Abstract: A computer system includes a first storage control module and at least one server module. The first storage control module includes plural storage processors. Each server module includes a server processor and a server I/F connected to the server processor and at least two of the plurality of storage processors. The sever I/F of an issuance server which is any one of the at least one server module specifies the storage processor by referring to sorting information in which identification information of the issuance server of an I/O request issued by the server processor of the issuance server, identification information of a destination storage area of the I/O request, and identification information of the storage processor in charge of the destination storage area are correlated with each other, and sends a command based on the I/O request to the specified storage processor.

Abstract: A host computer accesses a storage volume via multiple paths and maintains path mode information identifying either an active or standby operating mode. An active-mode path is generally usable, and a standby-mode path is usable under exceptional conditions such as non-availability of an active-mode path. A reason identifier identifies a first operating condition causing the path to be placed in the standby mode. Upon a path-activating event for a standby-mode path, if there is a second operating condition indicating that the path should be maintained in the standby operating mode, then the path is maintained in the standby operating mode and the path mode information is set to identify the second operating condition, and otherwise the operating mode is set to active. A path-activating event can be a manual action by a user or automatic action such as expiration of an aging timer to re-attempt use of a standby path.

Abstract: A computer program product includes a tangible storage storing instructions for performing a method. The method includes: receiving a request at a channel subsystem in a host computer system to provide a channel path description for a channel path, the channel subsystem including a channel configured to be coupled to a control unit via the channel path, the channel configured to control information transfer over the channel path; and outputting a channel path description block from the channel subsystem to the operating system in response to the request, the channel path description block including channel path identification and description information, the channel path description block specifying whether the channel path supports a Fiber Channel protocol for commanding an I/O operation, the channel path description block specifying whether the channel path supports an extension to the Fiber Channel protocol based on the channel path supporting the Fiber Channel protocol.

Abstract: A computer program product, system, and computer implemented method comprising intercepting, by an interceptor, IO send on an IO path to a storage array; sending a copy of the IO and metadata to a message bus, and enabling a consumer to register with the message bus to consume events sent to the message bus.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a printed circuit board with a plurality of printed circuit board traces, a memory controller mounted on the printed circuit board coupled to one or more of the plurality of printed circuit board traces, a plurality of non-volatile type of memory integrated circuits coupled to the printed circuit board, and a plurality of support integrated circuits coupled between the memory controller and the plurality of non-volatile type of memory integrated circuits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to providing security functionality over computer system mass storage data, and more particularly relates to a system and method of transparent data backup on either local or remote storage devices such as SATA storage devices. According to aspects of the invention, the system is transparent to operating system and application software layers. That makes it unnecessary to make any software modifications to the file system, device drivers, operating system, or applications, or installing specialized applications or hardware. In embodiments, the snapshot functionality of the invention is implemented entirely in hardware, and is not designed to slow down performance of the rest of the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inputting and outputting data by using a virtualization technique are provided. The method includes generating a virtual operating system (OS) for the external device, which is connected to a host, based on OS information stored in the external device, setting a partial area of a storage of the host as virtual storage for the external device, and storing the data in the virtual storage or a memory of the external device in response to a request for inputting and outputting the data from the virtual OS.

Abstract: Technology is provided for selecting a master node of a node group in a storage system. The technology can gather data regarding visibility of one or more storage devices of the storage system to one or more active nodes of the node group, determine a maximum visibility value for the node group and selecting an active node with associated visibility value equal to the maximum visibility value as the master node of the node group.

Abstract: An apparent load is determined based on assigning weightings to commands based on various factors including, but not limited to, the limitations of the underlying storage media device(s), where the command queue fullness is viewed from that perspective rather than simply the number of commands outstanding in a storage media device. Also disclosed is the use of a positive bias and a negative bias to artificially influence the apparent load based on write rate of storage media devices.

