Abstract: A method for providing fast access, the method may include obtaining, by a first storage controller of a storage system, retrieval information for retrieving, from a permanent storage space, a subset of cached data units, the subset of the cached data units forms a part of a set of cached data units that are cached in a first cache memory and were destaged to the permanent storage space; and retrieving, using the retrieval information, at least some of the cached data units of the subset from the permanent storage space to a second cache memory, wherein the retrieving occurs in response to an occurrence of a failure to access the first cache memory; wherein the second cache memory differs from the first cache memory.

Abstract: A method that may include receiving, by a storage system, a write request for storing in the storage system multiple input data units that are related to a certain file; comparing, by the storage system, the multiple input data units to stored data units of the certain file to find matching and non-matching input data units; wherein each matching input data unit equals a corresponding stored data unit and each non-matching input data unit differs from a corresponding stored data unit; preventing a storage of each matching input data unit; storing each non-matching input data unit; and updating at least one storage system management data structure to reflect a reception of non-matching input data units while not reflecting a reception of matching input data units.

Abstract: A mass storage system obtains an hierarchical cluster mapping information; Host port state information, which is indicative of a state of at least one host port, is received from an intermediate device of a network that couples hosts to the mass storage system; The mass storage system estimates a state of an entity, which may be one or more host computers or a cluster of host computers. The estimating is based on the hierarchical cluster mapping information and the host port state information. The mass storage system determines whether to generate an alert, in response to the estimated state of the at least one entity. If it is determined to generate an alert then an alert is generated.

Abstract: A method for accessing a block level volume by a file level client, the method may include receiving, by a network attached storage (NAS) interface of a storage system, a file level command that is associated with a virtual pathname that is indicative that the file level command is aimed to a given block level volume and not to a file of a file system; translating, by the storage system, the file level command to a block level command for accessing the given block level volume; accessing, by the storage system, the given block level volume to provide a block level response; converting, by the storage system, the block level response to a file level response; and sending to the file level client the file level response

Abstract: A method for managing a filesystem by a storage system, the method may include maintaining, by a storage system, a filesystem data structure that comprises filesystem pathnames metadata related to a filesystem that is stored in the storage system; receiving, from a client that is coupled to the storage system via a network, a request to obtain a client filesystem object list related to at least a certain portion of the filesystem; generating, in response to the request and in response to the filesystem data structure, the client filesystem object list, wherein the client filesystem object list comprises at least one pathname of at least one filesystem object that belongs to the at least certain portion of the filesystem; and sending the client filesystem object list to the client.

Abstract: A method for managing a filesystem by a storage system, the method may include maintaining, by a storage system, a filesystem data structure that comprises filesystem pathnames metadata related to a filesystem that is stored in the storage system; receiving, from a client that is coupled to the storage system via a network, a request to obtain a client filesystem object list related to at least a certain portion of the filesystem; generating, in response to the request and in response to the filesystem data structure, the client filesystem object list, wherein the client filesystem object list comprises at least one pathname of at least one filesystem object that belongs to the at least certain portion of the filesystem; and sending the client filesystem object list to the client.

Abstract: A method that may include receiving, by a storage system, a write request for storing in the storage system multiple input data units that are related to a certain file; comparing, by the storage system, the multiple input data units to stored data units of the certain file to find matching and non-matching input data units; wherein each matching input data unit equals a corresponding stored data unit and each non-matching input data unit differs from a corresponding stored data unit; preventing a storage of each matching input data unit; storing each non-matching input data unit; and updating at least one storage system management data structure to reflect a reception of non-matching input data units while not reflecting a reception of matching input data units.

Abstract: There is provided a storage system and a method of moving a source data portion from a source logical volume to a destination logical volume. The method comprises: configuring a source mapping data structure to comprise an entry indicative of mapping between logical addresses corresponding to source data portion and addresses corresponding to source data portion and related to a physical address space; and, responsive to a move command, providing an atomic operation comprising configuring a destination mapping data structure to comprise an entry associated with said at least one destination range and comprising a reference to said entry in the source mapping data structure; and configuring said at least one entry in the source mapping data structure DSsrc to bear an indication that said one or more contiguous ranges of addresses corresponding to said source data portion in the source logical volume Vsrc are unavailable to a client.

Abstract: A method for connectivity analysis, the method may include: obtaining, by a mass storage system, hierarchical cluster mapping information that is indicative of host computers that belong to a cluster of host computers and of host ports of the host computers of the cluster; receiving, from at least one intermediate device of a network that couples the cluster to the mass storage system, host port state information indicative of a state of at least one host port that belongs to one or more host computers of the cluster; estimating, by the mass storage system, an estimated state of at least one entity out of (a) the one or more host computers, (b) the cluster and (c) at least one path out of a group of paths that couple the mass storage system to the cluster; wherein the estimating is responsive to the hierarchical cluster mapping information and at least one out of (a) the host port state information, and (b) traffic statistics related to traffic conveyed over the at least one path; determining whether to gener

Abstract: A storage system that includes a management communication interface coupled to a storage management layer and further includes a data communication interface. Upon receiving a request for accessing the storage management layer, from the host, via the data communication interface, the management layer sends to the host, access information necessary for allowing access of the host to the storage management layer via the management communication interface; and upon receiving a management command, from the host via the management communication interface, the host is provided with access to the storage management layer, in cases where the management command conforms to the access information.

Abstract: There is provided a storage system and a method of migrating a source data portion from a source logical volume to a destination range in a destination logical volume. The method comprises: configuring a source mapping data structure to comprise an entry associated with said source data portion and indicative of mapping between logical addresses corresponding to said source data portion and addresses corresponding to said source data portion and related to a physical address space; and, responsive to a migration command, configuring a destination mapping data structure to comprise an entry associated with said at least one destination range and comprising a reference to said entry in the source mapping data structure, said entry in the source mapping data structure to be used for mapping to said addresses related to said physical address space and corresponding to the source data portion and to the migrated data portion.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium that may store instructions for receiving, by a local storage system, a file system command that is sent from a host computer, the file system command is related to a remote snapshot of a local file system entity; wherein the remote snapshot of the local file system entity is generated by a process that may include sending a snapshot of the local file system entity from the local storage system to a remote storage system; wherein the local file system entity belongs to a local file system stored at the local storage system; and responding to the file system command, wherein the responding may include utilizing or generating remote snapshot file system information that is representative of the remote snapshot of the local file system entity.

Abstract: At least one of configuration information of a storage volume stored on a storage system and characteristics of a snapshot, including characteristics of one or more files stored in the snapshot, are identified. Snapshot content metadata, comprising the at least one of the identified characteristics and the configuration information, is created. The snapshot content metadata is associated with the snapshot.

Abstract: There is provided a storage system and a method of moving a source data portion from a source logical volume to a destination logical volume. The method comprises: configuring a source mapping data structure to comprise an entry indicative of mapping between logical addresses corresponding to source data portion and addresses corresponding to source data portion and related to a physical address space; and, responsive to a move command, providing an atomic operation comprising configuring a destination mapping data structure to comprise an entry associated with said at least one destination range and comprising a reference to said entry in the source mapping data structure; and configuring said at least one entry in the source mapping data structure DSsrc to bear an indication that said one or more contiguous ranges of addresses corresponding to said source data portion in the source logical volume Vsrc are unavailable to a client.

Abstract: At least one of configuration information of a storage volume stored on a storage system and characteristics of a snapshot, including characteristics of one or more files stored in the snapshot, are identified. Snapshot content metadata, comprising the at least one of the identified characteristics and the configuration information, is created. The snapshot content metadata is associated with the snapshot.