Abstract: The embodiments set forth techniques for facilitating processing checkpoints between computing devices. A method can be performed by at least one first computing device configured to interface with a first server computing device cluster, and include (1) processing objects managed by the first server computing device cluster, where the objects are stored across at least two first partitions associated with the first server computing device cluster, (2) detecting a condition to facilitate a processing checkpoint with at least one second computing device configured to interface with a second server computing device cluster, where the objects are mirrored—but stored differently across at least two second partitions associated with the second server computing device cluster, (3) gathering, from each partition of the at least two first partitions, information associated with a particular number of last-processed objects, and (4) providing the information to the at least one second computing device.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for virtualizing, by a computing device, a physical metadata space into a virtual metadata space. A translation table from the virtual metadata space to the physical metadata space may be implemented. Metadata in the physical metadata space may be cached based upon the virtual metadata space. The metadata in the physical metadata space may be moved without updating references associated with the metadata in the physical metadata space.

Abstract: A primary server and a standby server operating according as a redundant server pair are connected to a common network, and the operational state of each is monitored by a first and a second client function each of which run on a device connected to the common network. Each of the client functions operate to notify the standby server in the event that the primary server ceases to be operational. The standby server determining whether the primary server is operational based upon notification received from both of the first and second client functions.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for provisioning and allocating logically extended virtual disks. Responsive to an identification of a negative operational issue with a storage device in a plurality of storage devices in a storage subsystem, a determination is made as to whether a hot spare disk is available to replace the storage device. Responsive to the hot spare disk being unavailable, a logically extended virtual disk is allocated as a replacement for the storage device. Data stored on the storage device is then rebuilt on the logically extended virtual disk.

Abstract: A method that includes identifying a failure indication for a first data storage device that is a member of a first RAID group within a storage array. The method further can include, via a processor external to the storage array, identifying a virtual drive that is defined to include at least one logical storage volume defined in a second RAID group. The virtual drive can be provisioned to serve as a virtual hot spare within the first RAID group to replace the first data storage device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to invoking and managing a failover of a storage account between partitions within a distributed computing environment, where each partition represents a key range of data for the storage account. The partitions affected by the failover include source partitions hosted on a primary storage stamp and destination partitions hosted on a secondary storage stamp, where the storage account's data is being actively replicated from the primary to the secondary storage stamp. Upon receiving a manual or automatic indication to perform the failover, configuring the source partitions to independently perform flush-send operations (e.g., distributing pending messages as a group) and then configuring the destination partitions to independently perform flush-replay operations (e.g., aggressively replaying currently pending transactions).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing virtual volumes to at least one host. Physical drives are grouped. Data is mirrored within groups to create a RAID-1 protected virtual drive. Data is also mirrored from the first virtual drive on a second virtual drive to create a hot spare virtual drive to act as a replacement for the RAID-1 protected virtual drive.

Abstract: A storage system includes plural storage devices, a controller configured to transmit an access request for controlling an access to at least one of the storage devices, a switching part configured to receive the access request from the controller to select the one of the storage devices based on the access request received from the controller, and a proxy response part configured to transmit, if the selected storage device has failed, a response to the access request instead of the failed storage device responding.

Abstract: A data recovery method includes: by a first data node, obtaining a notification that a second data node fails; and storing specified data to a third data node, recording information of the specified data stored in the third data node in backup information stored in the first data node, and providing a metadata node and other data nodes storing the specified data with the information of the specified data stored in the third data node, where the specified data is data stored in the first and second data nodes. A data recovery method, two data nodes, and a distributed file system are also provided. In embodiments of the present invention, the data recovery is mainly performed among the data nodes, and the metadata node does not need to perform a lot of operations. Therefore, the load of the metadata node is reduced.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus has a first storage unit and a second storage unit and operates in one of a normal power mode and a power saving mode. When the information processing apparatus is operating in the power saving mode, if an error occurs in a storage process, the power mode of the information processing apparatus is switched to the normal power mode and the storage process is executed again. The storage process is a process in which when the first storage unit is replaced with a new storage unit, information equivalent to that stored in the first storage unit is stored in the new storage unit.

Abstract: Realigning storage devices arranged as storage arrays when one of the storage arrays enters a critical state after failure of a storage device is disclosed. The method is particularly useful for RAID groups of storage devices. The method may be used with hard disk drives, solid-state drives, and other storage devices arranged as groups. The method includes identifying when a storage array of a plurality of storage arrays is in a critical condition. A critical condition storage array and a healthy storage array are identified. Both the critical condition storage array and the healthy storage array are rebuilt. The rebuilding includes configuring the critical condition storage array to include a storage device from the healthy storage array and configuring the healthy storage array to function with one less storage device. The method may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

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: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for monitoring drive health. A method for monitoring drive health may comprise: a) conducting a predictive fault analysis for at least one drive of a RAID; and b) copying data from the at least one drive of the RAID to a replacement drive according to the predictive fault analysis. A system for monitoring drive health may comprise: a) means for conducting a predictive fault analysis for at least one drive of a RAID; and b) means for copying data from the at least one drive of the RAID to a replacement drive according to the predictive fault analysis.

Abstract: SRAM macro sparing allows for full chip function despite the loss of one or more SRAM macros. The controls and data flow for any single macro within a protected group are made available to the spare or spares for that group. This allows a defective or failed SRAM macro to be shut off and replaced by a spare macro, dramatically increasing manufacturing yield and decreasing field replacement rates. The larger the protected group, the fewer the number of spares required for similar improvements in yield, but also the more difficult the task of making all the controls and dataflow available to the spare(s). In the case of the Level 2 Cache chip for the planned IBM Z6 computer, there are 4 protected groups with 192 SRAM macros per group. Each protected group is supplanted with an additional 2 spare SRAM macros, along with sparing controls and dataflow that allow either spare to replace any of the 192 protected SRAM macros.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a storage enclosure operable to communicate with a storage initiator. The storage enclosure includes a first controller corresponding to a first storage domain for enabling access between the storage initiator and a plurality of storage targets using a storage protocol. A second controller of the system, corresponding to a second storage domain, is operable to enable access between the storage initiator and the plurality of storage targets. A second storage enclosure subsystem is part of the second controller and a second configurable extra-protocol interconnection between the second storage enclosure subsystem and the first controller enables the second storage enclosure subsystem to function as a storage enclosure subsystem for the first controller.