Abstract: Improved battery separators, base films or membranes, batteries, cells, devices, systems, vehicles, and/or methods of making and/or using such separators, films or membranes, batteries, cells, devices, systems, vehicles, and/or methods of enhancing battery or cell charge rates, charge capacity, and/or discharge rates, and/or methods of improving batteries, systems including such batteries, vehicles including such batteries and/or systems, and/or the like; biaxially oriented porous membranes, composites including biaxially oriented porous membranes, biaxially oriented microporous membranes, biaxially oriented macroporous membranes, battery separators with improved charge capacities and the related methods and methods of manufacture, methods of use, and the like; flat sheet membranes, liquid retention media; dry process separators; biaxially stretched separators; dry process biaxially stretched separators having a thickness range between about 5 ?m and 50 ?m, preferably between about 10 ?m and 25 ?m, having imp

Abstract: Methods and structure are provided for defining span sizes for Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) systems. One embodiment is a RAID controller that includes a control system and a span manager. The control system is able to identify storage devices coupled with the controller and is able to receive input requesting the creation of a RAID logical volume. The span manager is able to define multiple RAID spans to implement the volume, each span comprising one or more of the coupled storage devices, at least one of the spans including a different number of drives than at least one other span.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for generating IO in PCIe devices and flow management of the IO.

Abstract: A storage controller system is provided for the monitoring of fast path processing of I/Os to a storage device where the storage controller system allows for processing of I/Os to be monitored through the use of counters in a storage controller based upon the type of I/O issued to the storage controller as well as the conditions associated with the I/O, while providing a bitmap and associated divert bits and counters to monitor the processing of the I/Os in the storage controller. Methods for monitoring the processing of I/Os issued to the storage controller are also provided where the processing of the I/Os is based upon the type fast path I/Os issued to the storage controller and the conditions associated with the issued I/Os while providing a bitmap and associated divert bits and counters to monitor the processing of the I/Os in the storage controller, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and structure for improved processing of fast path I/O requests in a clustered storage system. In a storage controller of a clustered storage system, the controller comprises a fast path I/O request processing circuit tightly coupled with host system drivers for fast processing of requests directed to storage devices of a logical volume. The controller also comprises a logical volume I/O processing stack (typically implemented as programmed instructions) for processing I/O requests from a host system directed to a logical volume. Based on detecting a change of ownership of a device or volume and/or a change to logical to physical mapping of a logical volume, fast path I/O requests may be converted to logical volume requests based on mapping context information within the fast path I/O request and shipped within the clustered storage system for processing.

Abstract: A map of storage locations that indicates storage locations associated whose associated I/O transactions are to be processed by firmware running on a storage controller is maintained. The map is communicated to a storage controller driver. The storage controller driver receives a first I/O transaction request. Based on the map, and the storage location to be accessed by the first I/O transaction request, the first I/O transaction request is sent to a storage device without further processing by the firmware running on the storage controller. The storage controller driver receives a second I/O transaction request. Based on the map and the location to be accessed by the second I/O transaction request, the second I/O transaction request is sent for further processing by the firmware running on the storage controller.

Abstract: Methods and structure for improved shipping of I/O requests among multiple storage controllers of a clustered storage system. Minimal processing of a received I/O request is performed in a first controller to determine whether the I/O request is directed to a logical volume that is owned by the first controller or to a logical volume owned by another controller. For requests to logical volumes owned by another controller, the original I/O request is modified to indicate the target device address of the other controller. The first controller then ships the request to the other controller and configures DMA capabilities of the first controller to exchange data associated with the shipped request between the other controller and memory of the host system.

Abstract: A first I/O transaction request is sent to a storage controller for processing by firmware running on the storage controller. A second I/O transaction request is sent to storage hardware without further processing by the firmware running on the storage controller. Since the firmware did not process the second I/O transaction request, information associated with the second I/O transaction is stored in in a circular buffer accessible to the firmware running on the storage controller. The firmware running on the storage controller reads, from the circular buffer, the information associated with the second I/O transaction that was stored in the circular buffer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using one or more solid-state drives (SSDs) as a shared cache memory for a plurality of storage controllers coupled with the SSDs and coupled with a plurality of storage devices through a common switched fabric communication medium. All controllers share access to the SSDs through the switched fabric and thus can assume control for a failed controller by, in part, accessing cached data of the failed controller in the shared SSDs.

Abstract: A first I/O transaction request is sent to a storage controller for processing by firmware running on the storage controller. A second I/O transaction request is sent to storage hardware without further processing by the firmware running on the storage controller. Since the firmware did not process the second I/O transaction request, information associated with the second I/O transaction is stored in in a circular buffer accessible to the firmware running on the storage controller. The firmware running on the storage controller reads, from the circular buffer, the information associated with the second I/O transaction that was stored in the circular buffer.

