Abstract: A method for implementing data storage and a dual port, dual element storage device are provided. A storage device includes a predefined form factor including a first port and a second port, and a first storage element and a second storage element. A controller coupled between the first port and second port, and the first storage element and second storage element controls access and provides two separate data paths to the first storage element and second storage element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing secure erase for solid state drives (SSDs). An encryption key is used to encrypt data being written to SSD. A controller identifies a key storage option, and responsive to the identified key storage option, stores a key for data encryption and decryption. The controller deletes the key within the SSD responsive to the identified key storage option, ensuring that once the key is deleted, the key is not recoverable and data is effectively erased.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus includes a data storage medium, a write element, a non-volatile cache memory circuit, and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is configured to record data on the data storage medium in groups of overlapping tracks using the write element. The controller circuit is configured to store a shingle block of data from a subset of the overlapping tracks in the non-volatile cache memory circuit, while at least a portion of the data in the shingle block of data is updated.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a storage device with a storage medium having a memory capacity. The storage device also includes virtual storage device firmware that is configured to directly respond to commands from a guest operating system in a virtual machine for accesses to a subset of the memory capacity of the storage medium when a virtual storage device is enabled.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus includes a data storage medium, a write element, a non-volatile cache memory circuit, and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is configured to record data on the data storage medium in groups of overlapping tracks using the write element. The controller circuit is configured to store a shingle block of data from a subset of the overlapping tracks in the non-volatile cache memory circuit, while at least a portion of the data in the shingle block of data is updated.

Abstract: A storage system that stores verify commands for all the write commands requiring verification in a verify-list that will be processed as a background task is described. The verify-list can include coded data fields that flexibly designate selected alternative states or possibilities for how and where the user data is actually stored. Alternatives for the verify-list include storing the actual raw data, no data, the data in compressed form, a CRC type signature of the data and/or a pointer to a backup copy of the data that is stored either in non-volatile memory such as flash memory or on the disk media in a temporary area. In case of a verification error in various alternative embodiments the user data can be recovered using the backup copy in the verify-list in the write cache, the backup copy in flash memory or on the disk, or from the host.

Abstract: A magnetic recording hard disk drive (HDD) has at least one read/write head that accesses more than one disk surface. The HDD is able to transfer data to and from the host computer seamlessly without interruption during the time the head is being moved from one disk surface to another disk surface. Nonvolatile solid state memory is associated with pairs of disk surfaces. During the time of a head transfer from one disk surface in the pair to the other disk surface, data is read from or written to the associated nonvolatile memory. The data is first read from or written to one disk surface, then from or to the nonvolatile memory, and then, after completion of the head transfer, from or to the other disk surface, thereby allowing seamless uninterrupted transfer of data.

Abstract: A data storage device has a data storage medium configured to store a first version of data in parent sectors. The data storage device is configured to store a second version of the data in child sectors. The child sectors have the same logical block addresses as the parent sectors. A host operating system can read data from or write data to the child sectors by sending logical block addresses and a sector set number to the data storage device. The logical block addresses and the sector set number identify the child sectors. In response to receiving a request to access the child sectors, the data storage firmware identifies physical addresses that correspond to the logical block addresses and the sector set number. The data storage device uses the physical addresses to identify the location of the child sectors.

Abstract: A disk drive that includes nonvolatile memory for use when the disk drive is in standby mode also uses the nonvolatile memory, together with a volatile memory, as a cache when the disk drive is in both standby and non-standby mode. Each of the data blocks stored on the disks is also stored in a cache line of either the volatile memory or the nonvolatile memory. Each cache line in both the volatile and nonvolatile memory stores one or more data blocks and an associated tag. The tag contains at least a portion of the logical block address that corresponds to the data block that is stored in the cache line. The volatile memory also has locations allocated to store tags that “shadow” the tags in the nonvolatile memory. By searching the shadow tags in the faster volatile memory, it can be determined if a data block is in the nonvolatile memory without searching the slower nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A storage system that stores verify commands for all the write commands requiring verification in a verify-list that will be processed as a background task is described. The verify-list can include coded data fields that flexibly designate selected alternative states or possibilities for how and where the user data is actually stored. Alternatives for the verify-list include storing the actual raw data, no data, the data in compressed form, a CRC type signature of the data and/or a pointer to a backup copy of the data that is stored either in non-volatile memory such as flash memory or on the disk media in a temporary area. In case of a verification error in various alternative embodiments the user data can be recovered using the backup copy in the verify-list in the write cache, the backup copy in flash memory or on the disk, or from the host.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of the present invention include multiple flash storage devices that are configured to form a single storage device that is flexible and scalable. Reliability and performance are improved while keeping the power consumption benefits compared to conventional hard disk drives.

