file to find matching and non-matching input data units; wherein each matching input data unit equals a corresponding stored data unit and each non-matching input data unit differs from a corresponding stored data unit; preventing a storage of each matching input data unit; storing each non-matching input data unit; and updating at least one storage system management data structure to reflect a reception of non-matching input data units while not reflecting a reception of matching input data units.

Abstract: A method for connectivity analysis, the method may include: obtaining, by a mass storage system, hierarchical cluster mapping information that is indicative of host computers that belong to a cluster of host computers and of host ports of the host computers of the cluster; receiving, from at least one intermediate device of a network that couples the cluster to the mass storage system, host port state information indicative of a state of at least one host port that belongs to one or more host computers of the cluster; estimating, by the mass storage system, an estimated state of at least one entity out of (a) the one or more host computers, (b) the cluster and (c) at least one path out of a group of paths that couple the mass storage system to the cluster; wherein the estimating is responsive to the hierarchical cluster mapping information and at least one out of (a) the host port state information, and (b) traffic statistics related to traffic conveyed over the at least one path; determining whether to gener