Abstract: A distributed object store in a network storage system uses location-independent global object identifiers (IDs) for stored data objects. The global object ID enables a data object to be seamlessly moved from one location to another without affecting clients of the storage system, i.e., “transparent migration”. The global object ID can be part of a multilevel object handle, which also can include a location ID indicating the specific location at which the data object is stored, and a policy ID identifying a set of data management policies associated with the data object. The policy ID may be associated with the data object by a client of the storage system, for example when the client creates the object, thus allowing “inline” policy management. An object location subsystem (OLS) can be used to locate an object when a client request does not contain a valid location ID for the object.

Abstract: A distributed object store in a network storage system uses location-independent global object identifiers (IDs) for stored data objects. The global object ID enables a data object to be seamlessly moved from one location to another without affecting clients of the storage system, i.e., “transparent migration”. The global object ID can be part of a multilevel object handle, which also can include a location ID indicating the specific location at which the data object is stored, and a policy ID identifying a set of data management policies associated with the data object. The policy ID may be associated with the data object by a client of the storage system, for example when the client creates the object, thus allowing “inline” policy management. An object location subsystem (OLS) can be used to locate an object when a client request does not contain a valid location ID for the object.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the relevance of search results using data container access patterns. An indexing process tracks data access patterns and updates an access data structure. When executing a search operation, a search process first identifies a set of data containers containing the search terms. The search process then utilizes the access data structure to rank the identified data containers based on the collected data access pattern information.

Abstract: A system and method provides for failover of guest operating systems in a virtual machine environment. During initialization of a computer executing a virtual machine operating system, a first guest operating system allocates a first memory region within a first domain and notifies a second guest operating system operating in a second domain of the allocated first memory region. Similarly, the second guest operating system allocates a second region of memory within the second domain and notifies the first operating system of the allocated second memory region. In the event of a software failure affecting one of the guest operating systems, the surviving guest operating system assumes the identity of the failed operating system and utilizes data stored within the shared memory region to replay to storage devices to render them consistent.

Abstract: A system and method reclaims unused storage space from a data container, such as a logical unit number (LUN) of a storage system. In particular, a novel technique is provided that allows a storage system to reclaim storage space not used by a client file system for which the storage system maintains storage, without requiring assistance from the client file system to determine storage usage. In other words, storage system may independently reclaim storage space not used by the client file system, without that file system's intervention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for fast restart of a guest operating system executing on a virtual machine operating system in a virtual machine environment. During initialization, the guest operating system saves a set of checkpoint information to persistent storage. Upon detection of an error condition during operation, the guest operating system begins a re-initialization procedure in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. During the re-initialization procedure, the guest operating system retrieves the checkpoint information and configures itself using the retrieved information. By utilizing the retrieved information, the guest operating system avoids the need to perform lengthy configuration discovery routines, thereby shortening the re-initialization time substantially.

Abstract: A system and method accelerates update of a metadata search database using PCPI differencing. After first populating the search database, a search agent generates a PCPI and utilizes a PCPI differencing technique to quickly identify changes between inode files of first and second PCPIs. The differences are noted as modified metadata and are written to a log file, which is later read by the search agent to update the search database.

Abstract: A system and method for nearly in-band search indexing. A network switch (or other intermediate network device) is configured to provide port mirroring so that data access requests directed to a storage system are forwarded to both the storage system and to a search appliance. The search appliance collects index information from the received data access requests to update a search index. As the search appliance is nearly in-band, i.e., not directly in-line of the data access request path, no increase of latency occurs for processing data access requests by the storage system.

Abstract: A system and method provides for failover of guest operating systems in a virtual machine environment. During initialization of a computer executing a virtual machine operating system, a first guest operating system allocates a first memory region within a first domain and notifies a second guest operating system operating in a second domain of the allocated first memory region. Similarly, the second guest operating system allocates a second region of memory within the second domain and notifies the first operating system of the allocated second memory region. In the event of a software failure affecting one of the guest operating systems, the surviving guest operating system assumes the identity of the failed operating system and utilizes data stored within the shared memory region to replay to storage devices to render them consistent.

Abstract: A system and method provides for failover of guest operating systems in a virtual machine environment. During initialization of a computer executing a virtual machine operating system, a first guest operating system allocates a first memory region within a first domain and notifies a second guest operating system operating in a second domain of the allocated first memory region. Similarly, the second guest operating system allocates a second region of memory within the second domain and notifies the first operating system of the allocated second memory region. In the event of a software failure affecting one of the guest operating systems, the surviving guest operating system assumes the identity of the failed operating system and utilizes data stored within the shared memory region to replay to storage devices to render them consistent.

Abstract: A system and method for nearly in-band search indexing. A network switch (or other intermediate network device) is configured to provide port mirroring so that data access requests directed to a storage system are forwarded to both the storage system and to a search appliance. The search appliance collects index information from the received data access requests to update a search index. As the search appliance is nearly in-band, i.e., not directly in-line of the data access request path, no increase of latency occurs for processing data access requests by the storage system.

Abstract: A system and method accelerates update of a metadata search database using PCPI differencing. After first populating the search database, a search agent generates a PCPI and utilizes a PCPI differencing technique to quickly identify changes between inode files of first and second PCPIs. The differences are noted as modified metadata and are written to a log file, which is later read by the search agent to update the search database.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for fast restart of a guest operating system executing on a virtual machine operating system in a virtual machine environment. During initialization, the guest operating system saves a set of checkpoint information to persistent storage. Upon detection of an error condition during operation, the guest operating system begins a re-initialization procedure in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. During the re-initialization procedure, the guest operating system retrieves the checkpoint information and configures itself using the retrieved information. By utilizing the retrieved information, the guest operating system avoids the need to perform lengthy configuration discovery routines, thereby shortening the re-initialization time substantially.

Abstract: A system and method provides for failover of guest operating systems in a virtual machine environment. During initialization of a computer executing a virtual machine operating system, a first guest operating system allocates a first memory region within a first domain and notifies a second guest operating system operating in a second domain of the allocated first memory region. Similarly, the second guest operating system allocates a second region of memory within the second domain and notifies the first operating system of the allocated second memory region. In the event of a software failure affecting one of the guest operating systems, the surviving guest operating system assumes the identity of the failed operating system and utilizes data stored within the shared memory region to replay to storage devices to render them consistent.