Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080222377 | ACHIEVING DATA CONSISTENCY WITH POINT-IN-TIME COPY OPERATIONS IN A PARALLEL I/O ENVIRONMENT - A method for processing a point-in-time copy of data associated with a logical storage volume where the data to be copied is stored in a striped or parallelized fashion across more than one physical source volume. The method includes receiving a point-in-time copy command concerning a logical volume and distributing the point-in-time copy command in-band to each of the physical source volumes containing a portion of the striped data. The method also includes establishing a point-in-time copy relationship between each physical source volume and one of a corresponding set of multiple physical target volumes. The method further includes copying the data stored on each physical source volume to the corresponding physical target volume. The in-band copy command and the striped data may be distributed over I/O channels between a server and the physical storage and processed sequentially. | 09-11-2008 |
20080304489 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO SET THE SIGNALING RATE OF A NETWORK DISPOSED WITHIN AN INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM - A method is disclosed to set the speed of a network. The method supplies a network interconnected with a system controller and a plurality of switch domains, where each of those plurality of switch domains comprises one or more information storage devices and a switch domain controller, and sets by each of the plurality of switch domains a signaling rate for that switch domain. The method queries in-band by the system controller each of the plurality of switch domains for that switch domain's signaling rate, and provides in-band by each of the plurality of switch domains the signaling rate for that switch domain. The method provides in-band by the system controller to each of the plurality of switch domains a first speed selection command specifying a first network speed, and resets by each of the plurality of switch domains the signaling rate for that switch domain to the first network speed. | 12-11-2008 |
20090006904 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO CHECK DATA INTEGRITY WHEN HANDLING DATA - An apparatus and method to check integrity when handling data. The method provides a storage array which includes a plurality of sectors. The method defines (N) data state identifiers and (N) parity state identifiers. The method receives a command to handle data, where that command designates a target sector. The method determines the data state identifier assigned to the target sector, determines the parity state identifier assigned to the target sector, and compares the data state identifier and the parity state identifier. If the method determines that the data state identifier and the parity state identifier are the same, the method performs the command to handle data. Alternatively, if the method determines that the data state identifier and the parity state identifier differ, the method generates an error message. | 01-01-2009 |
20090055584 | DETECTION AND CORRECTION OF DROPPED WRITE ERRORS IN A DATA STORAGE SYSTEM - Method, system and computer program product are provided for detecting and correcting dropped writes in a storage system. Data and a checksum are written to a storage device, such as a RAID array. The state of the data is classified as being in a “new data, unconfirmed” state. The state of written data is periodically checked, such as with a timer. If the data is in the “new data, unconfirmed” state, it is checked for a dropped write. If a dropped write has occurred, the state of the data is changed to a “single dropped write confirmed” state and the dropped write error is preferably corrected. If no dropped write is detected, the state is changed to a “confirmed good” state. If the data was updated through a read-modified-write prior to being checked for a dropped write event, its state is changed to an “unquantifiable” state. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055688 | DETECTION AND CORRECTION OF DROPPED WRITE ERRORS IN A DATA STORAGE SYSTEM - Methods are provided for detecting and correcting dropped writes in a storage system. Data and a checksum are written to a storage device, such as a RAID array. The state of the data is classified as being in a “new data, unconfirmed” state. The state of written data is periodically checked, such as with a timer. If the data is in the “new data, unconfirmed” state, it is checked for a dropped write. If a dropped write has occurred, the state of the data is changed to a “single dropped write confirmed” state and the dropped write error is preferably corrected. If no dropped write is detected, the state is, changed to a “confirmed good” state. If the data was updated through a read-modified-write prior to being checked for a dropped write event, its state is changed to an “unquantifiable” state. | 02-26-2009 |
20090077414 | APPARATUS AND PROGRAM STORAGE DEVICE FOR PROVIDING TRIAD COPY OF STORAGE DATA - An apparatus and program storage device for maintaining data is provided that includes receiving primary data at a first node, receiving mirrored data from a second and third node at the first node, and mirroring data received at the first node to a second and third node. | 03-19-2009 |
