Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request to perform a snapshot of data associated with an application running on multiple servers; coordinating I/O Freezers on different servers for freezing data requests from instances of the application running on the servers; and after determining that the I/O Freezers have frozen the data requests, requesting initiation of a snapshot operation to take the snapshot of the data.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes at least one processor configured to: receive a request to perform a snapshot of data associated with an application running on multiple servers; instruct I/O Freezers on different servers to freeze data requests from instances of the application running on the servers; and instruct the I/O Freezers to initiate snapshot processing on the data associated with the application so that the I/O Freezers perform the snapshot processing within the same window of synchronization.

Abstract: Described is a method, system, and computer program product for selecting a data repository within a computing environment. The data repository can exist on multiple target computing systems as a logical entity called a volume or a file system. When selecting at least one data repository, a data protection system of the computing environment analyzes the incoming data from a source computing system, in conjunction with information describing the data repositories. The data repository information, or repository characteristic information, can be stored on a repository volume table (RVT) of the data protection system. By determining a weighted selection score from the analysis of all the information available to the data protection system, the data protection system can intelligently select a data repository for storing data from the source computing system.

Abstract: The invention provides improvements on a digital data processing system of the type having a first set of hosts, storage devices or other components coupled for communication with a first network manager. A second set of components is likewise coupled to a second network manager. Communications between the network managers and their respective sets of components utilize different protocols, the first network manager referring to components of the first set with identifiers that are unique to those respective components under the first protocol, and the second network manager referring to components of the second set with identifiers that are unique to those respective components under the second protocol.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request to perform a backup of data associated with an application running on multiple servers; calculating a time value based on communications with the servers, the time value calculation including at least one of a latency of at least one of the communications, and a difference between a reference time clock value and a time clock value of at least one of the servers; and communicating with I/O Handlers on the servers for initiating a coordinated backup operation on the data at about a same start time. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request to perform a snapshot of data associated with an application running on multiple servers; coordinating I/O Freezers on different servers for freezing data requests from instances of the application running on the servers; and after determining that the I/O Freezers have frozen the data requests, requesting initiation of a snapshot operation to take the snapshot of the data.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for dynamically determining a set of Storage Area Network (SAN) components for performance monitoring. The computer program product monitors SAN components of a predefined set of SAN components according to a monitor data structure associated with each SAN component. At least one attribute of the set of SAN components is changed in response to a threshold violation by a SAN component in the set. The SAN components of the changed set are monitored according to the monitor data structure for each SAN component within the changed set as part of a monitoring feedback loop.

Abstract: A system and method for correlated analysis of wasted space and capacity efficiency in complex storage infrastructures are provided. The system and method of the illustrative embodiments bring together wasted space data from all areas and components of the storage infrastructure into a single set of reports correlating information from these various sources in the storage infrastructure. In addition, correlated analysis of this collected information is performed with regard to wasted space. Logical storage devices of the storage infrastructure which are unused by host systems may be identified and appropriate corrective actions may be automatically taken. Moreover, automated recommendations and other automated corrective actions may be taken based upon the correlated analysis of the correlated data collected from the various components of the storage infrastructure.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for dynamically adjusting performance monitoring of storage area network (“SAN”) components. An initial violation module is included to determine that a threshold violation associated with a SAN component is an initial threshold violation. A violation entry module is included to record a component violation entry in response to the initial threshold violation. An entry adjustment module is included to adjust a component violation entry associated with a SAN component in response to a threshold violation related to the SAN component. An analysis module is included to analyze the component violation entry based on analysis criteria. A suspicion adjustment module is included to adjust a suspicion variable associated with the SAN component in response to results of the analysis of the component violation entry.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing storage virtualization in a storage infrastructure are provided. The method comprises examining storage virtualization configurations across a data storage infrastructure having one or more data storage resources, such that configuration data associated with the storage virtualization configurations applied to the one or more data storage resources is stored in a configuration repository; analyzing the configuration data to detect storage virtualization policy inconsistencies across the data storage infrastructure; reporting potential problems associated with applying the storage virtualization configurations to said one or more data storage resources; and automatically implementing recommendations for corrective action to improve storage virtualization, in response to detecting the virtualization policy inconsistencies.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing storage virtualization in a storage infrastructure are provided. The method comprises examining storage virtualization configurations across a data storage infrastructure having one or more data storage resources, such that configuration data associated with the storage virtualization configurations applied to the one or more data storage resources is stored in a configuration repository; analyzing the configuration data to detect storage virtualization policy inconsistencies and redundancies across the data storage infrastructure; and reporting potential problems associated with applying the storage virtualization configurations to said one or more data storage resources, in response to detecting the virtualization policy inconsistencies.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided for determining the recovery readiness of a data asset. A set of metrics are identified for a current recovery operation performed for the data asset and a current recovery objective is identified for the data asset. The current recovery operation is applied to the data asset using the set of metrics. A determination is made as to whether the current recovery operation meets the recovery objective for the data asset. Responsive to a failure of the current recovery operation to meet the recovery objective, an error is presented indicating the failure and a determination is made as to whether a different recovery policy may be implemented to meet the recovery objective for the data asset. If a different recovery policy exists that meets the recovery objective for the data asset, the different recovery policy is implemented.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for analyzing a file system. A record module records file parameters comprising a file size, a file age, a time of last access, a file type, a recovery time objective, and an initial access time service level objective for each file in the file system. A file score module calculates a file score for each file using the file parameters. A system score module calculates the file system score as the sum of the normalized file scores. A process module processes the file system if the file system score exceeds a specified threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for correlated analysis of wasted space and capacity efficiency in complex storage infrastructures are provided. The system and method of the illustrative embodiments bring together wasted space data from all areas and components of the storage infrastructure into a single set of reports correlating information from these various sources in the storage infrastructure. In addition, correlated analysis of this collected information is performed with regard to wasted space. Logical storage devices of the storage infrastructure which are unused by host systems may be identified and appropriate corrective actions may be automatically taken. Moreover, automated recommendations and other automated corrective actions may be taken based upon the correlated analysis of the correlated data collected from the various components of the storage infrastructure.