Abstract: An apparent load is determined based on assigning weightings to commands based on various factors including, but not limited to, the limitations of the underlying storage media device(s), where the command queue fullness is viewed from that perspective rather than simply the number of commands outstanding in a storage media device. Also disclosed is the use of a positive bias and a negative bias to artificially influence the apparent load where such a positive bias and/or negative bias may be used to influence temperature of storage media devices.

Abstract: An apparent load is determined based on assigning weightings to commands based on various factors including, but not limited to, the limitations of the underlying storage media device(s), where the command queue fullness is viewed from that perspective rather than simply the number of commands outstanding in a storage media device. Also disclosed is the use of a positive bias and a negative bias to artificially influence the apparent load where such a positive bias and/or negative bias may be used to influence temperature ranges associated with storage media devices.

Abstract: An apparent load is determined based on assigning weightings to commands based on various factors including, but not limited to, the limitations of the underlying storage media device(s), where the command queue fullness is viewed from that perspective rather than simply the number of commands outstanding in a storage media device. Also disclosed is the use of a positive bias and a negative bias to artificially influence the apparent load to influence where a particular data type gets stored.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for accelerating proxy Input/Output (proxyI/O). The method includes the step of receiving a command at a primary target storage system. The primary target storage system may be part of a clustered storage array. The command may be a command which was transmitted by an initiator system via a storage area network, and may include a request for data. The method further includes the step of forwarding the command to a session layer of the primary target storage system. Further, when a virtualization layer of the primary target storage system determines that a portion of the data requested in the data request is not stored by the primary target storage system, but is stored by a proxy target storage system included in the plurality of storage systems, the method further includes providing a proxyIO request to a proxy initiator of the primary target storage system.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for coupling a storage controller to a plurality of different storage device types. One embodiment of the storage controller includes an interface operable to communicatively couple to a storage device. The storage controller also includes a processor operable to select between hardware protocol detection of the storage device and firmware protocol detection of the storage device, and to detect a protocol of the storage device when the storage device communicatively couples to the interface according to the selected protocol detection. The storage controller then selects a protocol to process input/output requests from a host based on the detected protocol of the storage device.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to a connector assembly. The connector assembly comprises a port having a media interface configured to interface with a storage device interface of a connector. The connector is attached to a segment of physical communication media. The connector also includes a storage device. The connector assembly also comprises a programmable processor configured to execute software that stores information to the storage device using a plurality of redundant storage operations by which a plurality of copies of the information is sequentially stored in the storage device.

Abstract: An intelligent serial interface circuit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention can include a first communication interface circuit for enabling a first communication protocol. The intelligent serial interface circuit can also include a second communication interface circuit for enabling a second communication protocol. Furthermore, the intelligent serial interface circuit can include a detector circuit coupled to the first communication interface circuit and the second communication interface circuit. The detector circuit can be for automatically detecting a factor that indicates automatically enabling the first communication interface circuit and automatically disabling the second communication interface circuit. The detector circuit can be for detecting a coupling of a pin of the first communication interface circuit that is not used by the second communication interface circuit.

Abstract: A computer system 10 includes a host means 110, an extension means 120 to extend functionality of the host means 110, and a common communication means 130 having a function of passing data. The host means 110 includes a storage means 111 and a processing means 112, the storage means 111 storing data and the processing means 112 processing the stored data. The extension means 120 is connected to the host means 110 to extend functionality of the host means 110, the extension means 120 including a storage means 121 and a processing means 122, the storage means 121 storing data and the processing means 122 processing the stored data. The common communication means 130 has a function of passing data between threads in the host means 110. The common communication means 130 has a function of passing data between a thread in the host means 110 and a thread in the extension means 120.

Abstract: The present system enables more efficient I/O processing by providing a mechanism for maintaining data within the locality of reference. One or more accelerator modules may be implemented within a solid state storage device (SSD). The accelerator modules form a caching storage tier that can receive, store and reproduce data. The one or more accelerator modules may place data into the SSD or hard disk drives based on parameters associated with the data.

