Abstract: Improved techniques are provided for storing bursty data, such as checkpoints, in parallel computing environments. A parallel file system is provided comprising at least first and second storage tiers comprising respective disjoint subsets of storage; and at least one processing device configured to store burst data from a plurality of distributed processes for a given burst operation during the given burst operation on both of the at least first and second storage tiers. The given burst operation comprises a multi-phase input/output (IO) task, such as a checkpoint, having alternating periods of idle time and bursts of write and/or storage activity. A method is also provided for provisioning a parallel file system by obtaining a specification of burst data requirements for the parallel file system and determining an amount of storage required for at least first and second storage tiers comprising respective disjoint subsets of storage to satisfy the burst data requirements.

Abstract: A storage system includes a storage unit and a control unit. Data is stored in the storage unit. The control unit performs replication of data that is updated, based on the frequency with which the data is updated. The control unit may include a frequency detection unit, a policy management unit, and a replication performance unit. The frequency detection unit detects the update frequency with which the data is updated, by detecting the number of times that the data is updated. The policy management unit determines a replication policy for the data based on the update frequency with which the data is updated. The replication performance unit performs replication of the updated data based on the replication policy.

Abstract: A computer system provides for rapid power-on operations on virtual machines (VMs) with a virtual memory space including a reservation from machine memory and a small or no swap size. When the computer system powers on a VM, the computer system creates a physical memory space for the VM with a size larger than the minimum memory reservation for the VM and a swap space with a size less than the difference between the size of the virtual memory space and the minimum memory reservation. Subsequently, the computer system iteratively decreases the size of the physical memory space for the VM and increases the size of the swap space for the VM until the size of the physical memory space equals the minimum size of the memory reservation, which may be the amount of the virtual space that is guaranteed to be backed by machine memory.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is performed by a computer system. The method includes monitoring events in relation to files stored at multiple network nodes and, responsive to the monitoring, detecting that a new file has been created from an existing file. The method further includes accessing a stored file-family model of the existing file, the stored file-family model comprising interconnected nodes, wherein the interconnected nodes represent a plurality of overlapping file variants such that one of the interconnected nodes represents the existing file. In addition, the method includes logically connecting the existing file and the new file in the stored file-family model. The method also includes determining a primary file variant in the stored file-family model and, responsive to a determination that the existing file is not the primary file variant, notifying one or more users.

Abstract: Supporting multiple backup applications using a single change tracker includes receiving, from a backup application, a request to associate with a backup map, replicating the backup map to create a replica backup map associated with the backup application, and updating the replica backup map based on changes in the backup map.

Abstract: A cluster manager manages copies of a mid-tier database as a mid-tier database cluster. The cluster manager may concurrently manage a backend database system. The cluster manager is configured to monitor for and react to failures of mid-tier database nodes. The cluster manager may react to a mid-tier database failure by, for example, assigning a new active node, creating a new standby node, creating new copies of the mid-tier databases, implementing new replication or backup schemes, reassigning the node's virtual address to another node, or relocating applications that were directly linked to the mid-tier database to another host. Each node or an associated agent may configure the cluster manager during initialization, based on common cluster configuration information. Each copy of the mid-tier database may be, for example, a memory resident database. Thus, a node must reload the entire database into memory to recover a copy of the database.

Abstract: Restarting virtual machines is provided. Each server in a plurality of servers is monitored within a client virtual machine host environment via a network. In response to determining that a server failed in the plurality of servers within the client virtual machine host environment, a list of virtual machines that were executing in the failed server is retrieved. A set of virtual machine dependency groups for virtual machines in the list of virtual machines is retrieved based on properties corresponding to each respective virtual machine in the list of virtual machines. The set of virtual machine dependency groups is restarted in parallel on a failover server of an alternate virtual machine host environment via the network.

Abstract: Techniques for backup and restore of optimized data streams are described. A chunk store includes each optimized data stream as a plurality of chunks including at least one data chunk and corresponding optimized stream metadata. The chunk store includes data chunks in a deduplicated manner. Optimized data streams stored in the chunk store are identified for backup. At least a portion of the chunk store is stored in backup storage according to an optimized backup technique, an un-optimized backup technique, an item level backup technique, or a data chunk identifier backup technique. Optimized data streams stored in the backup storage may be restored. A file reconstructor includes a callback module that generates calls to a restore application to request optimized stream metadata and any referenced data chunks from the backup storage. The file reconstructor reconstructs the data streams from the referenced data chunks.

