Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Taylor Alan Hope

Vinod R Shankar

Karan Mehra

Emanuel Paleologu

Justin Sing Tong Cheung

A computer system is configured to provision a plurality of storage volumes at a plurality of fault domains and thinly provision a plurality of cache volumes at the plurality of fault domains. The computer system is also configured to perform a write operation in a resilient manner that maintains a plurality of copies of data associated with the write operation. Performing the write operation in the resilient manner includes allocating a portion of storage in each of the plurality of cache volumes, and caching the data associated with the write operation in the portion of storage in each of the plurality of cache volumes. The cached data is then persistently stored in the plurality of storage volumes. After that, the portion of storage in each of the plurality of cache volumes is deallocated.

Dynamic storage resiliency

Data is identified that defines a known good state for a current operating system. The identified data includes read-only sets that are not updated during operation of the computing device, and modifiable sets that can be updated during operation of the computing device. The read-only sets are captured on an opportunistic basis and the modifiable sets are captured when the computing device is to be rebooted. A first and second virtual disk are allocated as snapshots of the identified data. The first virtual disk is updated to generate an updated state. The updates to the first virtual disk are isolated from the second virtual disk. The second virtual disk is maintained as an immutable snapshot of the identified data. In response to a failed reboot with the updated state, the computing device reverts to the known good state using the snapshot of the identified data.

Space snapshots

A data storage array is configured for m-way resiliency across a first plurality of storage nodes. The m-way resiliency causes the data storage array to direct each top-level write to at least m storage nodes within the first plurality, for committing data to a corresponding capacity region allocated on each storage node to which each write operation is directed. Based on the data storage array being configured for m-way resiliency, an extra-resilient cache is allocated across a second plurality of storage nodes comprising at least s storage nodes (where s&#x3e;m), including allocating a corresponding cache region on each of the second plurality for use by the extra-resilient cache. Based on determining that a particular top-level write has not been acknowledged by at least n of the first plurality of storage nodes (where n m), the particular top-level write is redirected to the extra-resilient cache.

Extra-resilient cache for resilient storage array

A virtual disk is instantiated as a representation of a storage volume. The virtual disk is configured with metadata corresponding to the storage volume. A storage stack is instantiated that is operable to provide an active I/O path to the storage volume. The storage stack is modified by adding an alternative I/O path to the virtual disk. The alternative I/O path includes a layout driver configured to manage a converted storage layout for the storage volume. The storage volume is encapsulated to the virtual disk. The active I/O path is closed and the alternative I/O path is enabled for I/O requests to the virtual disk. The storage layout of the storage device is converted without taking the storage volume offline.

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Taylor Alan Hope