Abstract: A storage server includes a plurality of solid state drives (SSDs), a plurality of input/output (IO) controllers, and a plurality of fabrics. Each fabric is configured to provide a fully connected mesh topology that connects each of the plurality of IO controllers to each of the plurality of SSDs. Each fabric comprises a management controller, a first switch layer comprising a first plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of IO controllers, and a second switch layer comprising a second plurality of switches coupled to a) the first plurality of switches and b) the plurality of SSDs, The first switch layer and the second switch layer together provide the fully connected mesh topology that connects every IO controller of the plurality of IO controllers to every SSD of the plurality of SSDs.

Abstract: A storage server includes a first controller, a second controller and physical drives. The first controller receives a request to store data in a virtual block address (VBA) of a virtual drive, determines a physical block address (PBA) of a physical drive on which to store the data, and sends to the physical drive a command to store the data at the PBA. The first controller generates a first metadata update for a first metadata table associated with the virtual drive, wherein the first metadata update indicates a mapping of the VBA to the PBA. The first controller generates a second metadata update for a second metadata table that identifies statuses of PBAs, wherein the second metadata update indicates that the PBA is valid. The first controller writes an entry to a cache in a memory, the entry comprising the first metadata update and the second metadata update.

Abstract: A processing device of a storage server that manages a plurality of physical storage devices arranged in a plurality of stripes receives a request to write data. The processing device determines a total number of available stripe units to satisfy the request, identifies one or more stripes of the plurality of stripes that collectively include at least the total number of available stripe units, allocates the one or more stripes to the request, and stores the data for the request in the available stripe units of the one or more stripes.

Abstract: A processing device generates a clone of a first volume of storage, the first volume comprising a plurality of storage blocks, wherein the clone is a second volume that is writable and that references the plurality of storage blocks. The processing device increments a global volume count that represents a number of volumes. For each storage block of the plurality of storage blocks, the processing device postpones an update to metadata of the storage block until an event that causes any volume to stop referencing the storage block, wherein the metadata indicates volumes that reference the storage block.

Abstract: A storage server includes an IO controller, a management controller and physical drives. The IO controller generates multiple metadata updates and writes a cache entry that includes the multiple metadata updates to a first cache in memory of the management controller. The IO controller additionally writes a copy of the cache entry to a second cache in a memory of the IO controller and increments a commit pointer in the first and second caches to indicate that the metadata updates are committed.

Abstract: A storage server includes an IO controller, a management controller and physical drives. The IO controller generates multiple metadata updates and writes a cache entry that includes the multiple metadata updates to a first cache in memory of the management controller. The IO controller additionally writes a copy of the cache entry to a second cache in a memory of the IO controller and increments a commit pointer in the first and second caches to indicate that the metadata updates are committed.

Abstract: A storage server includes a first controller, a second controller and physical drives. The first controller receives a request to store data in a virtual block address (VBA) of a virtual drive, determines a physical block address (PBA) of a physical drive on which to store the data, and sends to the physical drive a command to store the data at the PBA. The first controller generates a first metadata update for a first metadata table associated with the virtual drive, wherein the first metadata update indicates a mapping of the VBA to the PBA. The first controller generates a second metadata update for a second metadata table that identifies statuses of PBAs, wherein the second metadata update indicates that the PBA is valid. The first controller writes an entry to a cache in a memory, the entry comprising the first metadata update and the second metadata update.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reliable I/O performance anomaly detection. In one embodiment of the method, input/output (I/O) performance data values are stored in memory. A first performance data value is calculated as a function of a first plurality of the I/O performance data values stored in the memory. A first value based on the first performance data value is calculated. An I/O performance data value is compared to the first value. A message is generated in response to comparing the I/O performance value to the first value.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for management and provisioning of virtual machines are disclosed. For example, embodiments include selecting a potential node to host a virtual machine, where the node is selected from among a plurality of potential nodes. The selection may be based on a virtual machine (VM) configuration of a virtual machine, which may include various requirements needed to host the VM. Embodiments also include provisioning the VM on the host node after the host node is selected from among the plurality of potential nodes, and determining whether a currently-hosted node are operating in accordance with various criteria needed for the VM.

