Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to spin down of storage devices on an object addressable storage (OAS) system. One or more of the storage devices in object addressable storage system may be spun down to achieve a power savings, while other storage devices in the OAS system remain in an active state.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to the transfer of content between a host computer that issues OAS access requests and a block I/O storage system. Specifically, a host computer may issue an access request for a content unit that identifies the content unit is an object identifier. The request may be received by a second server, which may determine the block address(es) on the block I/O storage system at which the content unit is stored. A request may then be sent to the block I/O storage system to retrieve the content stored at the requested block address(es) and the block I/O storage system may return the content.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to the transfer of content between a host computer that issues OAS access requests and a block I/O storage system. Specifically, a host computer may issue an access request for a content unit that identifies the content unit is an object identifier. The request may be received by a second server, which may determine the block address(es) on the block I/O storage system at which the content unit is stored. A request may then be sent to the block I/O storage system to retrieve the content stored at the requested block address(es) and the block I/O storage system may return the content.

Abstract: A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program for handling transaction messages in asynchronous data replication in a database system is disclosed. The computer program provides a high speed parallel apply of transactional changes to a target node such that the parallel nature of the application of changes does not compromise the integrity of the data. The computer program detects, tracks, and handles dependencies between transaction messages to be applied to the target node. If a transaction message has a dependency on one or more preceding transaction messages whose applications have not yet completed, that transaction message is held until the application completes. In addition, the computer program requires significantly less overhead than conventional approaches.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to sharing content stored on an object addressable storage (OAS) system among a plurality of users of the OAS system and authenticating users to an OAS system. In some embodiments, a user may store content units on the OAS system and control access by other users to these content units. In some embodiments, when a user grants one or more other users access to a content unit stored on the OAS system, the OAS system may send a notification of grant of access to the other user(s).

Abstract: Described are techniques for providing support in connection with a data storage system. An active element manager component is used to perform, a data storage system management operation. The active element manager component collects context information. The context information is transmitted from the data storage system to an external environment. User relevant information is received at the active element manager component from the external environment. The external environment determines the user relevant information in accordance with the context information and support information and services provided by the external environment. The user relevant information includes information about one or more types of support. The user relevant information is displayed via a user interface.

Abstract: Described are techniques for processing a data storage configuration request for an application. The data storage configuration request is received from a requester. A first user level of a plurality of user levels at which the data storage configuration request is made by the requester is determined. Each user level is associated with a different level of abstraction with respect to processing performed in the data storage system for implementing the data storage configuration request. The data storage configuration request is serviced. Servicing the request includes determining whether to perform the data storage configuration request in accordance with security criteria defining, for each of the plurality of user levels, permitted operations that may be performed for different requesters in connection with the data storage configuration request.

Abstract: Described are techniques for performing automated discovery processing in a network. A data storage system monitors transmissions sent over the network. The data storage system extracts one or more data elements from one or more messages included in the transmissions and determines at least one application executing on a component in the network in accordance with the one or more data elements.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to the transfer of content between a host computer that issues OAS access requests and a block I/O storage system. Specifically, a host computer may issue an access request for a content unit that identifies the content unit is an object identifier. The request may be received by a second server, which may determine the block address(es) on the block I/O storage system at which the content unit is stored. A request may then be sent to the block I/O storage system to retrieve the content stored at the requested block address(es) and the block I/O storage system may return the content.

Abstract: A method is used in flexibly managing input/output (I/O) operations based on application awareness. An I/O operation that is directed to storage is received. The storage is provisioned in accordance with an application. The provisioning includes selecting one or more default options in accordance with best practices of the application. Based on the provisioning in accordance with the application and based on a rejection template that has a user configurable description of I/O acceptance criteria, evaluation of the acceptability of an I/O operation is performed. The rejection template is revised.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to creating a snapshot of a file system on an OAS system. A snapshot of a file system is an image of a file system at a particular point in time. A snapshot of a file system may be used to restore the file system to its state at the time of creation of the snapshot in, for example, situations where the file system has become corrupted.

Abstract: A technique supports application operation. The technique involves discovering a set of applications running on an electronic system, and querying a user to identify which of the set of applications the user wishes to manage. The technique further involves, for each application identified by the user, providing an application service to that application to support operation of that application, the application service being separate from operating system services and security protection services provided by the electronic system.

Abstract: Described are techniques for performing data storage system management of a data storage system. An active element manager component is provided that performs data storage system management operations. Using the active element management component, context information is collected. User relevant information is received by the active element manager component. The user relevant information includes information about a virtual user community relevant to a first user identifier. For an active element management session having the first user identifier, the user relevant information is displayed via a user interface. The user interface provides for display a first portion of the user relevant information about the virtual user community and a first connection to the external environment. Upon selection of the first portion, the active element manager component connects to a target location associated with the virtual user community and provides the context information to the external environment.

Abstract: Described are techniques for performing data storage system management of a data storage system. An active element manager component is provided that performs data storage system management operations. User relevant information is received at said active element manager component from an external environment. The user relevant information includes information about an entity for purchase or license using said external environment which is relevant to a first user identifier. For an active element management session having said first user identifier, the user relevant information is displayed via a user interface. The user interface provides for display a first portion of said user relevant information. Upon selection of the first portion, the active element manager component connects to a target location in said external environment that is associated with the entity and provides context information to said external environment.

Abstract: A method is used in application aware cache management. A cache management policy is received including one or more sets of device generic application best practices and one or more sets of device specific best practices. Initial cache configuration processing is performed in connection with configuring a cache of a data storage system. The cache management policy is used in performing the initial cache configuration processing. Storage objects are identified as being in use by an application. Ongoing cache configuration processing is performed in connection with configuring the cache of the data storage system for use with the storage objects.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer programs are provided for data replication, such as for replicating a database or updating a cache. Source database change transactions are captured and batched together for efficient data transfer. On receipt at a target replica system, the batch of transactions within a message is separated and separate apply transactions corresponding to the source transactions are performed in parallel. A ‘transaction processed’ table is updated to reflect apply processing for each apply transaction. This table provides a confirmation of the status of each transaction that can be used during recovery processing to prevent re-apply of an apply transaction. The table can also be used to determine when it is safe to delete an incoming message from persistent storage on the target system, and to facilitate one-phase commit processing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to controlling access to a content unit stored on an object addressable storage (OAS) system. In one embodiment, the content unit may have an object identifier that is used to identify it on the OAS system. A first portion of a content unit may be assigned a first set of access permissions and a second portion of the content unit may be assigned a second set of access permissions that is different from the first set of access permissions.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for processing irregularly occurring data events in real time. A system is provided for processing a stream of data events occurring over irregular time periods, including: a system for updating a running estimate each time a new data event is detected, wherein the running estimate is calculated based on a value associated with the new data event, an amount of time that elapsed since a previous data event was detected, and a previously calculated running estimate; and an analysis system that analyzes the running estimate after it is updated to identify a suspect data event value.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to creating a snapshot of a file system on an OAS system. A snapshot of a file system is an image of a file system at a particular point in time. A snapshot of a file system may be used to restore the file system to its state at the time of creation of the snapshot in, for example, situations where the file system has become corrupted.

Abstract: A method is used in dynamic application aware storage configuration. A storage system configuration policy is received that includes one or more sets of device generic application best practices and one or more sets of device specific best practices. Initial storage system configuration processing is performed in connection with configuring a data storage system. The storage system configuration policy is used in performing said initial storage system configuration processing. Storage objects are identified as being in use by an application. Application aware ongoing storage system configuration processing is performed in connection with configuring the data storage system for use with the storage objects.