Abstract: An interconnected memory system, and a method of operation thereof, including: a first discrete unit having a first unit processor and first unit memory module; a high-speed interconnect connected directly to the first unit memory module; and a second discrete unit having a second unit processor and a second unit memory module, the second unit memory module connected to the first unit memory module through the high-speed interconnect for utilizing the first unit memory module and the second unit memory module with the first unit processor.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for improving the performance of memory controllers for memory devices. A system may have a memory controller that interfaces with a memory device to store or retrieve information. When the system needs to retrieve information from the memory device, the memory controller sends an address and a command to instruct the memory device to read the information stored at the address. The memory device reads the information, and after a specific amount of time, the memory device sends the information to the memory controller. According to an embodiment, “dummy” data is sent first prior to the availability of the data read out of the memory devices, while waiting for the requested data to be accessed, and then the actual data is sent immediately following the dummy data. According to an embodiment, a geometry of a memory device has only one column of memory cells that are used to store information.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for improving the performance of memory controllers for memory devices. A system may have a memory controller that interfaces with a memory device to store or retrieve information. When the system needs to retrieve information from the memory device, the memory controller sends an address and a command to instruct the memory device to read the information stored at the address. The memory device reads the information, and after a specific amount of time, the memory device sends the information to the memory controller. According to an embodiment, “dummy” data is sent first prior to the availability of the data read out of the memory devices, while waiting for the requested data to be accessed, and then the actual data is sent immediately following the dummy data. According to an embodiment, a geometry of a memory device has only one column of memory cells that are used to store information.

Abstract: An interconnected memory system, and a method of operation thereof, including: a first discrete unit having a first unit processor and first unit memory module; a high-speed interconnect connected directly to the first unit memory module; and a second discrete unit having a second unit processor and a second unit memory module, the second unit memory module connected to the first unit memory module through the high-speed interconnect for utilizing the first unit memory module and the second unit memory module with the first unit processor.

Abstract: A solid state device (SSD) write operation management system including a file system that incorporates SSD status information into its operational logic is disclosed. By incorporating SSD status information, the system achieves various advantages over conventional systems, such as enhanced write performance and extended SSD lifespan. The system processes various criteria to select the optimal virtual device (“vdev”) for data allocation in response to a write request. The first criterion utilizes Program/Erase counts of physical blocks contained in the SSDs. Another criterion is the number of physical free blocks of a drive. If the average of the selected vdev's physical free blocks is higher than the OP threshold, then the system selects for data allocation the vdev with the greatest amount of logical free space. In the instance that the average is lower, the system schedules garbage collection for the vdev.

Abstract: A file system-aware SSD management system including an SSD management module that incorporates both file system information and information related to the underlying physical solid-state storage media into its operations is described. Also described are related methods for performing data management operations in a file system-aware manner. By incorporating both file system and physical storage information, the system may achieve various advantages over conventional systems, such as enhanced I/O performance, simplified SSD firmware, and extended SSD lifespan. Moreover, by moving solid-state management functions above the firmware level, the system may enable the simultaneous management of a pool of multiple SSDs.

Abstract: A solid state device (SSD) write operation management system including a file system that incorporates SSD status information into its operational logic is disclosed. By incorporating SSD status information, the system achieves various advantages over conventional systems, such as enhanced write performance and extended SSD lifespan. The system processes various criteria to select the optimal virtual device (“vdev”) for data allocation in response to a write request. The first criterion utilizes Program/Erase counts of physical blocks contained in the SSDs. Another criterion is the number of physical free blocks of a drive. If the average of the selected vdev's physical free blocks is higher than the OP threshold, then the system selects for data allocation the vdev with the greatest amount of logical free space. In the instance that the average is lower, the system schedules garbage collection for the vdev.

Abstract: A file system-aware SSD management system including an SSD management module that incorporates both file system information and information related to the underlying physical solid-state storage media into its operations is described. Also described are related methods for performing data management operations in a file system-aware manner. By incorporating both file system and physical storage information, the system may achieve various advantages over conventional systems, such as enhanced I/O performance, simplified SSD firmware, and extended SSD lifespan. Moreover, by moving solid-state management functions above the firmware level, the system may enable the simultaneous management of a pool of multiple SSDs.

Abstract: A field-upgradeable database that is separable from system software contains information about mass storage devices that may be present in a storage array. When an uninitialized device is detected in the array, the field-upgradeable database is consulted to discover which non-standard functions the device supports, and one of the non-standard functions is activated. Software and systems using the field-upgradeable database in a storage server configuration are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various disclosed embodiments can manage a mirrored virtual target to synchronize the members of the virtual target and/or to verify that the members of the virtual target are synchronized. In one embodiment, a mirrored virtual target is synchronized by first provisioning at least one first internal virtual logical unit (IVLU) corresponding to at least one destination target of the mirrored target and a second IVLU corresponding to a source target of the mirrored target. A write command is first issued, via one or more internal virtual logical units, to each of the destination target members of the mirrored target. When each destination target is available to receive data, as evidenced by a returned transfer ready signal, a read command is provided to the source target via the second internal virtual logical unit. In this manner, a data path between the source and destination targets is established prior to reading data from the source target.

Abstract: A field-upgradeable database that is separable from system software contains information about mass storage devices that may be present in a storage array. When an uninitialized device is detected in the array, the field-upgradeable database is consulted to discover which non-standard functions the device supports, and one of the non-standard functions is activated. Software and systems using the field-upgradeable database in a storage server configuration are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments are provided for the replication of data from virtual logical units to remote virtual logical units. Change logs can be provided at a primary storage switch including a primary VLU to indicate changes made to the primary VLU between replications. The change log can also be used to resynchronize a member split from the primary VLU during a replication operation. Members can be split from the primary VLU and used in a split virtual logical unit at the primary VLU for replication. The remaining member(s) of the primary VLU can be used to maintain the primary VLU online for host devices during the replication operation. A remote VLU at a remote storage switch can be exported as a physical logical unit to the primary storage switch where it is provisioned for a member of a replication VLU at the primary storage switch.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments are provided for the replication of data from virtual logical units to remote virtual logical units. Change logs can be provided at a primary storage switch including a primary VLU to indicate changes made to the primary VLU between replications. The change log can also be used to resynchronize a member split from the primary VLU during a replication operation. Members can be split from the primary VLU and used in a split virtual logical unit at the primary VLU for replication. The remaining member(s) of the primary VLU can be used to maintain the primary VLU online for host devices during the replication operation. A remote VLU at a remote storage switch can be exported as a physical logical unit to the primary storage switch where it is provisioned for a member of a replication VLU at the primary storage switch.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various disclosed embodiments can manage a mirrored virtual target to synchronize the members of the virtual target and/or to verify that the members of the virtual target are synchronized. In one embodiment, a mirrored virtual target is synchronized by first provisioning at least one first internal virtual logical unit (IVLU) corresponding to at least one destination target of the mirrored target and a second IVLU corresponding to a source target of the mirrored target. A write command is first issued, via one or more internal virtual logical units, to each of the destination target members of the mirrored target. When each destination target is available to receive data, as evidenced by a returned transfer ready signal, a read command is provided to the source target via the second internal virtual logical unit. In this manner, a data path between the source and destination targets is established prior to reading data from the source target.