Abstract: A recording device and an HDD built-in recording device each of which can curtail a use area of nonvolatile memory to be used even with the nonvolatile memory having a limit in the number of times of rewriting. In this HDD built-in recording device, a microcomputer 14 judges whether a program recorded in an HDD to be written into EEPROM 15 using a rewriting program and a history table recorded in the EEPROM 15. In doing this, the rewriting program increases the number of accesses in response to the increase in the number of times of rewriting into the EEPROM 15, and thereby restricts the number of programs to be written into the EEPROM 15 from the HDD 17.

Abstract: The storage control device of the present invention uses a temporary volume to move data rapidly between volume groups. The storage control device forms a plurality of volume groups by grouping volumes of the same performance. At least one or more temporary volumes are each pre-provided in the respective volume groups. The control section calculates and manages the priority levels of the respective data. The data with the highest priority level in the lower volume group are copied beforehand to the temporary volume in the upper volume group at a time when the data are not being accessed by the host. As a result, data can be moved rapidly when data migration is executed and so forth.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for improving network virtualization in a storage area network. A virtualization engine is divided into a front end virtualization engine and a back end virtualization engine cluster. The front end virtualization is associated with one or more virtual enclosure ports. The back end virtualization engine cluster performs resource intensive virtual address to physical address mapping. Virtualization engine resources can be dynamically added to a back end virtualization engine cluster while presenting a consistent interface to hosts connected to a storage area network.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a data storage medium including first and second partitions, wherein individual physical blocks in the first partition are paired with individual physical blocks in the second partition, a status flag for each of the pairs of physical blocks, and a controller for performing read and write operations on the physical blocks in accordance with the status flags. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method for accelerating a tape backup system restore process receives a list of files that are to be restored and searches a tape catalogue to find tape volume and file sequence numbers for each file in the list of files, where the catalogue is an alphabetical listing of the contents of one or more backup tape volumes. The process appends the tape volume and file sequence numbers for each of the files to the list of files and then sorts the list of files according to tape volume and file sequence number. Accordingly, a list is obtained including the files that are to be restored, ordered according to the location of the files on the backup tape volumes. The restore process is accelerated by restoring files sequentially from this list and skipping over any intermediate files that are not on the list.

Abstract: Described are systems that employ configurable on-die termination elements that allow users to select from two or more termination topologies. One topology is programmable to support rail-to-rail or half-supply termination. Another topology selectively includes fixed or variable filter elements, thereby allowing the termination characteristics to be tuned for different levels of speed performance and power consumption. Termination voltages and impedances might also be adjusted.

Abstract: A portable data storage device includes a first storage unit having a data storing zone and a reserved zone for bad blocks in the first storage unit, and a second storage unit having a look-up table. The look-up table lists a number of configuration modes for the portable data storage device, each defining specific allocation sizes for the reserved zone and the data storing zone. The portable data storage device is configured to use a kth configuration mode. A method for dynamic memory management includes: i) determining a number of the bad blocks assigned to the reserved zone; ii) with reference to the look-up table, determining if this number is greater than a limit associated with the kth configuration mode; and iii) if so, reconfiguring the portable data storage device to use a (k+1)th configuration mode.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are presented for transiently clearing a reservation on a device, where the reservation belongs to a host that owns the device and the reservation blocks a host that does not own the device from performing an operation with the device. The reservation is cleared transiently by the host that does not own the device. While the reservation is cleared, the operation is performed with the device using the host that does not own the device.

Abstract: Provided are methods, apparatus arid computer programs for scheduling storage input and/or output (I/O) requests. A method for scheduling storage access requests determines a request processing sequence calculated to maximize SLA-based revenues achievable from processing a number of requests. A storage controller includes a scheduler which implements a revenue-based scheduling function to determine a revenue-maximizing processing sequence, and then assigns storage access requests to locations in a queue corresponding to the determined sequence. In an on-line mode, the scheduler can adapt to additional received requests, evaluating the revenue function for the additional requests and modifying the schedule if required. The method may include analyzing a request stream to predict requests that are likely to be received in the near future, and taking account of the predicted requests when determining a processing schedule.

Abstract: A method in a storage system reads blocks having both physical addresses and logical addresses in the storage system from a first set of locations in non-volatile storage to a cache memory and determines the level of data fragmentation in the non-volatile storage. If the level of data fragmentation exceeds a threshold level, the cache memory is marked and the blocks are written to physically sequential locations with new physical addresses in the non-volatile storage at a data consistency point without changing the logical addresses of the blocks.

