Abstract: System and method for managing space in storage object structures stored in a storage system uses an object B tree structure to manage a storage object in a storage object structure in the storage system, which provides virtual physical block addresses for data of the storage object and for metadata of nodes of the object B tree structure. The metadata of the nodes of the object B tree structure is written in the storage object structure using first real physical block addresses, which are translated from the virtual block addresses for the metadata of the nodes of the object B tree structure using a metadata system file B tree structure. The data of the storage object is written in the storage object structure using second real physical block addresses, which are translated from the virtual block addresses for the data of the storage object using a data system file B tree structure.

Abstract: System and method for creating group snapshots of multiple storage objects uses storage structures to store the storage objects in a storage system. In order to create a group snapshot of storage objects, a prepare snapshot process is executed at each of multiple host computers managing the storage objects as storage structures to block input and output operations on the storage objects stored in the storage structures. A commit snapshot process is then executed at each of the multiple host computers to create snapshots of the storage object in the respective storage structures. In addition, the snapshots of the storage object are recorded in the respective storage structures as snapshot entries in the respective storage structures.

Abstract: System and method for creating linked clones of storage objects stored in a storage uses a target storage structure that includes a linked clone being created from a selected snapshot of a storage object and surface snapshots. The linked clone is created in the target storage structure with references to the selected snapshot of the storage object in a source storage structure without completely copying the selected snapshot to the target storage structure. The surface snapshots, which correspond to other snapshots of the storage object in the source storage structure, are created in the target storage structure with references to the other snapshots without completely copying the other snapshots to the target storage structure to produce the linked clone with similar snapshots as the storage object at a point in time when the selected snapshot was captured.

Abstract: System and method for managing different types of snapshots of storage objects stored in a storage system uses a storage structure that includes both a storage object and any snapshots of the storage object. When a request to delete a snapshot of the storage object is received, a determination is made whether the snapshot is a first snapshot type. After determining that the snapshot is not the first snapshot type, the snapshot is deleted from the storage structure. After determining that the snapshot is the first snapshot type, the snapshot is marked as delete designated, and a deletion of the snapshot from the storage structure is prevented when there is a second snapshot type snapshot remaining in the storage structure that was created after the snapshot had been created so that the snapshot is available when the second snapshot type snapshot is subsequently used.

Abstract: System and method for managing snapshots of storage objects stored in a storage system uses a storage structure that includes both a storage object and any snapshots of the storage object. When a request to delete the storage object is received, the storage structure that includes the storage object is checked to determine if there is at least one snapshot in the storage structure. After determining that there is at least one snapshot in the storage structure, the storage object is marked as being delete designated without deleting the storage structure. After determining that there is no snapshot in the storage structure, the storage structure is deleted.

Abstract: A shared cache memory can be logically partitioned among different workloads to provide isolation between workloads and avoid excessive resource contention. Each logical partition is apportioned a share of the cache memory, and is exclusive to a respective one of the workloads. Each partition has an initial size allocation. Historical data can be collected and processed for each partition and used to periodically update its size allocation.

Abstract: Nodes in tree data structure can be cached in a cache memory. When the cache memory becomes full, an eviction policy selects cached nodes based on their location in the tree data structure. The eviction policy selects cached nodes that correspond to leaf nodes in the tree data structure as candidates for eviction. The eviction policy selects cached nodes that correspond to internal (non-leaf) nodes from the lowest level possible for eviction, only if there are no cached leaf nodes.

Abstract: A shared cache memory can be logically partitioned among different workloads to provide isolation between workloads and avoid excessive resource contention. Each logical partition is apportioned a share of the cache memory, and is exclusive to a respective one of the workloads. Each partition has an initial size allocation. Historical data can be collected and processed for each partition and used to periodically update its size allocation.

Abstract: System and method for managing different types of snapshots of storage objects stored in a storage system uses a storage structure that includes both a storage object and any snapshots of the storage object. When a request to delete a snapshot of the storage object is received, a determination is made whether the snapshot is a first snapshot type. After determining that the snapshot is not the first snapshot type, the snapshot is deleted from the storage structure. After determining that the snapshot is the first snapshot type, the snapshot is marked as delete designated, and a deletion of the snapshot from the storage structure is prevented when there is a second snapshot type snapshot remaining in the storage structure that was created after the snapshot had been created so that the snapshot is available when the second snapshot type snapshot is subsequently used.

Abstract: System and method for creating group snapshots of multiple storage objects uses storage structures to store the storage objects in a storage system. In order to create a group snapshot of storage objects, a prepare snapshot process is executed at each of multiple host computers managing the storage objects as storage structures to block input and output operations on the storage objects stored in the storage structures. A commit snapshot process is then executed at each of the multiple host computers to create snapshots of the storage object in the respective storage structures. In addition, the snapshots of the storage object are recorded in the respective storage structures as snapshot entries in the respective storage structures.

