Abstract: Methods and systems for managing I/O requests in a secure storage appliance are disclosed. One method includes receiving a plurality of I/O requests at the secure storage appliance, each I/O request associated with a block of data and a volume, each volume associated with a plurality of shares stored on a plurality of physical storage devices. The method further includes storing a plurality of blocks of data in buffers of the secure storage appliance, each of the blocks of data associated with one or more of the plurality of I/O requests. The method also includes associating a state with each of the blocks of data, the state selected from a plurality of states associated with processing of an I/O request.

Abstract: A secure storage appliance is disclosed, along with methods of storing and reading data in a secure storage network. The secure storage appliance is configured to present to a client a virtual disk, the virtual disk mapped to the plurality of physical storage devices. The secure storage appliance is capable of executing program instructions configured to generate a plurality of secondary blocks of data by performing splitting and encrypting operations on a block of data received from the client for storage on the virtual disk and reconstitute the block of data from at least a portion of the plurality of secondary blocks of data stored in shares on corresponding physical storage devices in response to a request from the client.

Abstract: Methods and systems for administrative management of a secure data storage network are disclosed. One system includes a secure storage appliance configured to host a plurality of volumes, each volume associated with a plurality of shares stored on a corresponding plurality of physical storage devices and having a plurality of volume management settings, wherein each volume is accessible by a group of one or more users, each user assigned an administrative access level, the volume management settings are editable by a first user from the group of one or more users associated with the volume and assigned an administrative access level sufficient to edit the volume management settings, and the volume management settings are inaccessible by a second user from outside the group of one or more users associated with the volume and assigned an administrative access level at least equal to that of the first user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining data connectivity in a secure data storage network are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes assigning a volume to a primary secure storage appliance located in a secure data storage network the primary secure storage appliance selected from among a plurality of secure storage appliances located in the secure data storage network, the volume presented as a virtual disk to a client device and mapped to physical storage at each of a plurality of storage systems. The method further includes detecting at one of the plurality of secure storage appliances a failure of the primary secure storage appliance. The method also includes, upon detecting the failure of the primary secure storage appliance, reassigning the volume to a second secure storage appliance from among the plurality of secure storage appliances, thereby rendering the second secure storage appliance a new primary secure storage appliance.

Abstract: A improved solar biochar reactor, system including the reactor, and methods of forming and using the reactors and systems are disclosed. The methods and system as described herein provide sufficient solar energy to a biochar reactor to convert animal waste or other biomass to biochar in a relatively cost-effective manner.

Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining data connectivity in a secure data storage network are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes assigning a volume to a primary secure storage appliance located in a secure data storage network the primary secure storage appliance selected from among a plurality of secure storage appliances located in the secure data storage network, the volume presented as a virtual disk to a client device and mapped to physical storage at each of a plurality of storage systems. The method further includes detecting at one of the plurality of secure storage appliances a failure of the primary secure storage appliance. The method also includes, upon detecting the failure of the primary secure storage appliance, reassigning the volume to a second secure storage appliance from among the plurality of secure storage appliances, thereby rendering the second secure storage appliance a new primary secure storage appliance.

Abstract: Methods and systems for administrative management of a secure data storage network are disclosed. One system includes a secure storage appliance configured to host a plurality of volumes, each volume associated with a plurality of shares stored on a corresponding plurality of physical storage devices and having a plurality of volume management settings, wherein each volume is accessible by a group of one or more users, each user assigned an administrative access level, the volume management settings are editable by a first user from the group of one or more users associated with the volume and assigned an administrative access level sufficient to edit the volume management settings, and the volume management settings are inaccessible by a second user from outside the group of one or more users associated with the volume and assigned an administrative access level at least equal to that of the first user.

Abstract: A secure storage appliance is disclosed, along with methods of storing and reading data in a secure storage network. The secure storage appliance is configured to present to a client a virtual disk, the virtual disk mapped to the plurality of physical storage devices. The secure storage appliance is capable of executing program instructions configured to generate a plurality of secondary blocks of data by performing splitting and encrypting operations on a block of data received from the client for storage on the virtual disk and reconstitute the block of data from at least a portion of the plurality of secondary blocks of data stored in shares on corresponding physical storage devices in response to a request from the client.

Abstract: A secure storage appliance is disclosed, along with methods of storing and reading data in a secure storage network. In one aspect, a method includes assigning a volume to a primary secure storage appliance located in a secure data storage network, the secure data storage network including a plurality of secure data paths between the primary secure storage appliance and a client device and a plurality of secure data paths between the secure storage appliance and a plurality of storage systems, the volume corresponding to physical storage at each of the plurality of storage systems. The method also includes detecting a connectivity problem on at least one of the secure data paths. The method further includes assessing whether to reassign the volume to a different secure storage appliance based upon the connectivity problem.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing I/O requests in a secure storage appliance are disclosed. One method includes receiving a plurality of I/O requests at the secure storage appliance, each I/O request associated with a block of data and a volume, each volume associated with a plurality of shares stored on a plurality of physical storage devices. The method further includes storing a plurality of blocks of data in buffers of the secure storage appliance, each of the blocks of data associated with one or more of the plurality of I/O requests. The method also includes associating a state with each of the blocks of data, the state selected from a plurality of states associated with processing of an I/O request.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing data blocks and I/O requests are provided. One method is a method of managing data blocks in a secure storage appliance. The method includes receiving a block of data associated with a volume, the volume associated with a plurality of shares stored on a plurality of physical storage devices, and storing the block of data in a buffer. The method also includes associating the block of data with a state from among a plurality of states, each of the states corresponding to a status of the block of data. The method further includes processing the block of data by performing at least one cryptographic operation on the block of data, and upon completion of processing the block of data, updating the state of the block of data.