Abstract: A system calculates the optimal allocation of two or more resources provided by a resource provider to a task within a computer system from a plurality of possible allocations. In doing so, the system calculates the total volume of an N-dimensional cube, where N is the number of resources provided by the resource provider, representing the respective amounts of resources available to be allocated. The system also calculates the average volume of the N-1 dimensional shapes forming the sides of the N-dimensional cube. The system then calculates, at least partly from the ratio of the total volume to the average volume, the balance resulting from the allocation of resources represented by the N-dimensional cube. The system then calculates the imbalance resulting from the allocation of resources at least partly from the balance and determines the smallest imbalance as the optimal allocation of resources.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing a storage medium that factors in read statistics of previous reads of the storage medium is provided. An access system tracks read statistics generated from previous attempts to read data of the storage medium, which may be stored on a per-unit basis. When the access system receives a request to read data of the storage device, the access system may generate a read plan for the read based on analysis of the read statistics. A read plan may specify the initial speed of the attempt to read the data. The access system uses the read statistics to help reduce the time needed to read a unit of data from the storage medium.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a write/read apparatus includes an external interface section for data input; an external interface section for data output; a memory for temporarily storing the data that is input through the external interface section for data input and written on the recording medium and the data that is read from the recording medium and sent to the outside through the external interface section for data output; an address generating section for generating unique addresses associated with physical block addresses of the recording medium; a flag generating section for generating flags for prohibiting overwriting of the data to be written on the recording medium; and a processing section for adding the unique addresses generated in the address generating section to the data that is stored in the memory and that is to be written on the recording medium. The data with the addition of the flags generated in the flag generating section and the unique addresses is written on the recording medium.

Abstract: A system and method for managing data in a computer system. A backup server is configured to harvest data indicative of logical relationships among data entries in a backup data set. The harvested data and backup data set are stored on a backup medium. Catalog entries are created for both the backup data set and the harvested data. The computer system allows a user to browse the backup catalog, including the logical structure of the content of a particular backup data set. The user may select particular items for restoration from the catalog. In response, the server restores the backup data set and harvested data to a temporary location, identifies data in the harvested data which corresponds to the user's selections, searches the backup data set for the selected items, and initiates restoration of the selected items.

Abstract: A data storage system comprises a first data storage medium and a second data storage medium. The first and the second data storage media are different types of data storage media. The data storage system assigns a first range of logical block addresses to physical addresses in the first data storage medium. The data storage system is configured to dynamically reassign the first range of logical block addresses to physical addresses in the second data storage medium. Alternatively, the data storage system can assign a first range of logical block addresses to physical addresses in the first data storage medium and to physical addresses in the second data storage medium. The data storage system stores data associated with the first range of logical block addresses in both of the first and the second data storage media. One of the data storage media can be NAND Flash memory.

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

Abstract: The reserves of a flexible volume and the aggregate which contains the flexible volume are “stacked”. When the flexible volume is created, a portion of the flexible volume having a capacity equal to or less than an unreserved portion of the flexible volume is guaranteed by the aggregate. When the flexible volume creates or modifies metadata, the flexible volume issues a request to the aggregate. The aggregate then issues a portion of the reserve of the aggregate to the flexible volume for storing the metadata.

Abstract: A device and a method for simulating a hard disk are disclosed. The device has a core logic chip, a main memory module and a setting module. The setting module is used to set the main memory module to have a memory access area and a hard disk access area. The core logic chip has a memory controller and a conversion interface controller for controlling data reading of the memory access area and the hard disk access area, respectively. When the core logic chip receives a read/write signal sent to the main memory module from a computer system, it determines whether this read/write signal is a memory read/write signal or a hard disk read/write signal. If the read/write signal is for memory, it is sent to the memory controller; if the read/write signal is for hard disk, it is sent to the conversion interface controller.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for emulating a floppy disk drive using network storage services. An application executing on a diskless computing device generates INT 13 access requests to gain access to a floppy disk image residing on a storage server. The INT 13 access requests are directed to a translation function that maps cylinder head sector (CHS) addresses and commands native to floppy disk media to linear block addresses (LBA) and commands used to access data within SCSI devices. An iSCSI initiator residing within the diskless computing device directs the LBA requests to an iSCSI target residing within the storage server to access a LUN residing on the storage server that contains a floppy disk image. The application is then able to conduct access requests to the floppy disk image as though a physical floppy disk drive were present on the diskless computing device.

