Abstract: A storage system includes an interface processor for receiving a read or write request, a primary storage, a secondary storage, a storage control device and a temporary storage area for temporarily storing data for the primary storage in case that an access to the primary storage fails. The storage control device includes a controller for, in case that the access to the primary storage fails when the read request is received by the interface processor, determining whether the read requested data is stored on the temporary storage area, controlling to read the read requested data from the temporary storage area when the read requested data is stored on the temporary storage area, and controlling to read the read requested data from the secondary storage when the requested data is not stored on the temporary storage area.

Abstract: Techniques for storage lifecycle policy management. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for storage lifecycle policy management comprising creating a version of a storage lifecycle policy, associating a unique version ID with the created version of the storage lifecycle policy, associating the unique version ID with one or more portions of backup data created during a storage management job instantiated under the created version of the storage lifecycle policy, and ensuring that one or more storage management actions performed on the one or more portions of backup data comply with the created version of the storage lifecycle policy associated with unique version ID.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a function based on an executable code in response to receiving a request including function parameters are described. The executable code may be validated when loaded in a memory according to a signature statically signed over the executable code. A data location in the memory for storing the function parameters may be determined according location settings included inside the executable code. A target code location for storing a copy of the executable code may be determined based on the location parameters and the determined data location. A function is performed by executing the executable code from the target code location referencing the stored function parameters.

Abstract: A microcomputer includes a CPU, a protection information storage configured to store memory protection information specifying an access permission or prohibited state to a memory space by a program executed by the CPU, a memory access control apparatus configured to determine whether or not to allow a memory access request from the CPU according to the memory protection information and a reset apparatus configured to invalidate the memory protection information stored in the protection information storage according to a reset request signal output from the CPU.

Abstract: A rotating media storage device (RMSD) that adaptively modifies pre-read operations is disclosed. The RMSD schedules a pre-read data segment on a second track of disk, commands a movable head to seek to the second track, and if an on-track condition is not met for the scheduled pre-read data segment, modifies the pre-read operation. In one example, modifying the pre-read operation includes canceling the pre-read operation and then performing a read data operation.

Abstract: A method and system for efficient space management for single-instance-storage volumes is provided. A backup module storing data within a collection of containers according to access locality and retention time of the data, wherein the retention time defines an amount of time the data is stored within the collection of containers before deletion of the data, and the access locality comprises an order in which the data is to be accessed is further provided. A compaction module compacting the stored data by selecting at least two containers among the collection of containers, wherein the selection is performed using a predetermined criteria that includes access locality and retention time of the data is also provided. The compaction module distributes the data among the at least two containers. The compaction criteria creates an imbalance among the containers to create more empty, full, or nearly full containers.

Abstract: In a non-volatile memory storage system such as a flash EEPROM system, a controller switches the manner in which data sectors are mapped into blocks and metablocks of the memory in response to host programming and controller data consolidation patterns, in order to improve performance and reduce wear. Data are programmed into the memory with different degrees of parallelism.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for enforcing policy controls for non-system managed tape media. The apparatus includes an operating system configured to communicate with a tape media drive, and an identification module configured to identify a tape media type of a tape media cartridge. The apparatus may also include a policy module configured to maintain control policies for tape media types, and a media control module configured to enforce the control policies. The system includes a computing system having a processor, a cache, an operating system, and a plurality of input/output interfaces, a tape media drive coupled to the computing system, and the apparatus. The method includes communicating with a tape media drive, identifying a tape media type of a tape media cartridge, maintaining a plurality of control policies for tape media types, and enforcing the plurality of control policies.

Abstract: A method for dynamically allocating control of a storage device, the method comprising receiving an access request from a first computer requesting access to a storage device; directing, based upon the access request, a first storage controller computer to assume an inactive state with respect to control of the storage device; and directing, based upon the access request, a second storage controller computer to assume an active state with respect to control of the storage device.

Abstract: A storage device includes a drive selection section (1), a hard disk drive (HDD) (2), and a non-volatile memory drive (3). When an instruction such as a data I/O instruction is issued from a host such as a CPU (5) and an ATA controller (6) to the hard disk drive (HDD) (2), the drive selection section (1) receives the address value. If the address value is included in the address space predefined, the non-volatile memory drive (3) is made to execute the instruction. Otherwise, the hard disk drive (HDD) (2) is made to execute the instruction.

