СПОСОБ И КОМПЬЮТЕРНАЯ СИСТЕМА ДЛЯ ВЫПОЛНЕНИЯ КОМАНДЫ ЗАПУСКА СУБКАНАЛА В ВЫЧИСЛИТЕЛЬНОЙ СРЕДЕ

Изобретение относится к области вспомогательных запоминающих устройств вычислительной среды. Техническим результатом является повышение эффективности управления вспомогательными запоминающими устройствами. Раскрыт способ выполнения команды запуска субканала в вычислительной среде, содержащей основное запоминающее устройство и твердотельное запоминающее устройство, при этом указанный способ включает: с учетом определения того, что субканал, идентифицированный командой запуска субканала, является субканалом перемещения асинхронных данных (ADM), выполнение: получения блока запроса операции из основного запоминающего устройства, при этом блок запроса операции содержит адрес блока операции; получения блока операции из основного запоминающего устройства на основании адреса блока операции, при этом блок операции состоит из блока запроса, блока ответа и одного или более блоков (MSB) спецификации первого перемещения, причем блок запроса содержит поле счетчика MSB, содержащее значение, указывающее ...

СПОСОБ ОСУЩЕСТВЛЕНИЯ ДОСТУПА К ЦЕЛЕВОМУ ДИСКОВОМУ ЗАПОМИНАЮЩЕМУ УСТРОЙСТВУ, СИСТЕМА РАСШИРЕНИЯ ДИСКОВОЙ ЕМКОСТИ И ДИСКОВЫЙ МАССИВ

Изобретение относится к способу осуществления доступа к целевому дисковому ЗУ, системе, предназначенной для расширения дисковой емкости и дисковым массивам. Техническим результатом является снижение нагрузки на модуль управления массива мастер-диска. Процессор в составе массива мастер-диска после приема команды или данных посылает команду или данные на PCIe-модуль коммутации в составе массива мастер-диска; PCIe-блок массива мастер-диска посылает принятую команду или данные на модуль управления в соответствующем дисковом массиве в соответствии с адресом целевого дискового ЗУ, указанным в команде или данных; модуль управления в соответствующем дисковом массиве посылает принятую команду или данные на целевое дисковое ЗУ, которое непосредственно соединено с модулем управления. Настоящее изобретение раскрывает также массив мастер-диска и массив подчиненного диска. 5 н. и 13 з.п. ф-лы, 8 ил.

СПОСОБ И УСТРОЙСТВО ДОСТУПА К ДАННЫМ

Изобретение относится к области информационных технологий. Технический результат заключается в уменьшении потери данных и сокращении времени прерывания доступа, когда данные успешно не считываются. В способе при получении запроса на считывание данных для группы первых дисков осуществляют перенос адреса считывания; определение диапазона местоположений первой полосы группы первых дисков согласно адресу считывания; последовательное считывание данных из первых полос в пределах диапазона местоположений первой полосы, задание результата считывания данных для первой полосы, данные которой успешно не считываются, как предварительно установленных дополняющих данных, осуществляют продолжение считывания данных из следующей первой полосы до тех пор, как данные не будут считаны из всех первых полос. Осуществляют возврат результата считывания данных для каждой первой полосы. 2 н. и 12 з.п. ф-лы, 12 ил.

ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ ЭНЕРГОЗАВИСИМОЙ ПАМЯТИ В КАЧЕСТВЕ ЭНЕРГОНЕЗАВИСИМОЙ ПАМЯТИ

Verfahren und System zur Lieferung geschützter Gerätetreiber

Technologien zur Durchführung einer Orchestrierung mit Online-Analyse von Telemetriedaten

Technologien zur Durchführung einer Orchestrierung mit Online-Analyse von Telemetriedaten umfassen einen Orchestrator-Server zum Zuweisen von Arbeitslasten an jeden aus einer Gruppe verwalteter Knoten, Empfangen von Telemetriedaten, die eine Ressourcennutzung anzeigen, von den verwalteten Knoten, wenn die Arbeitslasten ausgeführt werden, Erzeugen einer Datenanalyse in Abhängigkeit von den Telemetriedaten, wenn die Arbeitslasten ausgeführt werden, Bestimmen von Anpassungen der Arbeitslastzuweisungen in Abhängigkeit von der Datenanalyse, wenn die Arbeitslasten ausgeführt werden, um die Ressourcennutzung unter den verwalteten Knoten zu erhöhen, und Anwenden der bestimmten Anpassungen auf die verwalteten Knoten, wenn die Arbeitslasten ausgeführt werden. Außerdem werden andere Ausführungsformen beschrieben und beansprucht.

Technologien zum Verwalten der Zuweisung von Beschleunigerressourcen

Technologien zum dynamischen Verwalten der Zuweisung von Beschleunigerressourcen enthalten einen Orchestrator-Server. Der Orchestrator-Server hat die Aufgabe, einem verwalteten Knoten eine Arbeitslast zur Ausführung zuweisen, einen vorhergesagten Bedarf für eine oder mehrere Beschleunigerressourcen zu bestimmen, um die Ausführung eines oder mehrerer Jobs innerhalb der Arbeitslast zu beschleunigen, vor dem vorhergesagten Bedarf eine oder mehrere Beschleunigerressourcen bereitzustellen, um den einen oder die mehreren Jobs zu beschleunigen, und dem verwalteten Knoten die eine oder die mehreren bereitgestellten Beschleunigerressourcen zuzuweisen, um die Ausführung des einen oder der mehreren Jobs zu beschleunigen. Andere Ausführungsformen werden ebenfalls beschrieben und beansprucht.

Schreiben neuer Daten einer ersten Blockgröße in einen RAID-Array, der sowohl die Parität als auch die Daten in einer zweiten Blockgröße speichert

Verfahren implementiert in einer Vorrichtung, wobei das Verfahren umfasst:Empfangen neuer Daten, durch einen „Redundante Anordnung unabhängiger Platten“ (RAID)-Controller (102), die geschrieben werden sollen, wobei die neuen Daten in Blöcken einer ersten Blockgröße angegeben werden;Lesen alter Daten (606) und alter Parität (608) durch den RAID-Controller (102), die den alten Daten entspricht, gespeichert in Blöcken einer zweiten Blockgröße, die größer ist als die erste Blockgröße;Berechnen einer neuen Parität (610) durch den RAID-Controller (102), basierend auf den neuen Daten, den alten Daten, und der alten Parität; undSchreiben der neuen Daten und der neuen Parität durch den RAID-Controller (102), ausgerichtet auf die Blöcke der zweiten Blockgröße, wobei Teile der alten Daten, die nicht durch den RAID-Controller (102) überschrieben werden, ebenfalls in die Blöcke der zweiten Blockgröße geschrieben werden, wobei der RAID-Controller (102) Platten steuert, die als RAID-5 konfiguriert sind ...

Virtualisierungssystem und Datenzugangskontrollverfahren

Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Verbinden von SAS RAID Controller-Vorrichtungs-Kanälen über redundante Speichersubsysteme hinweg

Vorrichtung, umfassend: eine erste Expandervorrichtung; und eine zweite Expandervorrichtung, wobei jede der ersten Expandervorrichtung und der zweiten Expandervorrichtung einen subtraktiven Port und einen table-mapped Port umfasst und geeignet ist zum Koppeln eines ersten seriell angeschlossenen SCSI Controllers mit einem zweiten seriell angeschlossenen SCSI Controller, wobei die erste Expandervorrichtung und die zweite Expandervorrichtung über eine redundante physikalische Verbindung quer gekoppelt sind.

Raid-Array-Zugriff durch ein das Raid-Array nicht kennendes Betriebssystem

Ein System, das folgende Merkmale aufweist: einen Prozessor, der konfiguriert ist, um ein erstes Betriebssystem und ein zweites Betriebssystem auszuführen; eine Mehrzahl an Speicherlaufwerken; wobei das zweite Betriebssystem die Mehrzahl von Speicherlaufwerken als ein RAID-Array konfiguriert und das erste Betriebssystem ohne Kenntnis dessen, dass die Speicherlaufwerke als ein RAID-Array konfiguriert sind, auf die Speicherlaufwerke zugreift.

Anzeige eines Schreibvorgangs mit Löschen über eine Benachrichtigung von einem Plattenlaufwerk, das Blöcke einer ersten Blockgrösse innerhalb von Blöcken einer zweiten Blockgrösse emuliert

Verfahren zur Emulation eines Plattenlaufwerks mit einer kleineren ersten Blockgröße durch ein Plattenlaufwerk mit einer größeren zweiten Blockgröße, wobei das Plattenlaufwerk über die Emulation jeweils eine Vielzahl emulierter Blöcke der ersten Blockgröße in jedem Block der zweiten Blockgröße speichert, aufweisend die Schritte::Empfangen einer Anfrage durch ein Plattenlaufwerk, mindestens einen Block einer ersten Blockgröße zu schreiben,Lesen eines ausgewählten Blocks der zweiten Blockgröße, in den der mindestens eine Block der ersten Blockgröße über die Emulation zu schreiben ist;Wenn beim Lesen des ausgewählten Blocks der zweiten Blockgröße ein Lesefehler auftritt, Durchführen der folgenden Verfahrensschritte durch das Plattenlaufwerk:Durchführen eines Schreibvorgangs mit Löschen an ausgewählten emulierten Blöcken der ersten Blockgröße, die das Erzeugen des Lesefehlers verursacht haben, indem diese Blöcke der ersten Blockgröße gelöscht und als nicht länger gültig angegeben werden;Verfolgen ...

SPEICHER FÜR INFORMATIONSTEURUNG EINES MEHRHOSTRECHNERSPEICHERS

Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Datenaufzeichnung/-wiedergabe

Schaltung zum Formen eines Kommunikationssignals und damit versehene Speichereinheit

Schaltung (1250) zum Formen eines Kommunikationssignals, mit einem Takterzeuger (1252, 1253, 1254, 1256) zum Erzeugen eines Taktsignals unter Verwendung eines für Kommunikationszwecke übertragenen Impulssignals, einer Erkennungsstufe (1257, 1258) zum Erkennen der Frequenz des Impulssignals, einem Frequenzteiler (1259) zum Teilen der Frequenz des Taktsignals mit einem Frequenzteilerverhältnis entsprechend der erfaßten Frequenz des Impulssignals, und einer Synchronisierstufe (1255) zum Synchronisieren des frequenz-geteilten Taktsignals mit dem Impulssignal, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Erkennungsstufe (1257, 1258) einen Ladungsänderungs-Unterdrückungskreis (1263, 1264, 1266) aufweist, der eine Änderung der in einer Ladungssammelstufe (1279) gesammelte Ladungsmenge jedesmal dann, wenn der Signalpegel des Impulssignals geschaltet wird, während einer vorgegebenen Zeitspanne unterdrückt.

Storage system and data management method

Disk array device for idle seek

Storage reservation apparatus

Storage adapter performance optimization

Storage system and data management method

Method and dedicated frame buffer for receiving frames

Data storage

Method and apparatus for reconfiguring striped logical devices in a disk array storage

A method and apparatus for enabling an on-line reconfiguration of striped data in a disk array storage device. A replicated copy of the striped logical device is made in parallel with host operations. A logical device with a new configuration is then substituted for access by the host application even before any data is transferred to locations within the newly configured logical device. Independent processes operating in this disk array storage device reconfigure the data transparently to any host operations while accommodating host I/O requests directed to locations in the new configuration.

Disk array apparatus and control method for disk array apparatus

Disk controller

Copy source to target management in a data storage system

Copy source to target operations may be selectively and preemptively undertaken in advance of source destage operations. In another aspect, logic detects sequential writes including large block writes to point-in-time copy sources. In response, destage tasks on the associated point-in-time copy targets are started which include in one embodiment, stride-aligned copy source to target operations which copy unmodified data from the point-in-time copy sources to the point-in-time copy targets in alignment with the strides of the target. As a result, when write data of write operations is destaged to the point-in-time copy sources, such source destages do not need to wait for copy source to target operations since they have already been performed. In addition, the copy source to target operations may be stride-aligned with respect to the stride boundaries of the point-in-time copy targets. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.

Storage system comprising a controller which performs a read-after-write check

Extent migration for paired storage

Extent migration is provided in a data storage environment configured for synchronous replication between a primary and secondary pair of storage entities, each having tiered storage devices. In one embodiment, a migration instruction is sent, by the primary storage entity, to the secondary storage entity, the migration instruction including a relative priority based on a primary ordered heat map of the tiered storage devices of the primary storage entity. The relative priority is used against a secondary ordered heat map of the tiered storage devices of the secondary storage entity to perform the extent migration, regardless of whether the primary and secondary storage entities are identical.

Raid array access by a raid array-unaware operating system

Systematic erasure coding technique

Data is stored in a redundant data storage system with n data storage nodes. Source data is stored on k of the nodes di and redundant data is stored on the remaining r nodes pi. Each stripe of data is divided into α sub-stripes, where 1 < α < rm and m = ceiling( k / r ). The redundant data stored in a sub-stripe on the first redundant node p1 is generated from the data in that sub-stripe. The data stored in a sub-stripe on the remaining redundant nodes p2pn is calculated using data from that sub-stripe and other sub-stripes. The data stored in a sub stripe of one of the nodes may be generated using data from k sub-stripes. The redundant data may be produces using linear combinations of the source data in a finite field.

Thin provisioning using cloud based ranks

A computer-implemented method for thin provisioning using cloud based ranks comprises determining a total amount of unused physical storage space for all of a plurality of local ranks associated with a storage controller; comparing the total amount of unused physical storage space to a first threshold; in response to determining that the total amount of unused physical storage space is less than the first threshold, creating one or more cloud based ranks. Creating each of the one or more cloud based ranks comprises allocating storage space on one or more corresponding cloud storage devices via a cloud interface; mapping the allocated storage space to corresponding virtual local addresses; and grouping the virtual local addresses as a virtual local rank associated with the storage controller.

Dynamic data relocation using cloud based ranks

An example method for dynamic data relocation using cloud based ranks comprises monitoring accesses to data stored on a plurality of local ranks of an enterprise storage system; identifying data which has not been accessed for a predetermined amount of time based on the monitored accesses; and moving the data which has not been accessed for the predetermined amount of time to one or more cloud based ranks of the enterprise storage system, wherein each cloud based rank comprises storage space on one or more cloud storage devices, the storage space on the one or more cloud storage devices mapped to corresponding virtual local addresses that are grouped as a virtual local rank.

Storage system and control method for storage system

A virtual storage device based on multiple storage devices, including a first storage device and a second storage device, is provided to a host computer. A first logical unit of the first storage device and a second logical unit of the second storage device are provided as a virtual logical unit. In response to an inquiry from the host computer regarding a port state, the first storage device returns a response indicating the state of a first port of the first logical unit and that the second storage device is unable to respond to the port state inquiry. The second storage device does not return a response to the inquiry.

