Abstract: A system for managing a file system. In response to a user selecting an image of the file system to perform a rollback operation, each data block in the file system that is owned by the image is searched for. Then, it is determined whether a data block owned by the image is marked in a first map and a second map. In response to determining that the data block owned by the image is marked in the first map and the second map, the data block is marked in a third map. In response to determining that the data block owned by the image is marked in the third map, a new data block is allocated in the file system. Subsequently, data from the data block owned by the image is copied to the new data block in the file system prior to performing the rollback operation to avoid a collision that causes data corruption.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a method to automatically compress content in a digital device have been presented. In some embodiments, available data storage space in the digital device is monitored. When the available data storage space falls below a predetermined threshold, a user of the digital device is automatically asked whether the user allows compression of one or more types of content stored on the digital device in order to increase data storage space available.

Abstract: This document describes tools capable of enabling an entity requiring exclusive access to data and metadata of a volume to have that exclusive access while also permitting another entity to have access to data and metadata of that volume. The tools, for example, may permit a ChkDsk program to detect and correct data/metadata integrity errors while permitting users to maintain access to a live volume having that data and metadata. In one embodiment the tools create a copy of a logical volume, permit exclusive access to the copy while permitting access to the live volume, and, when the exclusive access is no longer needed, merge the copy and the live volume.

Abstract: A file delivery system includes a disk file system, a solid state drive file system, and an interface module. The disk file system includes a disk drive that stores a plurality of files for download by a user device. The solid state drive file system includes a solid state drive that stores a first block of data for each of the files stored on the disk drive. The interface module is in communication with the disk file system and with the solid state drive file system, and is configured to retrieve the first block of data of one of the files from the solid state drive in response to a request from the user device for one of the files, to send a read command to the disk drive for a next block of the one of the files at substantially the same time as the first block is retrieved from the solid state drive and sent to the user device, and to store the next block in a buffer.

Abstract: A system and method is described for managing data objects in a fixed-content storage system. Metadata is provided for each variable size packet and may include offset information, packet size data, reference content blocks, and the like. Using this information, intelligently decomposed objects, consolidated objects, differenced objects, and composite objects may be stored in the storage system. The data structure provided by these objects allows for the reduction of necessary storage resources and the total number of stored objects.

Abstract: In the method of controlling a file system driver of an electronic computer and the program for the method and further the storage medium containing the program according to the present invention, access to a file stored in a storage device of the electronic computer is controlled in a kernel mode. When a specific file in a file system of an electronic computer (11) is accessed from an application program (4), the access is received in a kernel mode (8) of an OS (3). Then, an access control database (36) comprising filenames in the file system and access methods is referenced to judge whether or not the access to the specific file conforms to conditions prescribed in the access control database (36). If the access to the specific file does not conform to the conditions, the access is canceled.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an information processing apparatus, including: a discrimination module configured to determine whether writing-subject data to be written into a storage region of an information recording medium is high extensible data or low extensible data; and an allocation module configured to allocate a data alignable address in the storage region as an address for writing the data preferentially when the writing-subject data is the high extensible data rather than when the writing-subject data is the low extensible data.

Abstract: An object storage system provides a storage object to support index structures, logs, and audit trails in WORM storage. The storage object includes a mutable object, an immutable object, or an appendable object. For each storage object, the system maintains an indication of type, such as mutable, immutable, or appendable object type. A mutable object can be arbitrarily modified, an immutable object cannot be modified, and the contents of the appendable object cannot be modified but can be appended with new data. Appended data becomes immutable. The system enables a protection level represented by the object type to be upgraded but not downgraded. Consequently, data committed to be immutable cannot be changed by changing the type of the storage object.