Abstract: A management apparatus and method that manage a storage system, in which an access node and a storage node, with which the management apparatus is in communication via the network. The management apparatus includes a logical volume judging unit that acquires a plurality of processing requests to each of the plurality of storage areas, references a logical volume allocation information storage unit that stores a correspondence relationship between the plurality of storage areas and the plurality of logical volumes in the storage node, and judges a logical volume corresponding to a storage area to become a processing object of each processing request, and a processing request breakdown calculating unit that counts an acquisition count of each processing request for each logical volume based on a judgment result by the logical volume judgment unit, and calculates a proportion of each acquisition count to a total of respective acquisition counts.

Abstract: A data storage system stores logical data object(s), each identified by a logical identifier. A control is configured to assign a unique WORM (Write Once Read Many) identifier to the logical data object, and stores the unique WORM identifier as associated with the logical identifier, in a database maintained by the control so as to be persistent. Data storage is configured to write the logical data object with a header with the unique WORM identifier. The control, in order to allow the logical data object to be accessed externally to the control, requires matching the unique WORM identifier in the header of a logical data object to the unique WORM identifier of the persistent database for the logical object. The unique WORM identifier is formed of a checksum hash value related to nonce fields comprising at least the logical identifier of the logical data object, an incrementing token, and a time stamp.

Abstract: The storage system provides a logical volume and includes a plurality of disk devices and a controller, coupled to the plurality of disk devices, which manages a plurality of storage areas provided by the plurality of disk devices. The host includes an application which sends data to a logical volume and an operating system which manages a block position of the logical volume. If the operating system receives a request from the application to expand a first capacity of the logical volume, the operating system sends a write request to the logical volume. In response to the write request, the controller allocates at least one of the plurality of storage areas to the logical volume. The controller monitors a second capacity of storage areas allocated to the logical volume relative to a third capacity of the plurality of storage areas.

Abstract: A method of identifying physical characteristic information of an optical disc includes: deriving a reading result by reading at least a first region of the optical disc, where a location of the first region is specified in a Blu-ray disc specification for recording information associated with recording management of a BD recordable disc; and identifying a first physical characteristic of the optical disc according to the reading result.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for expanded capacity virtual volumes in a virtualized storage system. A storage controller of the storage system parses a SCSI command block as it is received to generate a tag value indicating a segment of a virtual volume to which the command block is directed. The tag value is used to select one of a plurality of mapping segment objects stored in a memory of the controller. Each mapping segment objects maps logical block addresses of a corresponding segment of a corresponding virtual volume to physical storage addresses on the physical storage devices that comprise the virtual volume. An I/O processing circuit of the controller then processes the SCSI command block in accordance with the mapping information in the selected mapping segment object. In one exemplary embodiment, each segment of a virtual volume comprises 2 terabytes of storage capacity of the virtual volume.

Abstract: A data storage system is disclosed comprising a non-volatile memory and a first interface operable to receive a write command from a host, the write command comprising a host write data block having a host logical block size. A block mapping bridge divides the host write data block into a plurality of transfer data blocks, wherein each transfer data block having a device logical block size smaller than the host logical block size. The transfer data blocks are transmitted through a second interface to control circuitry that accumulates the transfer data blocks into a physical data block having a device physical block size equal to a first integer multiple of the device logical block size, wherein the host logical block size is a second integer multiple of the device physical block size. The physical data block is then written to the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: In a storage apparatus and its control method including multiple first virtual volumes to be provided to a host system and multiple pools each having a memory capacity, and equipped with a function of dynamically allocating a storage area to the first virtual volumes from the pools associated with the first virtual volumes in accordance with the usage status of the first virtual volumes, the unused capacity in each of the pools is managed, and, when the unused capacity of one of the pools falls below a predetermined threshold value, a part of the unused capacity of the other pools is allocated to the one pool. It is thereby possible to realize a highly reliable storage apparatus and its control method.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for extending the functionality of tape device tapemarks. When data is backed up to tape, the tape controller may mark the tape with a tapemark to organize portions of the tape. Present tape storage devices are limited to a single type of tapemark; therefore current recovery requests require knowledge of the tapemark location. The present invention allows for unique types of tapemarks. By allowing the tape device, tape controller and/or backup and recovery software to recognize unique tapemarks, data organized by unique tapemarks can be recovered without referencing tapemark location, thereby optimizing recovery. Unique tapemarks may be encrypted such that data recovery is only completed upon verification of the requester.