Abstract: A link negotiation method for enabling communication between first and second Serial Attached Small Computer Interface (SAS) storage devices operably coupled by an optical cable. The method includes continuously transmitting a non-SAS data pattern between the first and second SAS storage devices. In response to successful exchange of the non-SAS data between the first and second SAS storage devices, a SAS data pattern is continuously transmitted between the first and second SAS storage devices. In response to successful exchange of the SAS data pattern between the first and second SAS storage devices, an initial frame is continuously transmitted between the first and second SAS storage devices. Communication between the first and second SAS storage devices is enabled in response successful communication of the initial frame between the first and second SAS storage devices.

Abstract: An apparent load is determined based on assigning weightings to commands based on various factors including, but not limited to, the limitations of the underlying storage media device(s), where the command queue fullness is viewed from that perspective rather than simply the number of commands outstanding in a storage media device. Also disclosed is the use of a positive bias and a negative bias to artificially influence the apparent load based on the read rate of storage media devices.

Abstract: A computing system is disclosed that includes a memory controller in a processor socket normally reserved for a processor. A plurality of non-volatile memory modules may be plugged into memory sockets normally reserved for DRAM memory modules. The non-volatile memory modules may be accessed using a data communication protocol to access the non-volatile memory modules. The memory controller controls read and write accesses to the non-volatile memory modules. The memory sockets are coupled to the processor socket by printed circuit board traces. The data communication protocol to access the non-volatile memory modules is communicated over the printed circuit board traces and through the sockets normally used to access DRAM type memory modules.

Abstract: A technique for modifying an input/output (I/O) connection type between a client and a server includes determining, by the client, when at least partial storage access control for the client is to be migrated from a first virtualized I/O server to a second virtualized I/O server. An I/O connection type, from among multiple available I/O connection types available between the client and the second virtualized I/O server, is then selected by the client when the at least partial storage access control for the client is to be migrated. The selected I/O connection type is then communicated, by the client, to the second virtualized I/O server, which is configured to facilitate storage access for the client using the selected I/O connection type.

Abstract: A method of managing I/Os in a storage system between a first storage layer and a second layer which is a logical abstraction over the first storage layer, comprising of maintaining within the first storage layer of the storage system validity status data indicating a validity status of each one of a plurality of first layer storage segments, in response to a write command that includes payload data which relates to part of an invalid segment providing the second layer with an unaligned write to an invalid segment indication, and in response to receiving the indication at the second layer, providing a modified write command for the invalid segment including initial values combined with the payload data.

Abstract: A first storage system is configured as a proxy for a logical volume stored on a second storage system. The first computer system receives an I/O request from a host computer for the logical volume, the host computer, and identifies a port on the second storage system for the I/O request. In some embodiments, the second storage system has multiple SCSI ports, and the identified port comprises a least busy SCSI port. A probe request verifying availability of the logical volume is conveyed to the identified port, and upon receiving a response from the second storage system verifying the availability of the logical volume for the I/O request, the I/O request is conveyed to the identified port, a result of the I/O request is received from the identified port, the result is conveyed to the host computer.

Abstract: In a computer, a logical partition for calculation in which an OS and an application operate and a logical partition for storage for providing a storage function are constructed. In the logical partition for calculation, a device corresponding to a storage device is provided, while the logical partition for storage provides a volume. A memory space that can be shared by the both logical partitions is prepared, and management information describing a sorting destination or a sorting method of an I/O request issued by an application is provided in the memory. If the logical partition for calculation receives an I/O request from the application, the partition refers to the management information and sorts the I/O request to the storage device or the logical partition for storage. The logical partition for storage processes the received I/O request by the storage function and transmits the result to the storage device.

Abstract: Techniques for achieving storage and network isolation in a cloud environment are presented. A single Internet Protocol (IP) address is presented to multiple storage tenants that use storage in a cloud environment. When each tenant accesses the IP address, a specific identity of the tenant is resolved and the storage stack for that tenant is sent to the tenant's storage machine having the tenant's storage. The tenant is directly connected to its tenant storage machine thereafter.