20090102423 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO PROVIDE POWER TO BATTERY-BACKUP ASSEMBLIES DISPOSED IN AN INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM - A method to supply power to one or more battery-backup assemblies, wherein the method supplies a first controller, a second controller, a first battery-backup assembly, and a second battery-backup assembly. The method further supplies a power bus interconnected to the first controller, the second controller, the first battery-backup assembly, and the second battery-backup assembly, and a first power supply and a second power supply interconnected with the power bus. The method provides power to the first controller and to the second controller and to the first battery-backup assembly over a first period of time, and provides power to the first controller and to the second controller and to the second battery-backup assembly over a second period of time, where the first period of time differs from the second period of time. | 04-23-2009 |
20090147646 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO VISUALLY INDICATE THE STATUS OF A DATA STORAGE DEVICE - A data storage and retrieval system that comprises a data storage device is disclosed. The data storage and retrieval system further comprises a first LED, a second LED, a third LED, and a fourth LED, interconnected with the data storage device. The data storage device causes the first LED and the second LED to emit first light comprising a first color if the data storage device detects an internal failure. Alternatively, the storage device causes the third LED and the fourth LED to emit second light comprising a second color if the data storage device remains operative. | 06-11-2009 |
20100138677 | OPTIMIZATION OF DATA DISTRIBUTION AND POWER CONSUMPTION IN A DATA CENTER - The distribution of data among a plurality of data storage devices may be optimized, in one embodiment, by redistributing the data to move less-active data to lesser performing data storage devices and to move more-active data to higher performing data storage devices. Power consumption in the datacenter may be optimized by selectively reducing power to data storage devices to which less-active data, such as persistent data, has been moved. | 06-03-2010 |
20100251072 | DETECTION AND CORRECTION OF DROPPED WRITE ERRORS IN A DATA STORAGE SYSTEM - A RAID system is provided for detecting and correcting dropped writes in a storage system. Data and a checksum are written to a storage device, such as a RAID array. The state of the data is classified as being in a “new data, unconfirmed” state. The state of written data is periodically checked, such as with a timer. If the data is in the “new data, unconfirmed” state, it is checked for a dropped write. If a dropped write has occurred, the state of the data is changed to a “single dropped write confirmed” state and the dropped write error is preferably corrected. If no dropped write is detected, the state is changed to a “confirmed good” state. If the data was updated through a read-modified-write prior to being checked for a dropped write event, its state is changed to an “unquantifiable” state. | 09-30-2010 |
20120182641 | Hard Disk Drive Availability Following Transient Vibration - A method and computer program product for sending a data request from a host bus adapter logic processor to a hard disk drive, setting a standard time out period for receiving a reply from the hard disk drive, sensing vibration in the hard disk drive, sending a vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive to the host bus adapter logic processor in response to the sensed vibration exceeding a predetermined amount of vibration, and, in response to receiving the vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive, the host bus adapter logic processor establishing an extended time out period for receiving the reply. The rotational vibration sensor used by the hard disk drive for repositioning the read/write head may also be used to sense the vibration and form the basis for the vibration alert signal, such as a vibration error code. By extending the time out period during high vibration events, the hard disk drive can ride out the event without being tagged as having failed. Accordingly, the hard disk drive can then be available for use following the high vibration event. | 07-19-2012 |
20120311291 | SPACE RECLAMATION IN MULTI-LAYERED AND THIN PROVISIONED STORAGE SYSTEMS - An approach to efficient space reclamation in multi-layered thinly provisioned systems. A parent storage volume is thinly provisioned, and uses one or more child storage volumes that are also thinly provisioned for storage. A reclamation command sent to the device providing the parent thinly provisioned storage volume identifies that data has been released, and that the physical storage storing that data can be placed in a free pool and used to satisfy future write requests in the parent storage volume. An identify module identifies which child storage volumes supporting the parent storage volume are thinly provisioned. The data is released at the level of the parent storage volume, and the reclamation command is sent to the child storage volumes supporting the parent storage volume and that are themselves thinly provisioned. The storage is thus released by all affected thinly provisioned storage volumes, and not just the parent storage volume that received the reclamation command. | 12-06-2012 |
