Abstract: A boot appliance for writing data to a particular host system's boot image and returning boot image data to a particular host system of a plurality of host systems. The boot appliance includes at least one storage medium, wherein the at least one storage medium is configured to store a base boot image and a plurality of variance boot images. The boot appliance further includes a buffer. The base boot appliance also includes a computer readable medium embodying computer code configured to cause the boot appliance to perform a method for writing data to a particular host system's boot image and for returning boot image data to a particular host system of a plurality of host systems.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a boot appliance for a data storage system. The boot appliance is a self-contained, pre-configured device that serves as a boot device for multiple servers. The boot appliance contains multiple hard drives which are configured into one or more RAID volumes. Each volume is divided into multiple partitions, with each partition serving as the boot drive for any server connected to it. The boot appliance provides its own environmental controls and Ethernet connection which may be used for providing alerts regarding the health of the components of the boot appliance and/or data storage system to a monitoring system, such as a network management system. The boot appliance may provide a boot drive and operating system image to multiple servers at the same time.

Abstract: A boot appliance for writing data to a particular host system's boot image and returning boot image data to a particular host system of a plurality of host systems. The boot appliance includes at least one storage medium, wherein the at least one storage medium is configured to store a base boot image and a plurality of variance boot images. The boot appliance further includes a buffer. The base boot appliance also includes a computer readable medium embodying computer code configured to cause the boot appliance to perform a method for writing data to a particular host system's boot image and for returning boot image data to a particular host system of a plurality of host systems.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of operation of a host system by which the host system obtains a driver necessary for running a device (ex.—peripheral device, such as a USB stick, printer, etc.) connected to the host system in an operating system of the host system. In the method(s) disclosed herein, the driver (ex.—host driver) is embedded within in an on-board memory of the device itself. The host system queries the device to determine if and where within the device the driver is located and uploads the driver from the peripheral device. This promotes improved efficiency since the host does not have to store drivers it may not need, but can just obtain the driver from the peripheral device once the peripheral device is connected to the host.

Abstract: A data-duplicating expander device attachable to a storage topology and a method. The data-duplicating expander device may include a direct-attached SAS expander configured for direct duplication of data from source disks to destination disks by bypassing transfer to or from a host system. The device may include dedicated expander phys and a processor. The device may be configured to receive instructions from an initiator storage-topology-connected device to configure or start a data transfer. The data-duplicating expander device may be configured to receive source data from source disks by utilizing dedicated expander phys and may be configured to transfer destination data directly and simultaneously to the destination disks by utilizing dedicated expander phys, said destination data being associated with the source data. Directly transferring destination data bypasses transfer of the source data or the destination data to or from a host system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a boot appliance for a data storage system. The boot appliance is a self-contained, pre-configured device that serves as a boot device for multiple servers. The boot appliance contains multiple hard drives which are configured into one or more RAID volumes. Each volume is divided into multiple partitions, with each partition serving as the boot drive for any server connected to it. The boot appliance provides its own environmental controls and Ethernet connection which may be used for providing alerts regarding the health of the components of the boot appliance and/or data storage system to a monitoring system, such as a network management system. The boot appliance may provide a boot drive and operating system image to multiple servers at the same time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improved storage network performance by embedding logical volume control within a switching component of a storage network. An enhanced storage network switching component comprises a logical volume manager that aggregates a plurality of ports/PHYS of the switch (each coupled with a corresponding target storage device) to create and manage a logical volume. The manager exposes only a single port/PHY for access to the logical volume. Other ports/PHYs for the individual target storage devices of the logical volume are disabled so that attached host/initiator components cannot access the individual storage devices of the logical volume. In one exemplary embodiment, the logical volume is a striped logical volume to enable parallel operation of multiple storage devices for processing an I/O request. The speed of communications between the switching component and the host/initiator component may then be better matched with the performance of the logical volume.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving communication throughput of a link between SAS/SATA devices. The link, initially established at a first signal rate, is one of a SATA link and a SAS link. A SAS/SATA device increments one of the at least one counter based on an error sensed on the link. Based on the at least one counter, the SAS/SATA device determines whether to maintain the first signal rate. The link is re-established at a second signal rate based on the determination such that the second signal rate is lower than the first signal rate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improving detection of a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (“SATA”) target device by a storage initiator over a link. The storage initiator receives a Frame Information Structure (“FIS”) and determines whether the FIS is valid. In direct response to a determination that the FIS is invalid, the storage initiator immediately resets the link to the SATA target device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving communication throughput of a link between SAS/SATA devices. The link, initially established at a first signal rate, is one of a SATA link and a SAS link. A SAS/SATA device increments one of the at least one counter based on an error sensed on the link. Based on the at least one counter, the SAS/SATA device determines whether to maintain the first signal rate. The link is re-established at a second signal rate based on the determination such that the second signal rate is lower than the first signal rate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improving detection of a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (“SATA”) target device by a storage initiator over a link. The storage initiator receives a Frame Information Structure (“FIS”) and determines whether the FIS is valid. In direct response to a determination that the FIS is invalid, the storage initiator immediately resets the link to the SATA target device.