Patents by Inventor Gregory E. McBride

Gregory E. McBride has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10733060
    Abstract: One general aspect of asynchronous local and remote generation of consistent point-in-time snap copies in consistency groups in accordance with the present description, is directed to receiving a local-remote pair point-in-time snap copy establish command to establish a local point-in-time snap copy in a local data storage system, and a remote point-in-time snap copy in a remote data storage system. In one aspect, establishment of the remote point-in-time snap copy relationship may be delayed as a function of the state of a consistency group formation process upon receipt of the local-remote pair point-in-time snap copy establish command. As a result, consistency of the local-remote pair of point-in-time snap copies may be realized, notwithstanding an asynchronous relationship between the local and remote storage systems. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Theresa M. Brown, Nicolas M. Clayton, Joshua J. Crawford, Nedlaya Y. Francisco, Theodore T. Harris, Jr., Gregory E. McBride, Carol S. Mellgren, Damian Trujillo, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 10725661
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for selective write control in accordance with the present description. In one aspect, a write operation which is associated with a read operation, may be selectively discarded if write operations have been disabled and if the write operation is directed to update a designated write operation acceptance area such as metadata associated with the target data set, for example. As a result, the read operation may be permitted to proceed and will not fail because the associated write operation was discarded rather than attempting to commit the write operation to the designated write operation acceptance area, thereby avoiding an error condition for a storage unit such as a volume, in which write operations have been disabled. Accordingly, applications which seek to perform read operations may be permitted to access data stored on such a volume. Other aspects are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nikhil Khandelwal, Gregory E. McBride, David C. Reed, Richard A. Welp
  • Publication number: 20200218731
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one approach includes identifying an inability to access a first storage volume during a first data replication session, creating a second data replication session including the first storage volume, and removing the first storage volume from the first data replication session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Damian Trujillo, Anthony Ciaravella, Pamela Schull, Gregory E. McBride, William J. Rooney
  • Patent number: 10684991
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for managing filesystem inodes. The mechanism monitors inode consumption in a filesystem. The mechanism periodically determines a number of inodes to add to the filesystem based on the inode consumption and adds the number of inodes to the filesystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nikhil Khandelwal, Gregory E. McBride, Richard A. Welp
  • Patent number: 10678661
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing a recall request for data migrated from a primary storage system having data mirrored to a secondary storage system mirroring data from the primary storage system to the at least one secondary storage system. The primary storage system receives a recall request to recall a data object that was migrated from the primary storage system to a remote storage location. The recall request is transmitted to each of the at least one secondary storage system to cause each of the at least one secondary storage system receiving the recall request to directly retrieve the data object from the remote storage location. The primary storage system retrieves the data object from the remote storage location in response to the recall request. The primary storage system returns complete to the recall request in response to the data object being confirmed as restored to the primary storage system and the at least one secondary storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory E. McBride, Carol S. Mellgren, David C. Reed
  • Publication number: 20200174919
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for avoiding out-of-space conditions in an asynchronous data replication environment. In one embodiment, such a method creates a consistency group on a primary storage system of an asynchronous data replication environment. The method determines a number of additional extents that will be needed on a secondary storage system to accommodate the consistency group. The number of additional extents is compared to a number of free extents on the secondary storage system. In the event the number of additional extents does not exceed the number of free extents, the method transfers the data from the primary storage system to the secondary storage system. In the event the number of additional extents exceeds the number of free extents, the method automatically takes actions on the secondary storage system to provide the number of additional extents. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Ward, Joshua J. Crawford, Paul A. Jennas, II, Jason L. Peipelman, Gregory E. McBride
  • Patent number: 10664368
    Abstract: A method for modifying a configuration of a storage system. The method includes a computer processor querying a network-accessible computing system to obtain information associated with an executing application that utilizes a storage system for a process of data mirroring. The method further includes identifying a set of parameters associated with a copy program executing within a logical partition (LPAR) of the storage system based on the obtained information, where the set of parameters dictates a number of reader tasks utilized by the copy program, where the copy program is a program associated with the process for data mirroring from the network-accessible computing system to the storage system. The method further includes executing the dictated number of reader tasks for the process of mirroring data associated with the executing application, from the network-accessible computing system to the storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory E. McBride, Dash Miller, Miguel Perez, David C. Reed
