Abstract: A network system gateway and method providing remote direct memory access controls to separate data path from control path. Control operations are passed between the gateway and a control processor node, and data is passed between the gateway and a memory node via remote direct memory access operations. The memory node may also receive instructions for the remote direct memory access operations through proxy remote direct memory access messages received from the control processor node.

Abstract: The invention provides a networking system, network system gateway, and method for managing the transfer of data between networks interconnected through the gateway. The gateway manages the communication paths and commands used in transferring data, as well as the logins associated with each network. The gateway further provides the ability to buffer data in order to accommodate latencies within the networks. Additionally, the gateway provides the ability to pipeline data across the networks.

Abstract: Storage systems configured for improved N-way connectivity among all of a plurality of storage controllers and all of a plurality of storage devices in the system. All controllers of the storage system are coupled through a switched fabric communication medium to all of the storage devices of the storage system. Thus, the back-end interface of each storage controller of the storage system is used for all communications with any of the storage devices as well as for any communications among the controllers to coordinate the N-way distribution of stored data in a declustered RAID storage environment. This use of the back-end channel for all storage controller to storage device N-way connectivity as well as controller to controller N-way connectivity eliminates the need for a dedicated inter-controller interface for such N-way connectivity and eliminates the over-utilization of a front-end (e.g., network) communication path for providing N-way connectivity in the storage system.

Abstract: A method for dynamic storage tiering may comprise: detecting a storage hot-spot located in a first storage pool; and creating a first point-in-time copy of a virtual volume including the storage hot-spot located in the first storage pool in a second storage pool according to the detecting. A system for dynamic storage tiering may comprise: means for detecting a storage hot-spot located in a first storage pool; and means for creating a first point-in-time copy of a virtual volume including the storage hot-spot located in the first storage pool in a second storage pool according to the detecting.

Abstract: A rack mountable solid-state storage subsystem includes a plurality of interface units and a plurality of data storage modules to implement a mass storage device. Each of the interface units may be coupled to a plurality of communication ports for connection to a host server and to other interface units. Each data storage module may be detachably mated to a corresponding connector mounted to a motherboard. Each data storage module may also include a non-volatile flash memory storage and a volatile storage. The data storage modules may be partitioned into a plurality of portions, each coupled to a respective interface unit via the motherboard. Each portion of the data storage modules and the respective interface unit to which each portion is coupled may form a separate storage domain that is isolated from each other domain. The storage subsystem may also include redundant power supplies and backup power supplies.

Abstract: Disclosed is a storage array system. N array controllers are configured with at least two interconnect fabric ports, where N is an integer greater than two. A JBOD unit is configured with at least two interconnect fabric switches. The two interconnect fabric switches each have at least N interconnect fabric ports. Each of the least N of the interconnect fabric ports are directly connected to a corresponding one of the N array controllers, thereby establishing direct redundant connectivity between each of the N array controllers and each other of the N array controllers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a storage system architecture. An Environmental service module (ESM) is coupled to one or more array controllers. The ESM is configured with a central processing unit and one or more assist functions. The assist functions may include nonvolatile memory. This nonvolatile memory may be used for write caching, mirroring data, and/or configuration data. The assist functions, or the ESM, may be controlled by the array controllers using SCSI or RDMA commands.

Abstract: Disclosed is a storage system architecture. Array controllers are configured with at least 2M ports, where M is an integers greater than two that corresponds to the number of SAS domains or JBOD units in the system. Serial attached SCSI (SAS) domains or JBOD units are configured with at least 2N ports, where N corresponds to the number of array controllers in the system. At least two of each of the 2N ports are directly connected to a corresponding at least two of each of the 2M ports of each of the N array controllers, thereby establishing direct redundant connectivity between each of the N array controllers and each of the M SAS domains or JBOD units.

Abstract: A rack mountable solid-state storage subsystem includes a plurality of interface units and a plurality of data storage modules to implement a mass storage device. Each of the interface units may be coupled to a plurality of communication ports for connection to a host server and to other interface units. Each data storage module may be detachably mated to a corresponding connector mounted to a motherboard. Each data storage module may also include a non-volatile flash memory storage and a volatile storage. The data storage modules may be partitioned into a plurality of portions, each coupled to a respective interface unit via the motherboard. Each portion of the data storage modules and the respective interface unit to which each portion is coupled may form a separate storage domain that is isolated from each other domain. The storage subsystem may also include redundant power supplies and backup power supplies.

Abstract: A system for updating management entities or devices in a computer system network with configuration change information from the devices being managed. The management entities are configured to discover, monitor and configure managed devices, such as storage systems, connected to the network. Preferably, the managed devices include a comparator which can track changes made to the managed device configuration or properties and report that change back to the various management entities. In this way, the management entities can keep track of the configurations of the various devices that they manage, even though they might not be responsible for issuing the configuration change. This can be accomplished even when managed devices developed by different manufacturers according to different standards or protocols are involved.

Abstract: A method, and associated system, for delivering data services such as virtualization to legacy devices. The method involves reserving a metadata region in memory of a storage resource in a storage pool that is controlled by (or is captive to) a data services platform. The metadata region includes a global set containing information used by the data services platform to manage the data services, including virtualization of volumes throughout the storage pool. The method includes locating an available legacy storage device and retrieving element information for the legacy storage device. A volume or virtualized legacy volume is built based on the collected element information, and the global set in the metadata region is update to include volume information for the legacy storage device. The legacy storage device includes memory that stores legacy or user data, but the steps of the method are performed to leave the legacy data unchanged.