Abstract: The invention provides improvements on a digital data processing system of the type having a first set of hosts, storage devices or other components coupled for communication with a first network manager. A second set of components is likewise coupled to a second network manager. Communications between the network managers and their respective sets of components utilize different protocols, the first network manager referring to components of the first set with identifiers that are unique to those respective components under the first protocol, and the second network manager referring to components of the second set with identifiers that are unique to those respective components under the second protocol.

Abstract: The invention provides improvements on a digital data processing system of the type having a first set of hosts, storage devices or other components coupled for communication with a first network manager. A second set of components is likewise coupled to a second network manager. Communications between the network managers and their respective sets of components utilize different protocols, the first network manager referring to components of the first set with identifiers that are unique to those respective components under the first protocol, and the second network manager referring to components of the second set with identifiers that are unique to those respective components under the second protocol.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing enhanced management features for a SAN with scalable hosts. Partitioned hosts (or ‘scalable’ hosts) are managed by extending SAN manager host-centric logical views to show (1) the host partition hierarchy and (2) the storage resource ownership for a SAN-attached scalable host. The extended host-centric view includes the host system, hosting OSes (if applicable), hosted OSes for each hosting OS (or the host system), OS volumes for each hosted OS, and logical mapping of each OS volume to the SAN storage resource (logical unit). The SAN manager is extended to also show how hosting (trusted) partitions, blades, and/or cluster members physically connect into a SAN. Users are able to toggle between a host centric view and a physical topology view by selection of items within the interface.

Abstract: A storage area network (SAN) includes a plurality of digital data processors, each with a file system that effects access to one or more storage devices coupled to the SAN, for example, via an interconnect fabric. A process (e.g., executing on a manager digital data processor) responds to a file system over-extension notification from at least a selected one of the digital data processors, e.g., by assigning a further storage device to the selected digital data processor. The type of response is, more particularly, determined in accord with a hierarchically defined policy inherited, in whole or in part, from one or more hierarchical groups of which the digital data processor is a member.

Abstract: The invention provides a storage area network (SAN) of type having one or more digital data processors coupled to one or more storage devices. At least a selected one of the hosts includes a file system that effects access by the host to assigned storage devices. This can be, for example, a conventional AIX or other host platform file system that oversees file and other data accesses between the host and those assigned devices. That host can be associated, according to these aspects of the invention, with lower and upper capacity bounds for purposes of file system extension. In response to a request by (or on behalf of) the selected digital data processor for extension of the file system, the manager assigns one of more further storage devices to that digital data processor.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved SAN of type having one or more host digital data processors, coupled to one or more storage devices. At least a selected one of the hosts includes a file system that effects access by the host to assigned storage devices. This can be, by way of non-limiting example, an AIX journal file system, a Veritas file system, a Unix file systems using Veritas volume manager or other host platform file system that oversees file and other data accesses between the host and those assigned devices. In response to a request by (or on behalf of) the selected host for extension of the file system, a manager (e.g., executing on a further digital data processor) assigns one of more further storage devices to that digital data processor. An agent associated with the first digital data processor that responds to the assignment by extending the file system to include the assigned storage device.