Abstract: Systems and methods which implement a buffer for storing data to be written to a storage device when a data write operation of the storage device is determined to be outside of an acceptable parameter are disclosed. An elasticity buffer of embodiments may provide buffering on an as needed basis with respect to storage device cache flushing operations to thereby persistently store dirty write data from a storage device cache when a storage device data write is experiencing aberrant operation, such as when the data write is taking too long. The resources of the storage device cache may thus be cleaned and made available for subsequent data caching. The data may subsequently be written from the elasticity buffer to the storage device, such as after recovery action is taken with respect to the storage device, when the storage device starts completing data write operations in a timely fashion, etc.

Abstract: A storage virtualization environment is provided that includes a system for dynamically updating a virtual volume in associated with a host system. The system may include a set of storage devices, each of which includes physical block addresses that store data associated with the virtual volume and a network switch system connecting the host system and the set of storage devices. In one embodiment, the network switch system includes a set of storage processors each maintaining virtual volume objects including at least one of (i) first tier objects reflecting a relationship between the physical block addresses and one or more logical partitions of virtual volume data, and (ii) second tier objects reflecting a logical configuration of the virtual volume. Further, the network switch system uses the virtual volume objects to dynamically update the virtual volume during runtime of the network switch system.

Abstract: Systems consistent with the present invention perform quiescence of a network storage system in a storage virtualization environment including a virtualization layer that interfaces between a host and at least one storage device, wherein the virtualization layer defines at least one virtual volume comprising objects defining a mapping to data in the at least one storage device and storing information about a state of the at least one storage device in a virtualization database that is distributed across more than one processor in the virtualization layer. A quiescence instruction may be implemented to maintain reliability and scalability of the storage virtualization environment.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide distributed storage systems that are scalable, secure, available, and manageable. These storage systems may utilize a single storage switch and allow resource sharing while securely separating customer data. A snapshot capability may be provided to capture a point-in-time image of the stored data and to track changes made to the stored data relative to a point-in-time image.

Abstract: A storage virtualization environment is provided that includes a network switch system for initializing a virtual volume in a system including a host system, and storage devices. The network switch system includes storage processors including first and second tier storage processors and a Virtualization Coherency Manager (VCM) for receiving storage connectivity identifying which storage processors are connected to selected ones of the storage devices. Further, the network switch system includes a master storage processor for creating a logical tree based on the storage connectivity information, the logical tree reflecting a virtual volume of data distributed across the storage devices and includes (i) first tier objects representing partitions of the virtual volume data and (ii) second tier objects representing a logical configuration of the virtual volume.

Abstract: A storage virtualization environment is provided that includes a system for providing multi-path communications in a virtualization storage environment for managing a virtual volume of data. The system may include a host system connected to first and second communication fabrics and a network switch system connected to the first and second communication fabrics and to third and fourth communication fabrics/ Further, the system includes a set of storage devices storing virtual volume data and connected to the third and fourth storage communication fabrics. In certain embodiments the network switch system includes a first set of storage processors having access to the host system and maintaining virtual volume objects reflecting a logical configuration of the virtual volume. Further, the network switch system includes a second set of storage processors having access to the storage devices and maintaining virtual volume objects associated with logical partitions of the virtual volume data.

Abstract: A storage virtualization environment is provided that includes a system for providing one or more virtual volumes. The system may include a host system and a set of storage devices, each of which includes physical block addresses that stores data. Further, the system includes a network switch system connecting the host system and the set of storage devices and is configured to define and manage a virtual volume associated with data distributed across the physical block addresses. The network switch system includes a first virtualization layer that maintains first tier objects including information reflecting a relationship between the physical block addresses and one or more logical partitions of virtual volume data. Moreover, the network switch system includes a second virtualization layer that maintains second tier objects including information reflecting a logical configuration of the virtual volume.