Abstract: Gang migration refers to the simultaneous live migration of multiple Virtual Machines (VMs) from one set of physical machines to another in response to events such as load spikes and imminent failures. Gang migration generates a large volume of network traffic and can overload the core network links and switches in a datacenter. In this paper, we present an approach to reduce the network overhead of gang migration using global deduplication (GMGD). GMGD identifies and eliminates the retransmission of duplicate memory pages among VMs running on multiple physical machines in the cluster. The design, implementation and evaluation of a GMGD prototype is described using QEMU/KVM VMs. Evaluations on a 30-node Gigabit Ethernet cluster having 10 GigE core links shows that GMGD can reduce the network traffic on core links by up to 65% and the total migration time of VMs by up to 42% when compared to the default migration technique in QEMU/KVM.

Abstract: A method for managing a flash storage system includes reading flash data units from flash memory into a buffer, wherein each of the flash data units includes host data units, and determining an identifier for each host data unit. The method includes selecting a set of unique identifiers from the determined identifiers based on a number of host data units sharing the respective unique identifier. For each unique identifier in the set of unique identifier, the method includes designating one of the host data units as a master data unit, wherein the logical address of the designated host data unit is mapped to a physical address. The logical addresses of the other host data units sharing the unique identifier are remapped to the master physical address, and the physical addresses previously mapped to the remapped logical addresses are invalidated.

Abstract: The data storage system according to certain aspects can implement table level database restore. Table level database restore may refer to restoring a database table and its related data without restoring the entire database. The data storage system may use table metadata index to implement table level restore. A table metadata index may be created for each table, e.g., during a backup of the database. The table metadata index for a table can include any type of information for restoring the table and its related data. Some examples of the type of information included in the table metadata index include the following: container for the table, table backup location, system data, table index, table relationships, etc. Table metadata index can make the restoring of tables fast and efficient by packaging information that can be used to restore a table and its related data in an easily accessible manner.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for performing a remote point-in-time copy to a source and target storages in further mirror copy relationships. Each of a plurality of source copy relationships is from the source storage to one corresponding source copy storage. Each of a plurality of target copy relationships is from the target storage to one corresponding target copy storage, where in each relationship an indicator indicates whether to use a remote first type copy operation. The first type copy operation is used to copy data from the source storage to the target storage and copy data from the source copy storage to the target copy storage for the determined source and target copy relationships having the indicator set. A second type of copy operations is used for source and target relationships not having the indicator set.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for content, media and data delivery and access between devices of a premises and one or more portable media devices. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a media bridge between a portable media device (PMD) and a user's home network and/or home devices (e.g., set-top boxes, DVRs, etc.)). The apparatus is adapted to convert content stored on a PMD to a format capable of being rendered on a home device which may then store or playback the content. Control of the presentation is also provided by the bridging apparatus. The apparatus may also be adapted to transfer content from the home device to the PMD for storage or playback. In another embodiment, the apparatus may function within a home network having a trusted domain to provide content between a plurality devices on the network (and in the domain) and the PMD.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method including receiving a request to create a live snapshot of a state of a virtual machine at a reference point-in-time. The virtual machine can have a memory and an original disk file. The method further includes creating, at the reference point-in-time, an overlay disk file to copy data from the original disk file. Data modifications after the reference point-in-time are performed in the original disk file but not in the overlay disk file. The method also includes creating a memory snapshot at the reference point-in-time. The method includes providing the live snapshot corresponding to the reference point-in-time. The live snapshot includes the overlay disk file and the memory snapshot.

Abstract: Various embodiments (“systems”) are described for transferring data from a primary storage (e.g., magnetic disk drives, solid state drives, etc.) to an optical cold storage rack. The optical cold storage rack may include many physical optical storage disks, but a much smaller number of burners and readers (e.g., optical disk drives). When data is to be transferred to the optical cold storage rack, the system may generate a plan for performing the transfer. “Migration worker” components may then implement the plan and may be exclusively dedicated to implementing such plans. In various embodiments, the plan may specify how large data file “aggregates” (collections of portions of one or more data files) are to be distributed across optical disks (“disks”) to improve throughput during subsequent reading operations from the optical cold storage rack. The plan may also anticipate the relation between the limited number of burners/readers and the overall optical cold storage rack disk capacity.