Data storage apparatus

Data Storage Apparatus Anapparatus(1) for storing data comprises a plurality of physical data storage disks (2). Each of the physical data storage disks (2) isdivided into a plurality of sub-regions (3). The apparatus also comprises data processing means (4) configured such that: the data to be stored is divided into a plurality of data blocks, a plurality of copies of the plurality of data blocks is made and each copy is labelled with a distinct identifier, and assigned to the plurality of sub-regions (3) such that: (a) each copy of any given data block is assigned to a different physical data storage disk (2), and (b) none of the plurality of data blocks with a first identifier is assigned to the same sub-region (3) as any of the plurality of data blocks with a second identifier, for any pair of distinct identifiers. [Fig. 1] ...

I/O operations in log structured arrays

Converting large extent storage pools into small extent storage pools in place

Preemptive staging for full-stride destage

There is a method for improving destage performance to a RAID array. The method periodically scans a cache for first strides that are ready to be destaged to a RAID array. While scanning the cache, the method identifies second strides that are not currently ready to be destaged to the RAID array, but will likely be ready to be destaged during a subsequent scan of the cache. The method initiates preemptive staging of any missing data of the second strides from the RAID array into the cache in preparation for the subsequent scan. Upon occurrence of the subsequent scan, the method destages, from the cache, the second strides from the cache to the RAID array.

MAGNETIC TAPE MEMORY EMULATION FOR OPEN SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT

PROCEDURE AND SYSTEM FOR THE MESSAGE OF THE USE OF THE NON REMOVABLE DISKS OF A NON REMOVABLE DISK SYSTEM

PLANNING OF MEMORY ACCESSES FOR GUESSING GUARANTEED AND NON--RATE-GUARANTEED REQUIREMENTS

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING DATA TRANSFERS

Efficient expansion of highly reliable storage arrays and clusters

Architecture for providing block-level storage access over a computer network

Improved processes for making opioids including 14-hydroxycodeinone and 14-hydroxymorphinone

Improved processes for making opioid products having low impurity levels including making 14-hydroxycodeinone and 14-hydroxymorphinone from thebaine and oripavine, respectively.

Integrated single chip dual mode raid controller

Redundant disc computer having targeted data broadcast

USE OF VOLATILE MEMORY AS NON-VOLATILE MEMORY

A computing device may comprise a processor, a volatile memory and a non-volatile storage device. An operating system or firmware of the device may cause one or more pages of the volatile memory to be treated, by applications executing on the computing device, as non-volatile memory pages. A maximum number of pages that may be treated as non-volatile may be determined based on an amount of energy available in a battery and an amount of energy needed to transfer a page of memory to the non-volatile storage device.

DEVICE FOR REMOVING INFORMATION FROM RECORD DEVICE, INFORMATION REMOVING METHOD, INFORMATION REMOVING PROGRAM, AND RECORD DEVICE

A device for removing information on a record device readily without needing any expert knowledge. Arbitrary data including the Linux, viewer, message data, image data, and information removing program is stored on a floppy disk (71). When the information removing program is executed, hard disk drives (20) are detected, and the arbitrary data is written in the hard disk drives (20) in order. Thus the data stored before the removal on the hard disks (21) is perfectly deleted.

GENERATING STORAGE SYSTEM COMMANDS

Systems and methods for generating storage system commands are presented. Logical volumes comprise one or more storage areas. The methods include providing a map of the logical volume from information relating to the types of the storage areas composing the volume. Storage commands referencing the logical volume map are converted to storage area commands by command handlers associated with the type of the storage areas in the logical volume. The storage system comprises clients that access the storage areas by using a command stacks associated with the logical volumes.

LIBRARY FOR SEAMLESS MANAGEMENT OF STORAGE DEVICES

An approach for using a storage library to translate commands from one command language into a different command language. The approach includes receiving a storage request in a command language from an application. The storage request is directed to a target storage device that uses a different command language. The storage request is translated into the different command language of the target storage device using a storage library of command languages and the storage request is performed.

FILE PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND STORAGE DEVICE

Embodiments of the present invention provide a file processing method, a file processing apparatus and a storage device. In the method, a storage device divides received F files into a plurality of data blocks, and obtains a first matrix having T rows according to the plurality of data blocks. Data blocks belonging to the same file are located in the same row of the first matrix. The storage device further forms items by using data blocks of each column in the first matrix and verifying blocks obtained through calculating the column of data block, and writes the items into a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID). By means of the file processing method, the storage device can write the same file into the same memory of the RAID on the basis of ensuring safety of file storage, and can achieve good energy-saving effect during file reading.

ARRAY DISC MEMORY EQUIPMENT CAPABLE OF CONFIRMING LOGICAL ADDRESS POSITIONS FOR DISC DRIVE MODULES INSTALLED THEREIN

An array disc memory equipment equipped with a computer and including disc drive modules for storing divided data provides means for confirming whether identification information read from disc drive modules installed in the equipment is coincided with reference identification information read from disc drive modules previously installed in the same position every time the disc drive modules are replaced, increased or decreased, and produces either an alarm signal for stopping the computer sending a data write or read command to the array disc memory equipment or a data path instruction for allowing the divided data to be correctly written or read from the disc drive modules when the identification information is not coincided with the reference identification information.

AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF A RAID CONTROLLER

The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for automatically configuring disk drives connected to a RAID controller. The automatic configuration mechanism is able to generate a full configuration of the disk drives connected to a RAID controller both at system initialization or bootup and at runtime. The mechanism uses a robust criteria to configure the disk drives which allows the drives to be configured in accordance with one or more RAID levels and which considers any existing configurations. The automatic configuration mechanism is advantageous since it eliminates user interaction, time, and knowledge often required to configure disk drives connected to a RAID controller.

COMPUTER SYSTEM TRANSPARENT DATA MIGRATION

A facility for the management and maintenance of large computer systems to accomplish automated movement of data (migration) from one location to another in the system. A data migration program includes a main module to control the start of a migration session when said application programs are using data accessed to and from the source volume, to migrate data from the source volume to the target volume, and to end the migration session whereby said application programs are using data accessed to and from the target volume. The data migration program includes a volume module to control said volumes during the migration session. The data migration program includes a copy module to control the copying of data from the source module to the target module during the migration session. The data migration program includes a monitor module for monitoring I/O transfers to the data volumes during the migration sessions.

Direct memory access circuit and disk array device using same

Control device and control method

I/O (input/output) equalization treatment method and device

Management method in a computer system and management system

MASS STORAGE DEVICES PACKAGES AND SOFTWARE-DEFINED ARRAYS OF SUCH PACKAGES

Database operation awareness stripping technology

Continuous data protection storage system and storage method using the same

For adaptive persistence of the system, method and interface

For the cluster storage system for load balancing in a method and system

Storage device driver and cluster participation

Storage device control apparatus

Logical disk management method and apparatus

Data storage system and data storage control apparatus

REDUNDANT SECURE STORAGE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR READING SECURE WRITE ON SUCH A DEVICE

UNIT OF MEMORIZING AND CIRCUIT TO FORMAT A SIGNAL OF COMMUNICATION

UNIT OF MEMORIZING AND CIRCUIT TO FORMAT A SIGNAL OF COMMUNICATION

UNIT OF MEMORIZING AND CIRCUIT TO FORMAT A SIGNAL OF COMMUNICATION

CONVERTING LUNS INTO FILES OR FILES INTO LUNS IN REAL TIME

NETWORK-USABLE REDUNDANT ARRAY OF INDEPENDENT DISKS CONTROLLER FOR A SEMICONDUCTOR STORAGE DEVICE THROUGH A PCI-EXPRESS INTERFACE

PURPOSE: A network-usable RAID(Redundant Array of Independent Disks) controller for a semiconductor storage device is provided to support a low data processing speed by controlling the synchronization of a data signal transceiving between a host and a memory disk. CONSTITUTION: A disk mount(850) is connected with SSD memory disk units(100A-N) including a set of volatile semiconductor memories. A high speed host interface(840) is connected with the disk mount and a disk monitoring unit(860) to provide a host interface function set. A disk controller(830) is connected with the high speed host interface and an input/output controller is connected with the disk controller. A network interface(828) is connected with the input/output controller to connect a network-usable RAID controller with an outer network. COPYRIGHT KIPO 2013 [Reference numerals] (100A-N) DDR SSD disk; (120) External network; (820) Host interface; (824) I/O controller; (828) Network interface; (830) Disk controller; (840) ...

STORAGE CONTROLLER DATA REDISTRIBUTION

볼륨 영역들의 중복성 제거

... 볼륨 영역들의 대략적인(coarse-grained) 중복성 제거를 수행하기 위한 시스템 및 방법. 저장 제어기는 제1 볼륨의 제1 영역이 제2 볼륨의 제2 영역과 동일하다는 것을 검출하며, 제1 볼륨은 제1 매체를 가리키고, 제2 볼륨은 제2 매체를 가리킨다. 동일 영역들의 검출에 응답하여, 저장 제어기는 제1 매체의 제1 범위가 제2 매체의 제2 범위의 기저가 된다는 지시를 저장한다. 또한, 동일 영역들의 검출에 응답하여, 제2 매체의 제2 범위와 관련된 맵핑들이 무효화된다.

CACHE DISK STORAGE UPGRADE

Upgrades are made to the available capacity of cache disk storage without adding drawer(s) or blade(s) when the upgrade is requested. A cache control is configured to respond to a requested capacity upgrade, establishing a capacity restriction applicable to a filesystem providing active perceived available capacity spanning the disk drive subunits, such as drawers, blades or disk drives. The active perceived available data storage capacity and unused capacity of the filesystem are spread across the disk drive subunits. The capacity restrict ion is related to the requested upgrade adjustment, and the capacity restriction controls rates of data transfer with respect to the filesystem. The capacity restriction may comprise a freespace threshold for throttling of a fill rate of resident data pending premigration from the cache disk storage filesystem, and a premigration threshold for increasing drain rate of premigration data from the cache disk storage filesystem. © KIPO & WIPO 2009 ...

REDUNDANT ARRAY OF INDEPENDENT DISKS AND RE-BUILD METHOD THEREOF

Systems and methods for nvme controller virtualization to support multiple virtual machines running on a host

Power and performance management using MAIDx and adaptive data placement

The present invention is a method for storing data. The method includes the step of dividing data into a plurality of uniformly-sized segments. The method further includes storing said uniformly-sized segments on a plurality of storage mechanisms. The method includes the steps of monitoring access to the uniformly-sized segments stored on the plurality of storage mechanisms to determine an access pattern; monitoring access patterns between the plurality of disks and monitoring performance characteristics of the plurality of storage mechanisms to determine a performance requirement for the plurality of storage mechanisms. Finally, the method includes the step of migrating at least one segment of the plurality of uniformly-sized segments from a first storage mechanism of the plurality of storage mechanisms to a second storage mechanism of the plurality of storage mechanisms in response to at least one of the access patterns or the performance requirements.

Method, apparatus, and system for port multiplier enhancement

A method, apparatus and system are provided for enhancing port multipliers. In one embodiment, a port multiplier is configured to couple a network host with port multipliers. The port multiplier includes a top port multiplier to establish and maintain communication with each of the port multipliers to communicate with the network host, and the port multipliers having intermediate port multipliers and/of bottom port multipliers. Further, network devices are in communication with the port multipliers, the port multiplier, and the network host.

Method to locate sas jbod cable routing

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING STORAGE CAPACITY IN A STORAGE NETWORK

A system for managing configuration of a storage network having multiple storage resources is disclosed. The system uses a storage management policy to set parameters for detecting storage resource problems in the storage network. The system monitors the storage resources in the storage network based on the storage management policy. Based on the monitoring, the system detects limited storage resource conditions, and identifies one or more potential solutions to the condition. After identifying potential solutions, the system simulates effects on the storage resources of implementing individual solutions. Based on the simulations, the system then implements one or more selected solutions. These solutions may be selected automatically or by a user.

STORAGE SYSTEM

This storage system is provided with: a storage device which stores partitioned data configuring a file and stores address data which is address data that is based upon data content of a reference destination and store location and which is address data which references the partitioned data or other address data; and a data store control unit by which, when newly storing the partitioned data or the other address data into the storage device, in the case that the partitioned data or the other address data to be newly stored is of the same data content as data which has already been stored in the storage device, the data which has already been stored in the storage device is referenced as the partitioned data or the other address data to be newly stored using the address data; wherein the data store control unit is provided with an address data acquisition unit which, upon receiving file identification information for identifying a file to be copied which is stored in the storage device, ...

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR WRITING DATA INTO PRODUCTION VOLUME

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for writing data into a production volume. The method for writing data into a production volume comprises: receiving a data operation request, the data operation request carrying data to be written, and an initial address and length of the data to be written; when copy-on-write is not performed in a target area of the data to be written in the production volume, determining, according to the initial address, the length and a preset storage granularity of the data to be written, a data block on which copy-on-write needs to be performed; performing copy-on-write on the data block in need, to generate a mapping tag corresponding to the data block; and writing the data to be written into the data block after copy-on-write. The embodiment of the present invention dynamically adjusts the actual size of the data block on the production volume corresponding to the mapping tag, thereby improving the system performance and saving ...

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING DATA BETWEEN DIFFERENT RAID DATA STORAGE TYPES FOR CURRENT DATA AND REPLAY DATA

The present disclosure relates to a data storage system including a RAID subsystem having a first and second type of RAID storage. A virtual volume configured to accept I/O is stored on the first type of RAID storage, and snapshots of the virtual volume are stored on the second type of RAID storage. A method of the present disclosure includes providing an active volume that accepts I/O and generating read-only snapshots of the volume. In certain embodiments, the active volume is converted to a snapshot. The active volume includes a first type of RAID storage, and the snapshots include a second type of RAID storage. The first type of RAID storage has a lower write penalty than the second type of RAID storage. In typical embodiments, the first type of RAID storage includes RAID 10 storage and the second type of RAID storage includes RAID 5 and/or RAID 6 storage.

RAID ARRAY TRANSFORMATION

Transforming an in-use RAID array from a first array configuration having a first parameter to a second array configuration having a second parameter while preserving the logical data structure, comprises an extent reservation component; a data migration component for reading unmigrated data from an area of the array arranged according to the first array configuration and writing the data to an area of the array arranged according to the second array configuration using reserved extents to store first migrated data and using further extents to store second migrated data; a first I/O component for performing I/O according to the first array configuration on unmigrated data prior to its reading by the data migration component; and a second I/O component for performing I/O according to the second array configuration on the first migrated data and the second migrated data after its writing by the data migration component.

