Abstract: Monitoring and managing multiple data storage devices in association with multiple computers by obtaining at a data storage device manager a value for an attribute associated with at least one data storage device that is accessible to a first computer, obtaining at the data storage device manager a value for an attribute associated with at least one data storage device that is accessible to a second computer that is separate from the first computer, determining at the data storage device manager whether any of the attribute values meets a predefined condition that is associated with the attribute, and if any of the attribute values meets the predefined condition, causing any of the computers from which the attribute value was received to perform a maintenance operation in association with the data storage device that is associated with the attribute value.

Abstract: A method for determining file fragmentation and performing subsequent defragmentation, including measuring a file fragmentation factor, measuring a file extent distance factor, measuring a file fragmentation level, selecting a file stored as multiple extents on at least one disk, selecting a free space extent on the disk whose length most closely matches the length of the file, calculating a fragmentation level of the disk from a fragmentation factor and a file extent distance factor of free space extents or allocated space extents of the disk, calculating the effect that moving the file to the free space extent would have on the fragmentation level, and moving the file to the free space extent provided that doing so causes the fragmentation level to satisfy a criterion.

Abstract: A method for determining file fragmentation and performing subsequent defragmentation, including measuring a file fragmentation factor, measuring a file extent distance factor, measuring a file fragmentation level, selecting a file stored as multiple extents on at least one disk, selecting a free space extent on the disk whose length most closely matches the length of the file, calculating a fragmentation level of the disk from a fragmentation factor and a file extent distance factor of free space extents or allocated space extents of the disk, calculating the effect that moving the file to the free space extent would have on the fragmentation level, and moving the file to the free space extent provided that doing so causes the fragmentation level to satisfy a criterion.