Abstract: A plurality of data records that comprise a data set can be stored in a plurality of main part fragments such that each main part fragment includes a subset of the set of data records. Each fragment of the plurality of main part fragments can be assigned a relative data temperature. A newly arrived data record for storage in the data set can be placed in a delta part, and a merge can be performed to add the newly arrived data record to a corresponding main part fragment. The performing of the merge can occur more quickly if the corresponding main part fragment has a higher relative data temperature than if the corresponding main part fragment has a lower relative data temperature.

Abstract: The writing of data to a storage system such that change tracking is efficiently performed. If a portion is to be written to the storage system, the system writes a write record indicating that a group of portions (that includes the particular portion) of the storage system is to be written to the storage system. This is represented even though those other portions are not being contemporaneously written to the storage system, and may in fact never be written. The particular portion is then written to the storage system. At some point thereafter, perhaps in the background, a change tracking structure is changed to reflect that the particular portion is written to the storage system, but without reflecting writes of all of the group of portions. The write record may then be invalidated. This reduces latency in systems that track changes with small cost at the time of backup.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for immediate recovery of replicated virtual machines. The method includes replicating a complex asset from a first site of a distributed information processing system to a second site of the distributed information processing system. The replicated complex asset the may be configured at a first time in an active operational state but in a disconnected communicative state at the second site of the distributed information processing system. At a second time, the replicated complex asset may be configured in a connected communicative state at the second site of the distributed information processing system to facilitate recovery at the second site from a failure in the complex asset at the first site.

Abstract: Authenticating a backup image stored on a storage device prior to restoring the backup image. A value such as a hash value is generated based on the image to be preserved. The value is stored on the storage device in a first area accessible for writing only when the computing device is in an update mode. The first area becomes read-only when the computing device is in an operating system mode. The image is stored on the storage device in a second area accessible for writing when the computing device is in the update mode or the operating system mode. When attempting to restore the image from the second area, the value from the first area is compared to another value generated at the time of the restoration for validation.

Abstract: According to one aspect, provided are methods and systems for minimizing lock contention in a distributed database environment. The methods and systems can include a database management component configured to manage database instances, the database management component also configured to receive a first data request operation on the distributed database, an execution component configured to process the first data request operation including at least one write request on at least one database instance managed by the database management component, and a fault prediction component configured to detect a potential page fault responsive to a target data of the write request, wherein the execution component is further configured to suspend execution of the first data request operation, request access a physical storage to read the target data into active memory, and re-execute the first data request operation after a period of time for suspending the first data request operation.

Abstract: Methods for dynamically optimizing platform resource allocation of a logically-partitioned data processing system. Processor and memory resources are allocated to logical partitions of the data processing system. After allocating the processor and memory resources to the plurality of logical partitions, local and non-local memory accesses are monitored for the logical partitions. Based at least in part on the local and non-local memory accesses, a determination is made whether to reallocate the processor and memory resources of the logical partitions. Responsive to determining to reallocate the processor and memory resources, the processor and memory resources are dynamically reallocated to the logical partitions of the data processing system.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods combine erasure coding with data deduplication to simultaneously reduce the overall redundancy in data while increasing the redundancy of unique data. In one embodiment, an efficient representation of a data set is produced by deduplication. The efficient representation reduces duplicate data in the data set. Redundancy is then added back into the data set using erasure coding. The redundancy that is added back in adds protection to the unique data associated with the efficient representation. How much redundancy is added back in and what type of redundancy is added back in may be controlled based on an attribute (e.g., value, reference count, symbol size, number of symbols) of the unique data. Decisions concerning how much and what type of redundancy to add back in may be adapted over time based, for example, on observations of the efficiency of the overall system.

Abstract: A method includes determining a time shift for data validity windows corresponding to a user, receiving a request for an incremental data update from the user, the user having cached data, determining that the request for the incremental data update is received within an unexpired data validity window for the cached data, wherein the data validity window is based on the determined time shift and in a case the incremental data update is received within the unexpired data validity window for the user, determining that the user is eligible for the incremental data update.

Abstract: Embodiments for deduplication of snapshots data in a data storage by a processor. Input snapshot data is partitioned into input similarity units. An input similarity unit is deduplicated with a corresponding similarity unit of a previous snapshot. Deduplication coverage is examined. If a deduplication coverage threshold is not met, a similarity search is conducted and the input similarity unit is deduplicated with a found similarity unit.