EXTENSION OF WRITE ANYWHERE FILE LAYOUT WRITE ALLOCATION

A write allocation technique extends a conventional write allocation procedure employed by a write anywhere file system of a storage system. A write allocator of the file system implements the extended write allocation technique in response to an event in the file system. The extended write allocation technique efficiently allocates blocks, and frees blocks, to and from a virtual volume (vvol) of an aggregate. The aggregate is a physical volume comprising one or more groups of disks, such as RAID groups, underlying one or more vvols of the storage system. The aggregate has its own physical volume block number (pvbn) space and maintains metadata, such as block allocation structures, within that pvbn space. Each vvol also has its own virtual volume block number (vvbn) space and maintains metadata, such as block allocation structures, within that vvbn space. The inventive technique extends input/output efficiencies of the conventional write allocation procedure to comport with an extended ...

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING EXTERNAL STORAGE

One embodiment as described herein provides a system and method for enhancing external storage (Fig. l). One embodiment includes a controller of a peripheral device of a computer system (Fig. 1, external storage controller). The controller provides acces a storage medium of the peripheral device (Fig. 1, ATA Master HDD). In one embodiment, the storage medium of the peripheral device includes a section of storage reserved for firmware of the peripheral device.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RAID METADATA STORAGE

Systems and methods for providing self-contained embedded storage providing data redundancy and automatic failover for a RAID system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a metadata RAID array module disposed for insertion in a metadata controller is disclosed. The array module may be configured to receive power and/or cooling from the metadata controller while providing RAID metadata functionality through an external interface. The external interface may be a Fibre channel interface.

METHOD FOR EXCHANGING VOLUMES IN A DISK ARRAY STORAGE DEVICE

L'invention permet d'assurer un équilibre du chargement des activités sur des dispositifs physiques à mémoire à disques magnétiques, grâce à un contrôle des opérations de lecture et d'écriture dans des blocs d'emplacements de mémoire compris dans ces dispositifs physiques à mémoires à disques magnétiques. Une liste de paires de blocs échangeables est développée en fonction de la taille et de la fonction. Les statistiques accumulées sur un intervalle sont ensuite utilisées pour obtenir des valeurs d'activité d'accès pour chaque bloc et pour chaque lecteur de disques physique, une analyse statistique permettant par ailleurs de sélectionner une paire de blocs. Après avoir effectué un contrôle destiné à déterminer tout effet défavorable provoqué par ce changement, on procède à l'échange afin de répartir plus équitablement le chargement sur différents dispositifs physiques à mémoires à disques magnétiques.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING SOFTWARE NETS USING AN ARRAY STRUCTURE

An improved method and apparatus for providing I/O operations. In particular, a particular I/O operation is programmed as a net in a matrix format (110). Upon initialization of the I/O subsystem, an intermediate representation of the net in matrix format is created (118). Subsequently, upon a running of the net operation, a complete version of the net matrix is created (124).

SCHEDULING STORAGE ACCESSES FOR RATE-GUARANTEED AND NON-RATE-GUARANTEED REQUESTS

L'invention concerne un système destiné à gérer des accès à la mémoire pour des trains de données multimédia en continu et des demandes de stockage à débit non garanti, pouvant comprendre une pluralité de demandeurs à débit garanti de trains multimédia et un ou plusieurs demandeurs à débit non garanti. L'invention peut également comprendre un ordonnanceur de disque. Cet ordonnanceur peut avoir une file d'attente à débit garanti destinée à mettre en file d'attente les demandes de stockage des demandeurs à débit garanti et une liste d'attente à débit non garanti destinée à mettre en file d'attente les demandes de stockage des demandeurs à débit non garanti. L'ordonnanceur peut également comprendre un programme d'affectation d'amplitude couplé à la liste d'attente à débit garanti et à la liste d'attente à débit non garanti, couplé à un système de stockage. Ce programme d'affectation d'amplitude peut être configuré pour allouer une amplitude du système de stockage entre la liste d'attente à ...

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RETRIEVING AND STORING MULTIMEDIA DATA

Requests are received for storing/retrieving and storing data from/to a plurality of storage devices (100). A processor (300) is designed for handling each request, based, e.g., upon the load of each processor. A request for retrieving data is forwarded directly from the designated processor to the storage device via a switch, (250). Responses from the storage devices are routed directly to the designated processor via the switch (250). The switch (250) independently routes the request for retrieving data and the responses between the storage devices (100) and the processor, based on information obtained by the processor. Data provided by a designated processor is stored on the storage devices (100) via a switch (250). The switch (250) independently routes the data to be stored directly from the designated processor to the storage devices (100), based on information created by the processor. Requests and responses are exchanged between the switch (250) and the storage devices (100) via ...

SCALABLE DEDUPLICATION OF STORED DATA

In a method and apparatus for scalable deduplication, a data set is partitioned into multiple logical partitions, where each partition can be deduplicated independently. Each data block of the data set is assigned to exactly one partition, so that any two or more data blocks that are duplicates of each are always be assigned to the same logical partition. A hash algorithm generates a fingerprint of each data block in the volume, and the fingerprints are subsequently used to detect possible duplicate data blocks as part of deduplication. In addition, the fingerprints are used to ensure that duplicate data blocks are sent to the same logical partition, prior to deduplication. A portion of the fingerprint of each data block is used as a partition identifier to determine the partition to which the data block should be assigned. Once blocks are assigned to partitions, deduplication can be done on partitions independently.

Migrating Data In Response to Changes In Hardware or Workloads At A Data Store

Embodiments are directed to modifying storage capacity within a data store and to modifying resiliency for a data store. In one scenario, a computer system receives a request to move data. The computer system may determine that data is to be moved from an allocation on one data store to a new allocation on another data store. The computer system may create a new allocation on the other data store, where the new allocation is configured to receive data from the first data store. The computer system then moves the data to the new allocation on the second data store as data I/O requests are received at the first data store. Data store access requests are synchronized with the data movement by directing the data store access requests to the first data store, to the second data store or to both data stores depending on the type of access request.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ARRAY-BASED DATA STORAGE AND SEARCH

Provided are computer devices and methods for effectively generating and updating a sorted array for quick data access. The array allocates more space than required by the elements it stores. In other words, the array leaves empty spaces between elements such that insertion of a new element only requires the shifting of a small number, or even none, of the existing elements in the array.

Method and apparatus for aggregating storage devices

A method and apparatus for aggregating storage devices is disclosed. A package for providing high density storage uses a carrier housing for holding multiple storage devices proximate to one another and aligned in a row, and an access device, coupled to the carrier housing, aggregates the physical addresses of the storage devices into logical addresses and making the logical addresses available over a connection.

Stored Data Allocation Method and Apparatus, and Storage System

In a method for allocating data to multiple disks for storage, a capability value of each of the multiple disks is obtained. The capability value is ratio of a performance indicator value of a disk to a maximum capacity value of the disk. A greatest capability value is identified from multiple capability value. Based on the greatest capability value and a maximum capacity value of each of the multiple disks, allocation shares of the multiple disks are determined. Based on the determined allocation shares, data is allocated for the multiple disks. Through the method, the overall storage performance of a storage system is improved.

METHOD, DEVICE, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR OVERWRITING DATA

Data overwriting techniques involve: comparing, based on a request for overwriting target data in a storage area to cover original data, a first compression ratio with a second compression ratio; in accordance with a determination that the first compression ratio is larger, compressing the target data into fragments at the first compression ratio; storing the fragments in segments in the storage area, the segments being previously used for storing corresponding fragments of the original data; and storing at least one padding data fragment in at least one free segment interleaved with the segments and/or free sectors in the segments. Accordingly, the overwritten data can be stored in the storage area in a continuous manner, while the write alignment requirement of the storage device can be satisfied, thereby saving the additional read overheads incurred by the write request and enhancing the write performance of the storage device.

Apparatus for reallocating logical to physical disk devices using a storage controller and method of the same

A storage controller calculates an access frequency of each logical disk; that is selects a first logical disk device of which the access frequency exceeds a first predetermined value, the first logical disk device being allocated to a first physical disk device; selects a second logical disk device which has the access frequency equal to or less than a second predetermined value, the second logical disk device being allocated to a second physical disk device; and reallocates the first and second logical device; and reallocates the first and second logical devices to the second and the first physical disk device, respectively.

Method and system for placement of data on a storage device

Embodiments of systems and methods for a storage system are disclosed. More particularly, in certain embodiments locations of storage devices may be allocated to store data when commands pertaining to that data are received. Specifically, in one embodiment a distributed RAID system comprising a set of data banks may be provided where the different performance characteristics associated with different areas of disks in the data bank may be taken into account when allocating physical segments to corresponding logical segments of a volume by allocating certain physical segments to a particular logical segment based upon a location of the physical segment or criteria associated with the logical segment.

Scheduling of i/o writes in a storage environment

A system and method for effectively scheduling read and write operations among a plurality of solid-state storage devices. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array comprises an I/O scheduler. The data storage controller is configured to receive requests targeted to the data storage medium, said requests including a first type of operation and a second type of operation. The controller is further configured to schedule requests of the first type for immediate processing by said plurality of storage devices, and queue requests of the second type for later processing by the plurality of storage devices. Operations of the first type may correspond to operations with an expected relatively low latency, and operations of the second type may correspond to operations with an expected relatively high latency.

Intra-device data protection in a raid array

A system and method for intra-device data protection in a RAID array. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array is configured to identify a unit of data stored in the data storage subsystem, wherein said unit of data is stored across at least a first storage device and a second storage device of the plurality of storage devices, each of the first storage device and the second storage device storing intra-device redundancy data corresponding to the unit of data; and change an amount of intra-device redundancy data corresponding to the unit of data on only the first storage device.

Method and system for distributing multiple storage devices to multiple tiers in a storage apparatus

A management system of a storage apparatus, which exercises control so as to arrange data in a storage device of a certain tier of multiple tiers, carries out a first tier definition process (a process for distributing multiple storage devices to multiple tiers based on respective storage device types of the multiple storage devices and type/tier information that denotes the corresponding relationship between multiple storage device types and multiple tiers). Subsequent to the first tier definition process, the management system acquires performance information denoting the performance of a storage device for each of the multiple storage devices. The management system carries out a second tier definition process (a process for distributing the multiple storage devices to the multiple tiers based on the performance information of multiple storage devices such that two or more storage devices of similar performance are distributed to the same tier).

Method of testing data storage devices and a gender therefor

A method of testing data storage devices, the method including virtualizing data storage spaces of N data storage devices to a single virtual storage space, wherein N is a natural number equal to or greater than two, and testing the N data storage devices by performing a testing sequence on the virtual storage space.

Storage apparatus and power control method

To enable power saving control by putting storage areas of the same attribute together in a specific RAID group in a storage apparatus that includes storage areas of different access patterns. The storage apparatus manages attributes of the RAID groups, which form a pool area, and attributes of the respective storage areas, based on an access log for each of the storage areas allocated to virtual volumes. The apparatus enables a power saving operation for each RAID group by putting the storage areas of each attribute together in a specific RAID group.

Virtual function boot in single-root and multi-root i/o virtualization environments

A method for virtual function boot in a system including a single-root I/O virtualization (SR-IOV) enabled server includes loading a PF driver of the PF of a storage adapter onto the server utilizing the virtual machine manager of the server; creating a plurality of virtual functions utilizing the PF driver, detecting each of the virtual functions on an interconnection bus, maintaining a boot list associated with the plurality of virtual functions, querying the storage adapter for the boot list utilizing a VMBIOS associated with the plurality of VMs, presenting the detected boot list to a VM boot manager of the VMM, and booting each of the plurality of virtual machines utilizing each of the virtual functions, wherein each VF of the plurality of VFs is assigned to a VM of the plurality of VMs via an interconnect passthrough between the VMM and the plurality of VMs.

Method and System for Initializing Storage in a Storage System

Embodiments of systems and methods for a high availability storage system are disclosed. More particularly, in certain embodiments desired locations of storage devices may be zeroed out during operation of the storage system and areas that have been zeroed out allocated to store data when commands pertaining to that data are received. Specifically, in one embodiment a distributed RAID system comprising a set of data banks may be provided where each data bank in the set of data banks may execute a background process which zeroes areas of the storage devices of the data bank. When a command pertaining to a logical location is received a zeroed area of the physical storage devices on the data bank may be allocated to store data associated with that logical location.

Data protection systems with multiple site replication

Systems and methods for replicating data from a first site to a second site remote from said first site are described. An embodiment includes storing compressed data on a hard disk appliance, reading said data without decompressing said data, sending said data over a wide-area-network (WAN) in a compressed state, and storing said data on a second hard disk appliance remote from said first hard disk appliance in its compressed state without performing an additional compression operation.

System and method for handling io to drives in a raid system

A system and method for handling IO to drives in a RAID system is described. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a multiple disk system with a predefined strip size. IO request with a logical block address is received for execution on the multiple disk system. A plurality of sub-IO requests with a sub-strip size is generated, where the sub-strip size is smaller than the strip size. The generated sub-IO commands are executed on the multiple disk system. In one embodiment, a cache line size substantially equal to the sub-strip size is assigned to process the IO request.

Shared-bandwidth multiple target remote copy

A computer management apparatus one embodiment includes a split component configured to split data into a plurality of data elements; a send component configured to send each one of the plurality of data elements to a different location selected from a plurality of locations in response to the split component splitting the data, wherein each data element is different; and a message component configured to send a message to each of the locations. A computer management apparatus in another embodiment includes a receive component configured to receive a first data element; an analyze component configured to recieve a message, wherein the message comprises an address of each of the further locations; and a send component configured to send the first data element to each of the further locations of the plurality of further locations in response to the analyze component determining the address of each of the further locations.

Media library monitoring system and method

Embodiments of methods and systems comprise collecting data associated with a library or library components and storing the collected data in repository. By collecting data associated with a library or library components and storing the collected data in a repository, the degradation of library components can be monitored and the reliability of library components determined, allowing unreliable components to be bypassed or replaced, enhancing the reliability of the library and preventing data loss.

Computer architectures using shared storage

A method includes providing a persistent common view of a virtual shared storage system. The virtual shared storage system includes a first shared storage system and a second shared storage system, and the persistent common view includes information associated with data and instructions stored at the first shared storage system and the second shared storage system. The method includes automatically updating the persistent common view to include third information associated with other data and other instructions stored at a third shared storage system in response to adding the third shared storage system to the virtual shared storage system.

Cascaded raid controller

A cascaded RAID controller includes a master RAID 1 controller having a control level and M slave RAID 1 controllers, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Each of the M+1 RAID 1 controllers is configured respectively to have three ports, including a primary port configured to communicate bi-directionally with computer hardware having a higher control level than that of the respective one of the M+1 RAID 1 controllers and including two secondary ports. The cascaded RAID controller is configured to provide connections to a total of M+2 memory devices, and configured to record the same information on each of the M+2 memory devices to create M+2 identical copies of the information. A process for initializing a cascaded RAID controller is also described.

