Abstract: This invention is a system and method for managing data in a secure manner in a data storage environment that is in communication with a network including an internet-based network. The system includes logic for securely managing internet client's access to data volumes stored on a data storage system, and may also include logic operating with a file server for providing dynamic access of data available to such clients in a secure fashion.

Abstract: A data management technique for managing accesses to data at a shared storage system includes a filter at the storage system. The filter is coupled to a configuration table, which identifies which of a number of coupled host processors have accesses to each of the resources at the device. During operation, requests received from the host devices are filtered by the filter, and only those requests to resources that the individual host devices have privilege to access are serviced. Advantageously, data security is further enhanced by authenticating each of the requests received by the storage system to verify that the host processor that is represented as forwarding the request is the indicated host processor. In addition, transfers of data between the storage system and the host processor may be validated to ensure that data was not corrupted during the data transfer.

Abstract: This invention is a system and for managing data in a secure manner in a data storage environment that is in communication with a network including an internet-based network. The system includes computer-executable logic or software for securely managing internet client's access to data volumes stored on a data storage system, and may also include logic operating with a file server for providing dynamic access of data available to such client's in a secure fashion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the availability and assignment of data in a storage system that is coupled to a network. A user interface is provided that executes on a host processor that is coupled to the storage system over the network. The user interface communicates with a configuration database in the storage system to identify host processors that are logged into the storage system over the network, to identify storage volumes on the storage system, to identify whether access to a particular storage volume on the storage system is permitted from a particular host processor, and to identify a network path by which host processors are logged into the storage system over the network. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface is provided that can be used to graphically represent host processors, host bus adapters, storage systems, and storage system adapters and storage volumes on the storage system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the availability and assignment of data in a storage system that is coupled to a network. A user interface is provided that executes on a host processor that is coupled to the storage system over the network. The user interface communicates with a configuration database in the storage system to identify host processors that are logged into the storage system over the network, to identify storage volumes on the storage system, to identify whether access to a particular storage volume on the storage system is permitted from a particular host processor, and to identify a network path by which host processors are logged into the storage system over the network. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface is provided that can be used to graphically represent host processors, host bus adapters, storage systems, and storage system adapters and storage volumes on the storage system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the availability and assignment of data in a storage system that is coupled to a network. A user interface is provided that executes on a host processor that is coupled to the storage system over the network. The user interface communicates with a configuration database in the storage system to identify host processors that are logged into the storage system over the network, to identify storage volumes on the storage system, to identify whether access to a particular storage volume on the storage system is permitted from a particular host processor, and to identify a network path by which host processors are logged into the storage system over the network. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface is provided that can be used to graphically represent host processors, host bus adapters, storage systems, and storage system adapters and storage volumes on the storage system.

Abstract: A management information transfer system is disclosed for use in connection with a network including one or more host computers and a mass storage subsystem interconnected by a plurality of switching nodes, the management information transfer system being configured to transfer processed management information to a management service center located remotely from the network. The management information transfer system includes a management server that is configured to receive management information from the switching nodes, and possibly the host computers, which may be directed to failures or other malfunctions in connection with their operations. The management server is configured to perform a filtering operation in connection with the management information that it receives from the switching nodes using filtering policies that may be established by, for example, a network administrator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the availability and assignment of data in a storage system that is coupled to a network. A user interface is provided that executes on a host processor that is coupled to the storage system over the network. The user interface communicates with a configuration database in the storage system to identify host processors that are logged into the storage system over the network, to identify storage volumes on the storage system, to identify whether access to a particular storage volume on the storage system is permitted from a particular host processor, and to identify a network path by which host processors are logged into the storage system over the network. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface is provided that can be used to graphically represent host processors, host bus adapters, storage systems, and storage system adapters and storage volumes on the storage system.