Abstract: A hard disk drive enhances random number generation. In particular embodiments, the hard disk drive includes a controller, a hard disk, and a head. The head includes a read sensor for reading patterns on the hard disk. The controller generates a random number based on information associated with the position of the head relative to at least one track of the hard disk.

Abstract: A data storage system comprises a first data storage medium and a second data storage medium. The first and the second data storage media are different types of data storage media. The data storage system assigns a first range of logical block addresses to physical addresses in the first data storage medium. The data storage system is configured to dynamically reassign the first range of logical block addresses to physical addresses in the second data storage medium. Alternatively, the data storage system can assign a first range of logical block addresses to physical addresses in the first data storage medium and to physical addresses in the second data storage medium. The data storage system stores data associated with the first range of logical block addresses in both of the first and the second data storage media. One of the data storage media can be NAND Flash memory.

Abstract: A host system includes a file system and a processor for executing the file system. The file system stores a first portion of a file in a first data storage medium and a second portion of the file in a second data storage medium based on an intrinsic value of at least a part of the file. In other embodiments, the file system stores a first file in a first data storage medium based on an intrinsic value of the first file and a second file in a second data storage medium based on an intrinsic value of the second file. The file system dynamically moves the second file from the second data storage medium to the first data storage medium in response to a change in the intrinsic value of the second file. The first and the second data storage media are different types of data storage media.

Abstract: A data storage device encrypts data stored in non-volatile memory using a bulk encryption key. The data storage device uses a key derivation function to generate an initial encryption key. The data storage device then wraps an intermediate encryption key with the initial encryption key and stores the wrapped intermediate key in the non-volatile memory. The data storage device wraps the bulk encryption key with the intermediate encryption key and stores the wrapped bulk encryption key in the non-volatile memory. The data storage device can unwrap the wrapped intermediate key to generate the intermediate encryption key using the initial encryption key. The data storage device can unwrap the wrapped bulk encryption key to generate the bulk encryption key using the intermediate encryption key. The data storage device decrypts data stored in the non-volatile memory using the bulk encryption key.

Abstract: A data storage device has a data storage medium. A data storage capacity of the data storage device is divided into slices. Each slice has a set of sectors. Data storage device firmware is configured to store copies of a system image in the slices on the data storage device. Each of the slices stores a different copy of the system image.

Abstract: A data storage device has a data storage medium configured to store a first version of data in parent sectors. The data storage device is configured to store a second version of the data in child sectors. The child sectors have the same logical block addresses as the parent sectors. A host operating system can read data from or write data to the child sectors by sending logical block addresses and a sector set number to the data storage device. The logical block addresses and the sector set number identify the child sectors. In response to receiving a request to access the child sectors, the data storage firmware identifies physical addresses that correspond to the logical block addresses and the sector set number. The data storage device uses the physical addresses to identify the location of the child sectors.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a storage device with a storage medium having a memory capacity. The storage device also includes virtual storage device firmware that is configured to directly respond to commands from a guest operating system in a virtual machine for accesses to a subset of the memory capacity of the storage medium when a virtual storage device is enabled.

Abstract: The invention is a storage device which implements a write barrier command and provides means for a host to designate other write commands as being sensitive or insensitive to the existence of write barrier commands. The device can optimize the execution of commands by changing the order of execution of write commands that are insensitive to write barrier command. In an embodiment of the invention a flag associated with the write command indicates whether the command is sensitive or insensitive to the existence of write barrier commands. In an embodiment of the invention the write barrier command can be implemented as a write command with a flag that indicates whether the command is a write barrier command. In one embodiment of the invention the queue of commands and data to be written to the media is stored in a non-volatile cache.

Abstract: A disk drive that includes nonvolatile memory for use when the disk drive is in standby mode also uses the nonvolatile memory, together with a volatile memory, as a cache when the disk drive is in both standby and non-standby mode. Each of the data blocks stored on the disks is also stored in a cache line of either the volatile memory or the nonvolatile memory. Each cache line in both the volatile and nonvolatile memory stores one or more data blocks and an associated tag. The tag contains at least a portion of the logical block address that corresponds to the data block that is stored in the cache line. The volatile memory also has locations allocated to store tags that “shadow” the tags in the nonvolatile memory. By searching the shadow tags in the faster volatile memory, it can be determined if a data block is in the nonvolatile memory without searching the slower nonvolatile memory.