Abstract: A secure computer for secure transactions that includes an operating system, a processor, an identity security module, and a loss protection device. The operating system has built-in security features. The processor is manufactured with security features and configured to execute software in a virtualized state outside of the operating system. The computer includes or be able to create at least one virtualized monitoring application that operates outside of the operating system and. monitor system files and duplicate files of the system files for modification by malicious software, such that any of the duplicate files or system files determined to be modified by malicious software are restored to one of an original version or a known operative state and generates and communicates an alert indicating possible suspicious activity based on the determined modification.

Abstract: An apparatus is operable with a host and a data storage component for controlling expansion of storage, and comprises: an allocating component responsive to a user input for allocating an expanded target storage space to a file system element to thereby make an expanded file system element; a file system metadata component for maintaining file system metadata including metadata for said expanded file system element; a file system I/O component responsive to said file system metadata component for controlling file system I/O between said host and said storage component; and a synchronizing component responsive to said file system metadata component for synchronizing data between a source storage space and said expanded target storage space; wherein said file system I/O component is operable to use said file system metadata component to access said expanded file system element prior to completion of action of said synchronizing component.

Abstract: Data files in a distributed system sometimes becomes unavailable. A method for fault tolerance without data loss in a distributed file system includes allocating data nodes of the distributed file system among a plurality of compute groups, replicating a data file among a subset of the plurality of the compute groups such that the data file is located in at least two compute zones, wherein the first compute zone is isolated from the second compute zone, monitoring the accessibility of the data files, and causing a distributed task requiring data in the data file to be executed by a compute instance in the subset of the plurality of the compute groups. Upon detecting a failure in the accessibility of a data node with the data file, the task management node may redistribute the distributed task among other compute instances with access to any replica of the data file.

Abstract: A storage system may implement dynamic configuration of data volumes. Client utilization of a data volume in a storage system may be tracked or monitored. Based on the utilization of the data volume, configuration recommendations to reconfigure the data volume according to data volume offerings may be determined. The data volume may be configured according to an authorized configuration recommendation. In some embodiments, these recommendations may be provided to a client and selection of the configuration recommendation to perform may be received. In some embodiments, a configuration recommendation may be automatically performed based on previously provided authorization to configure the data volume.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer-accessible storage media for restoring data from a snapshot to a data volume. The blocks in the volume may be treated as an implicit tree structure, for example a binary tree; each local block corresponds to a block on the snapshot. A local block on the volume may be marked, for example fingerprinted with metadata, to indicate that the local block has not been restored. Initially, the local block at the root node is marked. To restore a local block, the restore process may generate a list indicating all local blocks on a path from the root node of the tree to the target node that have not been restored. The marks in the local blocks are used in generating the list. For each block indicated in the list, children of the block are fingerprinted, and the block is restored from the snapshot.

Abstract: In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing cross organizational data sharing including, for example, means for storing customer organization data in a database of the host organization; allocating at least a sub-set of the customer organization data to be shared as shared data; configuring a hub to expose the shared data to a proxy user and configuring the proxy user at the hub with access rights to the shared data; configuring one or more spokes with access rights to the shared data of the hub via the proxy user; receiving a request from one of the hubs for access to the shared data of the customer organization via the proxy user at the hub; and returning a response to the hub having made the request. Other related embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A secondary storage controller receives metadata that uniquely identifies a source volume of a primary storage controller. Data stored in the source volume of the primary storage controller is synchronously copied to a target volume of the secondary storage controller. The secondary storage controller receives a command from a primary host to write selected data to the source volume. In response to receiving the command at the secondary storage controller, the selected data is written to the target volume of the secondary storage controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided which perform a file level restore by utilizing existing operating system components (e.g., file system drivers) that are natively installed on the target computing device. These components can be used to mount and/or interpret a secondary copy of the file system. For instance, the system can instantiate an interface object (e.g., a device node such as a pseudo device, device file or special file) on the target client which includes file system metadata corresponding to the backed up version of the file system. The interface provides a mechanism for the operating system to mount the secondary copy and perform file level access on the secondary copy, e.g., to restore one or more selected files.

Abstract: Examples quickly suspend and resume virtual desktops on demand or on schedule. Virtual desktops, or desktops as a service, are provided to users, where the virtual desktop is a forked VM, cloned VM, or otherwise at least a partial duplicate of an existing VM. The virtual desktop points to existing memory maintained by the existing VM, and the virtual desktop only writes to memory the pages that the virtual desktop creates or modifies.