  • Patent number: 10664595
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for managing reads and writes to data entities experiencing a security breach from a suspicious process. A suspicious process is detected that is determined to have malicious code. A breach time for a data entity is indicated in response to detecting the suspicious process performing an operation with respect to the data entity. A determination is made whether there is a copy of the data entity created after the breach time for the data entity. A copy of the data entity is created when there is no copy of the data entity created after the breach time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew G. Borlick, Lokesh M. Gupta, Gregory E. McBride
  • Publication number: 20200142790
    Abstract: Provided is a method for correcting pinned data in a primary storage. A primary storage controller may detect a pinned data set on a primary storage. In response to detecting the pinned data set, the primary storage controller may instruct a secondary storage controller to transmit a copy of the pinned data set to the primary storage controller. The copy of the pinned data set may be stored in a secondary storage that is communicatively coupled to the secondary storage controller. The secondary storage may include a synchronous copy of the primary storage. The primary storage controller may receive the copy of the pinned data set from the secondary storage controller. The primary storage controller may also write the copy of the pinned data set over the pinned data set on the primary storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: William J. Rooney, Tabor R. Powelson, David R. Blea, Gregory E. McBride, Dale F. Riedy, Carol S. Mellgren
  • Publication number: 20200142614
    Abstract: Provided is a method for correcting untrusted data and avoiding logical device swapping for at least one logical subsystem of at least one computer system. A processor may monitor a primary storage for one or more errors that indicate untrusted data on the primary storage. An error indicating that a data set on the primary storage is an untrusted data set may be identified. In response to the error being identified, a corresponding uncompromised version of the data set may be read from a secondary storage. The corresponding uncompromised version of the data set may be written over the untrusted data set on the primary storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: William J. Rooney, Carol S. Mellgren, David R. Blea, Gregory E. McBride, Dale F. Riedy, Tabor R. Powelson
  • Patent number: 10642703
    Abstract: A method for configuring a storage system. The method includes a computer processor receiving at a storage system, an indication to initiate data mirroring for an application. The method further includes determining a set of information associated with a network-accessible computing system that hosts the application. The method further includes identifying an analysis of historic performance data associated with data mirroring to the storage system with respect to the application. The method further includes identifying a set configuration information associated with data mirroring from among a plurality of sets of configuration information associated with data mirroring based, at least in part, on the determined set of information associated with the network-accessible computing system and the identified analysis of performance data associated with data mirroring with respect to the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory E. McBride, Dash Miller, Miguel Perez, David C. Reed
  • Patent number: 10642701
    Abstract: Methods and systems for releasing space on a secondary storage device for resynchronization are provided. A system for releasing space on a secondary storage device for resynchronization includes a suspension detection module that determines that the relationship between a primary computing device and a secondary computing device is suspended. The system also includes a relationship resumption module that determines that the relationship between the primary computing device and a secondary computing device is resumed. The system further includes an extent release module that directs the secondary computing device to release extents in a secondary storage device of the secondary computing device that correspond to free extents in a primary storage device of the primary computing device. Additionally, the system includes a synchronization module that synchronizes data stored on the secondary storage device and the primary storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Sanchez, Carol S. Mellgren, Theresa M. Brown, Gregory E. McBride, Nicolas M. Clayton
  • Patent number: 10630802
    Abstract: A method for caching reads in a data replication environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes receiving a read request at a primary site of a data replication environment. The method executes the read request at the primary site. In the event data associated with the read request is not already cached at the primary site, the method stores the data in cache at the primary site. The method also notifies a secondary site of the read request at the primary site. This notification may be sent synchronously or asynchronously as time and resources allow. In the event the data is not already cached at the secondary site, the method stores the data in cache at the secondary site. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore T. Harris, Jr., Gregory E. McBride, Richard A. Welp
  • Patent number: 10606506
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for releasing space allocated to a space efficient target storage in a copy relationship with a source storage. Source and target copy relationships indicate source data in the source storage to copy to target data in the target storage. The source copy relationship indicates source data that need to be copied to the target data before being updated, and the target copy relationship indicates target data tracks updated with data copied from corresponding source data. An operation is initiated that results in terminating the source and target copy relationships. Space allocated to the target data for the source and target copy relationships is released in response to determining that the target storage comprises the space efficient storage. The source and target copy relationships are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Theresa M. Brown, Nicolas M. Clayton, Nedlaya Y. Francisco, Suguang Li, Mark L. Lipets, Gregory E. McBride, Carol S. Mellgren, Raul E. Saba
