Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and processes for migration between storage tiers. Such a method, for example, can include extracting one or more characteristics of a replication workload, determining one or more storage costs of each storage tier of a plurality of storage tiers (where the one or more storage costs are determined for the replication workload and the one or more storage costs are determined based, at least in part, on the one or more characteristics), identifying one or more storage tiers of the plurality of storage tiers (where the identifying is based, at least in part, on the one or more storage costs), and migrating at least a portion of the replication workload from a target storage unit in an initial storage tier to a storage unit in the one or more storage tiers.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method for managing replication of data to a remote storage device may include (1) maintaining a first bitmap and a second bitmap storing data acknowledging persistence of target data, respectively, at source and target gateways, where the target gateway serves the remote storage device, (2) sending replication data from a computing device to the source gateway, (3) setting a bit in the first bitmap, where the set bit corresponds to the replication data sent to the source gateway, (4) receiving a first acknowledgement indicating the source gateway received the replication data, (5) copying, in response to the first acknowledgement, the bit to the second bitmap, (6) clearing, in response to the first acknowledgement, the bit in the first bitmap, and (7) receiving a second acknowledgement indicating the target gateway received the replication data. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and processes for migration between storage tiers. Such a method, for example, can include extracting one or more characteristics of a replication workload, determining one or more storage costs of each storage tier of a plurality of storage tiers (where the one or more storage costs are determined for the replication workload and the one or more storage costs are determined based, at least in part, on the one or more characteristics), identifying one or more storage tiers of the plurality of storage tiers (where the identifying is based, at least in part, on the one or more storage costs), and migrating at least a portion of the replication workload from a target storage unit in an initial storage tier to a storage unit in the one or more storage tiers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and processes to select storage tiers for data replication and data recovery. A replication stream is received from a replication appliance that is configured to replicate data to a storage tier of multiple storage tiers. Each storage tier differs from at least one other storage tier in at least one storage characteristic. Portions of the replication stream are identified based on input/output (I/O) characteristics. The portions are stored in one storage tier other than the storage tier based on the I/O characteristics, and a storage cost associated with each storage tier, where the storage cost associated with each storage tier is based on storage characteristics of each storage tier.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method for recovering data may include (i) accumulating a list of changed blocks that have changed in a replicated source volume over a continuous-data-protection window of time, (ii) receiving a request to recover data in a replication target volume of the replicated source volume, (iii) converting the changed blocks to a changed-block volume that is paired with the replication target volume, (iv) launching a virtual machine from the replication target volume and the paired changed-block volume, (v) determining that an intercepted read request is directed to a changed block stored within the changed-block volume, and (vi) redirecting the intercepted read request from the replication target volume to the changed-block volume to fulfill the intercepted read request. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method for managing replication of data to a remote storage device may include (1) maintaining a first bitmap and a second bitmap storing data acknowledging persistence of target data, respectively, at source and target gateways, where the target gateway serves the remote storage device, (2) sending replication data from a computing device to the source gateway, (3) setting a bit in the first bitmap, where the set bit corresponds to the replication data sent to the source gateway, (4) receiving a first acknowledgement indicating the source gateway received the replication data, (5) copying, in response to the first acknowledgement, the bit to the second bitmap, (6) clearing, in response to the first acknowledgement, the bit in the first bitmap, and (7) receiving a second acknowledgement indicating the target gateway received the replication data. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method for managing replication of data to a remote storage device may include (1) maintaining a first bitmap and a second bitmap storing data acknowledging persistence of target data, respectively, at source and target gateways, where the target gateway serves the remote storage device, (2) sending replication data from a computing device to the source gateway, (3) setting a bit in the first bitmap, where the set bit corresponds to the replication data sent to the source gateway, (4) receiving a first acknowledgement indicating the source gateway received the replication data, (5) copying, in response to the first acknowledgement, the bit to the second bitmap, (6) clearing, in response to the first acknowledgement, the bit in the first bitmap, and (7) receiving a second acknowledgement indicating the target gateway received the replication data. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for backing up application-consistent data using asynchronous replication are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for backing up application-consistent data comprising receiving a backup request to backup application data and storing the application data in a volume of storage space. The method may also comprise taking a snapshot of the application data stored in the volume of storage space and quiescing, via a quiescing module comprising at least one computer processor, the snapshot of the application data stored in the volume of storage space. The method further comprise transmitting application-consistent data, wherein the application-consistent data may comprise the application data stored in the volume of storage space and the quiesced snapshot of the application data stored in the volume of storage space.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and processes to select storage tiers for data replication and data recovery. A replication stream is received from a replication appliance that is configured to replicate data to a storage tier of multiple storage tiers. Each storage tier differs from at least one other storage tier in at least one storage characteristic. Portions of the replication stream are identified based on input/output (I/O) characteristics. The portions are stored in one storage tier other than the storage tier based on the I/O characteristics, and a storage cost associated with each storage tier, where the storage cost associated with each storage tier is based on storage characteristics of each storage tier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing resource utilization within a cluster and facilitating high availability for an application is described. In one embodiment, the method for optimizing resource utilization within a cluster and facilitating high availability for an application includes accessing configuration information regarding virtual machine nodes within the cluster to identify an active node and at least one passive node that are associated with the application and configuring the at least one passive node to be in a suspended state, wherein a passive node of the at least one passive node is to be in a running state and the active node is to be in a suspended state upon migration of the application to the passive node of the at least one passive node.