Abstract: System and method for managing snapshots of storage objects stored in a storage system uses a storage structure that includes both a storage object and any snapshots of the storage object. When a request to delete the storage object is received, the storage structure that includes the storage object is checked to determine if there is at least one snapshot in the storage structure. After determining that there is at least one snapshot in the storage structure, the storage structure is marked as being delete designated without deleting the storage structure. After determining that there is no snapshot in the storage structure, the storage structure is deleted.

Abstract: System and method for managing space in storage object structures stored in a storage system uses an object B tree structure to manage a storage object in a storage object structure in the storage system, which provides virtual physical block addresses for data of the storage object and for metadata of nodes of the object B tree structure. The metadata of the nodes of the object B tree structure is written in the storage object structure using first real physical block addresses, which are translated from the virtual block addresses for the metadata of the nodes of the object B tree structure using a metadata system file B tree structure. The data of the storage object is written in the storage object structure using second real physical block addresses, which are translated from the virtual block addresses for the data of the storage object using a data system file B tree structure.

Abstract: System and method for creating linked clones of storage objects stored in a storage uses a target storage structure that includes a linked clone being created from a selected snapshot of a storage object and surface snapshots. The linked clone is created in the target storage structure with references to the selected snapshot of the storage object in a source storage structure without completely copying the selected snapshot to the target storage structure. The surface snapshots, which correspond to other snapshots of the storage object in the source storage structure, are created in the target storage structure with references to the other snapshots without completely copying the other snapshots to the target storage structure to produce the linked clone with similar snapshots as the storage object at a point in time when the selected snapshot was captured.

Abstract: A method for measuring performance of virtual desktop services offered by a server including a processor is described. A first encoded watermark is embedded into user interface display generated by a virtual desktop when initiating an operation. The first encoded watermark includes pixels identifying the operation and indicating its initiation. A second encoded watermark is embedded into the user interface upon completion of the operation indicating completion of the operation. An action performance time is then computed and stored in a memory. Multiple performance times may be compiled from multiple operations of multiple virtual desktops to assess the performance of the system as a whole.

Abstract: A method for adaptive offloading of data movement from a computer system includes identifying performance results from a plurality of SCSI extended copy (XCOPY) operations associated with a storage unit, each XCOPY operation of the plurality of XCOPY operations including one or more parameters. The method also includes selecting, based on the identified performance results, one or more XCOPY parameters for the storage unit from the plurality of XCOPY operations. The method further includes forming an XCOPY operation associated with the storage unit, the XCOPY operation including the one or more selected XCOPY parameters. The method also includes transmitting the XCOPY operation to the storage unit.

Abstract: A method for measuring performance of virtual desktop services offered by a server including a processor is described. A first encoded watermark is embedded into user interface display generated by a virtual desktop when initiating an operation. The first encoded watermark includes pixels identifying the operation and indicating its initiation. A second encoded watermark is embedded into the user interface upon completion of the operation indicating completion of the operation. An action performance time is then computed and stored in a memory. Multiple performance times may be compiled from multiple operations of multiple virtual desktops to assess the performance of the system as a whole.

Abstract: A method for measuring performance of virtual desktop services offered by a server including a processor is described. A first encoded watermark is embedded into user interface display generated by a virtual desktop when initiating an operation. The first encoded watermark includes pixels identifying the operation and indicating its initiation. A second encoded watermark is embedded into the user interface upon completion of the operation indicating completion of the operation. An action performance time is then computed and stored in a memory. Multiple performance times may be compiled from multiple operations of multiple virtual desktops to assess the performance of the system as a whole.

Abstract: A method for coalescing IO requests includes maintaining a queue in a layer of an IO stack of a hypervisor, wherein (i) the queue holds IO requests received from an upper layer of the IO stack without forwarding the IO requests down the IO stack, and (ii) the layer of the IO stack resides above a file system layer of the IO stack. The method further includes receiving, at the layer, an IO request from the upper layer or a notification of a completion of certain IO requests previously transmitted by the layer down the IO stack. The method further includes determining whether any IO requests currently held in the queue should be transmitted down the IO stack based upon a condition; and combining any IO requests in the queue into at least one combined IO request to transmit down the IO stack if the condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A method for measuring performance of virtual desktop services offered by a server including a processor is described. A first encoded watermark is embedded into user interface display generated by a virtual desktop when initiating an operation. The first encoded watermark includes pixels identifying the operation and indicating its initiation. A second encoded watermark is embedded into the user interface upon completion of the operation indicating completion of the operation. An action performance time is then computed and stored in a memory. Multiple performance times may be compiled from multiple operations of multiple virtual desktops to assess the performance of the system as a whole.

Abstract: A method for adaptive offloading of data movement from a computer system includes identifying performance results from a plurality of SCSI extended copy (XCOPY) operations associated with a storage unit, each XCOPY operation of the plurality of XCOPY operations including one or more parameters. The method also includes selecting, based on the identified performance results, one or more XCOPY parameters for the storage unit from the plurality of XCOPY operations. The method further includes forming an XCOPY operation associated with the storage unit, the XCOPY operation including the one or more selected XCOPY parameters. The method also includes transmitting the XCOPY operation to the storage unit.