Abstract: In the present invention, memory resources are effectively utilized by virtualizing external memory resources as internal memory resources, and erroneous operations that destroy the cooperative relationship of these memory resource and the like are prevented in advance. An external storage 2 is connected to a main storage 1, and real volumes 2A1 and 2A2 are respectively mapped into virtual volumes 1B1 and 1B2 (S1). The control server 3 respectively acquires construction information 1D and 2D for the respective storages 1 and 2, and stores and controls this construction information in a storage part 3D (S2). When the user inputs operation contents 4A from a control terminal 4 (S3), the control server 3 judges whether or not the operation contents 4A have an effect on the cooperation between the storages 1 and 2 on the basis of the operation contents 4A and the information in the storage part 3D (S4), and performs only operations that do not have an effect (S5).

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for a storage system comprising at least one mobile random access storage device capable of storing first and second data on at least one docking station. The docking station is associated with an address wherein the address is identifiable by at least one host computer. A first and second sub-address are associated with the docking station wherein the first and second sub-addresses are identifiable by the host computer. The first sub-address corresponds to a first virtual device adapted for storing the first data on a first virtual media. The second sub-address corresponds to a second virtual device adapted for storing the second data on a second virtual media wherein the second virtual media is different from the first virtual media.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method and apparatus for modifying a configuration of a computer system including a host computer and at least one computer system resource accessible to at least one application program executing on the host computer. The computer system is dynamically reconfigured, without reinitializing the host computer or the application program, to alter a manner in which the at least one application program accesses the at least one computer system resource. Another embodiment is directed to a method and apparatus for responding to changes in a configuration of the computer system impacting a manner in which the at least one computer system resource is accessed by the host computer. Information relating to a first configuration of the computer system at a first point in time is stored, the first configuration relating to a first manner of accessing the at least one computer system resource by the host computer.

Abstract: A system, method and a computer program product for emulating a tape-based storage system to provide data storage. The system includes a data storage medium storing a data set which represents the data layout of the emulated tape-based medium, and an interface for providing access to a non-tape-based data storage medium, using tape-based media commands and using the data set. The fist data set includes filemark location data and block number data for mapping between filemark locations and block numbers of the emulated tape-based storage medium and the non-tape-based data storage medium.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of determining the optimal RAID level to implement for a given disk drive array, and to the extent applicable, making unallocated disk space available to the user in the form of unprotected disk space. The method efficiently allocates appropriate RAID volumes for the given disk drive array, and, by making the unallocated disk space available to users, allows disk drives of unequal sizes to be effectively used in the disk drive array. Another embodiment of the present invention reconfigures an existing RAID array such that the storage space available on various disk drives in the disk drive array may be used in the most efficient manner. The alternative embodiment is especially useful if an existing RAID array is upgraded by adding a disk drive to, or modified by replacing one or more disk drives in, the existing disk drive array.

Abstract: Provided is a technology in which: a request-source storage device provides a request-source server device with a storage area of a disk drive as at least one logical volume; the request-source server device determines, upon receiving a request to back up data stored in a first logical volume, whether a second logical volume which constitutes a copy pair with the first logical volume is present in the request-source storage device; the request-source server device requests, upon determining that the second logical volume is not present, the request-source storage device to produce the second logical volume; and the request-source server device transmits a request to execute a process to back up data stored in the existing or produced second logical volume to the backup storage device to the request-destination server device. Accordingly, data to be stored in a NAS not locally coupled to a backup device is appropriately backed up.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing operation of multiple tape drives in a way so that incoming data is spread or distributed across the multiple tape drives and which may be implemented in one example to continuously accept for recording without interruption from one or more data sources, for example, so that the date is distributed across the multiple tape drives in real time and without interruption as it becomes available from one or more given data sources. Two or more tape drives may be further be managed in a manner such that the multiple drives appear to be a single drive when writing data to, or reading data from, the multiple tape drives.

Abstract: A method for providing continuous access to shared tape drives from two virtual tape server (VTS) nodes is disclosed. A group of tape drives are connected to two VTS nodes via a set of switches. Both VTS nodes can concurrently process requests to mount physical tape cartridges to separate tape drives. The selection of a tape drive to fulfill a volume mount request on a physical volume begins by locking down any access to a tape drive table having a composite view of all the tape drives shared between the two VTS nodes. An available tape drive is then selected to mount the physical volume, and an entry in the tape drive table is updated to claim ownership of the tape drive. A reservation command is sent to the tape drive to lock down any access to the tape drive, and the lock to the tape drive table is released. Having claimed ownership to the tape drive, the VTS node can now perform the volume mount request.