Abstract: Updating a second cluster server that backs up a first cluster server includes retrieving a first metadata file from a first cluster server. The first metadata file includes a first ordered list of block identifiers for data blocks stored on a first plurality of block servers. The updating also includes retrieving a second metadata file from a second cluster server. The second metadata file includes a second ordered list of block identifiers for data blocks stored on a second plurality of block servers. The updating also includes comparing the first metadata file to the second metadata file to determine a difference list. The difference list includes block identifiers from the first ordered list that differ from block identifiers of the second ordered list. The updating also includes sending, to the first cluster server, a request for data blocks associated with the block identifiers from the difference list.

Abstract: Ordering data writes includes at least some of a group of local storage devices receiving a first plurality of data writes, waiting for all of the local storage devices to be ready to switch cycles and causing a coordinated and synchronized cycle switch after all of the local storage devices are ready to switch cycles by sending a first command to each of the local storage devices where the first plurality of data writes are associated with a particular cycle on each local storage device in the group. Ordering data writes also includes at least some of the group of local storage devices receiving a second plurality of writes after initiating the coordinated and synchronized cycle switch where all of the second plurality of writes are associated with a cycle different from the particular cycle on each local storage device.

Abstract: A backup method may include discontinuing a process of a working system virtual machine (VM) operating within a physical machine (PM) of a processing apparatus, first duplicating data of a state of the working system VM in a memory of the PM, as a duplicating system VM, second duplicating data of contents of a working system virtual recording medium used to realize the working system VM, in a duplicating system virtual recording medium forming the duplicating system VM, within a storage apparatus of the processing apparatus, and resuming the process of the working system VM. The discontinuing and the first resuming may maintain consistency between the data in the memory and the storage apparatus.

Abstract: A method for generating a virtual volume (VV) in a storage system architecture. The architecture comprises a host and one or more disk array subsystems. Each subsystem comprises a storage controller. One or more of the subsystems comprises a physical storage device (PSD) array. The method comprises the following steps: mapping the PSD array into a plurality of media extents (MEs), each of the MEs comprises a plurality of sections; providing a virtual pool (VP) to implement a section cross-referencing function, wherein a section index (SI) of each of the sections contained in the VP is defined by the VP to cross-reference VP sections to physical ME locations; providing a conversion method or procedure or function for mapping VP capacity into to a VV; and presenting the VV to the host. A storage subsystem and a storage system architecture performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: Multi-site disaster recovery mechanism performed by the following steps: (i) providing a disaster recovery (DR) system that includes a plurality of sites where each site of the plurality of sites actively serves infrastructure-as-a-service to a set of tenant(s); (ii) for each site of the plurality of sites, determining the following characteristics of the site: workloads that require DR, workloads characteristics, tenants and capabilities; (iii) for each site of the plurality of sites, determining a plurality of associated sites; and (iv) on condition that a disaster occurs which impacts a first site of the plurality of sites, distributing a primary site workload of the first site across the associated sites of the first site. The determination of the plurality of associated sites associated with each site is based upon at least one of the following characteristics: capacity, workloads that require DR, workloads characteristics, tenants and/or capabilities.

Abstract: Systems and methods that make use of logical partitions of a second tier of disk storage at a disaster recovery (DR) site remote from a production site as part of a DR setup to advantageously reduce disruption to production site data production operations during DR procedures while providing for the substantially immediate recall or retrieval of data previously migrated to the remote second tier of disk storage.

Abstract: A method includes loading a virtual machine snapshot of a virtual machine from a first computing device to a mobile device. The virtual machine runs on the first computing device and the virtual machine snapshot includes a COW file and an image file with files from the virtual machine. The method includes launching the virtual machine on a second computing device, where the second computing device reads the virtual machine snapshot from the mobile device and the second computing device records changes to a copy of the COW file stored on the second computing device while the second computing device runs the virtual machine. The method includes terminating a virtual machine session running on the second computing device and copying the COW file to the mobile device. The COW file includes changes to the virtual machine snapshot from execution of the virtual machine on the second computing device.

