Abstract: A data storage system, device, and method are provided for replicating data between different data storage systems or appliances. More specifically, the present invention affords communications between heterogeneous data storage systems that potential employ different communication protocols. A bridging communication protocol is utilized by one or both storage systems in order to accommodate different communication protocols. Alternatively, a storage appliance connecting the data storage systems may employ the bridging communication protocol.

Abstract: A networked storage system includes a source mass storage device coupled to a client via a storage area network (SAN). A target mass storage device is coupled to the source mass storage device via a private data network. The source mass storage device stores source data which is provided to the client via the SAN in response to a request by the client to read the data. If the request is to copy or move the source data, however, the source mass storage device determines an identifier for the target mass storage device and directly provides, based on the identifier, the source data to the target mass storage device via the private data network. The transfer via the private data network bypasses the client and the SAN.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for resetting snapshots are provided. The reset of a snapshot incorporates the traditional snapshot delete and snapshot create operations into a single operation. Additionally, a snapshot created under the reset operation may receive an array partition from a snapshot being deleted under the same snapshot reset operation thereby retaining its identifying characteristics.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for resetting snapshots are provided. The reset of a snapshot incorporates the traditional snapshot delete and snapshot create operations into a single operation. Additionally, a snapshot created under the reset operation may receive an array partition from a snapshot being deleted under the same snapshot reset operation thereby retaining its identifying characteristics.

Abstract: A method, device, and system are provided for determining when to re-initialize a backing store in a data storage system. More specifically, when all snapshots associated with a specified backing store are either being deleted or are marked for deletion the backing store is re-initialized rather than deleting each snapshot independently. The re-initialization of the backing store provides for a quicker way to delete all snapshots than can be achieved by deleting each snapshot independently.

Abstract: A method and device for managing snapshot data is provided. Snapshots may be created having a preserved data area and a write data area. The preserved data area is used to maintain snapshot data corresponding to the point-in-time when the snapshot was created while the write data area is used to facilitate host read/write access to the snapshot. By maintaining two separate areas, the snapshot can be written to without altering the point-in-time representation of the snapshot.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for resetting snapshots are provided. The reset of a snapshot incorporates the traditional snapshot delete and snapshot create operations into a single operation. Additionally, a snapshot created under the reset operation may receive an array partition from a snapshot being deleted under the same snapshot reset operation thereby retaining its identifying characteristics.

Abstract: A method and device for performing a volume copy is provided. The volume copy method allows access to both the Volume Copy Source and Volume Copy Target while the volume copy process is occurring. This allows a system administrator to initiate a volume copy without worrying that host access to the Volume Copy Source and Volume Copy Target will be interrupted.

Abstract: A method, device, and system are provided for re-initializing a backing store in a data storage system. More specifically, when all snapshots associated with a specified backing store are either being deleted or are marked for deletion the backing store is re-initialized rather than deleting each snapshot independently. The re-initialization of the backing store provides for a quicker way to delete all snapshots than could previously be achieved when each snapshot was deleted independently.

Abstract: A data storage system, device, and method are provided for replicating data between different data storage systems or appliances. More specifically, the present invention affords communications between heterogeneous data storage systems that potential employ different communication protocols. A bridging communication protocol is utilized by one or both storage systems in order to accommodate different communication protocols. Alternatively, a storage appliance connecting the data storage systems may employ the bridging communication protocol.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for resetting snapshots are provided. The reset of a snapshot incorporates the traditional snapshot delete and snapshot create operations into a single operation. Additionally, a snapshot created under the reset operation may receive an array partition from a snapshot being deleted under the same snapshot reset operation thereby retaining its identifying characteristics.

Abstract: A method, device, and system are provided for re-initializing a backing store in a data storage system. More specifically, when all snapshots associated with a specified backing store are either being deleted or are marked for deletion the backing store is re-initialized rather than deleting each snapshot independently. The re-initialization of the backing store provides for a quicker way to delete all snapshots than could previously be achieved when each snapshot was deleted independently.

Abstract: A method, device, and system are provided for determining when to re-initialize a backing store in a data storage system. More specifically, when all snapshots associated with a specified backing store are either being deleted or are marked for deletion the backing store is re-initialized rather than deleting each snapshot independently. The re-initialization of the backing store provides for a quicker way to delete all snapshots than can be achieved by deleting each snapshot independently.

Abstract: A method and device for managing snapshot data is provided. Snapshots may be created having a preserved data area and a write data area. The preserved data area is used to maintain snapshot data corresponding to the point-in-time when the snapshot was created while the write data area is used to facilitate host read/write access to the snapshot. By maintaining two separate areas, the snapshot can be written to without altering the point-in-time representation of the snapshot.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing a data storage system having snapshot restore capabilities are provided. In particular, snapshots may be taken to represent a state of a storage volume at different times. The state of the storage volume may be returned to the state represented by any snapshot even while the storage volume continues to accept read and write operations. Furthermore, these features are provided in the context of a sparse snapshot structure, according to which multiple copies of individual data chunks are not maintained by the data storage system.

Abstract: A data storage system, device, and method are provided for replicating data between different data storage systems or appliances. More specifically, the present invention affords communications between heterogeneous data storage systems that potential employ different communication protocols. A bridging communication protocol is utilized by one or both storage systems in order to accommodate different communication protocols. Alternatively, a storage appliance connecting the data storage systems may employ the bridging communication protocol.

Abstract: A data storage system, device, and method are provided for replicating data between different data storage systems or appliances. More specifically, the present invention allows an initiating data storage device to pull data from a target data storage device. Thus, the storage device that is supplying the data can act as a target and does not require the additional software inherent in being an initiator.