International Business Machines Corporation

Siverge Networks Ltd

Amit Margalit

Rivka Mayraz Matosevich

Zah Barzik

Nikolas Ioannou

Ioannis Koltsidas

Maxim Kalaev

Eran Tzabari

Eli Koren

Lior Chen

Eliran Zada

Ofer Leneman

Osnat Shasha

Yaacov Frank

Uzi Zangi

Dan Cohen

Ovadi Somech

Ovad Somech

Tomer Goldberg

Dan Ben-Yaacov

Kobi Beifus

Vadim Idelchuk

Tamar Shacked

A method, system, and computer program product for file system synchronization-based updating is provided. The method identifies an update request associated with a software update. Based on the update request, the method modifies one or more data object on a synchronization array. The modification to the data object corresponds to the software update of the update request. The method validates the modification to the one or more data objects to ensure a match between elements of the synchronization array. A persistent RAM state is established for an element of the synchronization array. The method initiates a reboot to complete the update request. The reboot applies the software update to one or more elements of the synchronization array.

File system synchronization-based updating

Interpolated search is provided for navigating a compressed file to identify a desired offset in an uncompressed version of the file by: determining a low point and a high point in an uncompressed version of a stream corresponding to a compressed version of the stream that is divided into a plurality of chunks; calculating an average compression ratio between the low point and the high point; interpolating a position in the compressed version of a desired offset in the uncompressed version to identify a bifurcation chunk of the plurality of chunks that includes the interpolated position; reading an offset of the bifurcation chunk; and in response to determining that the desired offset is within a threshold distance of the offset of the bifurcation chunk, decompressing the compressed version from the bifurcation chunk until the desired offset is output.

Interpolation search to find arbitrary offsets in a compressed stream

Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include identifying, in a storage system including multiple storage devices having respective sets of storage regions, respective default low storage region thresholds that are used for garbage collection. For each given storage region, a time threshold and an alternative low storage region threshold greater than the default low storage region threshold for the given storage device are defined. While processing input/output operations for each given storage device, a count of unused storage regions in the given storage device is maintained, a timer is initialized, and upon the timer matching the time threshold for the given storage device, a garbage collection operation is initiated. In some embodiments, processing the input/output operations includes using a log-structured array format.

Reducing concurrency of garbage collection operations

Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include defining multiple group names, and identifying multiple system objects in a computer system such as a storage system. Examples of system objects include physical objects such as storage devices, network objects such as IP addresses, and logical objects such as logical volumes. Each of the system devices is tagged with a given group name, and upon receiving a query including a condition and an operation, one or more of the system devices matching the condition are identified, and the operation is performed on the one or more identified system objects. In some embodiments, the operation may include retrieving a parameter associated with the one or more identified system objects, and presenting a result of the query. In alternative embodiments, the operation may include updating a parameter associated with the one or more identified system objects.

Tagging and querying system objects

Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include initializing multiple computing nodes to execute one or more software applications that provide a computing service, each of the computing nodes having a respective set of configuration data. Examples of the services include storage services, computational services and web service. Subsequent to deploying the multiple computing nodes as a software defined computing (SDC) cluster, an additional computing node is initialized using a given set of configuration data, and the additional computing node is added to the SDC cluster. In some embodiments, the additional node can be initialized and added to the SDC cluster in response to detecting a condition in the SDC cluster. In alternative embodiments, the additional node can be initialized and added to the SDC cluster in response to receiving a request to add an additional service to the SDC cluster.

Self-expanding software defined computing cluster

A mechanism is provided in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that are executed by the processor to specifically configure the processor to implement an initiator entity in a symmetric split-direction connection. The initiator entity generates a custom keepalive command and sends the custom keepalive command to a target entity via the symmetric split-direction connection. Responsive to the initiator entity determining a number of consecutive acknowledgement commands received in response to custom keepalive commands exceed a first threshold, the initiator entity reports the symmetric split-direction connection as sufficient. Responsive to the initiator entity determining a second number of consecutive keepalive commands sent without receiving an acknowledgement is greater than a second threshold, the initiator entity reports the symmetric split-direction connection as insufficient.

Symmetric connectivity over SCSI where the initiator and target are symmetric

A technique for supporting in-place updates in a data storage system includes in response to garbage collection for a logical block address (LBA) being indicated, determining whether an in-place update to the LBA is pending. In response to one or more in-place updates to the LBA being pending prior to the garbage collection for the LBA being indicated, the garbage collection for the LBA is initiated following completion of the one or more in-place updates to the LBA. In response to the one or more in-place updates to the LBA not being pending prior to the garbage collection for the LBA being indicated, the garbage collection for the LBA is completed prior to any subsequent in-place update to the LBA that occurs subsequent to initiation and prior to completion of the garbage collection for the LBA.

Techniques for supporting in-place updates with a log-structured array controller

Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include identifying, in a storage system including multiple storage devices having respective sets of storage regions, respective default low storage region thresholds that are used for garbage collection. For each given storage region, a time threshold and an alternative low storage region threshold greater than the default low storage region threshold for the given storage device are defined. While processing input/output operations for each given storage device, a count of unused storage regions in the given storage device is maintained, a timer is initialized, and upon the timer matching the time threshold for the given storage device and upon the count of unused storage regions being less than or equal to the alternative low storage region threshold, a garbage collection operation is initiated. In some embodiments, processing the input/output operations includes using a log-structured array format.

Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include collecting, from a software-defined storage system including one or more computing nodes that are configured to provide a storage service, performance metrics for each of the computing nodes, and detecting, based on the performance metrics, a performance bottleneck in the software-defined storage system. In embodiments of the present invention, each of the computing nodes includes one or more software modules and one or more hardware components, and the performance bottleneck is either a given software module or a given hardware component. In some embodiments, detecting the performance bottleneck includes predicting the performance bottleneck. Upon detecting the performance bottleneck, a solution for the performance bottleneck can be determined, and the performance bottleneck and the solution can be presented to a user on a display.

Software-defined storage system monitoring tool

Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include initializing, by a processor executing a file system in communication with a block manager managing multiple storage regions on a storage device, a file system write cache to have a default cache size, the default cache size corresponding to a first storage capacity of a default number of the storage regions. Upon detecting that a current number of the storage regions that are not in use by the block manager is less than the default number, the file system write cache is resized to a reduced cache size that corresponds to a second storage capacity of the current number of the storage regions. While the file system write cache has the reduced cache size, the file system write cache can be resized back to the default cache size as unused storage regions become available.

Dynamically controlling a file system write cache

A method and a utility to assist configuration of high complexity hierarchically and deeply channelized telecommunication systems using a network language configuration application program interface. The invented method and utility removes major complexity from the process of configuring such devices and systems by accepting a minimal high level description of the required configuration, including an input language used for defining rules and requirements.

Growing community of inventors

Hod-Hasharon, Israel

Amit Margalit