Abstract: A computer-implemented method for enabling replication targets to reclaim unused storage space on thin-provisioned storage systems may include: 1) replicating data from a replication source to a replication target, 2) identifying unused storage space within the replicated data, 3) generating a reclamation request for reclaiming the unused storage space from a thin-provisioned storage system that provides thin-provisioned storage for the replication target, and then 4) issuing the reclamation request to the thin-provisioned storage system in order to reclaim the unused storage space from the thin-provisioned storage system. Various other related systems, methods, and configured computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for storage network bandwidth management are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for storage network bandwidth management comprising sampling, using at least one computer processor, application Input/Output (I/O) requests associated with the unit of storage during a specified period of time, determining a maximum latency value based on the sampling of the application Input/Output (I/O) requests, comparing the maximum latency value with a current latency value, and throttling administrative I/O requests in the event that the current latency value exceeds the maximum latency value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for making storage information available to virtual machines in virtual environments. A method includes sending a request, via an electronic system, for a plurality of storage attributes to a virtual storage access module. The virtual storage access module may facilitate access to storage for a virtual machine via a virtual access path. The method further includes receiving the plurality of storage attributes from the virtual storage access module and storing the plurality of storage attributes. In one embodiment, storing is operable to store the plurality of storage attributes such that they are available for use in storage management tasks.

Abstract: Reclamation of storage space in presence of copy-on-write snapshot. In one embodiment, a reclamation command is generated. In response to generating the reclamation command, first data held within one storage device is copied to another storage device via a communication link. One or more first physical memory regions of the one storage device, which stores the first data, is allocated to a first region of a data volume. The other storage device is configured to store a copy-on-write snapshot of the data volume. In response to copying the first data, de-allocate the one or more first physical memory regions from the first data volume region.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for migrating replicated storage arrays. For example, one method can involve transferring a set of data from a first storage device to a second storage device. The method also involves terminating a replication relationship between the first storage device and establishing a new replication relationship between the second storage device and either the third storage device or a fourth storage device. Between the time that the replication relationship with the first storage device is terminated and the new replication relationship with the second storage device is established, the second storage device receives a plurality of change operations. The method involves applying the change operations to either the third storage device or fourth storage device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring storage unit ownership to continuously balance input/output loads across storage processors is provided. In one embodiment, a method for rebalancing loads across a plurality of storage processors using storage unit ownership information includes accessing ownership information between a plurality of storage units and a plurality of storage processors within a storage subsystem and in response to a load imbalance across the plurality of storage processors, modifying storage unit ownership of at least one storage unit of the plurality of storage units from a storage processor of the plurality of storage processors to another storage processor of the plurality of storage processors based on the ownership information.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for creating space-saving snapshots may include: 1) identifying a parent volume on which to perform a snapshot, 2) allocating at least one thin-provisioned volume for the snapshot, 3) identifying an attempt to write to a region of the parent volume, and then 4) copying the region to the thin-provisioned volume. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for migrating virtual machines may include: 1) identifying a request to migrate a virtual machine from a primary site to a secondary site, the primary site including a primary storage device used by the virtual machine and configured for asynchronous replication to a secondary storage device at the secondary site, 2) identifying a difference map that reflects differences between data on the primary storage device and the secondary storage device, 3) initiating the virtual machine at the secondary site, 4) intercepting an input/output attempt from the virtual machine at the secondary site to the secondary storage device, 5) determining, based on the difference map, that a region of the input/output attempt has not been synchronized from the primary storage device, and 6) retrieving the region from the primary storage device before allowing the input/output attempt to proceed. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for draining or aborting IO requests of a failed system prior to restarting or recovering an application in virtual environments. The method includes detecting, within an electronic system, an application error condition of an application executing on a virtual machine and determining an application restart target. The method further includes sending an input/output (IO) request drain command to a virtual IO server operable to provide storage to the virtual machine and receiving a signal that the IO requests have been drained. The drain command is operable to drain IO requests issued from the application. The application can then be restarted or recovered.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for enabling replication targets to reclaim unused storage space on thin-provisioned storage systems may include: 1) replicating data from a replication source to a replication target, 2) identifying unused storage space within the replicated data, 3) generating a reclamation request for reclaiming the unused storage space from a thin-provisioned storage system that provides thin-provisioned storage for the replication target, and then 4) issuing the reclamation request to the thin-provisioned storage system in order to reclaim the unused storage space from the thin-provisioned storage system. Various other related systems, methods, and configured computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for draining or aborting IO requests of a failed system prior to restarting or recovering an application in virtual environments. The method includes detecting, within an electronic system, an application error condition of an application executing on a virtual machine and determining an application restart target. The method further includes sending an input/output (IO) request drain command to a virtual IO server operable to provide storage to the virtual machine and receiving a signal that the IO requests have been drained. The drain command is operable to drain IO requests issued from the application. The application can then be restarted or recovered.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for making storage information available to virtual machines in virtual environments. A method includes sending a request, via an electronic system, for a plurality of storage attributes to a virtual storage access module. The virtual storage access module may facilitate access to storage for a virtual machine via a virtual access path. The method further includes receiving the plurality of storage attributes from the virtual storage access module and storing the plurality of storage attributes. In one embodiment, storing is operable to store the plurality of storage attributes such that they are available for use in storage management tasks.

Abstract: A snapshot manager switches the roles of a production storage device and a corresponding snapshot device by modifying read and write requests to the devices. Thus, translation mapping information concerning the acting snapshot device does not change, so a remote computing device can perform a backup from the acting snapshot without having to restart every time content is written to the production device. After the backup operation, the snapshot manager can update the underlying data source from the acting production device to capture writes to production that occurred during the backup. The snapshot manager then reverts the roles of the storage device and the snapshot to normal.