Abstract: A system for a firmware image download operation in a storage device includes a storage device controller that performs the firmware image download operation in the storage device. A dedicated host memory buffer (HMB) within a HMB stores a firmware image. Further, re-ordering or sorting of an address list mapped to the firmware image that is not in sequence is performed while the firmware image is in the dedicated HMB. Another system for a firmware image download operation in a storage device includes a driver of the host that performs the firmware image download operation in the storage device. A dedicated HMB within a HMB is used for the chunks of the firmware image that are not in sequence. Further, sorting an address list mapped to the firmware image that are not in sequence is performed while the chunks of the firmware image are in the dedicated HMB.

Abstract: A method for performing a write operation includes selecting, by a host, at least a free write buffer from a plurality of write buffers of a shared memory buffer (SMB) by accessing a cache structure within the SMB for tracking the free write buffer; sending, by the host, at least a logical address accessed from the cache structure with respect to the selected write buffer to issue a write-command to a non-volatile memory; receiving a locking instruction of the selected write buffer from the non-volatile memory; updating a status of the selected write buffer within the cache structure based on the received locking instruction; and allowing the non-volatile memory to extract contents of one or more locked write buffers including the selected write buffer.

Abstract: A method for performing a write operation includes selecting, by a host, at least a free write buffer from a plurality of write buffers of a shared memory buffer (SMB) by accessing a cache structure within the SMB for tracking the free write buffer; sending, by the host, at least a logical address accessed from the cache structure with respect to the selected write buffer to issue a write-command to a non-volatile memory; receiving a locking instruction of the selected write buffer from the non-volatile memory; updating a status of the selected write buffer within the cache structure based on the received locking instruction; and allowing the non-volatile memory to extract contents of one or more locked write buffers including the selected write buffer.

Abstract: An apparatus for accelerating tasks during storage caching and tiering includes a processor. First and second storage units are coupled to the processor. A memory unit is coupled to the processor. The memory unit is configured to receive a write data operation. An amount of dirty data in the first storage unit is determined based on the received write data operation. The dirty data includes data present in the first storage unit to be synced to the second storage unit. A sync rate associated with a read data operation from the first storage unit to the second storage unit is decelerated when the amount of dirty data is less than a first threshold value. A write rate associated with a write data operation to the first storage unit is accelerated when the amount of dirty data is less than the first threshold value.

Abstract: A method for preventing a dirty virtual machine from executing on an undesirable host server includes receiving, by a caching module provided for a first host server that hosts a virtual machine, a write data that is of the virtual machine and that is to be cached for the first host server. The virtual machine uses a virtual hard disk supporting hyper-V Virtual hard disk (VHDX) and virtual hard disk (VHD) file formats or any virtual file format with uniquely identifiable metadata. In response to the receipt of write data, the caching module provided for the first host server changes metadata of virtual hard disk files to a custom format before the virtual machine migrates from the first host server to a second host server, and the virtual machine becomes dirty as a result. When the dirty virtual machine sends a migration request to the second host server, a caching module provided for the second host server checks whether the custom format of the virtual hard disk files is identifiable.

Abstract: An apparatus for accelerating tasks during storage caching and tiering includes a processor. First and second storage units are coupled to the processor. A memory unit is coupled to the processor. The memory unit is configured to receive a write data operation. An amount of dirty data in the first storage unit is determined based on the received write data operation. The dirty data includes data present in the first storage unit to be synced to the second storage unit. A sync rate associated with a read data operation from the first storage unit to the second storage unit is decelerated when the amount of dirty data is less than a first threshold value. A write rate associated with a write data operation to the first storage unit is accelerated when the amount of dirty data is less than the first threshold value.

Abstract: A method for preventing a dirty virtual machine from executing on an undesirable host server includes receiving, by a caching module provided for a first host server that hosts a virtual machine, a write data that is of the virtual machine and that is to be cached for the first host server. The virtual machine uses a virtual hard disk supporting hyper-V Virtual hard disk (VHDX) and virtual hard disk (VHD) file formats or any virtual file format with uniquely identifiable metadata. In response to the receipt of write data, the caching module provided for the first host server changes metadata of virtual hard disk files to a custom format before the virtual machine migrates from the first host server to a second host server, and the virtual machine becomes dirty as a result. When the dirty virtual machine sends a migration request to the second host server, a caching module provided for the second host server checks whether the custom format of the virtual hard disk files is identifiable.