Abstract: An improved policy enforcement architecture includes several components that improve the performance of policy enforcement in a hierarchical storage environment. A File System Query instruction permits a richer set of queries to be expressed by a policy engine, thereby permitting more complex policies to be implemented with ease. The File System result is generated at the file server, and only files of interest are forwarded to the policy engine. The file system query advantageously may be applied against a pre-generated index having one more characterizing attributes to further reduce the processing required to retrieve policy data. An Index Build instruction, added to a programming interface, allows a policy engine generate the characterizing indices in advance of use. Index maintenance techniques maintain consistency between the index and the file system to ensure that the policy can be enforced using accurate file information.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method that allow a quota to be implemented over a data storage system having data associated with the user stored in multiple volumes or directories across multiple storage servers. The quota limits a user or a group of users to a defined amount (e.g., quota) of storage resources of the storage system. The method may include monitoring input-output (IO) data access requests on each of the multiple storage servers, for example, using a pluggable quota filter on each of the storage servers, determining a total usage of storage resources for a particular user over the multiple storage servers, and limiting the user to the quota over the multiple storage servers.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for an associative and approximate, analog or digital scanning of databases that allows for the asynchronous accessing of data from a mass storage medium. The invention includes providing dedicated analog and digital circuitry and decision logic at the mass storage medium level for determining a key identifying the data of interest, continuously comparing the key to a signal generated from a reading of the data from the mass storage medium with an approximate or exact matching circuit to determine a pattern match, determining a correlation value between the key and the data as it is read in a continuous fashion, and determining a match based upon a preselected threshold value for the correlation value. The pattern matching technique eliminates any need to compare data based on its intrinsic structure or value, and instead is based on an analog or digital pattern. The key and data may be either analog or digital.

Abstract: An object based file system for storing and accessing objects is disclosed. The file system may be implemented as a method in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. The method may include receiving from an application program an object write request. A selected storage node on which to store the object may be selected, including identifying a least busy storage node and/or a least full storage node. The object and the object write request may be sent to the selected storage node. A write success message may be received from the selected storage node. The successful writing of the object may be reported to the application program. An object identifier and object data may be stored in a database.

Abstract: In a cluster type NAS, it is necessary to copy file data between disk devices of servers upon migration of a file system or a part of the file system. A server includes a control table for managing a file system or a part of the file system, and a mapping table for managing a relation between a logical device of a disk subsystem and a logical unit recognized by a server, and in response to an instruction to execute migration of the file system from a first server to a second server, the mapping table is referenced to send an instruction to update the relation between the logical device and the logical unit to the second server, and the second server newly recognizes a logical unit and updates a management server identifier of the control table.

Abstract: Technical Problem: It is an object of the present invention to provide a data recording device which records a data file in a recording unit at a high speed, and can also restore management data and a data file. Solving means: A writing control unit is provided for writing write data which the writing control unit is requested to write by a file system at a position where the writing control unit is requested to write the write data by the file system when the write data has a data volume equal to or larger than a predetermined value while writing the write data in a region in a recording unit different from that managed by the file system.

Abstract: The intelligent distributed file system enables the storing of file data among a plurality of smart storage units which are accessed as a single file system. The intelligent distributed file system utilizes a metadata data structure to track and manage detailed information about each file, including, for example, the device and block locations of the file's data blocks, to permit different levels of replication and/or redundancy within a single file system, to facilitate the change of redundancy parameters, to provide high-level protection for metadata, to replicate and move data in real-time, and so forth.

Abstract: Validating a data structure includes (a) maintaining a tracking structure in a memory, the tracking structure including a corresponding status field for each table entry, the status fields having an unmarked state and a marked state; (b) processing the table entries sequentially and tracking the used and free table entries using the tracking structure, such tracking including marking the status fields corresponding to used table entries and marking the status fields corresponding to the next free table entries referenced in the pointer fields of free table entries; and (c) determining validity of the data structure based on the tracking structure.