Abstract: A data management technique for managing accesses to data at a shared storage system includes a filter at the storage system. The filter is coupled to a configuration table, which identifies which of a number of coupled host processors have accesses to each of the resources at the device. During operation, requests received from the host devices are filtered by the filter, and only those requests to resources that the individual host devices have privilege to access are serviced. Advantageously, data security is further enhanced by authenticating each of the requests received by the storage system to verify that the host processor that is represented as forwarding the request is the indicated host processor. In addition, transfers of data between the storage system and the host processor may be validated to ensure that data was not corrupted during the data transfer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus directed to a computer system including a host computer and an intelligent storage system that stores data accessed by the host computer, the computer system including a plurality of logical volumes of data that are visible to the host computer and the storage system and that are perceived by the host computer as comprising a plurality of raw storage devices, the storage system including a plurality of physical storage devices and at least one mapping layer that maps the plurality of logical volumes to the plurality of physical storage devices so that the data in each of the plurality of logical volumes is stored on at least one of the plurality of physical storage devices. One aspect of the invention is directed to providing the host computer with information identifying, for at least one of the plurality of logical volumes, which ones of the plurality of physical storage devices store data included in the at least one of the plurality of logical volumes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a log of information in a computer system including a host computer and a storage system that stores data accessed by the host computer. The computer system includes a plurality of logical volumes of data that are visible to the host and the storage system and that are perceived by the host computer as comprising a plurality of raw storage devices. The storage system includes at least one physical storage device and at least one mapping layer that maps the logical volumes to the physical storage device. In one aspect of the invention, the log includes information concerning at least one I/O operation. The information includes a first component relating to aspects of the I/O operation controlled by the host computer and a second component relating to aspects of the I/O operation controlled by the storage system. In one aspect, the host computer stores the log which includes information relating to aspects of the I/O operation controlled by the intelligent storage system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a magnetic disk storage device that stores data according to a first data structure characterized by a fixed-length disk block size to respond to input/output requests from a host that define data according to a different data structure characterized by a different fixed-length host block size. A host adapter transfers requests and data between the host and a cache memory in the magnetic disk storage device as host blocks. A disk adapter transfers requests and data between the cache memory and magnetic disks as disk blocks. CRC data and a sector number are appended to each host block in a set of disk blocks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing data storage in a computer system including a host computer and a storage system that stores data accessed by the host computer. A performance condition that impacts system performance is detected, and in response thereto, the data within the storage system is reconfigured to improve system performance. In one aspect, this detection and reconfiguration is done automatically within the storage system in a manner transparent to the host computer. Examples of performance conditions that can be detected and alleviated include logical volumes including hot spots that are larger than the cache storage dedicated to the volumes, data segments that are accessed frequently by the host but not sufficiently frequently so that they remain in the cache between accesses, and large data segments that are accessed frequently and sequentially by the host and are stored on the same physical device within the storage system.

Abstract: A method and data storage system using the method, provides an efficiently approach for allocating a static amount of buffer space (e.g., records) among a number of logical volumes of a data storage system on the basis of the computing environment within which the data storage system is used. The method includes providing the data storage system from logical volumes, each including a command queue. Each command queue includes records, each for storing a command request. A memory pool is established from which one or more records can be allocated to each command queue associated with each logical volume. The memory pool has a predetermined number of records which can be allocated by the command queues of the logical volumes. Based on the computing environment, one of a number of allocation schemes for allocating records to a command queue is selected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for reordering, at a disk drive controller, a received sequence of read and write commands. The reordering can be system driven so that the system, when a command stalls, examines the command queue for another command to execute. Alternatively, the command queue itself can be reordered depending upon the expected time it takes for various commands to execute. Reordered commands can be flagged so that they cannot be reordered again. The resulting increase in throughput and efficiency occurs without reference to the particular disk drive or disk drive array configuration to which the controller is connected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying the organization of a magnetic disk storage system in which individual storage logical volumes are grouped in sequence as components of a meta device. Data concerning the organization of the meta device is stored in each storage logical volume in a dedicated storage area and in a global memory accessible to the data processing system. Whenever the integrity of the meta device is tested, the data in the configuration file and the data in the dedicated storage area are analyzed and compared. If identity exists, integrity is assumed. If identity does not exist various errors are generated to prevent use of the storage logical volume until the problem is resolved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for reordering, at a disk drive controller, a received sequence of read and write commands. The reordering can be system driven so that the system, when a command stalls, examines the command queue for another command to execute. Alternatively, the command queue itself can be reordered depending upon the expected time it takes for various commands to execute. Reordered commands can be flagged so that they cannot be reordered again. The resulting increase in throughput and efficiency occurs without reference to the particular disk drive or disk drive array configuration to which the controller is connected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing very large logical volumes (Meta Device) in a storage system is provided. The storage system includes host controllers and disk controllers which communicate through a shared memory. I/O requests are received by the host controller and placed into request queues. The request queues are associated with logical devices. A number of request queues in the host controller are concatenated together to produce the larger logical volume. The large logical volume appears to the host as a single addressable logical unit. I/O requests to the large logical volume are analyzed by the host controller to determine which logical devices are actually needed to service the request. The host controller then makes the appropriate queue entries. Processing of the requests then occurs in the same fashion as if the request had been to a non-Meta Device. This allows the disk controllers and memory to operate without modification.

Abstract: A method of dynamically reconfiguring the logical devices in a storage system is provided. The method allows a logical devices to be added, removed, or repositioned without requiring the storage system to be taken off-line. The method includes manipulating the request queues associated with host controllers within the storage system. The request queues associated with each logical device may be repositioned in the request queue memory in order to make room for new logical devices or to take advantage of free space associated with a removed logical device. The storage system communicates with the host computer in order to manage the reconfiguration of the request queues while still providing storage services to the host computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a predetermined minimum read rate from a disk drive system, the disk drive system including a read/write cache memory, effect control over the write rate in response to data provided from the disk drive system. A host computer requests write cache utility factor information from the disk drive system. The response to the request provides the host computer with necessary information about the cache memory to enable it to control the write rate to not jeopardize the continuing flow of read data, for example, data for an audio or video decoding application. The host computer periodically samples the utilization of the cache memory and employs one of several methods for controlling the write rate to avoid adversely affecting the read data rate.