Abstract: A map of storage locations that indicates storage locations associated whose associated I/O transactions are to be processed by firmware running on a storage controller is maintained. The map is communicated to a storage controller driver. The storage controller driver receives a first I/O transaction request. Based on the map, and the storage location to be accessed by the first I/O transaction request, the first I/O transaction request is sent to a storage device without further processing by the firmware running on the storage controller. The storage controller driver receives a second I/O transaction request. Based on the map and the location to be accessed by the second I/O transaction request, the second I/O transaction request is sent for further processing by the firmware running on the storage controller.

Abstract: A storage controller system is provided for the monitoring of fast path processing of I/Os to a storage device where the storage controller system allows for processing of I/Os to be monitored through the use of counters in a storage controller based upon the type of I/O issued to the storage controller as well as the conditions associated with the I/O, while providing a bitmap and associated divert bits and counters to monitor the processing of the I/Os in the storage controller. Methods for monitoring the processing of I/Os issued to the storage controller are also provided where the processing of the I/Os is based upon the type fast path I/Os issued to the storage controller and the conditions associated with the issued I/Os while providing a bitmap and associated divert bits and counters to monitor the processing of the I/Os in the storage controller, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for generating IO in PCIe devices and flow management of the IO.

Abstract: Methods and structure are provided for defining span sizes for Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) systems. One embodiment is a RAID controller that includes a control system and a span manager. The control system is able to identify storage devices coupled with the controller and is able to receive input requesting the creation of a RAID logical volume. The span manager is able to define multiple RAID spans to implement the volume, each span comprising one or more of the coupled storage devices, at least one of the spans including a different number of drives than at least one other span.

Abstract: A data storage system having a slow tier and a fast tier maintains hot data on the fast tier by migrating data from the slow tier to reserve space on the fast tier as data becomes hot over time. The system maintains a reserve space table and performs a mass migration of data from the fast tier to the slow tier. Data migration is frequently unidirectional with data migrating from the slow to the fast tier, reducing overhead during normal operation.

Abstract: Methods and system for implementing a clustered storage solution are provided. One embodiment is a storage controller that communicatively couples a host system with a storage device. The storage controller comprises an interface and a control unit. The interface is operable to communicate with the storage device. The control unit is operable to identify ownership information for a storage device, and to determine if the storage controller is authorized to access the storage device based on the ownership information. The storage controller is operable to indicate the existence of the storage device to the host system if the storage controller is authorized, and operable to hide the existence of the storage device from the host system if the storage controller is not authorized.

Abstract: A data storage system having a slow tier and a fast tier maintains hot data on the fast tier by migrating data from the slow tier to reserve space on the fast tier as data becomes hot over time. The system maintains a reserve space table and performs a mass migration of data from the fast tier to the slow tier. Data migration is frequently unidirectional with data migrating from the slow to the fast tier, reducing overhead during normal operation.

Abstract: Methods and structure for improved processing of fast path I/O requests in a clustered storage system. In a storage controller of a clustered storage system, the controller comprises a fast path I/O request processing circuit tightly coupled with host system drivers for fast processing of requests directed to storage devices of a logical volume. The controller also comprises a logical volume I/O processing stack (typically implemented as programmed instructions) for processing I/O requests from a host system directed to a logical volume. Based on detecting a change of ownership of a device or volume and/or a change to logical to physical mapping of a logical volume, fast path I/O requests may be converted to logical volume requests based on mapping context information within the fast path I/O request and shipped within the clustered storage system for processing.

Abstract: Methods and system for implementing a clustered storage solution are provided. One embodiment is a storage controller that communicatively couples a host system with a storage device. The storage controller comprises an interface and a control unit. The interface is operable to communicate with the storage device. The control unit is operable to identify ownership information for a storage device, and to determine if the storage controller is authorized to access the storage device based on the ownership information. The storage controller is operable to indicate the existence of the storage device to the host system if the storage controller is authorized, and operable to hide the existence of the storage device from the host system if the storage controller is not authorized.

Abstract: Methods and structure for improved shipping of I/O requests among multiple storage controllers of a clustered storage system. Minimal processing of a received I/O request is performed in a first controller to determine whether the I/O request is directed to a logical volume that is owned by the first controller or to a logical volume owned by another controller. For requests to logical volumes owned by another controller, the original I/O request is modified to indicate the target device address of the other controller. The first controller then ships the request to the other controller and configures DMA capabilities of the first controller to exchange data associated with the shipped request between the other controller and memory of the host system.