Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing multiple storage devices from multiple hosts without use of remote direct memory access (RDMA) as disclosed herein include: providing a data store switch fabric enabling data communications between a data storage access system and a plurality of compute nodes, each compute node having integrated compute capabilities, data storage, and a network interface controller (Host NIC); providing a plurality of physical data storage devices; providing a host bus adapter (HBA) in data communication with the plurality of physical data storage devices and the plurality of compute nodes via the data store switch fabric, the HBA including at least one submission queue and a corresponding shadow queue; receiving an input/output (I/O) request from the plurality of compute nodes; including an element of the I/O request to the at least one submission queue; and including additional information related to the element of the at least one submission queue to the corresponding shadow queue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing multiple storage devices from multiple hosts without use of remote direct memory access (RDMA) as disclosed herein include: providing a data store switch fabric enabling data communications between a data storage access system and a plurality of compute nodes, each compute node having integrated compute capabilities, data storage, and a network interface controller (Host NIC); providing a plurality of physical data storage devices; providing a host bus adapter (HBA) in data communication with the plurality of physical data storage devices and the plurality of compute nodes via the data store switch fabric, the HBA including at least one submission queue and a corresponding shadow queue; receiving an input/output (I/O) request from the plurality of compute nodes; including an element of the I/O request to the at least one submission queue; and including additional information related to the element of the at least one submission queue to the corresponding shadow queue.

Abstract: Various embodiments for implementing a method and apparatus for accessing multiple storage devices from multiple hosts without use of remote direct memory access (RDMA) as disclosed herein include: providing a data store switch fabric enabling data communications between a data storage access system and a plurality of compute nodes, each compute node having integrated compute capabilities, data storage, and a network interface controller (Host NIC); providing a plurality of physical data storage devices; providing a host bus adapter (HBA) in data communication with the plurality of physical data storage devices and the plurality of compute nodes via the data store switch fabric, the HBA including at least one submission queue and a corresponding shadow queue; receiving an input/output (I/O) request from the plurality of compute nodes; including an element of the I/O request to the at least one submission queue; and including additional information related to the element of the at least one submission queue to

Abstract: Various embodiments for implementing a method and apparatus for accessing multiple storage devices from multiple hosts without use of remote direct memory access (RDMA) as disclosed herein include: providing a data store switch fabric enabling data communications between a data storage access system and a plurality of compute nodes, each compute node having integrated compute capabilities, data storage, and a network interface controller (Host NIC); providing a plurality of physical data storage devices; providing a host bus adapter (HBA) in data communication with the plurality of physical data storage devices and the plurality of compute nodes via the data store switch fabric, the HBA including at least one submission queue and a corresponding shadow queue; receiving an input/output (I/O) request from the plurality of compute nodes; including an element of the I/O request to the at least one submission queue; and including additional information related to the element of the at least one submission queue to