Abstract: A method for indicating storage capacity is applied in a storage device. The storage device includes a main storage unit, a capacity indicator, a driver, and a secondary storage unit. The second storage unit stores a preset storage capacity value and a drive table recording relationship between storage capacity difference ranges and rotation angles of the driver. The method includes: periodically obtaining a storage capacity value from a computer connected to the storage device; computing a difference between the obtained storage capacity value and the preset storage capacity value; determining the storage capacity difference range the difference falls within and the rotation angle the determined storage capacity difference range corresponds to in the drive table; and controlling the driver to rotate the determined rotation angle to drive the capacity indicator to indicate the obtained storage capacity value. A related storage device is also provided.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for host bus adapter assisted storage virtualization are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include loading storage virtualization functionality into one or more of: a storage driver, a network driver, a network interface card (NIC), and a host bus adapter. A SCSI request may be translated to obtain physical target information utilizing a translation table located on one or more of: the storage driver, the network driver, the NIC and the host bus adapter. At least a portion of a plurality of the translated SCSI requests may be cached on the host bus adapter or the NIC.

Abstract: A request is received from a client machine via a web interface for content presented on a web page. A globally unique identifier (GUID) that is associated with the user is accessed and a number is generated based on the GUID. The generated number is utilized as an index to locate the storage device from the number of storage devices. Here, the storage device stores a user profile associated with the user. The user profile is read from the located storage device and the web page is personalized based on this user profile. The personalized web page is then communicated to the client machine. Other techniques for locating a storage device are also described.

Abstract: Data storage systems are provided. Some embodiments of data storage systems include a storage device controller and a plurality of storage devices. The plurality of storage devices are illustratively in a redundancy scheme and the storage device controller receives from the plurality of storage devices a plurality of symbols. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of symbols is representative of data in the redundancy scheme, and the storage device controller verifies the consistency of the redundancy scheme based at least in part on the plurality of symbols.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for aging EV-DO pages in a queue based on latency-sensitivity. An access node receives data for access terminals, and responsively generates pages and adds them to the back of a queue. The access node associates a respective aging value with any latency-tolerant pages. The access node transmits the pages in the queue, which involves: (a) assessing the pages on a first-in, first-out basis; (b) transmitting latency-sensitive pages when those pages reach the front of the queue; (c) sending latency-tolerant pages to the back of the queue (and incrementing their aging values) when those pages reach the front of the queue with an aging value that is less than a maximum-delay parameter; and (d) transmitting latency-tolerant pages when those pages reach the front of the queue with an aging value that is greater than or equal to the maximum-delay parameter.

Abstract: A secure virtual tape management system with early read support options. The system includes at least two mainframe hosts having a catalog storing tape related information. A primary virtual tape emulation system includes an adaptor and includes software for facilitating remote configuration and utilization of the virtual tape management. A virtual tape system catalog storing tape related information is attached to the virtual tape management. Remote data storage devices may be in communication with the virtual tape management central processing unit. Software resident on the catalog monitors tape related information on the primary virtual tape emulation system for criteria matching a virtual tape to be made available to a secondary host and initiates immediate transfer of that data allowing it to be read in a paced manner by the secondary host before the primary host has completed its series of tape writes.

Abstract: Recording capacity per layer is detected from a disc and bit allocation of wobble addresses in a conventional optical disc and bit allocation in a high-density optical disc are controlled selectively to detect physical position addresses on the disc. Address detection can be performed for two kinds of discs which are equal in structure of addresses embedded in wobbles but different in bit allocation of addresses.