Abstract: A method and a processing device are provided for sequentially aggregating data to a write log included in a volume of a random-access medium. When data of a received write request is determined to be suitable for sequentially aggregating to a write log, the data may be written to the write log and a remapping tree, for mapping originally intended destinations on the random-access medium to one or more corresponding entries in the write log, may be maintained and updated. At time periods, a checkpoint may be written to the write log. The checkpoint may include information describing entries of the write log. One or more of the checkpoints may be used to recover the write log, at least partially, after a dirty shutdown. Entries of the write log may be drained to respective originally intended destinations upon an occurrence of one of a number of conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for cloud scheme-based file copying and disk cloning over a Wide Area Network (WAN) is provided. The system clones a disk of a server to one or more clients. The server includes a cloud cast server module, and an Internet Virtual Partition (IVP) server module. The cloud cast server module receives an image source drive, and designates the received image source drive as a cloud disk. The IVP server module is loaded into RAM, receives a disk management and control right, clones a file system, receives a request for mount, sends the file system and a file. Each of the clients includes a cloud cast client module for receiving the name of a drive and a mount request, requesting the IVP server module to mount the cloud disk, loading the received cloned file system, creating a virtual disk, and creating its own copy file system.

Abstract: Concepts for enhancing operation of transaction-safe file allocation table systems are described. The concepts include writing a file to non-volatile memory media and rendering an update of file size to the TFAT storage medium; and receiving a request to locate data in a non-volatile memory having a TFAT file management system, selecting a sector of the memory to parse to locate the data, determining when the selected sector is a first sector of a directory or subdirectory of the memory and when determining reveals that the selected sector is a first sector, skipping reading data from the selected sector. The concepts also include flushing a cache and synchronizing FATs.

Abstract: A method is used in managing metadata. Data of an object is stored in a magnetic hard disk set in an object addressable data storage system. Metadata for the object is stored in an SSD set in the object addressable data storage system. The metadata includes information necessary for determining the location of the data of the object in the magnetic hard disk set.

Abstract: In the case of recording pieces of cache data stored in a cache information management unit onto a recording medium, a recording device pertaining to the present invention records, according to designation of a recording area by a file management unit, pieces of data that are to be recorded into empty areas on the recording medium before recording pieces of data that are to be recorded into occupied areas on the recording medium. This prevents that the pieces of data to be recorded into the occupied areas on the recording medium from being recorded into the empty areas. As a result, the recording device pertaining to the present invention can reduce the number of overwrite operations as a whole.

Abstract: A system and method reclaims unused storage space from a data container, such as a logical unit number (LUN) of a storage system. In particular, a novel technique is provided that allows a storage system to reclaim storage space not used by a client file system for which the storage system maintains storage, without requiring assistance from the client file system to determine storage usage. In other words, storage system may independently reclaim storage space not used by the client file system, without that file system's intervention.

Abstract: A method for managing a virtual storage device including scanning ports of a device for storage devices coupled to the device and identifying file systems of the storage devices, creating a database to include entries for the storage devices and files included in the storage devices based on the file systems of the storage devices, and aggregating the files listed in the database as a virtual storage device.

Abstract: A digital Storage Element is described. A device is configured including a Storage Element for access by a user responsive to a native control code. A processing arrangement executes a control program for controlling the overall device and executing at least a portion of the native control code as part of the control program for interfacing with the Storage Element. A programming arrangement is provided separate from the device for customizing a read channel within the Storage Element. Command, user interaction and data transfer execution are discussed for mitigation of potential mechanical shock effects. Status indications relating to the Storage Element are provided including head position and mechanical shock. Calibration, test and operational monitoring procedures, for using head position status, are described. Failure configuration monitoring is provided in tracking overall performance and design considerations.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus and a method of managing a snapshot storage pool (SSP) associated with a storage unit of a distributed data storage system. According to some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may include a logic module and a controller. The logic module may be adapted to provide a threshold corresponding to a ratio between a current amount of storage resources used for storing snapshots in the SSP and a total storage capacity defined for the SSP. The controller may be adapted to trigger an action which may be effective for managing the SSP in response to the amount of storage resources used for storing snapshots in the SSP crossing the threshold.