Storage system and method for controlling the same

Optimum load distribution processing is selected and executed based on settings made by a user in consideration of load changes caused by load distribution in a plurality of asymmetric cores, by using: a controller having a plurality of cores, and configured to extract, for each LU, a pattern showing the relationship between a core having an LU ownership and a candidate core as an LU ownership change destination based on LU ownership management information; to measure, for each LU, the usage of a plurality of resources; to predicate, for each LU based on the measurement results, a change in the usage of the plurality of resources and overhead to be generated by transfer processing itself; to select, based on the respective prediction results, a pattern that matches the user's setting information; and to transfer the LU ownership to the core belonging to the selected pattern.

Systems and methods for performing storage operations in a computer network

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.

Storage apparatus and data processing method of the same

Comprises a memory control unit which transmits and receives data to and from respective interface control units in accordance with access requests and also controls access to the memory and a buffer which temporarily stores data smaller than 64 B, wherein the memory control unit, during access to the memory, if the processing data to be processed is 64 B, accesses the memory by using the processing data or, if the processing data is data smaller than 64 B, stores the data smaller than 64 B in the buffer, subsequently, if the address of the new processing data which became the processing data is sequential to the address of the data smaller than 64 B stored in the buffer, combines the new processing data and the data of the buffer and, on condition that the combined processing data is 64 B data, writes the combined processing data in the memory.

Hybrid system architecture for random access memory

Embodiments of the present invention provide a hybrid system architecture random access memory (RAM) such as Phase-Change RAM (PRAM), Magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) and/or Ferroelectric RAM (FRAM). Specifically, embodiments of this invention provide a hybrid RAID controller coupled to a system control board. Coupled to the hybrid RAID controller are a DDR RAID controller, a RAM RAID controller, and a HDD/Flash RAID controller. A DDR RAID control block is coupled to the DDR RAID controller and includes (among other things) a set of DDR memory disks. Further, a RAM control block is coupled to the RAM RAID controller and includes a set of RAM SSDs. Still yet, a HDD RAID control block is coupled to the HDD/Flash RAID controller and includes a set of HDD/Flash SSD Units.

Efficient connection management in a sas target

A method includes pre-configuring a hardware-implemented front-end of a storage device with multiple contexts of respective connections conducted between one or more hosts and the storage device. Storage commands, which are received in the storage device and are associated with the connections having the pre-configured contexts, are executed in a memory of the storage device using the hardware-implemented front-end. Upon identifying a storage command associated with a context that is not pre-configured in the hardware-implemented front-end, software of the storage device is triggered to configure the context in the hardware-implemented front-end, and the storage command is then executed using the hardware-implemented front-end in accordance with the context configured by the software.

Stride based free space management on compressed volumes

Compressed data is maintained in a plurality of strides of a redundant array of independent disks, wherein a stride is configurable to store a plurality of tracks. A request is received to write one or more tracks, and a determination is made as to whether all of the one or more tracks can be stored in one selected stride of the plurality of strides. In response to determining that all of the one or more tracks can be stored in the one selected stride, the one or more tracks are written in the one selected stride of the plurality of strides.

Distributed storage network including memory diversity

A dispersed storage (DS) unit a processing module and a plurality of hard drives. The processing module is operable to maintain states for at least some of the plurality of hard drives. The processing module is further operable to receive a memory access request regarding an encoded data slice and identify a hard drive of the plurality of hard drives based on the memory access request. The processing module is further operable to determine a state of the hard drive. When the hard drive is in a read state and the memory access request is a write request, the processing module is operable to queue the write request, change from the read state to a write state in accordance with a state transition process, and, when in the write state, perform the write request to store the encoded data slice in the hard drive.

System and method for optimized reclamation processing in a virtual tape library system

A storage management application determines that a source virtual tape requires reclamation, identifies all block addresses for active data of a source virtual tape and sorts the block addresses in an ascending order, identifies a target virtual tape which has sufficient free capacity to store the active data of said source virtual tape and the last written block address on said target virtual tape, and sends a command to the VTL-system instructing it to perform reclamation including information about said source and said target virtual tape, the sorted list of block addresses denoting active data on the source virtual tape and the starting block address on the target virtual tape. The reclamation logic references the active data host blocks of said source volume to said target virtual tape starting at said starting block address by just updating the host block to disk block mapping table.

Storage system that executes performance optimization that maintains redundancy

One storage area is selected from two or more storage areas of a high load physical storage device, a physical storage device with a lower load than that of the physical storage device is selected, and it is judged whether the redundancy according to the RAID level corresponding to the logical volume decreases when the data elements stored in the selected storage area are transferred to the selected low load physical storage device. If the result of this judgment is that the redundancy does not decrease, the data elements stored in the selected storage area are transferred to a buffer area of the selected low load physical storage device and the logical address space of the logical volume that corresponds to the selected storage area is associated with the buffer area.

Disk subsystem

A protocol controller disposed between switches in a fiber channel fabric switch circuit and disk drive units for converting a protocol to enable one-to-one connectivity established between controllers and disk drive units.

Identifying modified chunks in a data set for storage

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for identifying modified chunks in a data set for storage. Modifications are received to at least one of the chunks in the data set. A determination is made of at least one range of least one of the chunks including data affected by the modifications determination is made as to whether at least one chunk outside of the at least one range has changed. For each determined at least one chunk outside of the at least one range that has changed, a determination is made of at least one new chunk and a new digest of the at least one new chunk and information is added on the at least one new chunk and information to locate the new chunk in the data set.

Workload-distributing data replication system

A method for more effectively distributing the I/O workload in a data replication system is disclosed herein. In selected embodiments, such a method may include generating an I/O request and identifying a storage resource group associated with the I/O request. In the event the I/O request is associated with a first storage resource group, the I/O request may be directed to a first storage device and a copy of the I/O request may be mirrored from the first storage device to a second storage device. Alternatively, in the event the I/O request is associated with a second storage resource group, the I/O request may be directed to a second storage device and a copy of the I/O request may be mirrored from the second storage device to the first storage device.

Method and system for data migration in a distributed raid implementation

Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed provide a distributed RAID system comprising a set of data banks. More particularly, in certain embodiments of a distributed RAID system each data bank has a set of associated storage media and executes a similar distributed RAID application. The distributed RAID applications on each of the data banks coordinate among themselves to distribute and control data flow associated with implementing a level of RAID in conjunction with a volume stored on the associated storage media of the data banks. Migration of this volume, or a portion thereof, from one configuration to another configuration may be accomplished such that the volume, or the portion thereof, and corresponding redundancy data may be stored according to this second configuration.

Information system and data transfer method of information system

Availability of an information system including a storage apparatus and a host computer is improved. A host system includes a first storage apparatus provided with a first volume for storing data, and a second storage apparatus for storing the data sent from the first storage apparatus. In case of a failure occurring in the first storage apparatus, the host sends the data to be sent to the first storage apparatus to the second storage apparatus.

Systems and methods for storing parity groups

A system and method for dynamic redistribution of parity groups is described. The system and method for dynamic redistribution of parity groups operates on a computer storage system that includes a plurality of disk drives for storing parity groups. Each parity group includes storage blocks. The storage blocks include one or more data blocks and a parity block that is associated with the data blocks. Each of the storage blocks is stored on a separate disk drive such that no two storage blocks from a given parity set reside on the same disk drive. The computer system further includes a redistribution module to dynamically redistribute parity groups by combining some parity groups to improve storage efficiency.

Implementing storage adapter performance optimization with hardware chains to select performance path

A method and controller for implementing storage adapter performance optimization with a predefined chain of hardware operations configured to implement a particular performance path minimizing hardware and firmware interactions, and a design structure on which the subject controller circuit resides are provided. The controller includes a plurality of hardware engines; and a data store configured to store a plurality of control blocks selectively arranged in one of a plurality of predefined chains. Each predefined chain defines a sequence of operations. Each control block is designed to control a hardware operation in one of the plurality of hardware engines. A resource handle structure is configured to select a predefined chain based upon a particular characteristic of the system. Each predefined chain is configured to implement a particular performance path to maximize performance.

Writing of data of a first block size in a raid array that stores and mirrors data in a second block size

Data that is to be written is received, wherein the data is indicated in one or more blocks of a first block size. Each of the one or more blocks of the first block size is written in consecutive blocks of a second block size that is larger is size than the first block size, wherein each of the consecutive blocks of the second block size stores only one block of the first block size, and wherein each of the consecutive blocks of the second block size has empty space remaining, subsequent to the writing of each of the one or more blocks of the first block size. Filler data is written in the empty space remaining in each of the consecutive blocks of the second block size.

Transmission control device, memory control device, and plc including the transmission control device

A transmission control device in the present invention includes: a data storage memory in which data are written; a plurality of data copy memories into which the data written in the data storage memory are copied; an unread copy-memory selection unit that selects one of the data copy memories for which reading of data is not performed from among the data copy memories; a memory copy unit that copies the data written in the data storage memory into a data copy memory selected by the unread copy-memory selection unit; a read copy-memory selection unit that selects a data copy memory into which the memory copy unit copies data from among the data copy memories; and a data output unit that reads data from a data copy memory selected by the read copy-memory selection unit and outputs the read data to a transmission unit.

Implementing storage adapter performance optimization with enhanced resource pool allocation

A method and controller for implementing storage adapter performance optimization with enhanced resource pool allocation, and a design structure on which the subject controller circuit resides are provided. The controller includes a plurality of hardware engines; a processor, and a plurality of resource pools. A plurality of work queues is associated with the resource pools. The processor initializes a list of types, and the associated amount of pages for each allocate type. The hardware engines maintain a count of allocate types, specifying a type on each allocation and deallocation, and performing allocation from the resource pools for deadlock avoidance.

Storage system comprising microprocessor load distribution function

Among a plurality of microprocessors 12, 32, when the load on a microprocessor 12 which performs I/O task processing of received I/O requests is equal to or greater than a first load, the microprocessor assigns at least an I/O task portion of the I/O task processing to another microprocessor 12 or 32, and the other microprocessor 12 or 32 executes at least the I/O task portion. The I/O task portion is a task processing portion comprising cache control processing, comprising the securing in cache memory 20 of a cache area, which is one area in cache memory 20, for storage of data.

Storage device

A storage device includes: a temporary buffer for sequentially storing data configuring a file requested to be written for every reception from outside; a data writing means for immediately separating the data in the temporary buffer into mutually corresponding data portion and marker portion classified by preset criteria and storing into a data storing means in an associated state, and deleting from the temporary buffer; an unseparated data writing means for storing the data that cannot be separated into the data portion and the marker portion among the data in the temporary buffer, into an unseparated data storing means; and a re-separation processing means for separating the data in the unseparated data storing means into the data portion and the marker portion by preset criteria and storing into the data storing means with the data portion and the marker portion associated, and deleting from the unseparated data storing means.

Storage apparatus and storage apparatus management method

The overall processing function of a storage apparatus is improved by suitably migrating ownership. The storage apparatus comprises a plurality of microprocessors; a plurality of storage areas formed in a drive group configured from a plurality of physical drives; and a management unit which manages, as the microprocessors which possess ownership to the storage areas, the microprocessors which handle data I/Os to/from one or more storage areas among the plurality of storage areas, wherein the management unit detects variations in the processing loads of the plurality of microprocessors, selects a migration-source microprocessor which migrates the ownership and a migration-destination microprocessor which is the ownership migration destination on the basis of variations in the processing load, and determines whether to migrate the ownership on the basis of information on a usage status of resources of each of the storage areas to which the migration-source microprocessor possesses ownership.

Parallel block allocation for declustered logical disks

In a method for allocating space on a logical disk, a computer receives an allocation request to allocate a number of requested logical disk extents. The computer selects one of a first group having an array of logical disk extents and a second group having an array of logical disk extents. The computer selects a group having a number of free logical disk extents that is greater than or equal to the number of requested logical disk extents. The logical disk extents in the array of the first group and in the array of the second group correspond to disk blocks on a logical disk. The logical disk spans one or more physical random access disks. The computer locks the selected group to prevent allocating a logical disk extent other than in response to the allocation request.

Control device and control method

A control device includes a counter configured to count the number of files stored in a first volume having a data storage area to which an upper limit of the number of files which being stored in the data storage area is set; an interpreting unit configured to interpret an inclination to increase in a capacity of the files stored in the first volume upon the number of the files counted by the counter being greater than a particular number; and a volume controller configured to generate a second volume upon the interpreting unit interpreting the inclination as such that the capacity of the files increases by an amount greater than a particular amount within a certain time length.

Methods and apparatus for providing hypervisor level data services for server virtualization

A hypervisor virtual server system, including a plurality of virtual servers, a plurality of virtual disks that are read from and written to by the plurality of virtual servers, a physical disk, an I/O backend coupled with the physical disk and in communication with the plurality of virtual disks, which reads from and writes to the physical disk, a tapping driver in communication with the plurality of virtual servers, which intercepts I/O requests made by any one of said plurality of virtual servers to any one of said plurality of virtual disks, and a virtual data services appliance, in communication with the tapping driver, which receives the intercepted I/O write requests from the tapping driver, and that provides data services based thereon.

Storage apparatus, control apparatus, and data copying method

A determining unit selects one storage device each from storage devices of an external storage apparatus and storage devices of a storage apparatus to which the determining unit belongs. At this point, based on a copy request, the determining unit preferentially selects, within each of the external storage apparatus and the storage apparatus, a storage device including a larger number of logical volumes (LVs) which belong to copy unexecuted LV pairs compared to other storage devices therein. Further, the determining unit determines, as a copy execution target, a copy unexecuted LV pair in which a LV provided in one of the selected two storage devices is a copy source and a LV provided in the other storage device is a copy destination. A copy unit copies data stored in the copy source LV, which belongs to the determined LV pair, to the copy destination LV of the LV pair.

Network-capable raid controller for a semiconductor storage device

Embodiments of the present invention provide a network-capable RAID controller for a storage device of a serial attached small computer system interface/serial advanced technology attachment (PCI-Express) type that supports a low-speed data processing speed for a host. Specifically, embodiments of this invention provide a network-capable RAID controller coupled to one or more (i.e., a set of) semiconductor storage devices (SSDs). Among other components, the network-capable RAID controller comprises an input/output (I/O) controller coupled to a network interface. The network interface allows the network-capable RAID controller to communicate with an external network.

Disk array device and disk array device control method

A disk array device includes hard disks from which RAID groups are configured. Therein, a volume setting unit sets one or more used areas. A data check control unit determines, on the basis of the state into which the used areas have been set, which areas in the RAID groups are subject to a diagnosis. A data check execution unit that executes a cyclical diagnosis on the areas determined, by the data check control unit, to be those subject to a diagnosis.