Abstract: A protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic messages between networks within a vehicle and a host computer. The protocol adapter operates as a voltage translator to support J1708 software. The protocol adapter also recognizes when the protocol adapter is connected to a host computer running the J1939 and/or J1708 protocols and automatically switches to that protocol.

Abstract: SAS/SATA Store-Forward (SSSF) buffering enables SAS/SATA block storage devices capable of slower physical link rates to transfer data at a SAS topology data rate. 6 Gbps SAS and SATA disk drives can exchange data at 12 Gbps with 12 Gbps hosts through 12 Gbps SAS expanders employing an SSSF device. The SSSF device improves data transfer performance in the storage area network by optimizing host-side link utilization. The device includes a host-side interface communicating with the host at a host-side rate, a drive-side interface communicating with the target at a drive-side rate equal to or less than the host-side rate, a buffer receiving SAS frames or SATA FIS's, and control logic to control communication between the host-side interface and buffer at the host-side rate and between the drive-side interface and the buffer at the drive-side rate.

Abstract: A computer program product for processing input/output (I/O) data is provided for performing a method, which includes receiving a control word having an indirect data address including a starting location of a list of storage addresses, gathering the data and transmitting gathered data to a control unit in the I/O processing system. Gathering includes accessing an entry of the list, the entry located at an entry storage location and including an address. Based on the entry of the list indicating that the address is a data address, data is gathered from a data storage location, and a next entry of the list is accessed. Based on the entry of the list indicating that the address is an address of a next entry of the list, the next entry of the list is obtained from another storage location that is located non-contiguously to the entry storage location.

Abstract: An invention is provided for highly scalable data storage. The invention includes a logical storage device having a logical device queue, where the logical device queue includes a plurality of command slots for storing input/output commands. Also included is a plurality of I/O worker processes, each associated with a command slot of the logical device queue, and a logical device queue process which is associated with the logical storage device. When a command is placed in the logical device queue, the logical device queue process provides an index for the command to an I/O worker process associated with the command slot storing the command. The I/O worker process then obtains the command from the logical device queue and facilitates completion of the command.

Abstract: A system and method for allocating resources on a shared storage system are disclosed. The system 10 can include a shared storage device 12 and a plurality of port schedulers 14 associated with a plurality of I/O ports 16 that are in communication with the shared storage device 12. Each port scheduler 14 is configured to enforce a concurrency level and a proportional share of storage resources of the shared storage device 12 for each application 18 utilizing the associated port. The system 10 can also include a resource controller 17 that is configured to both monitor performance characteristics of the applications 18 utilizing at least one of the I/O ports 16, and to adjust the concurrency level and the proportional share of storage resources parameters of the port schedulers 14 for at least a portion of the applications 18 in order to vary allocation of the resources of the shared storage device 12.

Abstract: A host I/F unit has a management table for managing an MPPK which is in-charge of the control of input/output processing for a storage area of an LDEV, and if a host computer transmits an input/output request for the LDEV, the host I/F unit transfers the input/output request to the MPPK which is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV based on the management table, an MP of the MPPK performs the input/output processing based on the input/output request, and the MP of the MPPK also judges whether the MPPK that is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV is to be changed, and sets the management table so that an MPPK which is different from the MPPK that is in-charge is to be in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a connection device capable of increasing data reading and writing speeds, wherein the connection device includes a first connection module connected to a computer, a second connection module connected to at least one regular storage unit, a high-speed storage unit having higher data reading and writing speeds than each regular storage unit, and a control module respectively connected to the connection modules and the high-speed storage unit for identifying product information of each regular storage unit and the high-speed storage unit and generating a forward mapping table for each regular storage unit and a backward mapping table for the high-speed storage unit. Thus, when the computer performs a reading or writing operation on the regular storage unit, the control module can execute the operation through the high-speed storage unit according to the mapping tables, so as to shorten the time required for data processing.

