Dell Products Inc.

Clearsky Data

Lazarus J Vekiarides

Daniel E Suman

Janice Ann Lacy

Gaurav Chawla

Jacob Cherian

Vasudevan Subramanian

G Paul Koning

Peter C Hayden

Paula Long

Hsin H Lee

Satyanarayana R Goluguri

Matthew Lee Domsch

Eric Robert Schott

Jason C Shamberger

Jason Cherian

Neil A Swinton

In an embodiment, a method can include storing a plurality of volumes on persistent media. A set of the volumes can store at least one portion of a same copy of data. The method can further include caching the set of the volumes as a single group. In an embodiment, the plurality of volumes can include at least one of drives, snapshots, clones and replicas.

Integrated page-sharing cache storing a single copy of data where the data is stored in two volumes and propagating changes to the data in the cache back to the two volumes via volume identifiers

A coordinating node acts as a write back cache, isolating local cache storage endpoints from latencies associated with accessing geographically remote cloud cache and storage resources.

Write back coordination node for cache latency correction

A coordinating node maintains globally consistent logical block address (LBA) metadata for a hierarchy of caches, which may be implemented in local and cloud based storage resources. Associated storage endpoints initially determine a hash associated with each access request, but forward the access request to the coordinating node to determine a unique discriminator for each hash.

Hash discriminator process for hierarchical cache system

A coordinating node creates virtual storage from a hierarchy of local and remote cache storage resources by maintaining global logical block address (LBA) metadata maps. A size of the metadata maps at each level of the hierarchy is independent of an amount of data allocated to a respective cache store at each level.

Decoupling data and metadata in hierarchical cache system

Systems and methods for providing an efficient partitioned resource server are disclosed. The partitioned resource server includes a plurality of individual servers, and the individual servers support a storage service. The systems and methods provide archiving processes for partitioned resources. To this end, the systems and process include a snapshot process operating on a server and capable of coordinating with other snapshot processes operating on the other servers for generating state information representative of the state of the partitioned resources.

Distributed snapshot process

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.

Creating encrypted storage volumes based on thin-provisioning mode information

A storage device coupled to a fabric includes a memory and a processor operable to receive, default domain information for a storage area network (SAN) from a management server coupled to the fabric. The default domain information including a list of host systems and a list of initiators on the SAN. The processor also sends the default domain information to a management station to configure a discovery domain including a host system selected from the list of host systems and an initiator selected from the list of initiators, receives the discovery domain from the management station, directs the management server to add the first discovery domain to a list of device domains implemented by the management server on the SAN, and directs the management server to enable the first discovery domain.

System and method for storage discovery in a storage area network using device domains under control of a storage device

A network of data processors for providing access to a resource, such as implemented a Storage Area Network that uses iSCSI and Microsoft MPIO-based network communication protocols. In preferred embodiments, the system or method uses (a) target-side consideration of MPIO disk structures, such as by having iSCSI initiators in from iSCSI targets via an iSCSI session object that is settable by a service action; and/or (b) uploading of routing tables from iSCSI targets to iSCSI initiator(s), such as to a Device Specific Module (DSM). Implementations may also involve, in a preferred embodiment: (1) requesting that the contents of the routing table be provided from the iSCSI target side storage servers to the iSCSI initiators, and using this as one of the factors influencing path selection as performed in the MPIO DSM on the initiator side; and/or (2) transmitting information from the iSCSI initiator to the iSCSI target storage server identifying connections as belonging to the same MPIO disk, and then receiving back from the iSCSI target storage server, information about the connections that should be created, and further then having a connection load balancer on the storage server handle those connections as related connections that need to be assigned each to a different Network Interface (NIC) on the storage servers.

Storage area network with target side recognition and routing table upload

A storage area network (SAN) includes a management server, a storage device, and a management station coupled to a fabric. The management server implements device domains on the SAN. The storage device instructs the management server to add new device domains on the SAN. The management station defines the new device domains to include the storage device and an initiator coupled to the fabric, and directs the storage device to instruct the management server to add the new device domains. A method includes coupling a management server to a SAN fabric, implementing device domains in the management server, defining a new device domain that includes a storage device and an initiator coupled to the SAN, and coupling a storage device to the SAN fabric, the storage device being operable to instruct the management server to add the new device domain.

Growing community of inventors

West Roxbury, MA, United States of America

Lazarus J Vekiarides