Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110289291 | CASCADE ORDERING - A system and a method of handling multiple backup processes have been provided. The method comprises receiving one or more instructions initiating a plurality of backup processes from a single source storage volume to a plurality of target storage volumes, adding each target storage volume to a cascade of target storage volumes from the source storage volume, the target storage volumes added to the cascade in an order inversely proportional to the copy rate of the respective backup process, and starting each backup process in turn, the backup processes started in an order from the most recent target storage volume added to cascade to the first target storage volume added to cascade. | 11-24-2011 |
20120260053 | CASCADE ORDERING - A method comprises receiving one or more instructions initiating a plurality of backup processes from a single source storage volume to a plurality of target storage volumes, adding each target storage volume to a cascade of target storage volumes from the source storage volume, the target storage volumes added to the cascade in an order inversely proportional to the copy rate of the respective backup process, and starting each backup process in turn, the backup processes started in an order from the most recent target storage volume added to cascade to the first target storage volume added to cascade. | 10-11-2012 |
20130080695 | RESTORE IN CASCADED COPY ENVIRONMENT - In one aspect of the present description, handling multiple backup processes comprises detecting that a defined storage volume is present in a first cascade of storage volumes; detecting that the defined storage volume is present in a second cascade of storage volumes; receiving a data write for a last storage volume in the first cascade of storage volumes; and performing a cleaning data write on the defined storage volume in the second cascade of storage volumes, wherein the cleaning data write corresponds to the received data write. Other aspects may be utilized, depending upon the particular application. | 03-28-2013 |
20130086342 | MAINTAINING MULTIPLE TARGET COPIES - Provided are techniques for maintaining instant virtual copies. A request to perform an instant virtual copy operation to create an instant virtual copy from a first volume to a new volume is received. It is determined that the first volume has not been modified since a last instant virtual copy operation has been performed. It is determined whether an intermediate volume and an intermediate map have already been created. In response to determining that the intermediate volume and the intermediate map have not already been created, the intermediate volume and the intermediate map are created, the intermediate volume is made dependent on the first volume in a dependency chain based on the intermediate map, and the new volume is made dependent on the intermediate volume in the dependency chain. | 04-04-2013 |
20130086343 | MAINTAINING MULTIPLE TARGET COPIES - Provided are techniques for maintaining instant virtual copies. A request to perform an instant virtual copy operation to create an instant virtual copy from a first volume to a new volume is received. It is determined that the first volume has not been modified since a last instant virtual copy operation has been performed. It is determined whether an intermediate volume and an intermediate map have already been created. In response to determining that the intermediate volume and the intermediate map have not already been created, the intermediate volume and the intermediate map are created, the intermediate volume is made dependent on the first volume in a dependency chain based on the intermediate map, and the new volume is made dependent on the intermediate volume in the dependency chain. | 04-04-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080307178 | DATA MIGRATION - The present invention provides for a method for managing the storage of data in a computing system that includes a data processor and local physical storage, involving the steps of: defining a virtual storage volume for access by the data processor, the data processor including a local storage pool mapped to the local physical storage and a remote storage pool mapped to physical storage at a remote site, and the virtual storage volume being overallocated with respect to the local storage pool; and migrating data between the local storage pool and the remote storage pool according to a defined migration policy. | 12-11-2008 |
20090077338 | Apparatus and Method for Managing Storage Systems - An apparatus for controlling a configuration change in a storage system having a plurality of storage appliances with an I/O handler local to each storage appliance for transmitting and receiving I/O requests. A local volume mapper local to each storage appliance maps storage local to the storage appliance; a remote volume mapper local to each storage appliance maps storage remote from the or each storage appliance; and a spanning host interface layer responsive to detection of the configuration change receives and redirects I/O requests among the plurality of storage appliances. | 03-19-2009 |
20130346710 | SOURCE CLEANING CASCADED VOLUMES - Various systems, processes, and products may be used to source clean cascaded volumes. In particular implementations, a system, process, and product for source cleaning cascaded volumes may include the ability to store a primary volume and a plurality of cascaded backup volumes. The system, process, and product may also include the ability to determine whether a write to one of the backup volumes is due to a background copy being made of another volume in the cascade and adjust a background copy indicator in a volume map for the backup volume if the write is due to a background copy and to determine whether a write to one of the backup volumes is due to a write to another volume in the cascade and adjust a write copy indicator in a volume map for the backup volume if the write is due to a write to another cascaded volume. | 12-26-2013 |