Abstract: A preload library partitions certain files into segments and transforms the data of the files on a segment by segment basis, each independently of the other. The transformed segments are then stored as part of a transformed file, with each segment corresponding to a bag containing a chunk (of transformed data) and a gap which permits the chunks to grow when data of the segment is modified during a write operation. The bags are followed by a chunk map which contains metadata defining the compressed version of each segment. The preload library intercepts system calls from applications to the OC specifying access to specific segments of a transformed file. The preload library identifies the chunks corresponding to the specified segments, retrieves and reverses the transform on those chunks and passes the data to the application requesting it. For a system call to write data to certain segments, the data is modified and re-transformed by the library before being written back to disk.

Abstract: Herein described is a method and system for providing shared access to data residing within a data pool of a data storage device. Aspects of the invention incorporate the use of one or more mechanisms by which access to the data occurs. The one or more mechanisms may be enabled or disabled by way of one or more selections that are made using a user interface. In a representative embodiment, the user interface may comprise a web browser. The method may involve assigning one or more values to one or more variables and subsequently executing a software program. The software program invokes one or more share access mechanisms when the one or more values are equal to one or more enabling values. The system may comprise a memory that is used to store the software program and a processor that is used to execute the software program.

Abstract: A storage system comprises a plurality of vdisks, with each vdisk containing a plurality of storage segments, and each segment providing a specific class of service (CoS). Each vdisk stores files with data and meta data distributed among its storage segments. A storage system comprises a memory having multiple classes of service. The system comprises an interface for storing a file as blocks of data associated with a class of service in the memory. The interface chooses the class of service for a block on a block by block basis. A file system for storing a file comprises a plurality of vdisks, with each vdisk having a plurality of inodes. Each inode of each vdisk stores data on one or more segments, with each segment having a different class of service. The system comprises a controller which stores data of a file in an inode of a vdisk, in one or more segments of that vdisk. A file system for storing a file comprises a plurality of vdisks, and each vdisk having a plurality of inodes.

Abstract: Improved backup and storage operations are disclosed for virtual computing environments using a backup proxy server to perform storage operations on one or more virtual machine disks. The proxy server can include a module that intercepts application programming interface (API) calls, for writing backup data to a first location, prior to the data arriving on the proxy disk. During the intercept process, the data can be compressed in memory pages of the proxy server and redirected to an alternative backup disk location. The proxy server can also include a differential engine that identifies changes to the virtual machine disk at the block level since the last full backup. The differential engine can advantageously leverage memory pages of the proxy server to compare differences between signatures of blocks of the last full backup with signatures of new blocks. Subsequently, only blocks with non-matching signatures are processed for backup.

Abstract: A data file management apparatus capable of avoiding the unauthorized deletion of a file shared by a plurality of users. In the apparatus connected to a network and having the function to store the data file in such as to be shared by the users, the address information of the joint file users permitted to share the data file are registered-while being related to the data file at the time of data file storage, and in response to a data file deletion request, a message to confirm the consent of the joint file users about the data file deletion is sent to the registered address information. Upon receiving a message returned from a joint file user not to consent to the data file deletion within a predetermined period from the confirming message transmission, the data file is not deleted, while the data file is deleted otherwise.

Abstract: In a storage network including at least a computer system, at least an external storage and at least a network system for communication of input/output data between the computer system and the external storage, a method of collecting the performance data on the network system and the software operated on the network system, in which the range or degree of data collection is automatically adjusted as required based on the performance data collected.

Abstract: A system and method is introduced for implementing a storage firewall for protecting files when a storage device connects to a digital appliance. A storage device may connect to a number of appliances and is therefore at risk of getting infected with viruses and other malware risking subsequent transfer of these infections to other appliances. The storage device is further at risk of leaking sensitive information or loosing critical information. The storage firewall protects data on a storage device that connects to a digital appliance in various manners using a standard, unencrypted partition and a standard file system. Protected and unprotected files may reside homogeneously on the file system of the storage device. Using the storage firewall, files on digital appliance may be protected from infected files residing on storage device connected to digital appliance. No application is required to be activated on digital appliance when storage device connects to digital appliance.