20120331224 | PRESERVING DATA AVAILABILITY AND I/O PERFORMANCE WHEN CREATING VIRTUAL RAID VOLUMES - A method for preserving data availability and I/O performance when creating a virtual RAID volume includes exposing a set of backend virtual volumes. The backend virtual volumes are implemented on a set of physical storage devices (e.g., physical disks or solid state drives) residing on a storage system. The method further enables selection of the set of backend virtual volumes to create a virtual RAID volume having a selected RAID level. The method further provides verification that the backend virtual volumes will be implemented on the physical storage devices in a way that preserves the data availability and I/O performance associated with the selected RAID level. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also described. | 12-27-2012 |
20120331225 | PRESERVING DATA AVAILABILITY AND I/O PERFORMANCE WHEN CREATING VIRTUAL RAID VOLUMES - A method for preserving data availability and I/O performance when creating a virtual RAID volume includes exposing a set of backend virtual volumes. The backend virtual volumes are implemented on a set of physical storage devices (e.g., physical disks or solid state drives) residing on a storage system. The method further enables selection of the set of backend virtual volumes to create a virtual RAID volume having a selected RAID level. The method further provides verification that the backend virtual volumes will be implemented on the physical storage devices in a way that preserves the data availability and I/O performance associated with the selected RAID level. | 12-27-2012 |
20130042049 | ENHANCED COPY-ON-WRITE OPERATION FOR SOLID STATE DRIVES - A method for increasing the efficiency of a “copy-on-write” operation performed on an SSD to extend the life of the SSD is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes receiving a first logical address specifying a logical location where new data should be written to an SSD. The first logical address maps to a first physical location, storing original data, on the SSD. The method further receives a second logical address specifying a logical location where the original data should be available on the SSD. The second logical address maps to a second physical location on the SSD. To efficiently perform the copy-on-write operation, the method writes the new data to a new physical location on the SSD, maps the first logical address to the new physical location, and maps the second logical address to the first physical location. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed. | 02-14-2013 |
20130067273 | Optimizing and Enhancing Performance for Parity Based Storage - A mechanism is provided for optimizing and enhancing performance for parity based storage, particularly redundant array of independent disk (RAID) storage. The mechanism optimizes a repetitive pattern write command for performance for storage configurations that require parity calculations. The mechanism eliminates the need for laborious parity calculations that are resource intensive and add to IO latency. For repetitive write commands that span across the full stripe of a RAID5 or similar volume, the mechanism calculates parity by looking at the pattern and the number of columns in the volume. The mechanism may avoid the XOR operation altogether for repetitive pattern write commands. The mechanism may enhance secure delete operations that use repetitive pattern write commands by eliminating data reliability operations like parity generation and writing altogether. | 03-14-2013 |
20130179637 | DATA STORAGE BACKUP WITH LESSENED CACHE POLLUTION - Control of the discard of data from cache during backup of the data. In a computer-implemented system comprising primary data storage; cache; backup data storage; and at least one processor, the processor is configured to identify data stored in the primary data storage for backup to the backup data storage, where the identified data is placed in the cache in the form of portions of the data, and where the portions of data are to be backed up from the cache to the backup storage. Upon backup of each portion of the identified data from the cache to the backup storage, the processor marks the backed up portion of the identified data for discard from the cache. Thus, the backed up data is discarded from the cache right away, lessening cache pollution. | 07-11-2013 |
20130282673 | PRESERVING REDUNDANCY IN DATA DEDUPLICATION SYSTEMS BY INDICATOR - Various embodiments for preserving data redundancy in a data deduplication system in a computing environment are provided. In one embodiment, a method for such preservation is disclosed. An indicator is configured. The indicator is provided with a selected data segment to be written through the data deduplication system to designate that the selected data segment must not be subject to a deduplication operation, such that repetitive data can be written stored on physical locations despite being identical. | 10-24-2013 |
20130282674 | PRESERVING REDUNDANCY IN DATA DEDUPLICATION SYSTEMS BY DESIGNATION OF VIRTUAL ADDRESS - Various embodiments for preserving data redundancy of identical data in a data deduplication system in a computing environment are provided. In one embodiment, a method for such preservation is disclosed. A selected range of virtual addresses of a virtual storage device in the computing environment is designated as not subject to a deduplication operation. Other system and computer program product embodiments are disclosed and provide related advantages. | 10-24-2013 |