Abstract: A storage system includes operational control information stored in RAID disk drives for higher access performance over the case where control information is stored in shared memory. The operational control information includes monitor information, log information, and copy difference management information.

Abstract: To enhance capacity expansion property of a storage system for providing a thin provisioning volume, this invention provides a computer system including: a first storage system; and a second storage system for providing a second volume to the first storage system. The first storage system is configured to: define at least one first volumes; define a first storage pool including the defined first volume and the provided second volume; provide to the host computer a first thin provisioning volume that is recognized as a volume having a capacity equal to or larger than that of storage areas assigned from the first storage pool. The first thin provisioning volume is thus assigned with both storage areas of the first volume and storage areas of the second volume, which are included in the first storage pool.

Abstract: Data is written to a hard disk drive using shingled writing principles, i.e., each data track is partially overwritten when an immediately contiguous data track is written. Two or more contiguous data tracks establish a band, and a band may store data from one and only one file, such as an AV file.

Abstract: A method and system is introduced for allowing removal of a removable device connected to a digital appliance in a safe manner that preserves removable device integrity. There is no requirement for taking any actions prior to removing the removable device such as to safely remove the device. The user can intuitively tell removable device is in a state that can be safely removed and remove the device. Following a state where device can be safely removed, digital appliance can make use of removable device if the removable device had not been removed from the digital appliance.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards a system and method that utilizes external memory devices to cache sectors from a rotating storage device (e.g., a hard drive) to improve system performance. When an external memory device (EMD) is plugged into the computing device or onto a network in which the computing device is connected, the system recognizes the EMD and populates the EMD with disk sectors. The system routes I/O read requests directed to the disk sector to the EMD cache instead of the actual disk sector. The use of EMDs increases performance and productivity on the computing device systems for a fraction of the cost of adding memory to the computing device.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system, a method, and article of manufacture to provide for obtaining data storage device specific information from a data storage device using standard read/write commands. This method uses a host application to write a unique sequence of records to a logical volume of the data storage device. The data storage device detects the unique sequence of records for the logical volume and writes device specific information to the logical volume allowing the host application the ability to read the data storage device specific information using a read command for the logical volume.

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: A method for sending a message from one host (16) to at least one other host, both of which are attached to a hardware subsystem (12) that is bidirectionally coupled to a mass data storage unit (14) includes (a) transferring a Send Message command through a channel (18) from a first attached host to the hardware subsystem, the Send Message command having at least one second attached host as an intended recipient; (b) buffering (20) at least a message payload portion of the Send Message command at the hardware subsystem and generating an unsolicited interrupt in the at least one second attached host; and (c) in response to the unsolicited interrupt, transferring a Request Message command through a channel from the at least one second attached host to the hardware subsystem for obtaining at least the message payload portion buffered at the hardware subsystem.

Abstract: A point-in-time image of data in stored in a storage system is identified. Dependencies from the point-in-time image are detected. The dependencies are broken in an order before the point-in-time image is deleted. In one embodiment, an order in which to break the dependencies is presented to a user via one or more graphs. Based on the one or more graphs, the user determines a manner in which to break the dependencies.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system and article of manufacture for return processing in storage pools. A plurality of physical volumes are allocated to a first storage pool. A determination is made whether the first storage pool has more than a threshold number of empty physical volumes. If the first storage pool has more than the threshold number of empty physical volumes, then at least one empty physical volume is returned to a second storage pool.

Abstract: Provided are a storage system and data management method capable of improving the usage efficiency of a storage extent. With this storage system, a first storage apparatus dynamically allocates a storage extent to the first volume and sends data written by the host system in the first volume to the second storage apparatus; a second storage apparatus writes the data sent from the first storage apparatus in a corresponding position in the second volume pair-configured with the first volume and stores as management information the position to which the data from the first storage apparatus in the second volume was written; and the second storage apparatus, during the restoration processing of the first volume, refers to the management information and sends to the first storage apparatus the data in a position to which the data from the first storage apparatus in the second volume was written.

Abstract: An apparatus, a computer-readable recording medium, and a method of controlling data recording and reproducing to and from a disk. Controlling the recording of data includes storing password information set in a recording mode and key information to a first area of the disk, encrypting location information of the first area, storing the encrypted location information to a second area of the disk, encrypting desired data and an address of the desired data using the key information, and recording the encrypted data at the encrypted address.

