Dot Hill Systems Corporation

Nexgen Storage, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Lsi Logic Corporation

Nextgen Storage, Inc.

Paul Andrew Ashmore

Sebastian Piotr Sobolewski

Kelly E Long

David Austin Gallant

Gene Maine

Ian Davies

Rex Weldon Vedder

Robert Bruce Nicholson

Victor Key Pecone

George Alexander Kalwitz

Simon Walsh

Charles Powell Morris

Dwight Oliver Lintz

Michael Huw Francis

Matthew John Fairhurst

Yuanru Frank Wang

Theresa Lynn Segura

Barry John Wood

Ian Robert Davies

The invention is directed to a primary data storage system for use in a computer network in which a network allows user computers to transfer data to/from the primary data storage system. In one embodiment, the primary data storage system allows an administrator of the computer network to define two or more volumes on the primary data storage system and define quality of service goals for each volume. The primary data storage system operates so as allocate resources within the primary data storage system to the volumes based upon criticality and performance goals specified for each of the volumes.

Primary data storage system with quality of service

The invention is directed to a primary data storage system for use in a computer network in which a network allows user computers to transfer data to/from the primary data storage system. In one embodiment, the primary data storage system implements a tiering strategy to move data between stores with different characteristics so as to match the characteristics of the data to the characteristics of one of the stores.

Primary data storage system with data tiering

Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for managing a journal. A method may include reordering storage commands based on different storage volumes associated with the storage commands. A method may include reordering storage commands based on different snapshots associated with the storage commands. A method may include adjusting a frequency of writing data from a write buffer based on a rate of write requests. A method may include adjusting a ratio of storage capacity for storing mirrored write data to storage capacity for storing non-mirrored read data.

Journal management

The invention is directed to a primary data storage system for use in a computer network in which a network allows user computers to transfer data to and/or from the primary data storage system. In one embodiment of the invention, the storage processor operates to analyze the data associated with write block commands that relate to different storage locations in a data store system that is associated with the primary data storage system so as to identify the potential writing of the block(s) of the same data to the data store system and prevent the writing of such blocks of data.

Primary data storage system with deduplication

A RAID controller is disclosed. The controller controls at least one redundant array of physical disks, receives I/O requests for the array from host computers, and responsively generates disk commands for each of the disks. Some commands specify host computer user data, and others specify internally generated redundancy data. The controller executes coalescer code that maintains the commands on a queue for each disk. Whenever a disk completes a command, the coalescer determines whether there are two or more commands on the disk's queue that have the same read/write type and specify adjacent locations on the disk, and if so, coalesces them into a single command, and issues the coalesced command to the disk. The coalescer immediately issues a received command, rather than queuing it, if the number of pending commands to the disk is less than a maximum command depth, which may be different for each disk.

Command-coalescing RAID controller

A data storage system with a controller that receives shock data from a shock detection sensor and methods utilizing such a controller are provided. The data storage system controller receives information or signals regarding shock events from a shock sensor, enabling the data storage system controller to take remedial action. The particular remedial action taken may be dependent on the severity of the detected shock event. The data storage system controller may receive information regarding shock events from shock sensors provided separately from the data storage system controller, allowing the data storage system controller to take remedial action that is tailored to the locale of a shock event.

Method and apparatus utilizing shock sensors on storage devices

A data storage system controller having a shock detection sensor and methods utilizing such a controller are provided. The data storage system controller receives information or signals regarding shock events from the associated shock sensor, enabling the data storage system controller to take remedial action. The particular remedial action taken may be dependent on the severity of the detected shock event. The data storage system controller may also receive information regarding shock events from shock sensors provided separately from the data storage system controller, allowing the data storage system controller to take remedial action that is tailored to the locale of a shock event.

Controller based shock detection for storage systems

A method and apparatus for obscuring data held on a storage device associated with a storage system controller are provided. Data is obscured by swapping bit values according to a scrambling key, before the unit of data is stored on the storage device. Furthermore, multiple swaps or translations of bit values can be performed in sequence on a single unit of data. In order to descramble a unit of data, the translations of bit values applied during scrambling are performed in reverse order. Alternatively or in addition, data can be obscured by scrambling the bit values of an address associated with a unit of data.

Method and apparatus for obscuring data on removable storage devices

Methods and systems for managing user access to a storage system controller are provided. In particular, user login requirements and permissions are administered, and individual user and external user interface pairs are tracked, through a user table and a session table established as part of the storage system controller. The external user interfaces may be interconnected to the storage system controller through different networks and/or protocols. User authentication and access levels are established with reference to a user table, while sessions for different user and external interface pairs are maintained in the session table.

Method and apparatus for external interface user session management in storage system controllers

A write-caching RAID controller includes a CPU that manages transfers of posted-write data from host computers to a volatile memory and transfers of the posted-write data from the volatile memory to a redundant array of storage devices when a main power source is supplying power to the RAID controller. A memory controller transfers the posted-write data received from the host computers to the volatile memory and transfers the posted-write data from the volatile memory for transfer to the redundant array of storage devices as managed by the CPU. The memory controller flushes the posted-write data from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory when main power fails, during which time capacitors provide power to the memory controller, volatile memory, and non-volatile memory, but not to the CPU, in order to reduce the energy storage requirements of the capacitors. During main power provision, the CPU programs the memory controller with information needed to perform the flush operation, such as the location and size of the posted-write data in the volatile memory and various flush operation characteristics.

Growing community of inventors

Longmont, CO, United States of America

Paul Andrew Ashmore