20130282675 | PRESERVING REDUNDANCY IN DATA DEDUPLICATION SYSTEMS BY DESIGNATION OF VIRTUAL DEVICE - Various embodiments for preserving data redundancy in a data deduplication system in a computing environment are provided. In one embodiment, a method for such preservation is disclosed in a multi-device file system. At least one virtual device out of a volume set is designated as not subject to a deduplication operation. | 10-24-2013 |
20130283062 | PRESERVING REDUNDANCY IN DATA DEDUPLICATION SYSTEMS BY ENCRYPTION - Various embodiments for preserving data redundancy in a data deduplication system in a computing environment are provided. In one embodiment, a method for such preservation is disclosed. A selected data segment, to be written through the data deduplication system, is encrypted such that the selected data segment is not subject to a deduplication operation. | 10-24-2013 |
20130290598 | Reducing Power Consumption by Migration of Data within a Tiered Storage System - Mechanisms identify one or more first storage devices in a first tier of the tiered storage system that may be placed in a minimal power consumption state and identify one or more data segments stored on the one or more first storage devices that are most likely to be accessed during a period of time in which the one or more first storage devices are in the minimal power consumption state. The mechanisms migrate the one or more data segments to one or more second storage devices in one of the first tier or a second tier of the storage system and place the one or more first storage devices in the minimal power consumption state. Access requests to the one or more data segments are serviced by the one or more second storage devices while the one or more first storage devices are in the minimal power consumption state. | 10-31-2013 |
20130325801 | APPLICATION-CONTROLLED SUB-LUN LEVEL DATA MIGRATION - An application programming interface (API) is used to migrate, from a specified source LUN to a specified target LUN, at least one specified sub-LUN data chunk, the API functioning as an interface between a storage controller and an owning application. | 12-05-2013 |
20130325802 | APPLICATION-CONTROLLED SUB-LUN LEVEL DATA MIGRATION - An application programming interface (API), functioning as an interface between a storage controller and an owning application, is used to migrate, from a specified source LUN to a specified target LUN, at least one specified sub-LUN data chunk, the at least one specified sub-LUN data chunk having a predefined chunk size fixed by the storage controller. A specified total migration size is incrementally reduced by each completed migration of the at least one specified sub-LUN data chunk until the total migration size is zero and the migration is completed. | 12-05-2013 |
20130326183 | APPLICATION-CONTROLLED SUB-LUN LEVEL DATA MIGRATION - A source code-based specification is implemented for use as an interface between a storage controller and an owning application to migrate a specified size of data from physical storage behind the LUN to a new physical location. | 12-05-2013 |
20140068211 | CONVERTING A FIRST ADDRESS MAPPING FUNCTION FOR MAPPING ADDRESSES TO STORAGE LOCATIONS TO A SECOND ADDRESS MAPPING FUNCTION - Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for converting a first address mapping function for mapping addresses to storage locations to a second address mapping function. For each of a plurality of addresses allocated in the storage using the first address mapping function, a node is generated in the second address mapping function. Each node in the second address mapping function associates a logical address with a physical location for the logical address. A determination is made of addresses having unused space and storage space is freed for the determined addresses having the unused space. Indication is made in the second address mapping function that the storage space for the determined addresses has been freed. | 03-06-2014 |
20140359245 | I/O LATENCY AND IOPS PERFORMANCE IN THIN PROVISIONED VOLUMES - A storage system receives an anticipatory write command corresponding to a potential subsequent write command to be received by the storage system, wherein the anticipatory write command indicates an anticipated region of logical address space that may be written to by the potential subsequent write command. The storage system determines that physical storage is not allocated to the anticipated region of logical address space. The storage system allocates physical storage to the anticipated region of logical address space from a pool of available storage managed by the storage system. The storage system creates an association between the anticipated region of logical address space and the allocated physical storage in a virtual-to-physical mapping. | 12-04-2014 |
20150067281 | RESERVATION OF STORAGE SPACE FOR A THIN PROVISIONED VOLUME - For reserving storage space, a determination module determines if required storage space is available for a write in response to logical storage address for the write being unallocated. The logical storage address is a thin provisioned storage space. A reservation module reserves the required storage space for the write in response to determining that the required storage space is available. In addition, the reservation module may communicate an allocation success in response to determining the required storage space is available. The allocation success is communicated prior to allocating the required storage space. The reservation module may communicate a write failure in response to determining the required storage space is not available. | 03-05-2015 |