Abstract: There is provided a composite type recording apparatus restricting write operations depending on the type of a connected host apparatus, including a recording medium having a first data region, a non-volatile storage medium having a second data region and an identification information table for integrating and managing the first and second data region, an information selection section for selecting positional information having predetermined identification information from the identification information table according to the type of the host apparatus, a conversion section for converting positional information selected by the information selection section into positional information matching the first data region or positional information matching the second data region, a first write section for writing data supplied from the host apparatus in the first data region according to conversion process of the conversion section and a second write section for writing data supplied from the host apparatus in the se

Abstract: The invention discloses a memory management system and a memory management method are disclosed. The memory management system includes a first memory, at least one secondary memory, and a memory management device. The first memory includes a normal access memory bank and at least one switching access memory bank. The secondary memory includes at least one secondary access memory bank corresponding to the switching access memory bank. The memory management device reads/writes the normal access memory bank or the secondary access memory bank.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a memory integrated circuit is provided including an address decoder to selectively access memory cells within a memory array; a mode register with bit storage circuits to store an enable bit and at least one sub-channel select bit; and control logic. The control logic is coupled to a plurality of address signal lines, the address decoder, and the mode register. In response to the enable bit and the at least one sub-channel select bit, the control logic selects one or more of the address signal lines to capture independent address information to support independent sub-channel memory accesses into the memory array. The control logic couples the independent address information into the address decoder.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for delaying execution of input/output (I/O) requests for solid state drives are contemplated. Some embodiments comprise receiving I/O requests for a solid state drive and calculating amounts of time based on characteristics of the requests, such as differences of the logical block addresses (LBAs) of the requests. The embodiments may then delay responses by the solid state drive for the requests. Calculating the amounts of time and delaying the responses by the amounts of time may allow the solid state drives to emulate the responses of various types of hard disk drives. Some embodiments comprise an apparatus for delaying execution of the I/O requests for solid state drives. The apparatuses may have numerous modules, such as a request receiver to receive the I/O requests, a calculation module to calculate the amounts of delay times, and a delay module to delay the responses of the I/O requests.

Abstract: A method of performing cascaded flashcopy (FC) including starting a flashcopy map when a target disk is already a source of an active FC map. A computer storage system includes a configuration that allows a flashcopy (FC) map to be started when a target disk is already the source of an active FC map.

Abstract: What is disclosed is process for backing data objects from a content addressed storage system to a tape storage device such that the data objects are written in a contiguous sequential fashion. Data objects are kept together on the storage medium, rather than fragmented. An embodiment of the present invention describes the software modules and memory buffers required to implement this process. Additionally, what is disclosed is a process that restores data objects that have been contiguously written to tape. According to one embodiment of the present invention, recovery of non-fragmented data objects is made more efficient and less prone to failure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of storage tiering with minimal use of DRAM memory for header overhead that utilizes the beginning of the volume to store frequently accessed or hot data. A solid state storage device is placed at the beginning of a tiered volume and is used to store frequently accessed data. When data becomes less frequently accessed it is moved to a cold data storage area on a hard disk drive in the tiered volume. The data exchange is performed on a one-to-one basis reducing the amount and use of DRAM.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for performing storage operations on electronic data in a network. In response to the initiation of a storage operation and according to a first set of selection logic, a media management component is selected to manage the storage operation. In response to the initiation of a storage operation and according to a second set of selection logic, a network storage device to associate with the storage operation. The selected media management component and the selected network storage device perform the storage operation on the electronic data.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for managing metadata for data blocks used in a deduplication system. File metadata is maintained for files having data blocks in a computer readable device. Data block metadata is maintained for each data block in the computer readable device. The data block metadata for one data block includes a data block reference and content identifier identifying content of the data block. The file metadata for each file includes the data block reference to each data block in the file. A determination is made of an unreferenced data block in the computer readable device that has become unreferenced. Indication is made that the data block metadata for the determined unreferenced data block as unreferenced metadata. The data block reference of the unreferenced metadata is maintained in the computer readable device in response to determining that a includes the data block indicated in the unreferenced metadata.

