Abstract: A distributed object store in a network storage system uses location-independent global object identifiers (IDs) for stored data objects. The global object ID enables a data object to be seamlessly moved from one location to another without affecting clients of the storage system, i.e., “transparent migration”. The global object ID can be part of a multilevel object handle, which also can include a location ID indicating the specific location at which the data object is stored, and a policy ID identifying a set of data management policies associated with the data object. The policy ID may be associated with the data object by a client of the storage system, for example when the client creates the object, thus allowing “inline” policy management. An object location subsystem (OLS) can be used to locate an object when a client request does not contain a valid location ID for the object.

Abstract: A distributed object store in a network storage system uses location-independent global object identifiers (IDs) for stored data objects. The global object ID enables a data object to be seamlessly moved from one location to another without affecting clients of the storage system, i.e., “transparent migration”. The global object ID can be part of a multilevel object handle, which also can include a location ID indicating the specific location at which the data object is stored, and a policy ID identifying a set of data management policies associated with the data object. The policy ID may be associated with the data object by a client of the storage system, for example when the client creates the object, thus allowing “inline” policy management. An object location subsystem (OLS) can be used to locate an object when a client request does not contain a valid location ID for the object.

Abstract: A virtual tape storage system includes an original virtual tape library for storing data and includes snapshot virtual tape library (SVTL). The SVTL includes a snapshot of the data stored in the original virtual tape library. A host is operable to receive the snapshot data from the SVTL to perform a disaster recovery test of the original virtual tape library. The SVTL is generated from the original virtual tape library using a copy-on-write snapshot process. In an embodiment, the original virtual tape library stores the stored data on a number of virtual tape volumes (VTVs), and the SVTL includes a snapshot of those VTDs and VTVs which are required for a disaster recovery test of the original virtual tape library. In this case, the host uses the SVTL to perform the disaster recovery test of the original virtual tape library.

Abstract: A data processing system, method, and product are disclosed for managing a virtual storage system. A first command is received from a host to store data utilizing a storage scheme. At least one second command is generated to write data according to the storage scheme to ones of the storage devices in response to the receipt of the first command. The at least one second command is then transmitted to the ones of the plurality of storage devices. Data is stored in the ones of the storage devices according to the storage scheme in response to a receipt of the second command by a storage device.

Abstract: A data processing system, method, and product are disclosed for maintaining a database of usage information of multiple, different physical devices. A virtualization system is provided interposed between a host computer system and the physical devices. The host computer system is capable of accessing only virtual interfaces and is incapable of directly accessing any of the physical devices. A relational database is established within the virtualization system for storing information. Information is stored in the database about transactions processed by the virtualization system utilizing the physical devices. The information stored in the database includes error information and information about the usage of the physical devices. The information in the database may be accessed by the host computer system.