Abstract: A modular data storage system with a control path and a data path. The storage system includes three modular components linked and adapted for independent removal and insertion within the modular data storage system. A service processor is positioned in the control path, a data services platform is positioned in the data path and the control path, and a storage array controller is positioned in the data path and the control path. The data services platform has a host interface interfacing with storage application hosts and includes a control path block linked to the service processor. The platform includes a data path block including data path functions that may be functions partitioned for performance only by the data services platform. The storage array controller includes a control path block linked to the service processor and including control interfaces. The controller includes a data path block including data path functions.

Abstract: A parity assist circuit that provides multiple XOR calculations using a scatter-gather list is disclosed. The parity assist circuit includes a control circuit that obtains a plurality of source operands in response to a scatter-gather list, and an XOR engine that provides a plurality of XOR products computed from the supplied source operands. Destination and length parameters in the scatter-gather list are used by the XOR engine to store the XOR computation product and to determine the length of the data in the source and destination blocks to be computed. Preferably, the parity assist circuit is part of a RAID controller that includes a processor and a cache memory.

Abstract: In a storage area network having a host device and a consolidated storage array (CSA), one of the storage arrays of the CSA acts as a primary device of the CSA to form logical data volumes across one or more of the total storage arrays of the CSA. The logical data volumes typically have performance requirements that cannot be met by a single storage array. Upon receipt of a command from the host device to create one of the logical data volumes, the CSA primary device analyzes the storage arrays to determine a combination thereof, across which the logical data volume will be striped, that best satisfies the performance requirements. The CSA primary device configures these storage arrays to form the logical data volume and sends striping information, which defines the logical data volume, to the host device. Striping software based on the host device responds to the striping information to access the logical data volume.

Abstract: This invention presents a method and system to emulate logging or journaling file systems by means of a snapshot mechanism. Use of the snapshot mechanism reduces the number of system bus calls during log or journal updates and recalls in case of file recovery. The snapshot mechanism is implemented in hardware to provide for speedy and reliable data transfers. Overall system performance thereby is improved with an average reduced number of calls to the system memory bus. The present invention offers a cost effective way of retrofitting existing file systems with a journaling or logging capability.

Abstract: A shared resource manager circuit for use in conjunction with multiple processors to manage allocation and deallocation of a shared resource. The shared resource manager allocates and deallocates software resources for utilization by the processors in response to allocation and deallocation requests by the processors. The shared resource manager may include a bus arbitrator as required in a particular application for interfacing with a system bus coupled to the processors to provide mutual exclusion in access to the shared resource manager among the multiple processors. The shared resource manager may manage a memory block (FIFO queue) with multiple resource control blocks. A system may advantageously apply a plurality of shared resource managers coupled to a plurality of processors via a common interface bus. Each shared resource manager device may then be associated with management of one particular shared resource.

Abstract: A storage subsystem architecture in which front-end (host interface) control is separated from back-end (disk array) control. A plurality of front-end controller devices (FECs) and a plurality of back-end controller devices (BECs) are provided and are interconnected using storage area networking (SAN) switching devices. Each FEC and BEC includes a SAN interface. In a first preferred embodiment, the SAN interface is an InfiniBand compliant communication medium with associated switching and bus components. Alternative embodiments include a SAN interface that is pair of PCI bus interfaces each connected to one of two PCI bus backplanes. In this configuration, the SAN switch is simply the passive PCI backplane. In a second alternative preferred embodiment, redundant pairs of active SAN switch components are provided and each FEC and BEC includes a SAN interface appropriate to the particular SAN switch component selected.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and managing devices on network comprising one or more managed devices connected to the network and storage means for storing a device management application program associated with each of the managed devices. The system further includes a management station which is in communication with each of the managed devices across the network, and the management station is in communication with the storage means. When a user wishes to monitor, configure, or manage one of the managed devices on the network, the user preferably selects the managed device to be managed and the management station retrieves from the storage means the device management application program associated with the selected managed device. By the management station processing the management application program for the selected managed device, the management station allows the user to monitor the status of the managed device, as well as change the configuration of and fix errors with the managed device.

Abstract: Devices (e.g. “servers”) in a data storage system access data contained in logical volumes contained in a plurality of storage devices or storage arrays. The servers issue access requests through any available transfer path from the servers to the storage devices or storage arrays. I/O (input/output) devices control access between the servers and devices that control access to the data (e.g. “array controllers”), so that the access requests from the servers are uniformly routed to the preferred array controllers independently of the transfer paths through which the servers issue the access requests.

Abstract: An array controller of a data storage system initiates a test of another array controller of the data storage system to determine the operational condition of the controller under test (CUT) as well as an array of storage devices to which the CUT is connected and a network fabric over which the CUT receives commands from host devices of the data storage system. If the CUT or devices connected thereto are not functioning properly, the controller initiating the test can diagnose the problem. The controller initiating the test instructs the CUT to perform certain normal operating functions, e.g. data read and write functions, and checks whether the functions are completed correctly. Additionally, a loopback test checks the operation of the network fabric, and the read and write functions also check the operation of the storage devices.