Data storage architecture extension system and method

A data storage architecture extension (DAX) system and method that permits multiple disk drive storage elements to be logically daisy-chained to allow a single host bus adapter (HBA) to view the storage elements as one logical disk drive is disclosed. The system/method may be broadly described as comprising a pass-thru disk drive controller (PTDDC) further comprising a HBA port, a disk drive interface port, pass-thru input port, and a pass-thru output port. The PTDDC intercepts and translates the HBA port input to the requirements of an individual disk drive connected to the drive interface port. Each PTDDC may be daisy-chained to other PTDDCs to permit a plethora of disk drives to be associated with a given HBA, with the first PTDDC providing a presentation interface to the HBA integrating all disk drive storage connected to the PTDDCs. The system/method also permits RAID configuration of disk drives using one or more PTDDCs.

Storage system and data migration processing control method

The present invention appropriately processes a write command issued during data migration processing, and completes the data migration processing promptly. A copy control part 7 , in a case where write data targeted at a migration-source volume 3 A has been received from a host 2 during data migration processing, selects and executes one of a synchronous copy process 6 A and an asynchronous copy process 6 B based on either any one or multiple pieces of prescribed information 7 A through 7 D. This enables write command processing according to a process mode complying a storage system condition.

Data reproducing apparatus, content management method, program, and storage medium

A data reproducing apparatus comprises: a reproducing unit adapted to read out data from a plurality of recording media; a list generating unit adapted to generate a content list which describes storage location information in association with contents stored in the plurality of recording media; and a communication unit adapted to communicate with an external device and sending the content list to the external device, wherein the list generating unit checks if the contents stored in the plurality of recording media include identical contents, and if the identical contents are detected, the list generating unit generates the content list including information indicating that the storage location information of the identical contents are integrated.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING DATA BETWEEN DIFFERENT RAID DATA STORAGE TYPES FOR CURRENT DATA AND REPLAY DATA

The present disclosure relates to a data storage system including a RAID subsystem having a first and second type of RAID storage. A virtual volume configured to accept I/O is stored on the first type of RAID storage, and snapshots of the virtual volume are stored on the second type of RAID storage. A method of the present disclosure includes providing an active volume that accepts I/O and generating read-only snapshots of the volume. In certain embodiments, the active volume is converted to a snapshot. The active volume includes a first type of RAID storage, and the snapshots include a second type of RAID storage. The first type of RAID storage has a lower write penalty than the second type of RAID storage. In typical embodiments, the first type of RAID storage includes RAID 10 storage and the second type of RAID storage includes RAID 5 and/or RAID 6 storage. 1. A method for transferring data between data storage types of a RAID storage system comprising:providing an active volume of data storage space that accepts I/O; andgenerating a read-only snapshot of the active volume;wherein the active volume comprises a first type of RAID storage and the snapshot comprises a second type of RAID storage.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second type of RAID storage comprises at least one of RAID 5 or RAID 6 storage.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first type of RAID storage comprises RAID 10 storage.4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second type of RAID storage comprises at least one of RAID 5 or RAID 6 storage.5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a view volume of the read-only snapshot that may accept I/O.6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the view volume comprises a third type of RAID storage.7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the third type of RAID storage is the same as the first type of RAID storage.8. A method of transferring data between data storage types of a RAID storage system comprising:providing an active volume comprising a ...

OPTICAL DISK ARRAY DEVICE

When RAID is constructed by using optical disks of the same lot, there is a problem in that the reproduction error probability of the RAID may have local increases over the reproduction error probability within the optical disks. According to the present invention, among a plurality of optical disks constituting an optical disk array, the smallest logical sector number is assigned to mutually different physical sector numbers. As a result, data in the same stripe is allowed to be recorded to sectors at mutually different physical sector numbers of the plurality of optical disks, so that the probability of occurrence of read errors due to interferences of adjacent guide grooves and/or insufficient formation of guide grooves can be leveled out, and the maximum probability of read errors can be kept small. 1. An optical disk array apparatus having a plurality of recording/reproduction devices for performing data recording and reproduction on an optical disk , the optical disk array apparatus comprisingan assignment section for assigning a smallest logical sector number of an optical disk mounted in one of the plurality of recording/reproduction devices to a physical sector number that is different from a physical sector number to which a smallest logical sector number of an optical disk mounted in at least one of the other recording/reproduction devices is assigned,wherein the assignment section assigns smallest logical sector numbers of the respective optical disks mounted in the plurality of recording/reproduction devices to mutually different physical sector numbers.2. (canceled)3. The optical disk array apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a determination section for determining stampers used for producing the respective optical disks mounted in the plurality of recording/reproduction devices claim 1 , whereinthe assignment section assigns smallest logical sector numbers of optical disk sharing a same stamper to mutually different physical sector numbers.4. ...

Method and apparatus for allocating erasure coded data to disk storage

Allocation process that allows erasure coded data to be stored on any of a plurality of disk drives, in a pool of drives, so that the allocation is not tied to a fixed group of drives. Still further, the encoded data can be generated by any of multiple different erasure coding algorithms, where again storage of the encoded data is not restricted to a single group of drives based on the erasure algorithm being utilized to encode the data. In another embodiment, the encoded data can be “stacked” (aligned) on select drives to reduce the number of head seeks required to access the data. As a result of these improvements, the system can dynamically determine which one of multiple erasure coding algorithms to utilize for a given incoming data block, without being tied to one particular algorithm and one particular group of storage devices as in the prior art.

Storage apparatus and its control method

A controller for the storage apparatus: creates a second logical volume in a storage area provided by one or more storage devices; stores management information of a snapshot of a first logical volume, which is to be provided to a host computer, in the second logical volume; and reads the management information of a necessary snapshot from the second logical volume to a memory when needed, executes processing using the read management information, and returns the management information, which becomes no longer necessary, from the memory to the second logical volume. When reading the management information of the necessary snapshot from the second logical volume to the memory when needed, the controller changes the number of generations and address range of the snapshot of the management information to be read to the memory according to a generation and address of the snapshot whose management information is required.

Management system and management method of storage system that performs control based on required performance assigned to virtual volume

A storage system manages a pool to which multiple VVOLs (virtual logical volumes conforming to thin provisioning) are associated, assigns a real area (RA) from any tier in an available tier pattern associated with a write-destination VVOL to a write-destination virtual area (VA), and carries out a reassignment process for migrating data inside this RA to an RA of a different tier than the tier having this RA based on the access status of the RA assigned to the VA. A management system assumes that a specified tier has been removed from the available tier pattern of a target VVOL, predicts the performance of the target VVOL and all the other VVOL associated with the pool to which the target VVOL is associated, determines whether or not there is a VVOL for which the predicted performance is lower than a required performance, and when such a VVOL does not exist, instructs the storage system to remove the specified tier from the available tier pattern of the target VVOL.

Remote copy system and remote copy control method

A first storage system comprises a first RAID group comprising multiple first storage devices, which constitute the basis of a first logical volume. A second storage system comprises a second RAID group comprising multiple second storage devices, which constitute the basis of a second logical volume. The RAID configuration of the first RAID group and the RAID configuration of the second RAID group are the same, and the type of a compression/decompression function of the respective first storage devices and the type of a compression/decompression function of the respective second storage devices are the same. Compressed data is read from a first storage device without being decompressed with respect to the data inside a first logical volume, and the read compressed data is written to a second storage device, which is in the same location in RAID in the second RAID group as the location in RAID of this first storage device.

System and method for controlling sas expander to electronically connect to a raid card

In a method for controlling a SAS expander to electronically connect to a RAID card in an electronic device, a plurality of different types for RAID cards, and configuration parameters of the SAS expander corresponding to each type of the RAID cards are preset. Information of the RAID card is read if the SAS expander is electronically connected the RAID card. The method further determines whether the RAID card matches the SAS expander. If the RAID card does not match the SAS expander, the configuration parameters of the SAS expander corresponding to the RAID card is read, and the read configuration parameters and the read information of the RAID card are written into a firmware file in the storage system. The method further stores the firmware file into a flash memory of the SAS expander.

Management of Storage System Access Based on Client Performance and Cluser Health

In one embodiment, a method includes determining a previous client performance value in terms of a performance metric for a volume in a storage system. The previous client performance value is related to previous access for a client to the volume. Also, the storage system is storing data for a plurality of volumes where data for each of the plurality of volumes is striped substantially evenly across drives of the storage system. The method applies criteria to the previous performance value to determine a target performance value. Performance of the client with respect to access to the volume is regulated in terms of the performance metric based on the target performance value.

STORAGE SYSTEM AND DATA MANAGEMENT METHOD

A storage system and data management method is provided that improves the reliability and fault tolerance of the hard disks saving data utilizing an AOU function. A storage system comprises a first correlating section for correlating a plurality of RAID groups composed of a plurality of physical disks, and the pool region, a second correlating section for correlating the pool region and the storage regions of the virtual volumes, a first allocation section for allocating first data from the host apparatus to the first storage region of the first RAID group based on write requests from the host apparatus, and a second allocation section for distributing second data from the host apparatus at and allocating the second data to any storage regions of the RAID group, with the exception of the first storage region of the first RAID group allocated by the first allocation section, based on write requests. 1. A storage system comprising:a plurality of Redundant Array of Independent/Inexpensive Disks (RAID) groups created from a plurality of storage devices, the plurality of RAID groups including a first RAID group and a second RAID group;a controller providing a host virtual volume to which a host computer sends read/write requests, the controller configured to:manage a plurality of virtual volumes including a first virtual volume and a second virtual volume, the first virtual volume and the second virtual volume being a pair of mirror volumes related to the host virtual volume;allocate at least one of a plurality of storage regions provided from the first RAID group to a first virtual storage region of the first virtual volume according to a first write request to the host virtual volume from the host computer; andallocate at least one of a plurality of storage regions provided from the second RAID group to a second virtual storage region of the second virtual volume according to the first write request, so that a write data corresponding to the first virtual storage ...

Fast snapshots

A fast snapshot is configured to store a state of a computing environment at a point in time. The fast snapshot operation is performed by avoiding reference counts of one or more data units associated with the snapshot from being updated at a creation and a deletion time.

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TRIGGERING DATA MIGRATION

The present invention provides a method and device for triggering data migration; the method includes: a host receives a migration object and a target disk, and the migration object includes a specified file or a specified directory or data accessed by a specified application in a storage system; the host resolves a block address of the migration object; and the host sends a migration instruction to a disk array controller in the SAN storage system, to instruct the disk array controller to migrate the migration object from a source disk to the target disk according to the block address of the migration object. The host of the present invention instructs the disk array controller to carry out data migration, and resolves the block address of the migration object, so the storage system can achieve the objective of migrating specified data according to a user requirement. 1. A method for triggering data migration , comprising:receiving, by a host, a migration object and a target disk, and the migration object comprises data accessed by a specified application in a storage system, a specified file in the storage system or a specified directory in the storage system;resolving, by the host, a block address of the migration object; andsending, by the host, a migration instruction to a disk array controller in the storage system, to instruct the disk array controller to migrate the migration object from a source disk to the target disk according to the block address of the migration object.2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the migration instruction further comprises:instructing the disk array controller to migrate the migration object from a source disk to the target disk instantaneously or within specified time.3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an input output speed of the target disk is greater than an input output speed of the source disk.4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the migration object is data with an access frequency that reaches ...

Efficient garbage collection in a compressed journal file

A map corresponding to data blocks with overwritten compressed journal entries is configured. Weighted conditions for each of the overwritten compressed journal entries are calculated. The weighted conditions are arranged in the map from lowest to highest. One of the weighted conditions includes a biasing variable towards selecting data blocks having free space at an end of at least one associated record.

DEMOTING TRACKS FROM A FIRST CACHE TO A SECOND CACHE BY USING A STRIDE NUMBER ORDERING OF STRIDES IN THE SECOND CACHE TO CONSOLIDATE STRIDES IN THE SECOND CACHE

Information on strides configured in the second cache includes information indicating a number of valid tracks in the strides, wherein a stride has at least one of valid tracks and free tracks not including valid data. A determination is made of tracks to demote from the first cache. A first stride is formed including the determined tracks to demote. The tracks from the first stride are added to a second stride in the second cache that has no valid tracks. A target stride in the second cache is selected based on a stride most recently used to consolidate strides from at least two strides into one stride. Data from the valid tracks is copied from at least two source strides in the second cache to the target stride. 1. A method for managing data in a computer readable cache system comprising a first cache , a second cache , and a storage system comprised of storage devices , comprising:maintaining information on strides configured in the second cache, including information indicating a number of valid tracks in the strides, wherein a stride has at least one of valid tracks and free tracks not including valid data;determining tracks to demote from the first cache;forming a first stride including the determined tracks to demote;adding the tracks from the first stride to a second stride in the second cache that has no valid tracks;selecting a target stride in the second cache based on a stride most recently used to consolidate strides from at least two strides into one stride; andcopying data from the valid tracks from at least two source strides in the second cache to the target stride.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising;maintaining indication of a number of free strides having no valid tracks;determining whether the number of free strides is below a free stride threshold, wherein the operations of selecting a target stride and copying the data from the valid tracks from the at least two source strides is performed in response to determining that the number of ...

STORAGE SYSTEM PROVIDING VIRTUAL VOLUMES

Multiple storage area groups into which multiple storage areas provided by multiple storage devices are classified with reference to storage area attributes are managed. The multiple logical volumes to which, in accordance with a write request to at least one address included in multiple addresses in the logical volume, at least one storage area included in the multiple storage areas is allocated are provided. In accordance with the access condition of the at least one address in the logical volume, the data written to the at least one address by the write request is migrated from the at least one storage area included in one of the multiple storage area groups to at least one storage area in another storage area group included in the multiple storage area groups. 1. A storage system comprising:a plurality of pools, each of which includes a plurality of tiers corresponding to a plurality of RAID groups, wherein one of the tiers has higher performance than another of the tiers;a virtual volume being configured of multiple virtual pages to each of which an actual page in an allocation source tier is allocated in accordance with a write request, the allocation source tier being included in one of the pools associated to the virtual volume; anda controller which, if an I/O frequency to a virtual page is higher/lower than a threshold in a reallocation process, migrates a data element stored in a first source actual page allocated to the virtual page to a first destination actual page in a first destination tier included in the one of the pools, and allocates the first destination actual page to the virtual page instead of the first source actual page;wherein when the controller migrates actual pages allocated to the virtual volume from the one of the pools to another of the pools, the controller migrates a data element stored in a second source actual page in a second source tier included in the one of the pools to a second destination actual page in a second destination ...

