Abstract: Providing authorization and authentication in a cloud for a user of a storage array includes: receiving, by a storage array access module from a client-side array services module, a token representing authentication of user credentials and authorized access privileges defining one or more storage array services accessible by the user, where the token is generated by a cloud-based security module upon authentication of the user credentials and identification of authorized access privileges for the user; receiving, by the storage array access module from the user, a user access request to one or more storage array services; and determining, by the storage array access module, whether to grant the user access request in dependence upon the authorized access privileges represented by the token.

Abstract: An illustrative apparatus is configured to carry out the steps of: comparing one or more performance metrics of a particular storage array in a plurality of storage arrays to one or more corresponding performance metrics of one or more other storage arrays; identifying, based on the comparing, one or more actions for improving one or more conditions of the particular storage array; and presenting one or more projected effects of implementing the one or more actions on the storage array.

Abstract: Locally providing cloud storage array services for a plurality of storage systems within a data center by: receiving a request for storage resources from an operating system level virtualization service; determining, among the plurality of storage systems; an implementation of the request from the operating system level virtualization service; and providing storage resources to the operating system level virtualization service in accordance with the implementation of the request from the operating system level virtualization service.

Abstract: Synchronizing snapshots between storage systems, including: receiving, from a source storage system, an identification of a snapshot to be replicated to a destination storage system, wherein the source storage system and the destination storage system are of different types; identifying, from hint information stored on the destination storage system, a most recent version of the snapshot that is stored on the destination storage system; issuing, to the source storage system, a request for an identification of the differences between the snapshot to be replicated to the destination storage system and the most recent version of the snapshot that is stored on the destination storage system; receiving, from the source storage system, the identification of the differences; and issuing a request to transfer, from the source storage system to the destination storage system, data associated with the differences.

Abstract: Locally providing cloud storage array services for a plurality of storage systems within a data center by: receiving a request for storage resources from an operating system level virtualization service; determining, among the plurality of storage systems; an implementation of the request from the operating system level virtualization service; and providing storage resources to the operating system level virtualization service in accordance with the implementation of the request from the operating system level virtualization service.

Abstract: Synchronizing snapshots between storage systems, including: receiving, from a source storage system, an identification of a snapshot to be replicated to a destination storage system, wherein the source storage system and the destination storage system are of different types; identifying, from hint information stored on the destination storage system, a most recent version of the snapshot that is stored on the destination storage system; issuing, to the source storage system, a request for an identification of the differences between the snapshot to be replicated to the destination storage system and the most recent version of the snapshot that is stored on the destination storage system; receiving, from the source storage system, the identification of the differences; and issuing a request to transfer, from the source storage system to the destination storage system, data associated with the differences.

Abstract: Providing authorization and authentication in a cloud for a user of a storage array includes: receiving, by a storage array access module from a client-side array services module, a token representing authentication of user credentials and authorized access privileges defining one or more storage array services accessible by the user, where the token is generated by a cloud-based security module upon authentication of the user credentials and identification of authorized access privileges for the user; receiving, by the storage array access module from the user, a user access request to one or more storage array services; and determining, by the storage array access module, whether to grant the user access request in dependence upon the authorized access privileges represented by the token.

Abstract: Deploying client-specific applications in a storage system utilizing redundant system resources, including: identifying a redundant controller in the storage system, wherein the storage system includes at least a first controller and the redundant controller; and executing one or more applications on the redundant controller, wherein the one or more applications are executed in a container.

Abstract: Providing authorization and authentication in a cloud for a user of a storage array includes: receiving, by a storage array access module from a client-side array services module, a token representing authentication of user credentials and authorized access privileges defining one or more storage array services accessible by the user, where the token is generated by a cloud-based security module upon authentication of the user credentials and identification of authorized access privileges for the user; receiving, by the storage array access module from the user, a user access request to one or more storage array services; and determining, by the storage array access module, whether to grant the user access request in dependence upon the authorized access privileges represented by the token.

