Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing a kernel driver control command at a client machine. The method includes (a) receiving the kernel driver control command at the client machine via a user interface, (b) selecting a target server from a set of servers based on the kernel driver control command, (c) selecting a protocol path to use to reach the target server based on the availability of the target server via a set of possible protocol paths, (d) reformatting the kernel driver control command into a protocol format associated with the selected protocol path, and (e) sending the reformatted kernel driver control command to the target server via the selected protocol path for execution by a kernel driver running on the target server. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product for performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: An improved technique for managing access to performance data of a kernel driver includes acquiring performance data in the kernel driver over identified intervals of time marked by the kernel driver itself and transferring the performance data to a persistence manager outside the kernel, where client applications can access the performance data and/or post-processed versions thereof without disturbing the operation of the kernel driver.

Abstract: A host computer accesses a storage volume via multiple paths and maintains path mode information identifying either an active or standby operating mode. An active-mode path is generally usable, and a standby-mode path is usable under exceptional conditions such as non-availability of an active-mode path. A reason identifier identifies a first operating condition causing the path to be placed in the standby mode. Upon a path-activating event for a standby-mode path, if there is a second operating condition indicating that the path should be maintained in the standby operating mode, then the path is maintained in the standby operating mode and the path mode information is set to identify the second operating condition, and otherwise the operating mode is set to active. A path-activating event can be a manual action by a user or automatic action such as expiration of an aging timer to re-attempt use of a standby path.