20130346711 | SOURCE CLEANING CASCADED VOLUMES - Various systems, processes, and products may be used to source clean cascaded volumes. In particular implementations, a system, process, and product may include the ability to store a number of cascaded backup volumes and prepare received writes for storage. The system, process, and product may also include the ability to examine a metadata set associated with a volume region for a write to determine whether another volume depends on the region and write the new data to the region if another volume is not dependent. The system, process, and product may further include the ability to determine whether a write is for a volume region that is a canonical source and, if so, decrement a reference count in a metadata set associated with the region and establish the volume of the region as a canonical source for a metadata set associated with a new metadata set location identifier. | 12-26-2013 |
20130346712 | SOURCE CLEANING CASCADED VOLUMES - Various systems, processes, and products may be used to source clean cascaded volumes. In particular implementations, a system, process, and product for source cleaning cascaded volumes may include the ability to store a primary volume and a plurality of cascaded backup volumes. The system, process, and product may also include the ability to determine whether a write to one of the backup volumes is due to a background copy being made of another volume in the cascade and adjust a background copy indicator in a volume map for the backup volume if the write is due to a background copy and to determine whether a write to one of the backup volumes is due to a write to another volume in the cascade and adjust a write copy indicator in a volume map for the backup volume if the write is due to a write to another cascaded volume. | 12-26-2013 |
20130346713 | SOURCE CLEANING CASCADED VOLUMES - Various systems, processes, and products may be used to source clean cascaded volumes. In particular implementations, a system, process, and product may include the ability to store a number of cascaded backup volumes and prepare received writes for storage. The system, process, and product may also include the ability to examine a metadata set associated with a volume region for a write to determine whether another volume depends on the region and write the new data to the region if another volume is not dependent. The system, process, and product may further include the ability to determine whether a write is for a volume region that is a canonical source and, if so, decrement a reference count in a metadata set associated with the region and establish the volume of the region as a canonical source for a metadata set associated with a new metadata set location identifier. | 12-26-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100070734 | Resource Reclamation in Data Storage - Managing resource reclamation in data storage systems is provided. A volume deletion metadata recorder records metadata for one or more deleted volumes. A policy engine, responsive to a predetermined policy rule, applies the policy rule to the metadata. The policy engine initiates policy-controlled data storage space reclamation for the one or more deleted volumes. A volume reclaimer, responsive to the policy engine, reclaims data storage space from the one or more deleted volumes. A resource allocator allocates the data storage space to satisfy a minimum requirement for available zeroed extents that comprise a minimum requirement to satisfy needs of late allocated storage volumes. | 03-18-2010 |
20100146204 | Stored Data Protection and Recovery - A mechanism is provided in a computing system for controlling virtualized storage operable to communicate with a host and with mapped and unmapped storage resource pools. A selection component selects a target for a destructive data storage operation from the mapped storage resource pool. Responsive to the selection of the target, a virtual targeting component creates a virtual target from the unmapped storage resource pool to represent the target. Responsive to the selection of the target, a storage move component moves the target to a protected storage resource pool. Responsive to the creation of the virtual target from the unmapped storage resource pool, storage move component, moves the virtual target to the used storage resource pool. The computing system then performs the destructive data storage operation on the virtual target. | 06-10-2010 |
20110208932 | FLASHCOPY HANDLING - A technique for handling a FlashCopy® process includes receiving a FlashCopy® instruction for a source disk, performing a FlashCopy® point in time copy of the source disk on to a target disk, creating a map specifying the FlashCopy® point in time copy from the source disk to the target disk, creating a primary fdisk for the source disk, if one does not already exist, and creating a primary fdisk for the target disk, if one does not already exist, or, if one does already exist, converting the existing primary fdisk for the target disk into a secondary fdisk, and creating a new primary fdisk for the target disk. | 08-25-2011 |