Abstract: This invention provides a user or an operator with a management apparatus or method for displaying logical connection information between an interface connected to a computer and a switch and a storage system or a logical unit in the storage system in a virtual storage system, wherein the switch receives a first access request from said computer, converts said first access request to a second access request to one of said plural storage systems, and sends said second access request to one of said plural storage systems or one logical unit.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for maintaining immutable data in an archiving system using random access memory. To ensure data is immutable, novel pointers are maintained in the hardware/firmware of the drive ports and on the removable disk drives. For example, a hardware/firmware in a modular drive bay maintains a pointer to a memory address in the removable disk drive memory that cannot write to a memory block that precedes the pointer. Data may only be stored after the pointer in the removable disk drive. As such, once data is written to the removable disk drive, the data cannot be overwritten although the removable disk drive employs random access memory.

Abstract: A query message is received at a first server of a plurality of servers of a first server type, at least part of data contained in the query message is transformed to a transforming result, based on the transforming result and a first lookup table at said first server, a storage location of a respective second lookup table at one of said plurality of servers of said first type is determined, the respective second lookup table is accessed at the determined storage location of the respective second lookup table at one of said plurality of servers of said first type, and an indicator indicating a storage location of data requested by the query message is retrieved from the respective second lookup table.

Abstract: A method of assigning a physical address to a tape-based data storage device is provided. The method includes receiving a first initialization signal from a system controller at an input port associated with a first tape-based data storage device and prohibiting communication at an output port associated with the first tape-based data storage device. The method further includes providing a first confirmation signal to the system controller in response to receiving the first initialization signal and receiving an instruction from the system controller to enable communication at the output port associated with the first tape-based data storage device in response to the first confirmation signal. The method also includes determining a physical address associated with said first tape-based data storage device based on the instruction from the system controller, the physical address enabling communication at the output port of the first tape-based storage device.

Abstract: A security appliance that encrypts and decrypts information is installed in each of redundant multi-paths between a host system and a back up tape storage system. The host system is arranged to detect failures in a primary path to the tape system being used. When the failure is detected, the host system enables transfers to the same tape system through an alternative path. Encryption keys and host/tape designators (identifiers) are broadcast among the security appliances in the alternative data paths. When the host system switches from the primary path to the secondary path, even though the secondary security appliance did not generate the encryption keys, the secondary path security appliance will have such keys and will properly encrypt and transfer data from the host to the tape system. The secondary will also properly retrieve encrypted data from the tape system, decrypt it and deliver it to the host. All of these operations will be transparent (invisible) to a running application in the host.

Abstract: A non-volatile storage subsystem is capable of serving as a configuration controller for configuring/programming one or more field-programmable devices, such as FPGAs, of a target computer system. The storage subsystem may be in the form of a memory card or drive that plugs into a standard slot or external port of the target system. When connected to the target system, the storage subsystem uses the appropriate download interface/protocol to stream or otherwise send configuration data stored in its non-volatile storage to the target system's field-programmable device(s). Thus, the need for a configuration controller in the target system is avoided. Once the configuration process is complete, the storage subsystem preferably acts as a standard storage subsystem, such as an ATA storage drive, that may be used by the target system to store data.

Abstract: A hybrid hard disk drive includes a hard disk drive controller to receive a plurality of write commands from a host, a buffer to receive and store write data, which are input through the hard disk drive controller and correspond to each of the plurality of write commands, a command history tracker to receive the plurality of write commands and analyze a pattern of the plurality of write commands, and a CPU to control storage of the write data, which correspond to each of the plurality of write commands, on a disk or in a flash memory device based on the analysis result by the command history tracker. The drive may determine whether to store write data on the disk or in the flash memory device without operation system support.

Abstract: A storage library is described including a first tape drive that is identified as a target tape drive to a host via a first address and a second tape drive that is masked from being identified by the host. The storage library further includes a controller that is linked with a switch system that shifts the first address to the second drive from the first drive such that after the shift, the second drive is identified as the target drive to the host and the first drive is masked from being identified by the host.

Abstract: A method for managing data transfer from at least one input tape to an output tape begins by opening the output tape. For each input tape, the input tape is opened and directory information about the opened input tape is gathered. Data is read from the opened input tape, the data is encrypted, the encrypted data is written to the output tape, and the input tape is closed. The directory information for each input tape is written to a directory file on the output tape and the output tape is closed.

