Abstract: Described are techniques for determining one or more logical data objects for a storage location. The storage location indicating a location on a device of a data storage system is provided. A list of one or more logical data objects is received. For each of the one or more logical data objects, one or more related data storage system locations associated with each logical data object are determined. It is determined whether the storage location is included in any of the one or more logical data objects. It is also identified whether, for each of the one or more logical data objects, the storage location is one of the one or more related data storage system locations associated with each logical data object.

Abstract: Described are techniques used in defining and maintaining group data used by multiple host systems. Group data is stored in a distributed fashion on one or more data storage systems. If a device of a data storage system belongs to a group, group data for that group is stored on that data storage system. Group data changes made by one host are communicated to the other hosts by accessing a common data area on each data storage system using a daemon executing on each host. Remotely mirrored groups may be defined on a remote data storage system. A remote mirror of a group includes group data modified in accordance with a point of view of the remote data storage system and a remote host.

Abstract: A method for processing a write instruction for writing data to a database stored on a logical device includes obtaining first and second addresses that specify the location of the data in respective first and second address spaces. A third address corresponding to an expected location of the data record in the first address space is then calculated. On the basis of a comparison between the first address and the third address, a determination is made as to whether to execute the write instruction.

Abstract: A method for processing a request from a host to write a database record to a target location on a logical device associated with a data-storage system in data communication with the host includes maintaining, at the data storage system, information identifying extents of the logical device that are designated for storage of database records, and, on the basis of the information, determining whether the target location is one on which a database record is permitted to be stored.

Abstract: Described are techniques for simulation of a data storage system configuration. The simulation state reflects the data storage system configuration in accordance with an application programming interface (API) model. API calls result in reading existing data storage system configuration data and/or modifying the configuration data by execution of one or more low level calls. A daemon may operate in a simulation mode in which the low level calls are simulated rather than resulting in communications with a data storage system when operating in a non-simulation mode. A low level cache is used to store simulated values returned from the data storage system microcode. A high level cache is used to store API call return data. A seed file is used to initialize the simulation state.

Abstract: A method for copying data from a source logical device to a destination logical device. In response to a copy command from a requesting host application identifying the source and destination logical devices, an environment is established. Thereafter a calling system receives an immediate response that the copy operation is complete even though no data has been copied. Application programs may access storage locations in either the source or the destination logical device during the copy phase. A copy program transfers the date on a track-by-track basis to the destination logical device. Procedures assure that any data access to a particular track in either the source or destination logical device by any application prior to the transfer of that track is accommodated to maintain data integrity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating data in a storage device that is coupled to a host computer. Manipulations that can be performed by the storage device include moving non-contiguous blocks of data between the host computer and the storage device in a single operation. Other manipulations can be performed directly by the storage device without passing data to or from the host computer and include copying data from one logical object that is defined on the host computer to another, initializing, backing-up, transforming, or securely deleting a logical object that is defined by the host computer with a single command. In one embodiment, an application programming interface is provided that allows a relationship between logical objects on a host computer and storage locations on a storage device to be communicated between the host computer and the storage device.

Abstract: Described are techniques for processing data requests in connection with an I/O operation. A write data request is sent from a host to a target data storage system. The host performs a data validation, such as a checksum calculation, using the data of the data request. The data request is sent to the target data storage system. The target data storage system may be enabled to perform data validation processing on a per device basis by setting one or more device flag bits for a device. The target data storage system performs data validation processing in accordance with the flag bit settings of a device associated with a data request. A target checksum value using the data received on the target data storage system is determined and compared to the host checksum value in order to determined data validity. Data recovery processing is performed if data corruption is determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating data in a storage device that is coupled to a host computer. Manipulations that can be performed by the storage device include moving non-contiguous blocks of data between the host computer and the storage device in a single operation. Other manipulations can be performed directly by the storage device without passing data to or from the host computer and include copying data from one logical object that is defined on the host computer to another, initializing, backing-up, transforming, or securely deleting a logical object that is defined by the host computer with a single command. In one embodiment, an application programming interface is provided that allows a relationship between logical objects on a host computer and storage locations on a storage device to be communicated between the host computer and the storage device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining an identifier of a logical unit of data that belongs to a database. In one embodiment, a method of obtaining a first identifier of a logical unit of data that belongs to a database is described. The first identifier uniquely identifies a location of the logical unit of data within the database, and the method includes determining a group of identifiers that includes the first identifier based upon information, concerning a structure of the database, that does not directly specify the group of identifiers. In one aspect of the present invention wherein the logical unit of data has an application space label which can be used by application programs to access the logical unit of data from the database, the method obtains the first identifier without first accessing the logical unit of data from the database using the application space label.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assuring data consistency during certain operations involving dependent input/output sequences. During such operations a stall application blocks write operations to specified logical devices in a local consistency group while allowing read operations to all devices and write operations to non-specified logical devices. When a write command is directed to a logical device in local consistency group, the host adapter associated with the logical device returns a message to the host that initiates a write command retry. Retries generally continue until a write command is successful.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating data in a storage device that is coupled to a host computer. Manipulations that can be performed by the storage device include moving non-contiguous blocks of data between the host computer and the storage device in a single operation. Other manipulations can be performed directly by the storage device without passing data to or from the host computer and include copying data from one logical object that is defined on the host computer to another, initializing, backing-up, transforming, or securely deleting a logical object that is defined by the host computer with a single command. In one embodiment, an application programming interface is provided that allows a relationship between logical objects on a host computer and storage locations on a storage device to be communicated between the host computer and the storage device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating data in a storage device that is coupled to a host computer. Manipulations that can be performed by the storage device include moving non-contiguous blocks of data between the host computer and the storage device in a single operation. Other manipulations can be performed directly by the storage device without passing data to or from the host computer and include copying data from one logical object that is defined on the host computer to another, initializing, backing-up, transforming, or securely deleting a logical object that is defined by the host computer with a single command. In one embodiment, an application programming interface is provided that allows a relationship between logical objects on a host computer and storage locations on a storage device to be communicated between the host computer and the storage device.

