Abstract: A method and apparatus for preserving contents of a volatile memory when a main (e.g., AC) power source is disconnected. The apparatus comprises flash memory, a controller for writing to the flash memory and a temporary power source. The temporary power source may be a relatively low power battery or supercapacitor. The apparatus is removably attached to a computing device (e.g., via a USB port). When main power of the device is disconnected, the temporary power source provides power for the apparatus, the volatile memory containing data to be safeguarded, and sufficient processing resources to transfer the data. For example, an auxiliary processor may be powered (instead of a relatively high-power processor) or just one core of a multi-core processor. Data are written to the apparatus and can be recovered when main power is reconnected. Or, the apparatus may be detached and attached to a different device for data recovery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preserving contents of a volatile memory when a main (e.g., AC) power source is disconnected. The apparatus comprises flash memory, a controller for writing to the flash memory and a temporary power source. The temporary power source may be a relatively low power battery or supercapacitor. The apparatus is removably attached to a computing device (e.g., via a USB port). When main power of the device is disconnected, the temporary power source provides power for the apparatus, the volatile memory containing data to be safeguarded, and sufficient processing resources to transfer the data. For example, an auxiliary processor may be powered (instead of a relatively high-power processor) or just one core of a multi-core processor. Data are written to the apparatus and can be recovered when main power is reconnected. Or, the apparatus may be detached and attached to a different device for data recovery.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage system (400) may include a gateway service (402), metadata service (404) and storage service (406) that each provide different storage system functions. Each service (402, 404 and 406) may include a plurality of servers that are functionally de-coupled from one another. De-coupled servers may service requests without regard to the operation of other servers of the same service. Such a de-coupled arrangement can allow a storage system (400) to be scaled to meet increasing demands, as servers may be added to a system, on a service by service basis, without necessarily re-indexing stored information or reconfiguring multiple instances of a server application. Further, backup servers may be easily added to the system to enable fault tolerance. Servers of a particular service (402, 404 and 406) may be accessed according to a quality of service policy.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a metadata management system (MDS) may include partitioned migratable metadata. Metadata may be stored in multiple metadata partitions (102-0 to 102-11). Each metadata partition may be assigned to a particular system resource (104-0 to 104-5). According to predetermined policies, such as metadata aging, metadata stored in one metadata partition may be migrated to a different metadata partition. A forwarding object can be placed in the old metadata partition to indicate the new location of the migrated metadata. Metadata partitions (102-0 to 102-11) may be reassigned to different resources, split and/or merged allowing a high degree of scalability, as well as flexibility in meeting storage system needs.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage system (100) may include an interface component (106) having a number of gateway servers (114), a metadata service component (108) having a number of metadata servers (116), and a content service component (110) that includes a number of storage servers (118). Scalability may be improved by enabling servers to be added to each different component (106, 108 and 110) separately. Availability may be improved as software and/or hardware can be changed for host machine in a component (106, 108 and 110) while the remaining host machines of the component continue to function.