Abstract: A technique involves accessing a hard disk platter surface using surface virtualization. The technique includes receiving a command to access a hard disk platter surface. The command specifies an address. The technique further includes providing a virtual surface identifier based on the address specified by the command, and generating a particular real surface identifier based on the virtual surface identifier. The particular real surface identifier corresponds to a particular hard disk platter surface among multiple hard disk platter surfaces of a set of disk drives. The technique further includes accessing the particular hard disk platter surface among the multiple hard disk platter surfaces of the set of disk drives based on the particular real surface identifier. Such operation is capable of being carried out within a disk drive controller in a manner that is transparent to a host, or alternatively by the host.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preserving disk geometry when relabeling a data volume encapsulated in a virtual storage device that presents a different disk geometry than the data volume. An exemplary method includes maintaining information from a label of the data volume in a memory associated with the virtual storage device and intercepting a request for information related to a disk geometry of the encapsulated data volume that is normally answered without reference to the label. The request may be associated with a command to relabel the encapsulated data volume. The method also includes reporting the information from the label of the data volume related to the disk geometry of the data volume if the label is associated with an operating system that considers a geometry of a data volume when partitioning.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a snapshot that records desired data, while allowing a client server to continue sending data to the storage system. In an example of an embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for recording data generated by a client server and transmitted to a storage system. The method comprises storing data, received from the client server, in the storage system, and receiving a command from the client server to perform a snapshot of the data. The method further comprises generating a snapshot of the data stored in the storage system in response to the command.

Abstract: A solid-state disk drive includes a first portion of solid-state memory of a volatile nature, a second portion of solid-state memory of a non-volatile nature, a controller for managing the memories, and a power subsystem for protecting data in volatile memory in the event of loss of power.

Abstract: An input/output method is provided which assures data consistency of a file spreading over a plurality of logically significant volumes or files distributed among a plurality of volumes. A storage subsystem at a main site handles as one group those input/output requests issued in a single process from a computer which call for data update on a plurality of logically significant volumes. The update request is executed on a plurality of volumes by group to implement the updating of volumes at a remote site en masse.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium is provided having stored thereon a set of instructions that cause a controller of solid-state disk having a first portion of solid-state memory of a volatile nature and a second portion of solid-state memory of a non-volatile nature to perform a method including (a) receiving at the controller, write data for writing to an assigned address in non-volatile memory, (b) determining at the controller if there is existing data associated with a write address in volatile memory, the write address referencing the assigned address, and (c) upon finding data in volatile memory held for the assigned write address or not at act (b), writing the data into the volatile memory at a predestinated write address in volatile memory.

Abstract: A disk formatter includes an address module for creating disk block address data corresponding to a disk sector of a disk drive. A sector write module initiates a physical mode write operation to the disk sector that incorporates the corresponding disk block address data.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention can include a method for message and error reporting for multiple extended copy commands that comprises receiving a message from a destination device that is the destination device for at least two concurrent extended copy commands, determining the at least two concurrent extended copy commands that specify the destination device, determining an associated host for each of the at least two extended copy commands and for each of the at least two concurrent extended copy commands, propagating the message to the host associated with that extended copy command.

Abstract: A volume provider unit in a computer system that detects a logical block address of a read or write I/O accessing a logical volume of a storage device from a host. According to the logical block address fetched, a storage domain of the logical volume is dynamically expanded. Moreover, the storage domain of the logical volume is reduced or expanded according to an instruction of logical volume capacity reduction or expansion from a host commander part to a volume server.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for vehicle performance tracking is described. In one example, a wireless interface is configured to receive operation data generated by a plurality of sensors in a vehicle. A time stamping module is configured to track time-of-day. A location module is configured to locate the vehicle. An engine tracking client is configured to produce instance performance data that relates the operation data, time-of-day information from the time stamping module, and location information from the location module. A cellular transceiver is configured to transmit the instance performance data to a server via a wireless mobile network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to improve accuracy in data and maintain data rate in a disk drive device which sends data at a reassignment source address to a host in response to a specific command. According to one embodiment, a hard disk drive (HDD) performs data write operations to a reassignment source data sector in addition to a reassignment destination source data sector if a reassigned data sector is present. Writing data to the reassignment source data sector improves accuracy in data to be transferred in a continuous read. The number of execution steps registered in an error recovery procedure (ERP) table in a write operation to the reassignment source data sector is smaller than the number of execution steps registered in an ERP table to the reassignment destination data sector.