Abstract: Described are techniques in connection with restricting access to devices within a computer system. Access to a device may be restricted to one or more particular hosts within the computer system, and also further restricted to a particular software program executing within the particular hosts. The restricted access device (RAD) may be recognized by one or more hosts only having access to specific portions of the RAD unless special RAD I/O opcodes are used in connection with performing I/O operations. Access to a device may be obtained by enabling a particular use of the special RAD I/O opcodes. Subsequently, access to the same device may be disabled by stopping use of the special RAD I/O opcodes by a particular host and/or software executing in the host. RADs may be used in a variety of applications including, for example, restricting access to shared logs or journals and protecting a database.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assuring data consistency during certain operations involving dependent input/output sequences. During such operations a stall application blocks write operations to specified logical devices in a local consistency group while allowing read operations to all devices and write operations to non-specified logical devices. When a write command is directed to a logical device in local consistency group, the host adapter associated with the logical device returns a message to the host that initiates a write command retry. Retries generally continue until a write command is successful.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining an identifier of a logical unit of data that belongs to a database. In one embodiment, a method of obtaining a first identifier of a logical unit of data that belongs to a database is described. The first identifier uniquely identifies a location of the logical unit of data within the database, and the method includes determining a group of identifiers that includes the first identifier based upon information, concerning a structure of the database, that does not directly specify the group of identifiers. In one aspect of the present invention wherein the logical unit of data has an application space label which can be used by application programs to access the logical unit of data from the database, the method obtains the first identifier without first accessing the logical unit of data from the database using the application space label.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating data in a storage device that is coupled to a host computer. Manipulations that can be performed by the storage device include moving non-contiguous blocks of data between the host computer and the storage device in a single operation. Other manipulations can be performed directly by the storage device without passing data to or from the host computer and include copying data from one logical object that is defined on the host computer to another, initializing, backing-up, transforming, or securely deleting a logical object that is defined by the host computer with a single command. In one embodiment, an application programming interface is provided that allows a relationship between logical objects on a host computer and storage locations on a storage device to be communicated between the host computer and the storage device.

Abstract: A system and method for initializing large portions, or extents, of a mass-storage device in the background so that such overwriting processes do not significantly affect latency as experienced by a host. The method extends the use a system intended for background copying of data from a source extent to a destination extent to that of initializing an extent on a mass-storage device. It does so by causing the system to treat the defined extent as both a source extent and as a destination extent simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining an identifier of a logical unit of data that belongs to a database. In one embodiment, a method of obtaining a first identifier of a logical unit of data that belongs to a database is described. The first identifier uniquely identifies a location of the logical unit of data within the database, and the method includes determining a group of identifiers that includes the first identifier based upon information, concerning a structure of the database, that does not directly specify the group of identifiers. In one aspect of the present invention wherein the logical unit of data has an application space label which can be used by application programs to access the logical unit of data from the database, the method obtains the first identifier without first accessing the logical unit of data from the database using the application space label.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating data in a storage device that is coupled to a host computer. Manipulations that can be performed by the storage device include moving non-contiguous blocks of data between the host computer and the storage device in a single operation. Other manipulations can be performed directly by the storage device without passing data to or from the host computer and include copying data from one logical object that is defined on the host computer to another, initializing, backing-up, transforming, or securely deleting a logical object that is defined by the host computer with a single command. In one embodiment, an application programming interface is provided that allows a relationship between logical objects on a host computer and storage locations on a storage device to be communicated between the host computer and the storage device.