20110225124 | CREATING A BUFFER POINT-IN-TIME COPY RELATIONSHIP FOR A POINT-IN-TIME COPY FUNCTION EXECUTED TO CREATE A POINT-IN-TIME COPY RELATIONSHIP - Provided are a method, system, and computer program product for creating a buffer point-in-time copy relationship for a point-in-time copy function executed to create a point-in-time copy relationship. A point-in-time copy function is initiated to create a new point-in-time copy relationship from a source volume comprising a first volume to a target volume comprising a second volume. Detection is made that the target volume of the new point-in-time copy relationship is a source volume of a first pre-existing point-in-time copy relationship having as a target volume a third volume. Detection is also made that the target volume of the first pre-existing point-in-time copy relationship is a source volume of a second pre-existing point-in-time copy relationship having as a target volume a fourth volume. A buffer point-in-time copy relationship having a source volume comprising the target volume of the first pre-existing relationship and a target volume comprising a fifth volume is created in response to detecting that the target volume of the new point-in-time copy relationship is the source volume of the first pre-existing point-in-time copy relationship and the detected that the target volume of the first pre-existing point-in-time copy relationship is the source volume of the second pre-existing point-in-time copy relationship. | 09-15-2011 |
20110225380 | MULTIPLE BACKUP PROCESSES - Handling multiple backup processes comprises detecting that a defined storage volume is present in a first cascade of storage volumes, detecting that the defined storage volume is also present in a second cascade of storage volumes, receiving a data write for either the defined storage volume or the last storage volume in the first cascade of storage volumes, and performing a cleaning data write on the defined storage volume in the second cascade of storage volumes, the cleaning data write corresponding to the received data write. | 09-15-2011 |
20110296127 | MULTIPLE CASCADED BACKUP PROCESS - Provided are a method, system, and a computer program product handling a backup process. An instruction is received initiating a new backup from a source volume to a target volume using one of a plurality of backup processes. A determination is made as to whether there is a cascade of volumes using the backup process including the source volume of the new backup. The cascade includes a cascade source volume and at least one cascade target volume, and a write to a storage location in one of the cascade volumes causes a copying of the storage location to be written in the cascade source volume to each of the cascade target volumes in the cascade according to a cascade order in which the at least one cascade target volume and the cascade source volume are linked in the cascade. The cascade, using the backup process of the new backup already including the source volume of the new backup, is modified to include the target volume of the new backup in response to determining that there is the existing cascade. A new cascade using the backup process of the new backup including the source volume and the target volume of the new backup is created in response to determining that there is not the existing cascade. | 12-01-2011 |
20120226879 | FLASHCOPY HANDLING - A technique for handling a FlashCopy® process includes receiving a FlashCopy® instruction for a source disk, performing a FlashCopy® point in time copy of the source disk on to a target disk, creating a map specifying the FlashCopy® point in time copy from the source disk to the target disk, creating a primary fdisk for the source disk, if one does not already exist, and creating a primary fdisk for the target disk, if one does not already exist, or, if one does already exist, converting the existing primary fdisk for the target disk into a secondary fdisk, and creating a new primary fdisk for the target disk. | 09-06-2012 |
20120246427 | MULTIPLE CASCADED BACKUP PROCESS - Provided are a method, system, and a computer program product handling a backup process. An instruction initiates a new backup from a source volume to a target volume using one of a plurality of backup processes. A cascade includes a cascade source volume and at least one cascade target volume, and a write to a storage location in one of the cascade volumes causes a copying of the storage location to be written in the cascade source volume to each of the cascade target volumes in the cascade according to a cascade order in which the at least one cascade target volume and the cascade source volume are linked in the cascade. The cascade is modified to include the target volume of the new backup in response to determining that there is an existing cascade, else a new cascade using the backup process of the new backup is created. | 09-27-2012 |
20120254569 | CREATING A BUFFER POINT-IN-TIME COPY RELATIONSHIP FOR A POINT-IN-TIME COPY FUNCTION EXECUTED TO CREATE A POINT-IN-TIME COPY RELATIONSHIP - Provided are a method, system, and computer program product for creating a buffer point-in-time copy relationship. A point-in-time copy function is initiated to create a new point-in-time copy relationship from a source volume comprising a first volume to a target volume comprising a second volume. A buffer point-in-time copy relationship having a source volume comprising the target volume of the first pre-existing relationship and a target volume comprising a fifth volume is created in response to detecting that the target volume of the new point-in-time copy relationship is the source volume of a first pre-existing point-in-time copy relationship and detecting that the target volume of the first pre-existing point-in-time copy relationship is the source volume of a second pre-existing point-in-time copy relationship. | 10-04-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080215837 | Storage System With Multiple Copy Targeting and Disk Failure Protection - An apparatus is disclosed in which a storage controller cooperable with a host and a plurality of controlled storage is provided to localize an impact of a failure to a target disk in an affected segment. The storage controller includes a host write component to write a data object to a source image storage; a first copy component responsive to a first metadata state to control copying of the data object to a first target storage; a second copy component responsive to a second metadata state to perform either: copying the data object to a second target or causing the first copy component to copy the second target to the first target; and a third copy component to control cascaded copying of the data object to a third target storage. Either the second or the third copy component controls cascaded copying of a delimited data image subsequence responsive to a metadata state indicating currency of a data grain in either the second or the third target. | 09-04-2008 |
