International Business Machines Corporation

Shah M R Islam

Sandeep R Patil

John Thomas Olson

Riyazahamad Moulasab Shiraguppi

Sasikanth Eda

Gandhi Sivakumar

Gregg Steven Lucas

Hiroshi Araki

Hiroyuki Miyoshi

A computing environment includes a home site and a cache site with nonhomogeneous thin-provisioned storage configurations. A file management system updates files stored at the cache site. Each updated file has an updated file size and a pre-update file size. When a resynchronization is needed between the cache site and the home site, for example due to an extended communication failure, the storage requirement changes for the updated files are calculated and a notification is sent to the home site. The notification identifies the updated files and the storage requirement changes. The home site sends a reply to the cache site. The reply identifies which files are approved for immediate processing. The cache site transfers resynchronization data for the approved files to the home site, and delays transferring resynchronization data for the unapproved files until subsequent replies from the home site indicate that the previously unapproved files are now approved.

File management in thin provisioning storage environments

A method, computer program product and/or system saves an original logical block in a file system and generates a first heatmap reflecting access operations on the original logical block. After taking of a file system snapshot, and receiving information that the original logical block is going to be revised, a second heatmap is generated, reflecting predicted access operations on the revised logical block. The second heatmap is based, at least in part, on the first heatmap. Selecting a physical storage location for the revised logical block is based on the second heatmap.

Snapshot management using heatmaps in a large capacity disk environment

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a list of applications that are anticipated to access a given data block within a time window with an anticipated future access count for each anticipated application. The method also includes determining that a block application access weight is greater than a block application access threshold, the block application access weight being based at least in part on the anticipated future access count for each anticipated application. The method further includes determining that a cache profile weight for the given data block is greater than zero contingent upon the block application access weight being greater than the block application access threshold. Moreover, the method includes sending the cache profile weight to a file system contingent upon the cache profile weight being greater than zero. Other methods, systems, and computer program products are described in accordance with more embodiments.

Multi-tier file storage management using file access and cache profile information

An apparatus for data replication is disclosed. A method and computer program product also perform the functions of the apparatus. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a read module configured to read into a communication buffer, from a persistent storage volume, a first file that is encrypted with file-level encryption without decrypting the first file. In certain embodiment, the apparatus also includes a write module configured to write data from a second file from the communication buffer, that is received from a source device and that is encrypted with file-level encryption, to the persistent storage volume without decrypting the second file.

Efficient data replication of an encrypted file system

One method includes assigning a pointer from multiple logical blocks to the same original physical block if the multiple logical blocks include the same data. The method further includes receiving a command to write data to the first logical block and determining if the first logical block is a frequently accessed logical block. If the first logical block is a frequently accessed logical block, ownership of the original physical block is assigned to the first logical block. If ownership is established, the method includes copying any data stored in the original physical block to a new physical block, assigning a pointer from a second logical block to the new physical block, and performing the write command on the original physical block. A system includes a processor for performing the above method. One computer program product includes computer code for performing the method described above.

Logical and physical block addressing for efficiently storing data to improve access speed in a data deduplication system

In one embodiment, a method for managing data includes determining that a cache access count for a given data block is greater than an average cache access count, receiving a list of active applications accessing the given data block with an anticipated access count for each active application, receiving a list of applications that are anticipated to access the given data block within a time window with an anticipated future access count for each anticipated application, determining that a block application access weight is greater than a block application access threshold, determining that a cache profile weight for the given data block is greater than zero, and sending the cache profile weight to a file system. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described according to more embodiments.

An apparatus, system, and computer readable medium are disclosed for booting a server from a shared storage system. The present invention teaches at least one server having at least one processor, a storage system having a plurality of storage drives and at least one boot volume corresponding to the at least one server, and a switch fabric having at least one switch; the switch fabric isolates boot traffic from storage traffic and enables communication between the server and the boot volume of the storage system. In some embodiments the switch fabric includes one or more partitionable switches that isolate boot traffic from storage traffic. The boot volumes may be a redundant array of storage devices. In certain embodiments, the present invention also includes devices external to the server, switch fabric, and storage system.

Apparatus, system, and computer readable medium for booting a server from a shared storage system

For limiting data loss due to ATI or ATE, an apparatus may include a storage module, a tracking module, and a refresh module. The storage module is configured to store a risk value for a tracked storage division. The risk value indicates a risk level of data loss for the tracked storage division. The tracked storage division is one of a plurality of storage divisions of a data storage device. The tracking module is configured to update the risk value to indicate a higher risk level based on a write to a physically proximal storage division. The physically proximal storage division is within an interference range of the tracked storage division. The tracking module is configured to reset the risk value based on a write to the tracked storage division. The refresh module is configured to refresh the tracked storage division based on the risk value meeting a threshold value.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Shah M R Islam