Abstract: A first storage system is configured as a proxy for a logical volume stored on a second storage system. The first computer system receives an I/O request from a host computer for the logical volume, the host computer, and identifies a port on the second storage system for the I/O request. In some embodiments, the second storage system has multiple SCSI ports, and the identified port comprises a least busy SCSI port. A probe request verifying availability of the logical volume is conveyed to the identified port, and upon receiving a response from the second storage system verifying the availability of the logical volume for the I/O request, the I/O request is conveyed to the identified port, a result of the I/O request is received from the identified port, the result is conveyed to the host computer.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include configuring, by a source storage system, a logical volume to comprise source regions of the source storage system that have a mapping between a host computer and the source storage system, the source regions storing source data. The source data is copied from the source regions to target data in target regions of a target storage system, the target regions being in a one-to-one correspondence with the source regions, and the volume is reconfigured so that the target regions have the mapping between the host computer and the source storage system. In some embodiments, the mapping between the host computer and the source storage system comprises a first mapping, and upon reconfiguring the volume, a second mapping can be added between the host computer and the target storage system, and the first mapping can be deleted.

Abstract: A first I/O transaction request is sent to a storage controller for processing by firmware running on the storage controller. A second I/O transaction request is sent to storage hardware without further processing by the firmware running on the storage controller. Since the firmware did not process the second I/O transaction request, information associated with the second I/O transaction is stored in in a circular buffer accessible to the firmware running on the storage controller. The firmware running on the storage controller reads, from the circular buffer, the information associated with the second I/O transaction that was stored in the circular buffer.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a function extension device that includes a first slim line connector based on SATA, and a terminal device connected to the function extension device. The terminal device includes a detection circuit for outputting a first and second detection signals which indicate whether connection to the function extension device is established and a type of the function extension device, respectively, a control circuit for detecting whether connection to the function extension device is established and for determination of the type of the function extension device by the first and second detection signals, and a second slim line connector based on SATA. The first and second detection signals are signals that passes through pins P1 and S4 of the second slim line connector, respectively, the function extension device connects a pin P1 with a pin S4 of the first slim line connector.

Abstract: A physiological data collection device obtains physiological data from a subject interface on a subject. The physiological data collection device includes a data connector such as a USB connector for connecting directly to a computer. When the physiological data collection device is connected to the computer, the physiological data is uploaded to a remote data processing center for computer-based analysis and review by a medical professional. A report can be provided to the subject based on the analysis and review. When the subject interface is physically connected to the physiological data collection device, the data connector is prevented from being connected to an external device such as the computer.

Abstract: A storage system includes a first device having a device manager, and a storage device to generate a domain with the first device. The storage device further includes a domain manager that sends a domain manager message to the first device in response to a discovery message transferred from the device manager. The device manager may register the first device in the domain based on a registration device message transferred according to the domain manager message, and may notify components of the first device. The registered components of the first device are deployed as components of an application program to process data stored in a storage media of the storage device such that a function of the storage device is dynamically extended.

Abstract: This disclosure uses both an administrative thread and multiple worker threads (N) to process the LUN on-lining work in parallel at both the volume level and the LUN level. When the administrative thread receives the message to start the initialization, the administrative thread assigns the work for reading the VTOC information for the LUNs in a volume to one or more worker threads and moves on to perform additional initialization tasks. N worker threads work on N volumes in parallel. These worker threads then independently send messages (e.g., asynchronous messages) to the file system layer, and once the file system layer is done loading the required buffers, the file system layer sends replies back to the administrative thread. The administrative thread then again assigns work to the worker threads to finally bring the LUNs on-line.

Abstract: A data storage device may comprise data storage comprising a first logical unit configured to store user data and a second logical unit configured to store an operating system. A first interface may be configured to couple to a host and a second interface may be configured to couple to a network. In a first mode, the data storage device may be configured to expose the first logical unit to the host and render the second logical unit inaccessible and, in a second mode, the data storage device may be configured to allow access to both the first and the second logical units. The first mode may comprise a direct attached storage (DAS) mode and the second mode may comprise a network attached storage (NAS) mode.

