Abstract: A method for destaging data from cache is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes maintaining, in cache, modified data to be destaged to persistent storage drives. The method further detects an emergency situation wherein the modified data needs to be promptly destaged to the persistent storage drives. In response to the emergency situation, the method automatically disables artificially-imposed throughput limits associated with the persistent storage drives. The method then destages the modified data to the persistent storage drives without restriction from the artificially-imposed throughput limits. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, automated storage target selection includes automatically selecting a storage node of a plurality of candidate storage nodes as a function of a plurality of selection criteria. Further, a backup data object is transmitted to the selected storage node. In one embodiment, selecting a storage node includes retrieving stored user-defined parameters for selection criteria for selecting a storage node, retrieving storage node-defined parameters for selection criteria, comparing user-defined parameters and storage node-defined parameters, and selecting a storage node as a function of the comparing. In another aspect of the present description, comparing user-defined parameters and storage node-defined parameters includes broadening a first user-defined parameter to a second user-defined parameter broader than the first user-defined parameter if no candidate storage nodes have a storage node-defined parameter within the first user-defined parameter.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes suspending a parent/control thread of a data storage system, and receiving a plurality of read requests while the parent/control thread is suspended, each read request having storage information associated therewith. The computer-implemented method further includes resuming the parent/control thread, analyzing the read requests, aggregating read requests requesting common data objects into a common read operation, and dispatching the common read operation to a multi-threaded I/O layer of the data storage system for retrieving data associated with the read requests. The analyzing includes sorting the read requests using the associated storage information.

Abstract: A method for destaging data from cache is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes maintaining, in cache, modified data to be destaged to persistent storage drives. The method further detects an emergency situation wherein the modified data needs to be promptly destaged to the persistent storage drives. In response to the emergency situation, the method automatically disables artificially-imposed throughput limits associated with the persistent storage drives. The method then destages the modified data to the persistent storage drives without restriction from the artificially-imposed throughput limits. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes suspending a parent/control thread of a data storage system, and receiving a plurality of read requests while the parent/control thread is suspended, each read request having storage information associated therewith. The computer-implemented method further includes resuming the parent/control thread, analyzing the read requests, aggregating read requests requesting common data objects into a common read operation, and dispatching the common read operation to a multi-threaded I/O layer of the data storage system for retrieving data associated with the read requests. The analyzing includes sorting the read requests using the associated storage information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, automated storage target selection includes automatically selecting a storage node of a plurality of candidate storage nodes as a function of a plurality of selection criteria. Further, a backup data object is transmitted to the selected storage node. In one embodiment, selecting a storage node includes retrieving stored user-defined parameters for selection criteria for selecting a storage node, retrieving storage node-defined parameters for selection criteria, comparing user-defined parameters and storage node-defined parameters, and selecting a storage node as a function of the comparing. In another aspect of the present description, comparing user-defined parameters and storage node-defined parameters includes broadening a first user-defined parameter to a second user-defined parameter broader than the first user-defined parameter if no candidate storage nodes have a storage node-defined parameter within the first user-defined parameter.

Abstract: In one embodiment, automated storage target selection includes automatically selecting a storage node of a plurality of candidate storage nodes as a function of a plurality of selection criteria. Further, a backup data object is transmitted to the selected storage node. In one embodiment, selecting a storage node includes retrieving stored user-defined parameters for selection criteria for selecting a storage node, retrieving storage node-defined parameters for selection criteria, comparing user-defined parameters and storage node-defined parameters, and selecting a storage node as a function of the comparing. In another aspect of the present description, comparing user-defined parameters and storage node-defined parameters includes broadening a first user-defined parameter to a second user-defined parameter broader than the first user-defined parameter if no candidate storage nodes have a storage node-defined parameter within the first user-defined parameter.

Abstract: In one embodiment, automated storage target selection includes automatically selecting a storage node of a plurality of candidate storage nodes as a function of a plurality of selection criteria. Further, a backup data object is transmitted to the selected storage node. In one embodiment, selecting a storage node includes retrieving stored user-defined parameters for selection criteria for selecting a storage node, retrieving storage node-defined parameters for selection criteria, comparing user-defined parameters and storage node-defined parameters, and selecting a storage node as a function of the comparing. In another aspect of the present description, comparing user-defined parameters and storage node-defined parameters includes broadening a first user-defined parameter to a second user-defined parameter broader than the first user-defined parameter if no candidate storage nodes have a storage node-defined parameter within the first user-defined parameter.

Abstract: A method for replicating a volume of data including selecting a target storage box to receive a physical copy of the actual volume of data stored on the source storage box for replication of the actual volume of data, selecting a point in time storage box to receive a physical copy of actual data stored on the target storage box, physically copying actual data stored on the target storage box to the point in time storage box, performing the replication of the actual volume of data by initiating the physical copying on the target storage box of the actual volume of data, and selectively undoing the physical copying on the target storage box of the actual volume of data by replacing the current actual data stored on the target storage box with the physical copy of actual target storage box data stored on the point in time storage box.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to provide commands to an information storage and retrieval comprising one or more data storage devices, where one or more first communication links interconnect one or more host computers and the data storage and retrieval system. The method supplies a computing device, where that computing device is external to the data storage and retrieval system, and where that computing device is external to each of the one or more host computers. Applicants' method further supplies a second communication link interconnecting the computing device and the data storage and retrieval system. The computing device generates a command signal, where said command signal comprises one or more command control words and a header. The computing device then provides that command signal to the data storage and retrieval system via the second communication link.

Abstract: A method for replicating a volume of data including UNDO and REDO data replication commands includes identifying a current state of the database through a point in time (PIT) copy of all volumes to be affected, ensuring that enough storage volume is identified to carry out the point in time copies and if not, the appropriate user warning issued notifying the user that the UNDO or REDO functions will not be available for a particular session.

Abstract: Modeling a set of images representing a group of data replication states and displaying, to a customer, the group of data replication states and generating the model that graphically displays a copy solution; including creating an image data modeling definition, where the image data modeling definition includes a definition of the set of images representing the group of data replication states. The method also includes creating a group of dynamic images, using the definition of the set of images representing the group of data replication states included in the image data modeling definition, where creating the group of dynamic images includes: specifying how to draw site and role specific parts of the group of dynamic images and specifying how to draw arrows that connect each role of the group of dynamic images.