Abstract: A system includes a memory controller adapted to output address signals, command signals and select signals; a plurality of memory modules; and a plurality of buses each corresponding to one of the memory modules. Each bus is adapted to transmit corresponding ones of the address signals, the command signals, and the select signals to the corresponding memory module. Each of the memory modules includes: a plurality of memory devices; and a register adapted to receive and buffer the corresponding command and address signals transmitted to the memory module, and adapted to transmit the buffered command signal to the memory devices which are to be accessed, in response to the corresponding select signal for accessing the memory devices.

Abstract: A storage system is configured as tiered storage (composed of top tier storage apparatuses and second tier storage apparatus at least). The top tire storage apparatus gathers the volume-to-volume map information and power boundary information from second tier storage apparatuses, which are connected to the top tier storage apparatus. The top tier storage apparatus manages the second tier storage system by appropriate method directed by the second tier storage apparatus. In another method for managing HDDs' spin-down and spin-up, “spin-down/up” status are kept in the top tier storage apparatus and the second tier storage apparatus. The top tier storage apparatus forwards the “spin-down/up” request to the second tier storage apparatus when the top tier storage apparatus receives a “spin-down/up” request. The second tier storage apparatus checks if all volumes in a parity group have “spin-down” status. In the case of all volumes in a parity group have “spin-down” status, HDD in the parity group are spin-downed.

Abstract: A backup method relies on a single secondary storage device, such as a tape storage device, which emulates multiple secondary storage devices. The emulated secondary storage devices are coupled to data sources. Data which is received from the data sources is tagged with respective unique identifiers, interleaved and stored on a removable storage medium, such as a tape. This facilitates maximum usage of the media access bandwidth of the single secondary storage device.

Abstract: This invention provides a storage system coupled to a computer that executes data processing jobs by running a program, comprising: an interface; a storage controller; and disk drives. The storage controller is configured to: control spinning of disk in the disk drives; receive job information which contains an execution order of the job and a load attribute of the job from the computer before the job is executed; select a logical volume to which none of the storage areas are allocated when requested by the computer to provide a logical volume for storing a file that is used temporarily by the job to be executed; select which storage area to allocate to the selected logical volume based on at least one of the job execution order and the job load attribute; allocate the selected storage area to the selected logical volume; and notify the computer of the selected logical volume.

Abstract: The methods and structure herein provide for expanding the storage capacity of a RAID storage system while maintaining the same level of RAID storage management. A RAID storage controller may be coupled between a host computer and a RAID storage volume. The RAID storage controller manages the disk drives of the storage volume to present a single logical volume of storage to the host computer. When a storage expansion is desired, the RAID storage controller may communicatively couple to at least one expansion disk drive and begin transfer of data from the original RAID storage volume to the expansion disk drive(s). During this data transfer, read and write operations are continued to the original RAID storage volume. Additionally, the RAID storage controller duplicates write operations to the expansion disk drive(s) such that general storage operations required by the host computer are continued.

Abstract: This invention achieves data capacity efficiency via data de-duplication and maximizes a power-saving effect by disk operation control. In a storage system, when data is received from a computer, a value representing the bit string for the data is calculated and whether or not a value identical to the calculated value is stored in a data management table is judged. If it is judged that an identical value is not stored, the received data is registered in the data management table and stored, based on a group management table, in disk device(s) associated with a logical unit number of a logical unit constituting an active group. Meanwhile, if it is judged that an identical value is stored, the received data is stored in disk device(s) based on the group information managed in the group management table and the management information managed in the data management table.

Abstract: A hybrid storage apparatus including a non-volatile memory module, a hard disk module, and a hybrid storage medium controller is provided. The hybrid storage medium controller groups physical bocks of the non-volatile memory module into at least a storage area and a replacement area, and the hybrid storage medium controller configures a plurality of logical blocks for mapping to the physical blocks in the storage area and configures a plurality of logical disk addresses for mapping to physical disk addresses of the hard disk module. The hybrid storage medium controller further configures a plurality of logical access addresses to be accessed by a host system and initially maps a portion of the logical access addresses to the logical blocks and the other logical access addresses to a portion of the logical disk addresses. Accordingly, the hybrid storage apparatus can have improved data access performance and prolonged lifespan.