Writing adjacent tracks to a stride, based on a comparison of a destaging of tracks to a defragmentation of the stride

Compressed data is maintained in a plurality of strides of a redundant array of independent disks, wherein a stride is configurable to store a plurality of tracks. A request is received to write one or more tracks. The one or more tracks are written to a selected stride of the plurality of strides, based on comparing the number of operations required to destage selected tracks from the selected stride to the number of operations required to defragment the compressed data in the selected stride.

STORAGE SYSTEM, STORAGE APPARATUS, AND OPTIMIZATION METHOD OF STORAGE AREAS OF STORAGE SYSTEM

This invention is intended for the purpose of providing the storage system, the storage apparatus, and the storage system by which, even if the storage areas allocated to the virtual volume are managed in management units set by the RAID group, overhead for parity calculation does not become excessive. This invention, by releasing a specific management unit not fully utilized for page allocation from allocation to the virtual volume and migrating the allocated pages belonging to this specific management unit to the other management unit, makes the storage areas of the specific management unit available for the write accesses for the other virtual volumes from the host computer. 1a storage device for storing write data associated with the write access;a controller for providing a plurality of virtual volumes to the computer, and allocating a storage area of the storage device to an area of each of the plurality of virtual volumes into which data is to be written from the computer;a first interface for connecting the computer;a second interface for connecting the storage device; anda control memory comprising first control information for logicalizing the storage area as a RAID group and forming a plurality of first logical areas according to a stripe of the RAID group, second control information for forming a plurality of second logical areas in the first logical area, and third control information for establishing a correspondence relationship between the plurality of first logical areas and the plurality of virtual volumes,wherein the controller comprises:a first processing unit for determining the first logical area corresponding to the virtual volume that received the write access, and allocating the second logical area belonging to the first logical area to an area of the virtual volume into which the data was written;a second processing unit for releasing the first logical area from its allocation to the virtual volume with which it is in the correspondence ...

Direct Memory Address for Solid-State Drives

A storage device is provided for direct memory access. A controller of the storage device performs a mapping of a window of memory addresses to a logical block addressing (LBA) range of the storage device. Responsive to receiving from a host a write request specifying a write address within the window of memory-addresses, the controller initializes a first memory buffer in the storage device and associates the first memory buffer with a first address range within the window of memory addresses such that the write address of the request is within the first address range. The controller writes to the first memory buffer based on the write address. Responsive to the buffer being full the controller persists contents of the first memory buffer to the storage device using logical block addressing based on the mapping. 125-. (canceled)26. A method for direct memory access in a storage device , the method comprising:performing a mapping of a window of memory addresses to a logical block addressing (LBA) range of the storage device;responsive to receiving from a host a write request specifying a write address within the window of memory addresses, initializing a first memory buffer in the storage device;associating the first memory buffer with a first address range within the window of memory addresses such that the write address of the request is within the first address range;writing to the first memory buffer based on the write address; andresponsive to the buffer being full, persisting contents of the first memory buffer to the storage device using logical block addressing based on the mapping,27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising:associating the first memory buffer with a first timer;responsive to writing to the first memory buffer, restarting the first timer; andresponsive to detecting expiration of the first timer, persisting contents of the first memory buffer to the storage device.28. The method of claim 26 , further comprising:responsive to receiving ...

Storage system for atomic write of one or more commands

Storage systems which allow atomic write operations, methods of operating thereof, and corresponding computer program products. By way of non-limiting example, a possible method includes: receiving indication of a transaction, where a plurality of blocks directed to at least one destination logical volume and relating to at least one command is to be written as an atomic write operation; generating a transaction identifier number for the transaction; enabling tracking of the transaction at least partly based on the transaction identifier number, including temporary location of any one of the plurality of blocks; accommodating at least one block of the plurality temporarily in the storage system; and upon receiving an indication that all blocks in the plurality have been successfully temporarily accommodated in the storage system, enabling data corresponding to the plurality of blocks to subsequently be stored in the at least destination logical volume and discontinuing tracking of the transaction.

SHAREABLE VIRTUAL NON-VOLATILE STORAGE DEVICE FOR A SERVER

Disclosed are a system, a method and/or an apparatus of a shareable virtual non-volatile storage device for a server. In one embodiment, the system includes a server, a storage array, a management processor, and a switching fabric. The storage array includes a storage device coupled with a controller associated with a shared driver to receive a data request from the server at a remote location from the storage array through the switch fabric via a communication link to direct the data request to the storage device coupled with it and transmit data to the server through the switch fabric. A virtual storage device is generated in the server to enable the server to share the shared driver in the storage array with other servers through the switch fabric between the server and the storage array. The server distributes the data across the storage devices through the shared driver. 1. A method of sharing storage device comprising:processing a data request received by a shared device in a storage array from a server that is at a remote location from the storage array through a communication link;routing the data request between the server and the shared device in the storage array;generating a virtual drive in the server to enable the server to share a shared storage device associated with the shared driver in the storage array with other servers through a switch fabric between the server and the storage array; androuting a set of storage data, through the communication link, between the shared storage device in the storage array and a set of data buffers in each of the servers.2. The method of sharing storage device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:bypassing a processor of the server when access the shared storage device in the storage array; anddistributing the storage data across the shared storage devices through the shared device.3. The method of sharing storage device as claimed in wherein the data request is routed from the server to the shared device in a ...

Content addressable stores based on sibling groups

A content addressable storage (CAS) system is provided in which each storage unit is assigned to one of a plurality of sibling groups. Each sibling group is assigned the entire hash space. Within each sibling group, the hash space is partitioned into hash segments which are assigned to the individual storage units that belong to the sibling group. Chunk retrieval requests are submitted to all sibling groups. Chunk storage requests are submitted to a single sibling group. The sibling group to which a storage request is submitted depends on whether any sibling group already stores the chunk, and which sibling groups are considered full.

STRIDE BASED FREE SPACE MANAGEMENT ON COMPRESSED VOLUMES

Compressed data is maintained in a plurality of strides of a redundant array of independent disks, wherein a stride is configurable to store a plurality of tracks. A request is received to write one or more tracks, and a determination is made as to whether all of the one or more tracks can be stored in one selected stride of the plurality of strides. In response to determining that all of the one or more tracks can be stored in the one selected stride, the one or more tracks are written in the one selected stride of the plurality of strides. 1. A method , comprising:maintaining, compressed data in a plurality of strides of a redundant array of independent disks, wherein a stride is configurable to store a plurality of tracks;receiving, a request to write one or more tracks;determining, whether all of the one or more tracks can be stored in one selected stride of the plurality of strides; andwriting the one or more tracks in the one selected stride of the plurality of strides, in response to determining that all of the one or more tracks can be stored in the one selected stride.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more tracks are written next to a sequentially adjacent track in the one selected stride claim 1 , wherein any two sequentially adjacent tracks are indexed consecutively.3. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:performing a reorganization of the plurality of strides in an attempt to accommodate the one or more tracks in a single stride, in response to determining that all of the one or more tracks cannot be stored in the one selected stride; andwriting the one or more tracks to the single stride, in response to the reorganization generating the single stride to accommodate the one or more tracks.4. The method of claim 3 , the method further comprising:distributing the one or more tracks to more than one stride, in response to the reorganization not being able to generate the single stride to accommodate the one or more tracks.5. The ...

RAID Array Transformation

Transforming an in-use RAID array from a first array configuration having a first parameter to a second array configuration having a second parameter while preserving the logical data structure. An extent reservation component and data migration component are provided for reading unmigrated data from an area of an array arranged according to the first array configuration and writing the data to an area of the array arranged according to the second array configuration using reserved extents to store first migrated data and using further extents to store second migrated data. A first I/O component for performing I/O according to the first array configuration on unmigrated data prior to its reading by the data migration component is provided along with a second I/O component for performing I/O according to the second array configuration on the first migrated data and the second migrated data after its writing by the data migration component. 1. A system for transforming an in-use RAID array from a first array configuration having at least a first parameter to a second array configuration having at least a second parameter while preserving a logical data structure of the in-use RAID array , comprising:an extent reservation component for reserving one or more reserved extents;a data migration component for reading unmigrated data from an area of the in-use RAID array arranged according to the first array configuration and writing the data to an area of the in-use RAID array arranged according to the second array configuration using the one or more reserved extents to store at least first migrated data and using one or more further extents to store at least second migrated data;a first I/O component for performing I/O operations according to the first array configuration on the unmigrated data prior to its reading by the data migration component; anda second I/O component for performing I/O operations according to the second array configuration on the at least first ...

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EXECUTION OF APPLICATIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH RAID

Systems and methods are disclosed which allow various applications which may utilize a RAID system (or other types of applications) to be executed on the same set of computing devices which implement that RAID system. More particularly, in certain embodiments a virtualization layer may be executed on a data bank. A set of desired application programs may be executed using this virtualization layer, where the context for each instance of the applications executing on the virtualization layer may be stored in a volume kept utilizing the RAID system. 1 a processor;', 'a data store;', executing an application program on the computing device, wherein the application program is a virtual machine; and', 'implementing a RAID application in association with the computing device, the RAID application operable to:, 'a computer readable medium comprising instructions executable for, 'receive a command corresponding to a segment of a volume, wherein the command was issued by the application program and the volume and redundancy data corresponding to a RAID level implemented in conjunction with the volume are stored in association with the computing device; and', 'execute the first command with respect to the first segment stored in association with the computing device., 'a computing device coupled to a set of hosts, including. A system for implementing RAID, comprising: This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/914,559, entitled “Method and System for Execution of Applications in Conjunction with Distributed RAID” by inventors Galloway and Callison filed on Oct. 28, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/490,810, entitled “Method and System for Execution of Applications in Conjunction with Distributed RAID” by inventors Galloway and Callison filed on Jun. 24, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,219,750, issued Jul. 10, 2012, which in turn claims a benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to provisional patent application No. ...

DATA STORAGE SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE CONTROLLER MODULES

A data storage system includes a data storage module having at least a first I/O port and a second I/O port, a first controller module directly connected to the first I/O port, and a second controller module directly connected to the second I/O port. The second controller module is also in communication with the first controller module via a communication link, wherein the first and second controller modules are redundant controllers for the data storage module, and wherein, when the data storage module is controlled by the first controller module, the first controller module writes data to, or reads data from, the data storage module via a direct path to the first I/O port, and writes data to, or reads data from, the data storage module via an indirect path through the communication link and the second controller module to the second I/O port. 1. A data storage system , comprising:a data storage module having at least a first I/O port and a second I/O port;a first controller module directly connected to the first I/O port; anda second controller module directly connected to the second I/O port and in communication with the first controller module via a communication link, wherein the first controller module and the second controller module are redundant controllers for the data storage module;wherein, when the data storage module is controlled by the first controller module rather than by the second controller module, the first controller module writes data to, or reads data from, the data storage module via a direct path to the first I/O port, and writes data to, or reads data from, the data storage module via an indirect path through the communication link and the second controller module to the second I/O port.2. The data storage system of claim 1 , wherein the data storage module has at least one additional I/O port other than the first I/O port and the second I/O port claim 1 , and wherein each additional I/O port is directly connected to a controller module ...

System and Method for Mapping a Logical Drive Status to a Physical Drive Status for Multiple Storage Drives Having Different Storage Technologies within a Server

An information handling system includes a backplane, a storage drive, and a board management controller. The board management controller is configured to discover a physical drive status of the drive from a storage enclosure processor, to receive a logical drive status of the drive, to read a backplane bay identification for the drive from a peripheral connector interface express extender or serial attached small computer system interface chipset logical drive number, and to construct a routing table for the drive to map the logical drive status with the physical drive status of the drive. 1. An information handling system comprising:a backplane including a storage enclosure processor;a storage drive connected to the backplane;a software redundant array of independent disks controller connected to the backplane; anda board management controller in communication with the storage enclosure processor, with the storage drive, and with the software redundant array of independent disks controller, the board management controller configured to discover a physical drive status of the storage drive from the storage enclosure processor, to determine that the software redundant array of independent disks controller supports the storage technology of the storage drive, to receive a logical drive status of the storage drive, to correlate the logical drive status to the software redundant array of independent disks controller, and to construct a routing table for the storage drive to map the logical drive status with the physical drive status.2. The information handling system of wherein the board management controller is further configured to read a backplane bay identification for the storage drive from a peripheral connector interface express extender or serial attached small computer system interface chipset logical drive number.3. The information handling system of wherein the board management controller is further configured to detect a drive level write for the storage ...

STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

Optimum load distribution processing is selected and executed based on settings made by a user in consideration of load changes caused by load distribution in a plurality of asymmetric cores, by using: a controller having a plurality of cores, and configured to extract, for each LU, a pattern showing the relationship between a core having an LU ownership and a candidate core as an LU ownership change destination based on LU ownership management information; to measure, for each LU, the usage of a plurality of resources; to predicate, for each LU based on the measurement results, a change in the usage of the plurality of resources and overhead to be generated by transfer processing itself; to select, based on the respective prediction results, a pattern that matches the user's setting information; and to transfer the LU ownership to the core belonging to the selected pattern. 1a plurality of storage devices, wherein a plurality of logical units (LU) is configured in physical storage areas of the storage devices; anda plurality of controllers connected to each other via a bus, in which each of the controllers includes a plurality of processing cores in charge of input/output processing of input/output to/from the plurality of logical units (LU);wherein each processing core is configured to be in charge of input/output processing of input/output to/from a respective logical unit, to set the respective logical unit as an access object for a host computer and to control sending/receiving of data to/from one or more storage devices in association with read/write from/to the respective logical unit; andwherein each of the controllers is configured to:(a) extract, for each of the logical units, a plurality of possible LU ownership change patterns based on LU ownership management information, which defines correspondence relationships between the logical units and the processing cores having LU ownerships for the logical units, respectively, in that the correspondence ...

SLIDING-WINDOW MULTI-CLASS STRIPING

A sequence of storage devices of a data store may include one or more stripesets for storing data stripes of different lengths and of different types. Each data stripe may be stored in a prefix or other portion of a stripeset. Each data stripe may be identified by an array of addresses that identify each page of the data stripe on each included storage device. When a first storage device of a stripeset becomes full, the stripeset may be shifted by removing the full storage device from the stripeset, and adding a next storage device of the data store to the stripeset. A class variable may be associated with storage devices of a stripeset to identify the type of data that the stripeset can store. The class variable may be increased (or otherwise modified) when a computer stores data of a different class in the stripeset. 1. A method , comprising:associating a class variable with a corresponding storage device of a data store, the class variable indicating a store status of the corresponding storage device, the data store including a plurality of storage devices having associated class variables;enabling the class variable to be modified by a first computer that stores a data page in the corresponding storage device; andenabling the class variable to be reset by a second computer that erases data stored in the corresponding storage device.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said enabling the class variable to be modified by a first computer that stores a data page in the corresponding storage device comprises:receiving a request from the first computer to store the data page in the storage device, the request including a class indication;enabling the data page to be stored in a next available page slot of the storage device if the class indication has a first relationship with the class variable;enabling the data page to be stored in a next available page slot of the storage device and modifying the class variable if the class indication has a second relationship with ...

