Abstract: A data storage system with a cache organizes cache windows into lists based on the number of cache lines accessed during input/output operations. The lists are maintained in temporal queues with cache windows transferred from prior temporal queues to a current temporal queue. Cache windows are removed from the oldest temporal queue and least accessed cache window list whenever cached data needs to be removed for new hot data.

Abstract: A data storage system with a cache organizes cache windows into lists based on the number of cache lines accessed during input/output operations. The lists are maintained in temporal queues with cache windows transferred from prior temporal queues to a current temporal queue. Cache windows are removed from the oldest temporal queue and least accessed cache window list whenever cached data needs to be removed for new hot data.

Abstract: Centralized management of both host-side storage objects on multiple heterogeneous host-side servers and logical data containers on a storage system is performed by a management server. In one embodiment, the management server automatically provisions a logical data container on the storage server according to the storage virtualization strategy without administrator interaction at the storage system. In another embodiment, the management server automatically performs a snapshot operation on logical data containers on the storage system according to the storage virtualization strategy without administrator interaction at the storage system. In another embodiment, the management server centrally monitors for out-of-space events in the storage system and automatically correlates the out-of-space events in the storage system to out-of-space events for the host-side file systems.

Abstract: Centralized management of both host-side storage objects on multiple heterogeneous host-side servers and logical data containers on a storage system is performed by a management server. In one embodiment, the management server automatically provisions a logical data container on the storage server according to the storage virtualization strategy without administrator interaction at the storage system. In another embodiment, the management server automatically performs a snapshot operation on logical data containers on the storage system according to the storage virtualization strategy without administrator interaction at the storage system. In another embodiment, the management server centrally monitors for out-of-space events in the storage system and automatically correlates the out-of-space events in the storage system to out-of-space events for the host-side file systems.

Abstract: A process such as a snapshot creation application process freezes a file system upon initiating a process to create a snapshot of a file system or a part thereof. Upon freezing the file system, the snapshot application process causes a second process to make a change to the file system. If the change is successfully made before the snapshot creation application process tries to thaw the file system, the second process sends a signal back to the snapshot application. Upon receiving a signal from the second process, the snapshot creation application process outputs a warning to a user that the snapshot is inconsistent. The snapshot application also causes a third process to automatically thaw the file system, if a certain period of time has passed and the third process has not received a signal from the snapshot application process indicating the snapshot has been successfully created.