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system and machine readable program for tracking pharmaceutical samples. A pharmaceutical sample (such as a batch of pharmaceutical products) is provided to be distributed. The pharmaceutical sample is assigned a unique radio-frequency identification tag. The pharmaceutical sample is then tracked through a chain of custody by scanning the radio-frequency identification tag at one or more points in the chain of custody. Other novel features relating to the invention are described herein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for efficient data storage, access and retrieval. An apparatus of the present invention may be a storage appliance, switch or director including multiple ports for connections with one or more processors, caches and servers and ports which couple to the data storage. The apparatus may be added to an existing storage system or may be integrated within a storage controller. The apparatus of the present invention may allow multiple processing instances to share a single copy of a data resource. The apparatus, however, prevents any modification to the base volume. Any modification to the data may be saved to a separate volume. The existence and location of modified data is maintained through metadata.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an advanced storage controller that is capable of providing parallel processing capabilities to a host processing system connected storage system to increase performance, functionality and reliability of the entire computing system. The advanced storage controller comprises at least one input interface and at least one output interface, a host device simulation component, a cache device component, a physical device component and a management component. Such an advanced storage controller further, includes one or more processor elements and storage elements, which may be shared by the components or dedicated to one component. Additionally, the advanced storage controller is scalable by the static or dynamic addition of components, processors and/or memory.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for providing and utilizing a storage cache descriptor by a storage controller are disclosed which provide the ability to effectively balance the size of storage controller cache blocks and the amount of data transferred in anticipation of requests, such as requests by a host. The apparatus may include a storage device, a storage controller and a cache. The storage controller stores electronic data in the cache by including a cache descriptor that defines data contained in a cache block, the cache descriptor including at least one field describing a device block of the cache block. The at least one field may include, by way of example, at least one of a present field, modified field, pinned field and write-in progress field.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing fault tolerant storage controllers includes a fault tolerant hardware component comprised of an input interface, at least two output interfaces and, if necessary, a power source connection. The fault tolerant hardware component may be embedded in a storage controller or separately housed within an enclosure. The fault tolerant hardware component may couple with a host information handling system and with two or more storage controllers, which are connected to mass storage devices to form storage arrays. Multiple fault tolerant hardware components can be coupled with a single host information handling system when it includes multiple host ports. Further, the fault tolerant hardware component may be coupled with other fault tolerant hardware components.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for optimizing remote data distribution. A system and method for optimizing remote data includes receiving a request for content at a first storage device. The first storage device may include a map which may be analyzed to determine if a copy associated with the content request is present at the first storage device. The map may include at least one map entry having an identifier suitable for describing a range of addressable data blocks. If a copy associated with the content request is initially present, the copy may be provided to a user that requested the content. If the requested content is not initially present, a copy of the content may be retrieved by the first storage device from a second storage device. After receipt of the copy, a map located at the first storage device may be updated to reflect storage of the copy of requested content at the first storage device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for optimizing establishment of mirrored data. In an aspect of the present invention, a method of tracking changes to mirrored storage system including a first storage device and a second storage device may include creating a map including at least one map entry having an identifier suitable for describing a range of addressable data blocks. The range of addressable data blocks includes at least one data block modified after operation of the first storage device is suspended. At least one of a range of addressable data blocks described by at least one map entry of the map and a number of map elements copied per establish command is specified. The map including the at least one map entry on the second storage device is stored. The map is suitable for being utilized to restore data stored on the second storage device to at least one of the first storage device and a third storage device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method of installing additional devices to storage subsystems without disrupting the overall storage system. The present invention may utilize a storage controller which allows testing of devices while the devices are attached to the system by making the devices functionally transparent to the storage system. Further, the present invention may log and report problems discovered during the testing of devices.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, method and apparatus for providing and utilizing a storage cache descriptor by a storage controller. The present invention provides the ability to effectively balance size of storage controller cache blocks and amount of data transferred in anticipation of requests, such as requests by a host. An electronic data storage apparatus may include a storage device, a storage controller and a cache. The storage controller is communicatively coupled to the storage device, and is suitable for controlling data storage operations of the storage device. The cache is communicatively coupled to the storage controller, the cache suitable for storing electronic data for access by the storage controller. The storage controller stores electronic data in the cache by including a cache descriptor that defines data contained in a cache block, the cache descriptor including at least one field describing a device block of the cache block.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing redundant geographically disparate data storage. The present invention allows for the geographic separation of data storage nodes to minimize the risks posed by terrorism, theft and natural disasters. A system of the present invention includes a plurality of nodes capable of storing data including redundant data from other nodes within the system. Communication links permit the transfer of data from node to node and between a computer interfacing with stored data. An alternate communication path is included to allow consistent communication in the event of communication link failure. The system may utilize multiple communication protocols and latent messaging to insure full redundancy in the event of disaster. The system may further provide transparent data storage for providing efficient access to data.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing fault tolerant storage controllers includes a fault tolerant hardware component comprised of an input interface, at least two output interfaces and, if necessary, a power source connection. The fault tolerant hardware component may be embedded in a storage controller or separately housed within an enclosure. The fault tolerant hardware component may couple with a host information handling system and with two or more storage controllers, which are connected to mass storage devices to form storage arrays. Multiple fault tolerant hardware components can be coupled with a single host information handling system when it includes multiple host ports. Further, the fault tolerant hardware component may be coupled with other fault tolerant hardware components.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an advanced storage controller that is capable of providing parallel processing capabilities to a host processing system connected storage system to increase performance, functionality and reliability of the entire computing system. The advanced storage controller comprises at least one input interface and at least one output interface, a host device simulation component, a cache device component, a physical device component and a management component. Such an advanced storage controller further, includes one or more processor elements and storage elements, which may be shared by the components or dedicated to one component. Additionally, the advanced storage controller is scalable by the static or dynamic addition of components, processors and/or memory.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for synchronizing data between mirrored subsystems. A method for storing data may include receiving data suitable for storage to a first storage device and a second storage device, wherein the first storage device and the second storage device are mirrored. A map is created including at least one map entry having an identifier suitable for describing a range of addressable data blocks, wherein the map entry corresponds to a data block modified after operation of the first storage device is suspended. A map is stored including the at least one map entry on the second storage device, wherein the map is suitable for being utilized to restore data stored on the second storage device to at least one of the first storage device and a third storage device.

Abstract: A network comprises at least one host processing system, a number of storage controllers, each coupled to one of a plurality of storage arrays, each storage array including at least one mass storage device. Each storage controller may be coupled to at least one host processing system and to at least one other storage controller to control access of the host processing systems to the mass storage devices. Multiple copies of data are maintained in storage arrays that are geographically remote to each other, such that any copy can be accessed by any host. Each storage controller includes an interface with a host that emulates a mass storage device and an interface with a local storage array that emulates a host. The interfaces to the host and local storage arrays are independent of the type of host or devices in the local storage array. Two or more hosts may be dissimilar to each other, and two or more storage arrays may include dissimilar mass storage devices. Hosts access stored data using virtual addressing.

Abstract: A network comprises at least one host processing system, a number of storage controllers, each coupled to one of a plurality of storage arrays, each storage array including at least one mass storage device. Each storage controller may be coupled to at least one host processing system and to at least one other storage controller to control access of the host processing systems to the mass storage devices. Multiple copies of data are maintained in storage arrays that are geographically remote to each other, such that any copy can be accessed by any host. Each storage controller includes an interface with a host that emulates a mass storage device and an interface with a local storage array that emulates a host. The interfaces to the host and local storage arrays are independent of the type of host or devices in the local storage array. Two or more hosts may be dissimilar to each other, and two or more storage arrays may include dissimilar mass storage devices. Hosts access stored data using virtual addressing.

Abstract: A network comprises at least one host processing system, a number of storage controllers, each coupled to one of a plurality of storage arrays, each storage array including at least one mass storage device. Each storage controller may be couple to at least one host processing system and to at least one other storage controller to control access of the host processing systems to the mass storage devices. Multiple copies of data are maintained in storage arrays that are geographically remote to each other, such that any copy can be accessed by any host. Each storage controller includes an interface with a host that emulates a mass storage device and an interface with a local storage array that emulates a host. The interfaces to the host and local storage arrays are independent of the type of host or devices in the local storage array. Two or more hosts may be dissimilar to each other, and two or more storage arrays may include dissimilar mass storage devices. Hosts access stored data using virtual addressing.