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING A MIRRORED STORAGE CONFIGURATION FOR A STORAGE ARRAY

An information handling system includes a plurality of storage enclosures, a plurality of logical storage units located in each storage enclosure, a controller connected to each of the plurality of logical storage units. The controller is configured to receive data regarding the plurality of logical storage units, and automatically execute an algorithm based on the received logical storage unit data to generate a mirrored storage configuration to be implemented, the mirrored storage configuration defining mirrored pairs of the plurality of logical storage units. 120-. (canceled)21. A method for automatically generating a mirrored storage configuration , comprising:establishing a data connection between a controller and each of a plurality of logical storage units located in multiple storage enclosures, each of the logical storage units located in an enclosure slot;separating the logical storage units into groups based on the established data connection between the controller and each of the logical storage units;sorting the logical storage units in each group based on a proximity of the enclosure slot of each of the logical storage units to the controller; and the established data connection between the controller and each of the logical storage units;', 'the groups of the logical storage units; and', 'the proximity of the logical storage units within the groups to the controller., 'determining mirrored pairs of the logical storage units based on22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising receiving from a user a selection of the group of logical storage units and a selection of a RAID level.23. The method of claim 21 , wherein determining mirrored pairs of the logical storage units comprises pairing logical storage units connected to the controller by different established connections.24. The method of claim 23 , wherein determining mirrored pairs of the logical storage units further comprises:after pairing logical storage units connected to the controller by ...

TWO STAGE CHECKSUMMED RAID STORAGE MODEL

A method for writing a logical data block to storage. The method includes receiving a request to write a logical data block to a storage pool, allocating a number of physical log blocks in a RAID log and a parity block for the logical data block, and writing the logical data block and the parity block to the physical log blocks. The number of the physical log blocks are less than a number of disks storing the RAID log. The method further includes allocating space in a physical slab block in a RAID slab for the logical data block, copying data including the logical data block to the space in the physical slab block, and updating, in the RAID slab, a check-sum corresponding to the physical slab block and a parity block that includes the data stripe having the physical slab block based on the data copied. 1. A method for writing a logical data block to storage , comprising:receiving a first request to write a logical data block to a storage pool;allocating a number of a first plurality of physical log blocks in a RAID log required to store the logical data block and a parity block for the logical data block, wherein the number of the first plurality of physical log blocks are less than a number of disks storing the RAID log;writing the logical data block and the parity block to the first plurality of physical log blocks in the RAID log;allocating space in a physical slab block in a RAID slab for the logical data block;copying data comprising the logical data block to the space in the physical slab block;updating, in the RAID slab, a checksum corresponding to the physical slab block based on the data copied to the physical slab blocks; andupdating, in the RAID slab, a parity block corresponding to a data stripe comprising the physical slab block based on the data copied to the physical slab block.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:calculating a checksum of the logical data block;receiving a second request to write a logical indirect block to the storage pool, ...

METHOD FOR REDUCING LATENCY OF ACCESSING DATA STORED IN A FILE SYSTEM ON A COMPUTER STORAGE DEVICE BY CACHING FILE SYSTEM PERMISSION INFORMATION IN THE COMPUTER STORAGE DEVICE

Systems and methods of storage device access are provided, where the operating system copies permission and mapping information to the storage array and/or to the application program's memory. The application program can then access the storage device without the operating system's intervention and the storage device will check whether the application has permission to access the data. As a result, in most cases, neither the operating system nor the file system needs to be invoked, and since both of them increase the amount of time required to access the data in the file system, considerable performance improvements are possible. 1. A method , comprising:allocating a channel for a process to access data in a memory array;issuing a system call to gain access to the data in the memory array via the allocated channel;installing a permission record of a file system extent associated with the data;receiving a command indicative of an operation to be performed by the process; andupon determining that the channel has permission to access a location associated with the data, performing the operation, and signaling completion of the command.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a virtual interface to the memory array.3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the virtual interface comprises:a privileged interface, the privileged interface comprising a set of control registers that allow a kernel to manage the channel and install the permission record; and a set of user registers used to access the data in the memory array;', 'a set of tags distinguishing between outstanding requests on the channel; and', 'a direct memory access buffer., 'an unprivileged interface, the unprivileged interface comprising4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the allocation of the channel comprises initializing a channel by opening a memory array file and memory mapping a plurality of pages into an address space of the memory array.5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pages ...

STORAGE SYSTEM

With a RAID group not configured from a plurality of storage devices, a storage area of a storage device is provided directly to a virtual volume instead of providing a logical volume inside the RAID group to the virtual volume. That is, the storage system, upon receiving a write request with respect to a virtual storage area, first, specifies a data redundancy configuration (the number of data partitions and the number of created parities) and a RAID level set to a virtual volume including this virtual storage area. The storage system selects storage devices in the numbers in accordance with the specified RAID level and redundancy configuration for this virtual storage area. The storage system selects, from among the selected storage devices, a storage area that is not allocated to any virtual storage area, and allocates this storage area to this virtual storage area. The storage system partitions the data and writes this data together with the parity to this allocated storage area. 1. A storage system coupled to a host apparatus , the storage system comprising:a controller; anda plurality of storage devices including a first type of storage devices and a second type of storage devices, an attribute of the first type of storage devices being different from an attribute of the second type of storage devices,the controller configured to:manage at least a pool including a plurality of real pages, each of which is included in one of the plurality of storage devices;provide a virtual volume to the host apparatus, the virtual volume including a plurality of virtual pages, to each of which a portion of the pool is allocated in accordance with a write command;distribute data written in a first virtual page to a first group of real pages, the first group of real pages being included in a portion of the pool allocated to the first virtual page, the first group of real pages making up a redundant array and being selected from different storage devices of the first type of ...

MEMORY MODULE VIRTUALIZATION

A memory system having a plurality of modules operated so that a group of memory modules may operation in a RAID configuration having an erase hiding property. The RAID groups are mapped to areas of memory in each of the memory modules of the RAID group. More than one RAID group may be mapped to a memory module and the erase operations of the RAID groups coordinated such that the erase operations do not overlap. This may improve the utilization of a bus over which the memory module communicates with the controller. Where a memory module is replaced by a memory module having an increased storage capacity, the additional storage capacity may be mapped to an expanded logical address space. 1. A system , comprising:a controller; anda plurality of memory modules in communication with the controller over a bus; manage the association of a global logical address space with a physical address space:', 'wherein each memory module has a physical address range and the global logical address range is mapped to a physical address range; the global logical address range being greater or equal to the sum of the physical address ranges; and', 'wherein when a memory module is replaced with a memory module having a larger physical address range, the additional physical address range is mapped to a previously unmapped range of the global logical address range., 'wherein the controller is configured to2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:configuring the memory modules to store data in a RAID stripe using erase hiding;wherein when a memory module of the memory modules of the RAID stripe is replaced with a memory module having a larger physical memory address range than the replaced memory module the additional physical memory address range in each replaced memory module is mapped to an unmapped logical address range in the global logical address range to create an expanded logical address space.3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:the controller operable to allocate a ...

RAID DATA STORAGE SYSTEM

A data storage system comprises at least one data storage module, each data storage module having at least a first I/O port and a second I/O port, wherein the data storage module includes a storage medium having at least a first pre-partitioned area and a second pre-partitioned area. The data storage system further comprises a first controller module, which is directly connected to the first I/O port of each data storage module to access the first pre-partitioned area of each data storage module, and a second controller module, which is directly connected to the second I/O port of each data storage module to access the second pre-partitioned area of each data storage module. 1. A data storage system , comprising:at least one data storage module, each data storage module having at least a first I/O port and a second I/O port, wherein the data storage module includes a storage medium having at least a first pre-partitioned area and a second pre-partitioned area;a first controller module, which is directly connected to the first I/O port of each data storage module to access the first pre-partitioned area of each data storage module; anda second controller module, which is directly connected to the second I/O port of each data storage module to access the second pre-partitioned area of each data storage module.2. The data storage system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data storage module is a plurality of data storage modules.3. The data storage system of claim 2 , wherein the first pre-partitioned area of each data storage module is the same size.4. The data storage system of claim 2 , wherein the first pre-partitioned area of each data storage module is the same size as the second pre-partitioned area of each data storage module.5. The data storage system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of data storage modules include a first number of the data storage modules claim 2 , wherein the first pre-partitioned area of the first number of data storage modules form a ...

MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

A memory device and a method of operating the same are provided. The memory device includes a control logic and a memory cell array. The control logic is configured to receive input information including a plurality of commands, a plurality of addresses, and priority information, and to change an execution sequence of the received commands of the input information according to the priority information. The memory cell array is configured to include a plurality of memory cells, and the memory device is configured to perform an operation on one or more memory cells based on the changed execution sequence. 1. A memory device comprising:a control logic configured to receive input information including a plurality of commands, a plurality of addresses, and priority information, and to change an execution sequence of the received commands of the input information according to the priority information; anda memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, the memory device configured to perform an operation on one or more memory cells based on the changed execution sequence.2. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the control logic comprises:a packet decoder configured to decode the input information received in a packet into the commands, the addresses, and the priority information;a command queue configured to store the commands, the addresses, and the priority information; andan arbiter configured to change the execution sequence of the commands according to the priority information and to transmit the commands and the addresses to the memory cell array based on the changed execution sequence.3. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the control logic further comprises:a bank state block configured to store a state of a bank defined in the memory cell array;a bank controller configured to read or update the state of the bank, which is stored in the bank state block, upon receiving a corresponding command and a corresponding address.4. The memory device of claim ...

Storage system and storage control method

A storage system includes a storage device having a command reordering function and a storage control apparatus that controls access to the storage device. Commands are issued to the storage device for reading or writing data. The storage control apparatus sets an upper limit to write data size or read data size specified in the commands during a predetermined period after a timeout of an issued command, so as to make it less likely for the storage device to postpone some of the issued commands.

INDICATION OF A DESTRUCTIVE WRITE VIA A NOTIFICATION FROM A DISK DRIVE THAT EMULATES BLOCKS OF A FIRST BLOCK SIZE WITHIN BLOCKS OF A SECOND BLOCK SIZE

A disk drive receives a request to write at least one block of a first block size, wherein the disk drive is configured to store blocks of a second block size that is larger in size than the first block size. The disk drive stores a. plurality of emulated blocks of the first block size in each block of the second block size. The disk drive generates a read error, in response to reading a selected block of the second block size in which the at least block of the first block size is to be written via, an emulation. The disk drive performs a destructive write of selected emulated blocks of the first block size that caused the read error to be generated. The disk drive writes the at least one block of the first block size in the selected block of the second block size. 1. A method comprising:performing, by a disk drive, a destructive write of selected emulated blocks of a first block size that causes a read error to be generated;writing, by the disk drive, at least one block of the first block size in a selected block of a second block size; andsending, by the disk drive, a notification to indicate the performing of the destructive write.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:the first block size is 512 bytes; andthe second block size is 4 Kilobytes.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification is sent asynchronously to a controller claim 1 , the method further comprising:maintaining, by the disk drive, an indicator that indicates those emulated blocks on which the destructive write is performed, wherein a request to write the at least one block of the first block size is satisfied, even in response to the read error being generated.4. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:receiving, by a controller, the notification sent by the disk drive; andrestoring, by the controller, data in the selected emulated blocks on which the destructive write was performed by the disk drive, by copying the data from mirrored data corresponding to the data in the selected ...

RAID MEMORY SYSTEM

A redundant array of inexpensive or independent disks (RAID) memory system comprises a nonvolatile memory device and a memory controller. The nonvolatile memory comprises a stripe block. The memory controller determines a value based on at least one of a program/erase (P/E) cycle and a read error frequency of the stripe block and determines whether to change a size of the stripe block based on the determined value. 1. A redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) memory system comprising:a nonvolatile memory device comprising a stripe block; anda memory controller configured to determine a value based on at least one of a program/erase (P/E) cycle and a read error frequency of the stripe block and determine whether to change a size of the stripe block based on the determined value.2. The RAID memory system of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller determines a reliability of data stored in the stripe block using the determined value claim 1 , and determines whether to change the size of the stripe block based on the determined reliability.3. The RAID memory system of claim 2 , wherein the memory controller determines whether to change the size of the stripe block based on the determined reliability and a degree to which the size of the stripe block is to be changed.4. The RAID memory system of claim 1 , wherein the stripe block comprises a first RAID parity and the memory controller generates a second RAID parity corresponding to the stripe block of the changed size.5. The RAID memory system of claim 4 , wherein a first number of RAID parity parities stored in the nonvolatile memory device before the change of size is different from a second number of RAID parity parities stored in the nonvolatile memory device after the change of size.6. The RAID memory system of claim 2 , wherein the size of the stripe block is reduced when the determined reliability is increased.7. The RAID memory system of claim 1 , wherein the nonvolatile memory device comprises a plurality of ...

Data transfer method and storage system adopting data transfer method

According to a prior art data transfer method of a storage subsystem, when competition of data transfer accesses occurs, a free access destination port is allocated uniformly without determining the access type or the access state of the access destination, so that the performance of the device is not enhanced. The present invention solves the problem by selecting a data transfer access for completing data transfer with priority based on the access type or the remaining transfer data quantity of competing data transfer accesses, or by changing the access destination of an access standby data transfer access, thereby performing data transfer efficiently.

Creating encrypted storage volumes

Methods and systems for thin provisioned storage. A storage array controller may materialize LUN extents, by filling extents with random data only as necessary at materialization time. Encryption software may recognize operation on a thin provisioned LUN having extents that are pre-filled and/or re-materialized on next use.

STORAGE CONTROL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME

A storage control system judges whether the data pattern of data exchanged with a higher-level device (hereafter “data”) conforms to one or a plurality of write-excluded data patterns comprised in write-excluded data pattern information prepared in advance. If a negative judgment result is obtained, the storage control subsystem stores the data in a logical device formed on a disk storage device. If, on the other hand, a positive judgment result is obtained, the storage control subsystem erases the data without storing in a logical device. 1. A storage system comprising:a plurality of storage devices; anda controller managing a primary logical unit and a secondary logical unit, the secondary logical unit to which a storage area in said plurality of storage devices is allocated on a predetermined size basis if needed,wherein when said controller performs data migration from said primary logical unit to said secondary logical unit, said controller checks each of a plurality of data stored in said primary logical unit on said predetermined size basis to determine whether any of said plurality of data conforms to a specific data pattern, and does not copy a first data which conforms to said specific data pattern to said secondary logical unit.2. A storage system according to the claim 1 , wherein said specific data pattern is all zero data.3. A storage system according to the claim 1 , wherein said controller does not allocate said storage area to said secondary logical unit to copy said first data to said secondary logical unit from said primary logical unit.4. A storage system according to the claim 1 ,wherein if a second data in said primary logical unit does not conform to said specific data pattern, said controller allocates said storage area in said plurality of storage devices to said secondary logical unit to copy said second data to said secondary logical unit.5. A storage system according to the claim 1 , wherein a storage area in said plurality of storage ...

