Abstract: A method for provisioning a blade server is provided. The method includes creating a server boot image for a blade server, where the boot image includes an operating system image created from a donor server. Then, the method includes inserting the blade server into a chassis of an enclosure that is capable of receiving multiple blade servers. Then, staring the blade server from a pre-boot execution environment (PXE). The PXE loading an image that prompts a user to install a new operating system from a pre-existing target computer of the enclosure. The method then installs the new operating system. The installing includes creation of a new iSCSI target for the inserted blade server, and partitioning of the iSCSI target. The also includes restarting the inserted blade server. The restarting is configured to boot using the iSCSI target of the inserted blade server, so that the inserted blade server becomes a provisioned blade server.

Abstract: A method for provisioning a blade server is provided. The method includes creating a server boot image for a blade server, where the boot image includes an operating system image created from a donor server. Then, the method includes inserting the blade server into a chassis of an enclosure that is capable of receiving multiple blade servers. Then, staring the blade server from a pre-boot execution environment (PXE). The PXE loading an image that prompts a user to install a new operating system from a pre-existing target computer of the enclosure. The method then installs the new operating system. The installing includes creation of a new iSCSI target for the inserted blade server, and partitioning of the iSCSI target. The also includes restarting the inserted blade server. The restarting is configured to boot using the iSCSI target of the inserted blade server, so that the inserted blade server becomes a provisioned blade server.

Abstract: A method of rebuilding a replacement drive used in a RAID group of drives is disclosed. The rebuilding method includes tracking data modification operations continuously during use of the drives. The method also includes saving the tracked data modifications to a log in a persistent storage, where the tracked data modifications are associated with stripe data present on the drives. Then, rebuilding a failed one of the drives with a replacement drive. The rebuilding is facilitated by referencing the log from the persistent storage, and the log facilitating reading only portions of stripe data from surviving drives and omitting reading of portions from the drives where no data was written. Thus, the rebuilding only rebuilds the stripe data to the replacement drive. Also provided is a zoning method, which enables logical zone creation from storage area networks.