Abstract: Methods and systems of managing access to data in a secure data storage network are disclosed. One such method includes associating a storage resource with a community of interest, the community of interest associated with a workgroup key providing access to a virtual disk, the virtual disk allowing access to a volume comprising a plurality of shares stored on a plurality of physical storage devices. The method also includes, upon determining a user of a client device is a member of the community of interest, providing access to the storage resource to the user, whereby the storage resource is associated with the workgroup key.

Abstract: A secure storage appliance is disclosed, along with methods of storing and reading data in a secure storage network. The secure storage appliance is configured to present to a client a virtual disk, the virtual disk mapped to the plurality of physical storage devices. The secure storage appliance is capable of executing program instructions configured to generate a plurality of secondary data blocks by performing splitting and encrypting operations on a primary data block received from the client for storage on the virtual disk. For security, the secondary data blocks are stored at geographically-distributed locations. The secure storage appliance is also capable of executing program instructions configured to reconstitute the primary data block from at least a portion of the plurality of secondary data blocks stored in shares on corresponding physical storage devices in response to a request from the client.

Abstract: A secure storage appliance is disclosed, along with methods of storing and reading data in a secure storage network. The secure storage appliance is configured to present to a client a virtual disk, the virtual disk mapped to the plurality of physical storage devices. The secure storage appliance is capable of executing program instructions configured to generate a plurality of secondary blocks of data by performing splitting and encrypting operations on a block of data received from the client for storage on the virtual disk and reconstitute the block of data from at least a portion of the plurality of secondary blocks of data stored in shares on corresponding physical storage devices in response to a request from the client.

Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining data connectivity in a secure data storage network are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes assigning a volume to a primary secure storage appliance located in a secure data storage network the primary secure storage appliance selected from among a plurality of secure storage appliances located in the secure data storage network, the volume presented as a virtual disk to a client device and mapped to physical storage at each of a plurality of storage systems. The method further includes detecting at one of the plurality of secure storage appliances a failure of the primary secure storage appliance. The method also includes, upon detecting the failure of the primary secure storage appliance, reassigning the volume to a second secure storage appliance from among the plurality of secure storage appliances, thereby rendering the second secure storage appliance a new primary secure storage appliance.

Abstract: Methods and systems of presenting data in a secure data storage network are disclosed. One method includes defining a plurality of communities of interest, each community of interest capable of accessing data stored in a secure data storage network and including a plurality of users desiring access to a common set of data, wherein each of the plurality of communities of interest has a set of security rights. The method also includes associating each of the plurality of communities of interest with a different workgroup key.

Abstract: Methods and systems of presenting data in a secure data storage network are disclosed. One method includes defining a community of interest capable of accessing data stored in a secure data storage network, the community of interest including a plurality of users desiring access to a common set of data. The method also includes associating the community of interest with a workgroup key. and, upon identification of a client device as associated with a user from among the plurality of users in the community of interest, presenting a virtual disk to the client device, the virtual disk associated with the workgroup key and a volume containing the common set of data, the volume including a plurality of shares stored on a plurality of physical storage devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing data backup are disclosed. One method includes receiving at a virtual tape backup system a data image to be maintained, and transmitting the contents of the data image to a secure storage appliance. The method also includes processing the contents of the data image with the secure storage appliance to cryptographically split one or more blocks of data of the data image such that each of the one or more blocks of data is split into a plurality of secondary data blocks. The method further includes storing the plurality of secondary data blocks in a corresponding plurality of shares located on a plurality of physical storage devices.

Abstract: A secure storage appliance is disclosed, along with methods of storing and reading data in a secure storage network. In one aspect, a method includes assigning a volume to a primary secure storage appliance located in a secure data storage network, the secure data storage network including a plurality of secure data paths between the primary secure storage appliance and a client device and a plurality of secure data paths between the secure storage appliance and a plurality of storage systems, the volume corresponding to physical storage at each of the plurality of storage systems. The method also includes detecting a connectivity problem on at least one of the secure data paths. The method further includes assessing whether to reassign the volume to a different secure storage appliance based upon the connectivity problem.

Abstract: An air folder adjuster (10) includes an air supply (12) and air supply tubing (14) connected to air supply (12) at end (16). The opposite end (18) of air supply tubing (14) is connected to one or more air nozzles (20). In a printing press utilized for folding documents such as books, air folder adjuster (10) is positioned so that air nozzles (20) direct compressed air from air supply (12) downward onto the head (26) of document (24) on either side of chopper arm (34) during the folding process thus ensuring that the document (24) lies flat, square, and untouched during the folding process and thereby allowing the elimination of chopper brushes altogether.