TILED STORAGE ARRAY WITH SYSTOLIC MOVE-TO-FRONT ORGANIZATION

A tiled storage array provides reduction in access latency for frequently-accessed values by re-organizing to always move a requested value to a front-most storage element of array. The previous occupant of the front-most location is moved backward according to a systolic pulse, and the new occupant is moved forward according to the systolic pulse, preserving the uniqueness of the stored values within the array, and providing for multiple in-flight access requests within the array. The placement heuristic that moves the values according to the systolic pulse can be implemented by control logic within identical tiles, so that the placement heuristic moves the values according to the position of the tiles within the array. The movement of the values can be performed via only next-neighbor connections of adjacent tiles within the array. 1. A storage circuit , including:multiple storage tiles corresponding to a single level of storage access that provides for arbitrary access to any one of the multiple storage tiles, wherein values stored within the storage circuit are associated with unique corresponding ones of the multiple storage tiles, and wherein a particular one of the multiple storage tiles is a front-most tile having an interface connection at which responses to read access requests directed at any of the multiple storage tiles are provided to a requesting device from a storage within the front-most tile; andcontrol logic for accessing the values within the multiple storage tiles, wherein the control logic moves the values among the multiple storage tiles according to a placement heuristic in response to an access to one of the multiple storage tiles while maintaining the uniqueness of the values within the multiple storage tiles to move a requested value to the front-most tile, and wherein the control logic further moves the values among the multiple storage tiles according to a global clock, whereby multiple move-to-front operations are simultaneously ...

STATISTICAL WEAR LEVELING FOR NON-VOLATILE SYSTEM MEMORY

Statistical wear leveling is described that may be particularly useful for non-volatile system memory. In one embodiment, the invention includes a wear level move state machine to select an active block based on a wear criteria, to move the contents of the selected active block to a block from a free block list, and to move the selected active block to an unused block list, a free block list expansion state machine to take a block from a target free block list, to move the contents of the block to a block from the unused block list, and to move the block taken from the target block list to a free block list, and a target free block generation state machine to select blocks from the unused block list and to move the selected blocks to the target free block list. 1. A method comprising:assigning a system memory address to physical memory address of a first block of physical memory;counting an indication of a number of write operations to the first block of physical memory; the first block storing data from the write operations;comparing the counted indication to a threshold;if the counted number of write operations exceeds the threshold, then selecting a second block of physical memory;performing a wear leveling move of data stored in the first block to the selected second block;assigning the system memory address to the second block; andassigning the first block to a pool of unused blocks of physical memory.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a second block comprises selecting the second block from the pool of unused blocks.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a second block comprises selecting the second block from a pool of free blocks.4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising selecting claim 3 , as blocks for the pool of free blocks claim 3 , blocks from among blocks assigned to a system memory address and moving the contents to a block from the pool of unused blocks.5. The method of claim 4 , wherein selecting the blocks from among blocks ...

LUN MANAGEMENT WITH DISTRIBUTED RAID CONTROLLERS

A system and method is described for operating a computer memory system having a plurality of controllers capable of accessing a common set of memory modules. Access to the physical storage of the memory modules may be managed by configuration logical units (LUNs) addressable by the users. The amount of memory associated with each LUN may be managed in units of memory (LMA) from a same free LMA table maintained in each controller of the plurality of controllers. A request for maintenance of a LUN may be received from any user through any controller and results in the association of a free memory area with the LUN, and the remaining controllers perform the same operation. A test for misallocation of a free memory area is performed and when such misallocation occurs, the situation is corrected in accordance with a policy. 1. A method for managing a memory system , comprising:providing a plurality of controllers in communication with a plurality of memory modules; and 'wherein logical units are formed from free memory areas selected from the same pool.', 'maintaining, at a group of controllers of the plurality of controllers, a same pool of free memory areas of the plurality of memory modules'}2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:receiving a request for maintenance of a logical unit at a controller of the plurality of controllers;selecting a free memory area from the same pool of free memory areas and associating the free memory area with a logical unit;deleting the free memory area from the pool of free memory areas at the controller;requesting each of the other controllers of the group of controllers to assign the same free memory area from the pool of free memory areas to the logical unit being maintained; andreceiving a status or a success message from the other controllers.3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the other controllers of the group of controllers determines whether the requested same free memory area is in the pool of free memory areas ...

Storage system providing virtual volumes

Multiple storage area groups into which multiple storage areas provided by multiple storage devices are classified with reference to storage area attributes are managed. The multiple logical volumes to which, in accordance with a write request to at least one address included in multiple addresses in the logical volume, at least one storage area included in the multiple storage areas is allocated are provided. In accordance with the access condition of the at least one address in the logical volume, the data written to the at least one address by the write request is migrated from the at least one storage area included in one of the multiple storage area groups to at least one storage area in another storage area group included in the multiple storage area groups.

POWER MANAGEMENT IN A FLASH MEMORY

The peak power requirements for operations performed on a FLASH memory circuit vary substantially, with reading, writing and erasing requiring increasing levels of power. When the memory is operated to improve performance using erase hiding, the performance of write or erase operations where the time periods for such operations can overlap results in increased peak power requirements. Controlling the time periods during which modules of a RAID group are permitted to perform erase operations, with respect to other modules in other RAID groups may smooth out the requirements. In addition, such scheduling may lead to improved efficiency in using shared data buses. 1. A device comprising:a controller configured to operate a memory device, further comprising:a plurality of memory circuits, each memory circuit performing operations having at least a high power requirement and a low power requirement;a group of the plurality of memory circuits selected to form a RAID group having erase hiding;wherein two or more RAID groups configured such that a memory circuit performing a high power requirement operation in each RAID group is connected to power supply circuits such that the number of memory circuits performing overlapping high power operations and connected to a power supply circuit of the power supply circuits is limited.2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the high power operation is an erase or write operation performed by a FLASH memory circuit.3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the low power operation is a read operation performed by a FLASH memory circuit.4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the number of high power operations that completely overlap in time is limited.5. The device of claim 1 , wherein erase hiding comprises:configuring the controller to:write a stripe of data, including parity data for the data, to a group of memory circuits comprising a RAID group; andread the stripe of data from the RAID groupwherein an erase operation performed on a memory block ...

Storage system, control method thereof, and program

A RAID control unit forms a redundant configuration of RAID with respect to a physical device including a plurality of disk devices. A cache control unit processes data in page units corresponding to a stripe of the disk devices. A cache area placement unit, when it receives a write request from an upper-level device, places, in a cache memory, a cache area which is provided with a plurality of page areas and has the same size as the stripe area. When new data in the cache memory which is newer than the data in the physical device is to be written back to the storage device, a write-back processing unit generates new parity data by use of an unused area in the cache stripe area, and then writes the new data and the new parity to the corresponding storage devices.

CONVERTING LUNS INTO FILES OR FILES INTO LUNS IN REAL TIME

A LUN is provided that can store multiple datasets (e.g., data and/or applications, such as virtual machines stored as virtual hard drives). The LUN is partitioned into multiple partitions. One or more datasets may be stored in each partition. As a result, multiple datasets can be accessed through a single LUN, rather than through a number of LUNs proportional to the number of datasets. Furthermore, the datasets stored in the LUN may be pivoted. A second LUN may be generated that is dedicated to storing a dataset of the multiple datasets stored in the first LUN. The dataset is copied to the second LUN, and the second LUN is exposed to a host computer to enable the host computer to interact with the dataset. Still further, the dataset may be pivoted from the second LUN back to a partition of the first LUN. 1. A storage array controller , comprising:a logical unit number (LUN) allocator configured to expose a first LUN from a storage array to a first host computer;a pivot request receiver configured to receive a pivot request from the first host computer regarding a first partition of a plurality of partitions of the first LUN, the first partition storing a dataset of a plurality of datasets stored in the plurality of partitions;a LUN generator configured to generate a second LUN of the storage array to accommodate a pivot of the first LUN; anda partition copier configured to copy the first partition from the first LUN to the second LUN at a location of a second partition.2. The storage array controller of claim 1 , wherein the LUN generator is configured to:determine a size of the first partition in the first LUN;generate a partition table that indicates the location and a size for the second partition, the size of the second partition being greater than or equal to (≧) the determined first partition size;generate a second LUN of the storage array to have a size configured to accommodate a signature for the second LUN, the partition table, and the second partition; ...

SCHEDULING ACCESS REQUESTS FOR A MULTI-BANK LOW-LATENCY RANDOM READ MEMORY DEVICE

Described herein are method and apparatus for scheduling access requests for a multi-bank low-latency random read memory (LLRRM) device within a storage system. The LLRRM device comprising a plurality of memory banks, each bank being simultaneously and independently accessible. A queuing layer residing in storage system may allocate a plurality of request-queuing data structures (“queues”), each queue being assigned to a memory bank. The queuing layer may receive access requests for memory banks in the LLRRM device and store each received access request in the queue assigned to the requested memory bank. The queuing layer may then send, to the LLRRM device for processing, an access request from each request-queuing data structure in successive order. As such, requests sent to the LLRRM device will comprise requests that will be applied to each memory bank in successive order as well, thereby reducing access latencies of the LLRRM device. 1. A storage system for accessing data on a low-latency random read memory (LLRRM) device , the storage system comprising:the LLRRM device comprising a plurality of memory banks, each memory bank having an associated LLRRM address range; allocating a plurality of request-queuing data structures, each request-queuing data structure being assigned to a memory bank in the plurality of memory banks and being associated with the LLRRM address range of the assigned memory bank;', 'receiving a plurality of access requests at requested LLRRM addresses in the LLRRM device;', 'for each received access request, storing the access request in a request-queuing data structure; and', 'sending, to the LLRRM device, a series of access requests comprising an access request from each request-queuing data structure in successive order from a first request-queuing data structure to a last request-queuing data structure and continuing again from the first request-queuing data structure; and, 'a storage operating system engine configured fora serial ...

TARGET PATH SELECTION FOR STORAGE CONTROLLERS

A RAID controller attached to a storage network can detect the presence of multiple pathways to the same physical storage device. A path collection module can dynamically maintain all valid pathways to all attached storage devices. A path selection module can automatically and dynamically balance and rebalance desired paths to each storage device so as to simultaneously optimize data flow and provide continuity of I/O service throughout the attached storage network. 1. A redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller associated with a plurality of storage devices attached to said RAID controller , comprising:an initiator I/O module for receiving data storage commands;a plurality of target ports for communicating with said plurality of storage devices;a network discovery module configured to identify said storage devices;a storage device interface communicating with one or more of said storage devices;a RAID I/O module directing said data storage commands to said storage device interface;a path collection module maintaining a set of active target paths available to said storage devices;a path selection module operable to select desired target paths from one or more of said active target paths, wherein said path selection module is configured to automatically configure the desired target paths to individual storage devices as a function of characteristic parameters of said target paths; andwherein said RAID controller generates one or more storage device I/O requests to said storage devices using one of the desired target paths determined by said path selection module.2. The RAID controller of claim 1 , wherein said characteristic parameter is the number of available active target paths for each unique storage device.3. The RAID controller of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic parameter is the number of active target paths per target port.4. The RAID controller of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic parameter is the number of active target paths per ...

Memory systems and methods for controlling the timing of receiving read data

Embodiments of the present invention provide memory systems having a plurality of memory devices sharing an interface for the transmission of read data. A controller can identify consecutive read requests sent to different memory devices. To avoid data contention on the interface, for example, the controller can be configured to delay the time until read data corresponding to the second read request is placed on the interface.

Methods for managing failure of a solid state device in a caching storage

Techniques for managing caching use of a solid state device are disclosed. In some embodiments, the techniques may be realized as a method for managing caching use of a solid state device. Management of the caching use may include receiving, at a host device, notification of failure of a solid state device. In response to the notification a cache mode may be set to uncached. In uncached mode input/output (I/O) requests may be directed to uncached storage (e.g., disk).

Methods for managing ownership of redundant data and systems thereof

A storage system according to one embodiment includes logic integrated with and/or executable by a hardware processor, the logic being configured to: determine an ownership status for each of a plurality of instances of a file in a first storage tier and in a second storage tier of the storage system; determine locations of the instances of the file in the storage system; determine whether the instances of the file in the first storage tier are being accessed or not being accessed; and assign each of the instances of the file to one of a plurality of indices using the determined ownership status, location, and whether the instances are being accessed.

Storage system for restoring data stored in failed storage device

A storage system including: a controller; and, a plurality of physical storage devices coupled to the controller and constituting a RAID group; wherein the controller provides one or more logical volumes belonging to the RAID group, each of the one or more logical volumes having a plurality of storage areas; and one or more virtual volumes, wherein, when receiving a write request to a virtual volume of the one or more virtual volumes, the controller is configured to: allocate a storage area in a logical volume to the virtual volume, as an allocated storage area, where reliability of the storage area is used as a criterion in a selection of the storage area for allocation to the virtual volume; and write data to the allocated storage area, wherein, the controller is configured to selectively perform a RAID allocation process to a storage area allocated to a virtual volume.

CONTROLLING METHODS OF STORAGE CONTROL DEVICE AND VIRTUAL VOLUMES

The storage control device of this invention allocates the physical storage area in RAID groups to virtual volumes in units of chunks including multiple pages. 1. A storage system comprising:a storage pool including a plurality of first storage areas provided with a plurality of storage devices,a controller adapted to:manage a plurality of second storage areas in each of the plurality of first storage areas,provide a plurality of virtual volumes of a predetermined size to a computer, andallocate a particular first storage area in the storage pool exclusively to a first virtual volume of the plurality of virtual volumes, when a first write command from the computer to the first virtual volume is received,write data of the first write command to a second storage area of the plurality of second storage areas in the allocated particular first storage area, andreceive a second write command, which specifies a different address from an address specified by the first write command, from the computer to the first virtual volume and write data of the second write command to another second storage area of the plurality of second storage areas in the allocated particular first storage area.2. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein:the controller is adapted to release an allocation of a particular second storage area for reading data from a virtual storage area belonging to a plurality of virtual storage areas of the first virtual volume in a status that the particular first storage area is allocated to the first virtual volume.3. The storage system according to claim 2 , wherein:the controller is adapted to allocate another first storage area of the plurality of first storage areas to a second virtual volume, when another write command to the second virtual volume of the plurality of virtual volumes is received, so that data of the another write command are written to another second storage area of another plurality of second storage areas in the allocated another ...