  • Patent number: 10592362
    Abstract: A method for modifying a configuration of a storage system. The method includes one or more computer processors identifying data received at a logical partition (LPAR) of a storage system, wherein a copy program associated with a process for data mirroring executes within the LPAR. The method further includes determining a first rate based on analyzing a quantity of data received at the LPAR during the process of data mirroring. The method further includes creating a journal file from a set of records within the received data. The method further includes determining a second rate related to migrating the journal file from the LPAR to intermediate storage included in the storage system. The method further includes determining to modify a set of configuration information associated with the process of data mirroring by the storage system based, at least in part, on the first rate and the second rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory E. McBride, Dash Miller, Miguel Perez, David C. Reed
  • Publication number: 20200081629
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for performing a recovery copy command to restore a safeguarded copy backup to a production volume. In response to receiving a recovery copy command, a production target data structure is created. A read operation is received for data for a storage location. In response to determining that the data for the storage location is in a cache of a host and a generation number is greater than a recovery generation number, the data is read from the cache. In response to determining at least one of that the data for the storage location is not in the cache and that the generation number is not greater than the recovery generation number, the data is read from one of the production volume and a backup volume based on a value of an indicator for the storage location in the production target data structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Theresa M. Brown, Nedlaya Y. Francisco, Nicolas M. Clayton, Mark L. Lipets, Carol S. Mellgren, Gregory E. McBride, David Fei, Kevin Lin
  • Publication number: 20200081801
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for performing a recovery copy command using a recovery copy data structure for a backup volume lookup. In response to receiving a recovery copy command, a recovery copy data structure is created with indicators for storage locations and a recovery target data structure is created with indicators for storage locations. A read operation is received for a storage location in a cache. Based on a value of an indicator in the recovery copy data structure for the storage location and a value of an indicator in the recovery target data structure for the storage location, the data is staged from one of the production volume, the recovery volume, and a backup volume to the cache.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Theresa M. Brown, Gregory E. McBride, Mark L. Lipets
  • Publication number: 20200081642
    Abstract: In one aspect of metadata track entry sorting in accordance with the present description, recovery logic sorts a list of metadata entries as a function of a source data track identification of each metadata entry to provide a second, sorted list of metadata entries, and generates a recovery volume which includes data tracks which are a function of one or more data target tracks identified by the sorted list of metadata entries. Because the metadata entry contents of the sorted list have been sorted as a function of source track identification number, the particular time version of a particular source track may be identified more quickly and more efficiently. As a result, recovery from data loss may be achieved more quickly and more efficiently thereby providing a significant improvement in computer technology. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Theresa M. Brown, David Fei, Gregory E. McBride
  • Publication number: 20200081803
    Abstract: Methods and systems for releasing space on a secondary storage device for resynchronization are provided. A system for releasing space on a secondary storage device for resynchronization includes a suspension detection module that determines that the relationship between a primary computing device and a secondary computing device is suspended. The system also includes a relationship resumption module that determines that the relationship between the primary computing device and a secondary computing device is resumed. The system further includes an extent release module that directs the secondary computing device to release extents in a secondary storage device of the secondary computing device that correspond to free extents in a primary storage device of the primary computing device. Additionally, the system includes a synchronization module that synchronizes data stored on the secondary storage device and the primary storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Sanchez, Carol S. Mellgren, Theresa M. Brown, Gregory E. McBride, Nicolas M. Clayton
  • Publication number: 20200081793
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for performing a recovery copy command to create a recovery volume for a consistency group. In response to receiving a recovery copy command, a recovery copy data structure is created with indicators for storage locations and a recovery target data structure is created with indicators for storage locations. In response to receiving a write operation for a storage location to a cache on a host for a recovery volume, while the recovery copy command is being processed, it is determined that data is to be staged to the cache and, based on a value of an indicator in the recovery copy data structure for the storage location and a value of an indicator in the recovery target data structure for the storage location, the data is staged from one of the production volume, the recovery volume, and a backup volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory E. McBride, Nedlaya Y. Francisco, Theresa M. Brown, Nicolas M. Clayton, Carol S. Mellgren