Abstract: A system and method for anomaly detection and presentation. The method of anomaly detection and presentation comprises receiving information for a plurality of traits from a plurality of servers. A first server has fewer of the plurality of traits than a second server. A first trait is on fewer of the plurality of servers than a second trait. The plurality of servers is rendered in a graphical display wherein the first server is positioned to one side of the second server based on respective numbers of traits had by the first and second servers. The first trait is rendered in the graphical display to one side of the second trait based on respective numbers of systems having the first and second traits. A table may be displayed in a cell in response to a user request. Anomalous traits may be displayed in an anomaly table.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for management and provisioning of virtual machines are disclosed. This invention may be used, e.g., in conjunction with clusters of nodes that are potentially capable of hosting one or more virtual machines. In one aspect of this invention, the nodes may rank themselves, or be ranked, based on their ability to support a requested virtual machine configuration. Each of the clusters may also be ranked based on, for example, the aggregate ranks of the nodes within that cluster. After the nodes and/or clusters have been ranked, a cluster and/or a node may be selected to host the virtual machine, and the virtual machine may be provisioned on that cluster and/or node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reliable I/O performance anomaly detection. In one embodiment of the method, input/output (I/O) performance data values are stored in memory. A first performance data value is calculated as a function of a first plurality of the I/O performance data values stored in the memory. A first value based on the first performance data value is calculated. An I/O performance data value is compared to the first value. A message is generated in response to comparing the I/O performance value to the first value.

Abstract: Registry information systems and methods are presented. In one embodiment, an application resource switchover method comprises receiving a switchover indication wherein the switchover indication includes an indication to switchover execution of at least one service of an application running on a primary system resource to running on a secondary system resource; performing a switchover preparation process, wherein the switchover preparation process includes automatically generating a switchover plan including indications of switchover operations for performance of a switchover process; and performing the switchover process in which the at least one of the application services is brought up on the secondary system resource in accordance with the plan of switchover operations. In one embodiment, automatically generating a plan of switchover operations includes analyzing the switchover indication, wherein the analyzing includes determining a type of switchover corresponding to the switchover indication.

Abstract: Registry information systems and methods are presented. In one embodiment, an application resource switchover method comprises receiving a switchover indication wherein the switchover indication includes an indication to switchover execution of at least one service of an application running on a primary system resource to running on a secondary system resource; performing a switchover preparation process, wherein the switchover preparation process includes automatically generating a switchover plan including indications of switchover operations for performance of a switchover process; and performing the switchover process in which the at lease one of the application services is brought up on the secondary system resource in accordance with the plan of switchover operations. In one embodiment, automatically generating a plan of switchover operations includes analyzing the switchover indication, wherein the analyzing includes determining a type of switchover corresponding to the switchover indication.

Abstract: A system and method for anomaly detection and presentation. The method of anomaly detection and presentation comprises receiving information for a plurality of traits from a plurality of servers. A first server has fewer of the plurality of traits than a second server. A first trait is on fewer of the plurality of servers than a second trait. The plurality of servers is rendered in a graphical display wherein the first server is positioned to one side of the second server based on respective numbers of traits had by the first and second servers. The first trait is rendered in the graphical display to one side of the second trait based on respective numbers of systems having the first and second traits. A table may be displayed in a cell in response to a user request. Anomalous traits may be displayed in an anomaly table.

Abstract: Methods and systems for storage architectures are provided. Storage resource provider modules interface with storage resources to perform storage operations. A storage management data store maintains storage data associated with a storage environment of the storage resources. The storage resource provider modules retrieve and update the storage management data in response to processing the storage operations. In one embodiment, a storage management application requests a selected storage resource provider module to perform a selected storage operation. The storage management application determines the selected storage resource provider module by acquiring the storage management data in the data store.

Abstract: Methods and systems for storage architectures are provided. Storage resource provider modules interface with storage resources to perform storage operations. A storage management data store maintains storage data associated with a storage environment of the storage resources. The storage resource provider modules retrieve and update the storage management data in response to processing the storage operations. In one embodiment, a storage management application requests a selected storage resource provider module to perform a selected storage operation. The storage management application determines the selected storage resource provider module by acquiring the storage management data in the data store.