Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable medium for allocating physical storage in a disk array are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for allocating portions of storage area of a storage array. The method includes receiving, from a requesting entity, a request for allocation of a portion of storage area of a storage array, the storage array comprising a plurality of storage entities and a plurality of data buses for transferring data to and from the plurality of storage entities, wherein the plurality of storage entities are organized into at least one logical unit, wherein each logical unit is subdivided into at least one slice. In response to receiving the request for allocation, at least one slice is selected for allocation for use by the requesting entity, based on anticipated system resource utilization during access to data to be stored in the storage array.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for tracking storage pool reservations are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a system for tracking storage pool reservations. The system includes a storage entity having data storage space for storing data, the data storage space being divided into a plurality of slices. The system also includes one or more portions of non-volatile memory, different from the data storage space, for storing slice reservation statistics and information about requests that affect slice reservation statistics, wherein storing information in the portion of non-volatile memory is an atomic operation. The system further includes a control module for receiving a request that affect slice reservation statistics, storing information about the request in the portion of non-volatile memory, performing the request, and updating the slice reservation statistics and clearing the information about the request in the portion of non-volatile memory.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for tier-based slice allocation and data relocation in a data storage array. The method is performed at a data storage array including physical data storage capacity being logically divided into one or more logical units (LUs) and each of the one or more LUs being further subdivided into one or more slices, where the data storage array includes a resource pool being divided into a plurality of resource groupings, where each resource grouping includes one or more resources of a common type. The method includes receiving a slice allocation request for allocating a slice from the data storage array, where the slice allocation request includes at least one constraint. In response to receiving the slice allocation request, a slice that honors the at least one constraint is allocated.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable medium for optimizing storage allocations based on system resources are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for dynamic, policy-based allocation of system resources. The method includes specifying a plurality of system resource collections for representing sets of like system resources and their dependencies. An order in which the collections are to be evaluated during selection of a resource is also specified. A policy for determining the best resource within each collection is also specified. Statistics about the system resources in the collections are maintained. A request for a resource is received. In response to receiving the request, the collections are evaluated in the specified order. The best resource is selected from each collection based on the dependencies, prior selections, and statistics to implement the policy.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for dynamically allocating memory among a plurality of processes are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for dynamically allocating memory among multiple processes. The method includes at a memory broker for allocating memory in a computer system among a plurality of processes executing on the computer system and separate from the memory broker, monitoring amounts of stationary memory, discretionary memory, and unallocated memory in the computer system. The memory broker receives a request for allocating discretionary memory to one of the processes, and in response, determines, using an allocation policy, whether to allocate discretionary memory to the one process. In response to determining to allocate the discretionary memory to the one process, the memory broker allocates the discretionary memory to the one process.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for performing an input/output (I/O) operation that includes a virtual drain. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for performing an input/output operation that includes a virtual drain. The method includes receiving a request to perform a consistent operation involving a storage entity, and in response to receiving the request: arresting write requests to the storage entity; performing a virtual drain, where performing a virtual drain includes identifying, and indicating as deferred, pending writes to the storage entity; performing the consistent operation; releasing write requests to the storage entity; and processing each deferred write using information that is associated with the write and that describes the context in which the write request was accepted.

Abstract: A system and method for logging and restoring the state of execution of resource transactions in a shared system resource by logging and restoration of state machine information. Each state machine logging mechanism includes a state machine log generator for extracting state machine information and generating and storing a state machine log. The resource may include dual, concurrently operating control/processing subsystems and may include corresponding functionally integral but physically separate state machine log mirroring mechanisms for receiving and restoring mirror copies of the state machine information.

Abstract: A high level transaction logging mechanism for use in a shared system resource, such as a file server, and a high level, cross server transaction mirror logging mechanism. A system resource includes first and second blade processors, each including a first processor transforming high level operations into corresponding low level operations and a transaction logging mechanism including a log generator for extracting high level operation information relating to each system resource request and a transaction log for storing the high level operation information. The logging mechanism is responsive to restoration of operation of the system resource for reading the high level operation information from the transaction log and restoring the state of execution of the first processor.