20100318757 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DATA BACKUP - A backup control apparatus for periodic data backup, in a virtualized storage system having a point-in-time copy function operable to copy first data into a cascade, comprises a storage targeting component for selecting a target virtual disk for one of a full copy or an incremental copy of the first data; a periodic backup component for triggering a periodic point-in-time copy of the first data to a virtual disk in the cascade; a testing component for testing a status of the full copy, the incremental copy and the periodic point-in-time copy; and a cascade splitting component responsive to the status for splitting the cascade to remove a dependency relationship of at least one of the full copy, the incremental copy and the periodic point-in-time copy on the first data. | 12-16-2010 |
20120221815 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DATA BACKUP - A targeting storage component selects a target virtual disk for one of a full copy or an incremental copy of first data. A periodic backup component triggers a periodic point-in-time copy of the first data to a virtual disk in the cascade. A testing component tests a status of the full copy, the incremental copy and the periodic point-in-time copy. Responsive to the status, a cascade splitting component splits the cascade to remove a dependency relationship of at least one of the fully copy, the incremental copy and the periodic point-in-time copy on the first data. | 08-30-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100036996 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CASCADED FLASHCOPY ZONING AND ALGORITHM AND/OR COMPUTER PROGRAM CODE AND METHOD IMPLEMENTING THE SAME. - A method of performing cascaded flashcopy (FC) including starting a flashcopy map when a target disk is already a source of an active FC map. A computer storage system includes a configuration that allows a flashcopy (FC) map to be started when a target disk is already the source of an active FC map. | 02-11-2010 |
20100088468 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING CLEANING OF MAPS IN FLASHCOPY CASCADES CONTAINING INCREMENTAL MAPS - A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code having programming instructions tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The programming instructions are operable to determine whether a target disk of a map contains data unavailable to a downstream disk from an upstream disk in a FlashCopy cascade and detect whether the downstream disk has a copy of the data. Additionally, the programming instructions are operable to copy the data from the target disk to the downstream disk, if the target disk of the map contains data unavailable to the downstream disk from the upstream disk and the downstream disk does not have the copy of the data. Furthermore, the programming instructions are operable to refrain from copying the data from the target disk to the downstream disk, if the target disk of the map does not contain data unavailable to the downstream disk from the upstream disk or the downstream disk does have the copy of the data. Moreover, the programming instructions are operable to remove the map from the FlashCopy cascade. | 04-08-2010 |
20120246426 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING CLEANING OF MAPS IN FLASHCOPY CASCADES CONTAINING INCREMENTAL MAPS - A method for optimizing cleaning of maps in FlashCopy cascades includes determining whether a target disk of a map contains data unavailable to a downstream disk from an upstream disk in a FlashCopy cascade and detect whether the downstream disk has a copy of the data. Additionally, the method includes copying the data from the target disk to the downstream disk, if the target disk of the map contains data unavailable to the downstream disk from the upstream disk and the downstream disk does not have the copy of the data. Furthermore, the method includes copying the data from the target disk to the downstream disk, if the target disk of the map does not contain data unavailable to the downstream disk from the upstream disk or the downstream disk does have the copy of the data. Moreover, the method includes removing the map from the FlashCopy cascade. | 09-27-2012 |
20140189233 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING CLEANING OF MAPS IN FLASHCOPY CASCADES CONTAINING INCREMENTAL MAPS - A method for optimizing cleaning of maps in storage cascades includes determining whether a target disk of a map contains data unavailable to a downstream disk from an upstream disk in a cascade and detect whether the downstream disk has a copy of the data. Additionally, the method includes copying the data from the target disk to the downstream disk, if the target disk of the map contains data unavailable to the downstream disk from the upstream disk and the downstream disk does not have the copy of the data. Furthermore, the method includes copying the data from the target disk to the downstream disk, if the target disk of the map does not contain data unavailable to the downstream disk from the upstream disk or the downstream disk does have the copy of the data. Moreover, the method includes removing the map from the cascade. | 07-03-2014 |