Abstract: Deploying client-specific applications in a storage system utilizing redundant system resources, including: identifying a redundant controller in the storage system, wherein the storage system includes at least a first controller and the redundant controller; and executing one or more applications on the redundant controller, wherein the one or more applications are executed in a container.

Abstract: Locally providing cloud storage array services for a plurality of storage systems within a data center by: receiving a request for storage resources from an operating system level virtualization service; determining, among the plurality of storage systems; an implementation of the request from the operating system level virtualization service; and providing storage resources to the operating system level virtualization service in accordance with the implementation of the request from the operating system level virtualization service.

Abstract: Locally providing cloud storage array services for a plurality of storage systems within a data center by receiving a request from an operating system level virtualization service; and determining, among the plurality of storage systems, an implementation of the request from the operating system level virtualization service, among the plurality of storage systems.

Abstract: An illustrative apparatus is configured to carry out the steps of: comparing one or more performance metrics of a particular storage array in a plurality of storage arrays to one or more corresponding performance metrics of one or more other storage arrays; identifying, based on the comparing, one or more actions for improving one or more conditions of the particular storage array; and presenting one or more projected effects of implementing the one or more actions on the storage array.

Abstract: Deploying client-specific applications in a storage system utilizing redundant system resources, including: identifying a redundant controller in the storage system, wherein the storage system includes at least a first controller and the redundant controller; and executing one or more applications on the redundant controller, wherein the one or more applications are executed in a container.

Abstract: Synchronizing snapshots between storage systems, including: receiving, from a source storage system, an identification of a snapshot to be replicated to a destination storage system, wherein the source storage system and the destination storage system are of different types; identifying, from hint information stored on the destination storage system, a most recent version of the snapshot that is stored on the destination storage system; issuing, to the source storage system, a request for an identification of the differences between the snapshot to be replicated to the destination storage system and the most recent version of the snapshot that is stored on the destination storage system; receiving, from the source storage system, the identification of the differences; and issuing a request to transfer, from the source storage system to the destination storage system, data associated with the differences.

Abstract: Proactive management of a plurality of storage arrays in a multi-array system, including: comparing one or more conditions of a particular storage array to conditions of other storage arrays in the multi-array system; and generating an action recommendation based on the comparison, the action recommendation specifying one or more actions for improving the conditions of the particular storage array relative to the conditions of the other storage arrays.

Abstract: Deploying client-specific applications in a storage system utilizing redundant system resources, including: identifying a redundant controller in the storage system, wherein the storage system includes at least a first controller and the redundant controller; and executing one or more applications on the redundant controller, wherein the one or more applications are executed in a container.

Abstract: Synchronizing snapshots between storage systems, including: receiving, from a source storage system, an identification of a snapshot to be replicated to a destination storage system; identifying, from hint information stored on the destination storage system, a most recent version of the snapshot that is stored on the destination storage system; issuing, to the source storage system, a request for an identification of the differences between the snapshot to be replicated to the destination storage system and the most recent version of the snapshot that is stored on the destination storage system; receiving, from the source storage system, the identification of the differences; and issuing a request to transfer, from the source storage system to the destination storage system, data associated with the differences.

Abstract: Placing workloads in a multi-array system comprising a plurality of storage arrays, including: determining, for each of a plurality of storage arrays, a current system activity level trend of the storage array; receiving a performance profile of a workload to be executed on one of the storage arrays; generating, for each of the plurality of storage arrays in dependence upon the current system activity level trend of the storage array and the performance profile of the workload, a projected system activity level trend for the storage array; identifying, in dependence upon the projected system activity level trend for each of the plurality of storage arrays, an optimal storage array for receiving the workload; and placing the workload on the optimal storage array.

Abstract: Deploying client-specific applications in a storage system utilizing redundant system resources, including: identifying a redundant controller in the storage system, wherein the storage system includes at least a first controller and the redundant controller; and executing one or more applications on the redundant controller, wherein the one or more applications are executed in a container.