Abstract: A recording medium has a hierarchical directory structure. In the directory structure, a ROOT/BDMV directory and a MoDESTxx/BDMV directory are located below a root directory. The ROOT/BDMV directory contains a BD-J application that constitutes a FirstPlayback title. The BD-J application is a program to be first executed by a playback device upon loading of the recording medium to a playback device. When executed, the BD-J application causes the playback device to display a menu for receiving a user operation of selecting the BDMV directory and executes a root change function. The root change function is to cause the playback device to recognize the selected MoDESTxx directory as a virtual root directory.

Abstract: A method for determining file fragmentation and performing subsequent defragmentation, including measuring a file fragmentation factor, measuring a file extent distance factor, measuring a file fragmentation level, selecting a file stored as multiple extents on at least one disk, selecting a free space extent on the disk whose length most closely matches the length of the file, calculating a fragmentation level of the disk from a fragmentation factor and a file extent distance factor of free space extents or allocated space extents of the disk, calculating the effect that moving the file to the free space extent would have on the fragmentation level, and moving the file to the free space extent provided that doing so causes the fragmentation level to satisfy a criterion.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining whether a quota has been violated by using a platform-identification value, instead of the platform-specific identification value. The method may include receiving a quota-sensitive data request from a user at a data storage system, which includes a platform-specific identification value. The method further includes performing a lookup operation on a first data store using the platform-specific identification value to determine a platform-independent identification value that corresponds to the user, and translating the platform-specific identification value into a platform-independent identification value. The first data store includes multiple entries that map multiple platform-specific identification values that correspond to the same user on different platforms to the same platform-independent identification value.

Abstract: Reducing access time for data in a file system when seek requests are received ahead of access requests. In one embodiment, an operating system providing access to the file system receives a seek request (from a user application) indicating an identifier of a file and a location within the file at which a data is sought to be accessed. In response, the operating system computes the offset of a disk block containing the location (thereby the data that is sought to be accessed). On receiving an access request (after the seek request from the same user application) indicating an operation to be performed on the data, the operating system executes the operation on the data using the pre-computed offset of the disk block. The computation of the disk block is performed before the access request is received thereby reducing the time required to process the access request.

Abstract: A stacked file system and method for managing a stack are disclosed. In one embodiment, a stacked file system includes a stack and a stack manager. The stack has at least a file system stacked on top of an underlying file system. Further, the stack manager has a logic for managing the stack, where the logic includes an eject operation for ejecting a first file system from the stack.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for writing data to a magnetic recording tape includes writing a plurality of files to a first partition of a magnetic recording tape using a tape drive, and writing an index to a second partition of the magnetic recording tape using the tape drive, the index including information about locations of data of the plurality of files in the first partition of the magnetic recording tape.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for adjusting the size of a file system and an inline file system log housed in a static logical volume. A computer system includes a logical volume allocated between an file system and its inline file system log. A request is received to adjust the inline log from a current size to a new size while maintaining the size of the logical volume. Storage space is then allocated from within the logical volume to the inline log according to the storage requirement for the new size. Allocating storage space may require decreasing or increasing the amount of storage formerly allocated to the inline log. Then, the inline log is reformatted to the allocated storage space, such that the storage allocated to the inline log for a file system is adjusted while the size of the logical volume housing the inline log and file system remains static.

Abstract: A mechanism for unioning file systems using fall-through directory entries is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes receiving a request to open a directory of a union file system, processing directory entries of the directory for whiteouts and duplicates, copying the processed directory entries to disk storage, and flagging the copied entries from a lower level file system as fall-through entries.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to systems, apparatus, and methods for layered execution pre-boot configuration. In one example, a system includes a local computer, a base operating system, a layered execution environment, and a layered environment manager. The system may further include an environment update service and one or more layered environment data store(s). The system may, before booting the base operating system and layered execution environment, perform such modification operations as applying an operating system patch, applying a program patch, changing a layer activation property, disabling a program, replacing a program, changing a configuration file, and installing a driver.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically reorganizing files to avoid the problem of file fragmentation. At an appropriate time, such as when an I/O request to write to a file is received, the file may be marked as possibly being in need of reorganization. The system may later determine that the file was marked for possible reorganization and may examine the file to determine whether the file is actually in need of reorganization, i.e., whether the file is fragmented. If so, then the file may be automatically reorganized to eliminate the fragmentation. In another embodiment, files may first be checked to determine whether they are actually in need of reorganization before being marked. The method may benefit a computer system by automatically detecting and reorganizing fragmented files on an individual file basis.