Abstract: A method system and program product to enable a storage device, comprising a storage device meta data device, to communicate with a host comprising a host meta data device, the method comprising inserting meta data into an I/O stream communicated between a host and a storage device and removing meta data inserted into an I/O stream communicated between a host and a storage device, wherein the meta data contains communications between the storage device and the host.

Abstract: An electronic device including a host system including a source; and a target system operably coupled to the host system via a combined power I/O line; wherein the target system includes a pass transistor and a switching system cooperative to allow the source to charge a power supply capacitor on the target system via the combined power I/O line in a first mode and alternately charge and discharge the power supply capacitor during a communication via the combined power I/O line in a second mode, wherein the alternately charging and discharging is in synchronization with said communication.

Abstract: A dual handheld player system including a smaller handheld player including a smaller memory for storing audio files, and audio playback circuitry, operative to play the audio files stored in the smaller memory when the smaller player is slid out of a larger player, and the larger handheld player, including tracks for sliding the smaller player in and out, a larger memory for storing audio and video files, and audio-video playback circuitry that is operative to play the audio and video files stored in the larger memory when the smaller portable player is slid in the tracks, and is not operative to play the audio and video files stored in the larger memory when the smaller portable player is slid out of said track.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a read unit to read a document image and generate image data of the document image, a memory management unit to manage a storage unit which is segmented into storage regions, and an engine to write the image data generated by the read unit to the storage unit. The engine acquires setting information related to writing of the image data from the memory management unit, and writes the image data to the storage unit based on the setting information that is acquired.

Abstract: A USB storage device includes a PCIE connector, USB flash drives, USB buses, a USB controller, and a voltage conversion unit. The PCIE connector connects to a motherboard of an electronic device and includes a power pin and at least on data pin. The USB controller includes a USB power pin, at least one USB data pin, and a number of bus ports. The USB data pin is connected to the data pin, each bus port of the USB controller is connected to one USB flash drive via a USB bus. The voltage conversion unit is connected between the power pin of the PCIE connector and the USB power pin of the USB controller, and converts a first voltage of the power pin of the PCIE connector to a second voltage to power the USB controller.

Abstract: Example apparatus, methods, and computers support cloud-based de-duplication with transport layer transparency. One example apparatus includes a processor, a memory, and an interface to connect the processor, memory, and a set of logics. The set of logics includes a hardware identification logic for identifying networking hardware used by or available to the apparatus to interact with a cloud-based computing environment and a protocol identification logic for identifying a protocol used by or available to the apparatus to communicate messages for the cloud-based computing environment through the networking hardware. The set of logics also includes a de-duplication preparation logic for preparing a message to carry data to be de-duplicated and metadata concerning the data to be de-duplicated. The message is to be provided to the cloud-based computing environment through the networking hardware according to the protocol.

Abstract: A system and method for determining media to be exported out of a media library is described. In some examples, the system determines a media component to be exported, determines the media component is in the media library for a specific process, and exports the media component after the process is completed.

Abstract: An interface card apparatus is provided. The interface card includes a transmission interface, an interface converter, a system on chip, a first connector, a bus switch, a network connector, and a power switch. The transmission interface includes a data channel, a power pin, a network channel, a switch pin, a power enabling pin, and a sharing pin. The system on chip, controlled by the sharing pin, performs a file sharing program. The bus switch, controlled by the switch pin, couples the connector to the channel or the interface converter. The network connector is coupled the system on chip and the network channel, and the power switch, controlled by the power enabling pin, couples the power pin to the system on chip.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to determining a loop set identifying ports of a routing module connected in a storage fabric loop. Examples include discovering at least a portion of a topology of a storage fabric comprising the routing module and a storage fabric loop including the routing module, determining a loop set identifying a plurality of ports of the routing module that are connected in the storage fabric loop, selecting one of the ports identified in the loop set, and indicating to a storage controller that no storage fabric component is connected to the routing module via the selected port.