Abstract: A system and method of input/output (I/O) workload analysis of the components in a storage area network (SAN) are disclosed. In one embodiment, I/O workloads of components in the SAN are analyzed by determining host bus adapter (HBA) port to storage port oversubscription ratios as well as HBA port to inter-switch link (ISL) oversubscription ratios. A subset of the components for monitoring based on the HBA port to storage port oversubscription ratios and the HBA port to ISL oversubscription ratios is selected. The subset of the components is continuously monitored and the I/O statistics of the subset of the components are stored. Expected I/O workloads of the subset of the components are forecast based on current I/O workloads associated with the I/O statistics of the subset of the components and respective I/O workload threshold values of the subset of the components.

Abstract: The invention relates to management of a plurality of I/O requests in a storage system. The host interface module is configured to receive a plurality of I/O request which includes an associated priority; create an I/O request queue for each associated priority; define a threshold value for the queue length for each of the plurality of I/O request queues; and determine if the queue length for one of the plurality of the I/O request queue corresponding to the associated priority is less than the defined threshold value for the queue length for the one of the plurality of the I/O request queues. If the queue length of the one of the plurality of I/O request queues is more than the defined threshold value for the queue then the host interface module is further configured to rejecting the I/O request and sending a queue full message; wherein the threshold value for the queue length is based on the processing rate of the I/O requests in the plurality of the I/O request queues.

Abstract: A method and system for visualizing a SAN is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for visualizing a SAN includes scanning SAN components in the SAN to determine respective types of the SAN components and connectivity information between the SAN components. The method also includes generating a hierarchically-laid-out SAN graph by determining respective positions of the SAN components in the SAN based on the types of the SAN components and the connectivity information. The method further applying a force-directed model to the hierarchically-laid-out SAN graph to generate a SAN topology layout, wherein attractive and repulsive forces between the SAN components are tuned based on the types of the SAN components and the connectivity information. In addition, the method includes displaying the SAN topology layout on the display area of a display device in a management station coupled to the SAN.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for managing data storage systems. The data storage system being coupled to a volume storage pool as data storage resource, the data storage system presenting at least one virtual volume as a storage resource to a host device, the method for managing the data storage system comprising collecting the volume storage pool occupancy and the virtual volume consumption; trending the volume storage pool and the virtual volumes consumption; forecasting the volume storage pool occupancy and virtual volume consumption; and recommending atleast one action based on the forecasted values of storage pool occupancy data and virtual volume consumption data. The method may further comprise detecting a rapid increase or surge in the volume storage pool occupancy data.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for migrating at least one switch in a storage area network is disclosed. The migration is done by analysing the I/O traffic to identify patterns in the I/O traffic of the switch; forecasting future I/O workload of the switch based on one or more identified patterns in the I/O traffic, determining appropriate timing for migration based on the identified patterns and administrator inputs; processing the storage area network configuration data to identify the storage network physical and logical access paths to the or each selected switch to create a first connectivity map; generating a second connectivity map based on the first connectivity map and administrator inputs; and migrating the or each switch migration based on the second connectivity map and the appropriate timing. The migration may comprise routing the I/O traffic from the switch to be migrated to the alternate switches in the storage area network.

Abstract: A system and method for update of firmware of a storage array controller of a storage device in a storage area network. The I/O workload of the storage device is monitored to obtain workload information regarding I/O traffic of the storage device. The workload information is analyzed to identify patterns in the I/O traffic of the storage device. Based on one or more identified patterns in the I/O traffic, future I/O workload of the storage device is forecasted, and, according to the forecasted future I/O workload, at least one firmware update is scheduled.

Abstract: A system and method of input/output (I/O) workload analysis of the components in a storage area network (SAN) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for analyzing I/O workloads of components in the SAN includes determining host bus adapter (HBA) to storage port oversubscription ratios and HBA to inter-switch link (ISL) oversubscription ratios in the SAN, selecting a subset of the components for monitoring based on the HBA to storage port oversubscription ratios and the HBA to ISL oversubscription ratios, continuously monitoring the subset of the components and storing I/O statistics of the subset of the components, and forecasting expected I/O workloads of the subset of the components based on current I/O workloads associated with the I/O statistics of the subset of the components and respective I/O workload threshold values of the subset of the components.

Abstract: A method of retrieving data blocks in a storage area network, the method comprising selecting a first one of a plurality of paths to a storage device; retrieving a first number of sequential data blocks from the storage device along the first path; and selecting a second one of the plurality of paths for retrieving subsequent sequential data blocks from the storage device. One or both of the selected paths may be the path with the lowest average turnaround time of all of the available paths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for prioritising one or more data processing operations in a computer storage system, the computer storage system including a plurality of modules, the method comprising receiving a command indicating one or more data processing operations to which priority is to be assigned and interfacing with each of the modules so as to prioritise the one or more data processing operations over other data processing operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for reconfiguring a portion of a storage area network by establishing one or more auxiliary data paths, configuring the storage area network to re-route communications from the portion of the storage area network to be reconfigured to the one or more auxiliary data paths and reconfiguring the portion of the storage area network while the communications are being re-routed.

Abstract: A method of determining a state of a Storage Area Network SAN is provided comprising analyzing data collected from components in the SAN, calculating a redundancy level of the SAN based on the analyzed data, and determining the state of the SAN based on the calculated redundancy level. The redundancy levels indicate the sensitivity of the SAN to a fault in one of the components. The method also includes receiving user policy settings allowing automatic correction of the SAN and auto-correcting the SAN in response to a change in the SAN state and in dependence on the user policy settings. The redundancy levels can be used by an administrator to set the user policy settings. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.