Abstract: To recover deleted files in a data store, candidate blocks of the data store may be identified and, for each of the candidate blocks, a probability that the candidate block contains a directory entry may be determined. Directory entry metadata for candidate blocks that have a determined probability that is greater than a predetermined probability threshold may then be extracted.

Abstract: A system for responding to file system requests having file IDs comprising V, a volume identifier specifying the file system being accessed, and R, an integer, specifying the file within the file system being accessed. The system includes D disk elements in which files are stored, where D is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer. The system includes a switching fabric connected to the D disk elements to route requests to a corresponding disk element. The system includes N network elements connected to the switching fabric. Each network element has a mapping function that for every value of V, specifies one or more elements from the set D that store the data specified by volume V, where N is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer and N+D is greater than or equal to 3, which receives the requests and causes the switching fabric to route the requests by their file ID according to the mapping function. A method for responding to file system requests.

Abstract: A file retrieval device, operable to retrieve a valid file name for reading a plurality of file main bodies from a recording medium in which the plurality of file main bodies and file related information that includes a file names respectively allocated to the plurality of file main bodies and respectively depending on different file systems are recorded and which is coordinated with one file system in advance, the file retrieval device, including: a first extracting unit, operable to extract the file name depending on the file system identical with the one file system from the file related information; a validity deciding unit, operable to decide validity of the file name depending on the file system other than the one file system; a second extracting unit, operable to extract the file name depending on the file system related to the file name decided to be valid by the validity deciding unit for the file main body the file name of which is not extracted by the first extracting unit; and an output unit, oper

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing data from a recording medium are disclosed. The method and apparatus calls for downloading data associated with data read from the recording medium. The downloaded data is stored in a local storage using an organization ID directory. The downloaded data from the local storage and the data from the recording medium are ultimately bound together to form a virtual package.

Abstract: A storage device include: an additional data storing unit storing data in file systems included in a disk array device; a data storing unit for selecting a file system in which the relocation has not been performed from the file systems as a file system in which the relocation is performed and storing data to be stored in the file system in which the relocation has not been performed in the file system in which the relocation is performed in a predetermined order; an area calculator calculating a free space in the file system in which the relocation is performed and data has been stored by the data storing unit; a data extraction unit extracting data that has not been stored in the file systems in which the relocation is completed or the file system in which the relocation is performed; and a data re-storing unit for storing the data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for compression of files in a filesystem. In embodiments of the present invention, a file is logically partitioned into chunks and each chunk is compressed, such that a request involving a portion of a file can be satisfied by reading and decompressing only the compressed chunk(s) corresponding to that portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a storage system including a de-duplicate function and a full-text search function or the like, and reduces an amount of index information about full-test search to save storage resource. In this system, a storage apparatus includes a processing unit for de-duplicating a plurality of files having the same content regarding a file group of data inputted/outputted through a host apparatus. A full-text search processing server performs a full-text search processing to the file group and includes a processing unit for causing the full-text search processing to correspond to de-duplicate. An index information creation processing performed to a plurality of target files having the same content by the full-text search processing unit is inhibited according to a status of de-duplicate to the file group by the processing unit. Thereby, the amount of index information can be reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes a portable electronic memory storage device and a plurality of exhibitor computers, each having at least one specifically identified electronic uploadable file and a port adapted to selectively interface with the portable device. When a portable device engages a port, electronic content corresponding to the port is uploaded from the computer to the portable device. In another embodiment, data from the portable device, such as demographic data, is also downloaded to the exhibitor computer.