Abstract: A VM loading module loads a virtual machine snapshot of a virtual machine from a first computing device to a mobile device. The virtual machine runs on the first computing device and the virtual machine snapshot includes a copy-on-write (“COW”) file and an image file of files from the virtual machine. A VM launch module launches the virtual machine on a second computing device, which reads the virtual machine snapshot from the mobile device and the second computing device records changes to the COW file stored on the second computing device while running the virtual machine. A session termination module terminates a session of execution of the virtual machine running on the second computing device and copies the COW file from the second computing device to the mobile device. The COW file includes changes to the virtual machine snapshot from the virtual machine on the second computing device.

Abstract: A media agent is configured to perform substantially autonomously to initiate, continue, and manage information management operations such as a backup job of a certain client's primary data, manage the operations, and generate and store resultant system-level metadata from the operations, etc. The media agent is configured to do this even when out of communication with the storage manager that manages the information management system. When communications are restored, the media agent reports the relevant metadata to the storage manager. The storage manager comprises corresponding enhancements, including specialized logic for identifying the media agent as an intelligent media agent capable of some autonomous functionality, for transmitting management parameters thereto, and for seamlessly integrating the received metadata into the storage manager's associated management infrastructure such as a management database.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing drift within a standardized environment. According to one embodiment, an end state definition is stored that identifies a standard set of source components for a plurality of targets. A drift manager determines that at least one target of the plurality of targets has drifted from the standard set of source components identified by the end state definition. After determining that the at least one target of the plurality of targets has drifted from the standard set of source components identified by the end state definition, the drift manager reconciles the at least one target with the end state definition.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for dynamic provisioning of snapshots in a data backup system with a software defined storage (SDS). The method implemented by the backup system receives a snapshot provisioning request including a user selection of snapshot objectives by a dynamic snapshot module, converts a file system reference mapping to a logical unit number (LUN) of the SDS, consolidates the snapshot provisioning request to the mapping and snapshot frequency, and passes the consolidated snapshot provisioning request to the SDS to provision snapshots.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for state consistent replication of client data set on a client computer by generating a snapshot of the client data set on a local volume; synchronizing with a remote server volume corresponding to the local volume to create a copy of the client data set on the remote server; performing a master to slave replication of the data set; and taking a snapshot of the server data set to create a mirror of the snapshot of the client data set on the server.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a computer for data operation are provided. The method includes: determining, when writing data to a sector of a storage device, whether the sector belongs to an old block for a restore point of the storage device. If so, the method further includes: allocating a new block and writing the data into the new block; creating a table including an address of the old block, an address of the new block and a first identifier, wherein the first identifier has first identification elements corresponding to the sector in the old block and in the new block, respectively, and wherein each of the first identification elements has a first state indicating to read data from the old block during data restoration in the sector and a second state indicating to read data from the new block during data restoration in the sector; and pointing the address of the old block in an address index table for the restore point to the created table.

Abstract: A storage controller is implemented for controlling a storage system. The storage controller may be implemented using a distributed computer system and may include components for servicing client data requests based on the characteristics of the distributed computer system, the client, or the data requests. The storage controller is scalable independently of the storage system it controls. All components of the storage controller, as well as the client, may be virtual or hardware-based instances of a distributed computer system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing virtual machine backups may include (1) identifying a maximum recovery point objective for a virtual machine with a virtual machine disk file on a storage device with snapshot capabilities, (2) identifying an available snapshot of the storage device that contains the virtual machine disk file, (3) determining that the snapshot's timestamp is within the maximum recovery point objective, and (4) constructing a backup of the virtual machine using the snapshot, instead of creating the backup from the virtual machine disk file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for indicating flash memory life. While data is being stored in a flash memory, the number of writes in a plurality of blocks of the flash memory increases. The amount of flash memory life is calculated on the basis of the number of write times in the plurality of blocks. The calculated amount of life can be transmitted to a host. In addition, when the calculated amount of life is greater than a threshold value, a signal providing notice that the life of the flash memory has reached a dangerous level can be output.

Abstract: Systems and methods to implement a multi-level memory system having a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory are implemented. A home agent may control memory access to both a volatile main memory and a non-volatile second level memory. The second level memory may be inclusive of the main memory. In an embodiment, the home agent may be configured to manage the memory system in a low power state. In a low power state, the volatile memory may be shut down and the non-volatile memory utilized as the only local memory. In an embodiment, the home agent may be configured to manage error recovery for the main memory by recovering the data saved locally in the second level memory. In an embodiment, multiple cores may access the second level memory.