Abstract: A replication appliance maintains dependent-write consistency on replicated storage, for write operations made by multiple nodes to a primary storage destination, without blocking storage I/O operations. The replication appliance transmits a notification to each node, indicating to check a centralized location for a token prior to each I/O operation. The replication appliance atomically generates the token, and the nodes detect it prior to executing corresponding I/O operations. In response to detecting the token, each detecting node inserts a consistency marker in its I/O stream, proceeds with the corresponding I/O operation, and stops checking for the token. The appliance reads the I/O stream of each node, and identifies the position of the inserted consistency marker. Using the identified positions in the I/O streams, the appliance creates a consistent cut without blocking I/O operations made by the nodes. The appliance uses the cut to maintain dependent-write consistency to the replicated storage.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for measuring compliance with a recovery point objective for an application may include identifying a set of mount points on a primary site written to by the application. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying a second site used for asynchronous replication of the primary site. The computer-implemented method may further include periodically updating a time value on each mount point in the set of mount points on the primary site. The computer-implemented method may additionally include, for each mount point in the set of mount points, measuring a replication lag by calculating a difference between the time value on the mount point and a replication of the time value on a corresponding mount point on the secondary site. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing affinity rules in virtual-machine environments may include (1) identifying a first application configured to run on a first virtual machine, (2) identifying a second application configured to run on a second virtual machine, (3) identifying an application affinity rule between the first application and the second application, the application affinity rule indicating whether the first application and the second application should run on a same hypervisor within a plurality of hypervisors, and (4) selecting, based at least in part on which hypervisor among the plurality of hypervisors is running the first application, a hypervisor from among the plurality of hypervisors on which to run the second application that satisfies the application affinity rule between the first application and the second application. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for migrating replicated virtual machine disks may include 1) replicating a virtual machine disk from an initial data store at a primary site to an initial data store at a secondary site to create a replicated virtual machine disk, 2) identifying a request to migrate the virtual machine disk within the primary site, 3) pausing replication of the virtual machine disk and mirroring the virtual machine disk from the initial data store a subsequent data store at the primary site, mirroring the replicated virtual machine disk from the initial data store to a subsequent data store at the secondary site, and 4) upon mirroring, resuming replication of the virtual machine disk by replicating the virtual machine disk from the subsequent data store at the primary site to the subsequent data store at the secondary site. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for creating selective snapshots may include (1) determining that a snapshot has been taken of a volume of data that includes at least one file, (2) identifying a first attempted modification to a first block of the file, (3) determining, based on a block map of the file, that the first block falls within a scope of the snapshot, (4) copying the first block before the first attempted modification for use in the snapshot, (5) identifying a second attempted modification to a second block of the file, (6) determining, based on the block map of the file, that the second block does not fall within the scope of the snapshot, and (7) allowing the second attempted modification without first copying the second block for use in the snapshot. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may include (1) identifying at least one computer cluster configured to (a) facilitate substantially continuous availability of at least one multi-tier application that includes a plurality of discrete architectural layers and (b) provide a plurality of virtual machines configured to execute the discrete architectural layers within the multi-tier application, (2) detecting a failure that prevents at least one node within the computer cluster from providing at least one virtual machine configured to execute at least one discrete architectural layer within the multi-tier application, (3) identifying a different node capable of providing the virtual machine within the computer cluster, and then (4) directing the different node within the computer cluster to provide the virtual machine in order to facilitate substantially continuous availability of all of the discrete architectural layers within the multi-tier application despite the detected failure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing multipathing configurations for virtual machines may include 1) identifying a virtual machine configured to store virtual machine data on a storage system, 2) identifying a service level specification that stipulates a minimum number of input/output paths between the virtual machine and the virtual machine data, 3) determining that a number of available input/output paths between the virtual machine and the virtual machine data has fallen below the minimum number of input/output paths between the virtual machine and the virtual machine data stipulated by the service level specification, and 4) migrating at least one of the virtual machine and the virtual machine data in response to determining that the number of available input/output paths has fallen below the minimum number of input/output paths. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing resource utilization within a cluster and facilitating high availability for an application is described. In one embodiment, the method for optimizing resource utilization within a cluster and facilitating high availability for an application includes accessing configuration information regarding virtual machine nodes within the cluster to identify an active node and at least one passive node that are associated with the application and configuring the at least one passive node to be in a suspended state, wherein a passive node of the at least one passive node is to be in a running state and the active node is to be in a suspended state upon migration of the application to the passive node of the at least one passive node.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fault handling are presented. In one embodiment, a fault handling method includes: performing an information collection process, wherein the information collection process includes collecting information regarding guest operating system files of a virtual machine; performing a selective replication region identification process, wherein the selective replication region identification process includes identifying regions associated with a selective amount of the guest operating system files; and performing a replication process based upon result of the replication region identification process. In one embodiment, the selective replication region identification process includes identifying regions associated with files of interest. The selective replication region identification process can include identifying regions associated with temporary files.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for facilitating long-distance live migrations of virtual machines may include: 1) identifying a request for a live migration of a virtual machine from a primary site to a secondary site, the primary site including a primary storage device used for storage by the virtual machine being configured for active-passive replication to a secondary storage device at the secondary site, 2) initiating a failover of the active-passive replication from the primary storage device to the secondary storage device in response to the request, 3) intercepting each write attempt made by the virtual machine at the secondary site to the secondary storage device before completion of the failover, 4) buffering each intercepted write attempt, 5) determining that the failover is complete, and 6) applying each buffered write attempt to the secondary storage after determining that the failover is complete. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.