Lsi Corporation

Netapp, Inc.

Lsi Logic Corporation

Yanling Qi

Scott W Kirvan

Brian Dennis McKean

Somasundaram Krishnasamy

Robert Stankey

Jason Sherman

Joseph Moore

Satadal Bhattacharjee

Kevin Copas

Eric Stanton

Guy Martin

A method and system for synchronizing caches after reboot are described. In a cached environment, a host server stores a cache counter associated with the cache, which can be stored in the cache itself or in another permanent storage device. When data blocks are written to the cache, metadata for each data block is also written to the cache. This metadata includes a block counter based on a value of the cache counter. After a number of data operations are performed in the cache, the value of the cache counter is updated. Then, each data block is selectively updated based on a comparison of the value of the cache counter with a value of the block counter in the metadata for the corresponding data block.

System and method for synchronizing caches after reboot

The present invention is directed to a method and software for managing the host-to-volume mappings of a SAN storage system. The host-to-volume mappings of the SAN storage system are represented in mapping configuration components. The active mapping configuration component represents the current host-to-volume mapping for the SAN storage system. Only one mapping configuration component is active at a time. The host-to-volume mappings of the SAN storage system are changed by deactivating the active mapping configuration component and activating an inactive mapping configuration component that represents a different mapping configuration, effecting a repartition, repurpose, disaster recovery, or other business activity. This can be a scheduled task or performed in an on-demand manner. The mapping configuration components are managed and controlled through the management component of the SAN storage system.

Multiple instances of mapping configurations in a storage system or storage appliance

The present invention is directed to a method and software for managing the host-to-volume mappings of a SAN storage system. The host-to-volume mappings of the SAN storage system are represented in mapping configuration components. The active mapping configuration component represents the current host-to-volume mapping for the SAN storage system. Only one mapping configuration component is active at a time. The host-to-volume mappings of a SAN storage system are changed by deactivating the active mapping configuration component and activating an inactive mapping configuration component that represents a different mapping configuration, effecting a repartition, repurpose, disaster recovery, or other business activity. This can be a scheduled task or performed in an on-demand manner. The mapping configuration components are managed and controlled through the management component of the SAN storage system.

Systems and methods for management of replicated storage. Features and aspects hereof provide management of data replication among a plurality of storage systems in a manner substantially transparent to host systems attached to the storage systems. The storage systems are coupled to one another through a replication link. One storage systems is designated the primary storage system and all others are designated secondary storage systems. A common logical volume is defined with a common logical volume device identifier used by all of the replicating storage systems of a replication group and their respective attached host systems. The primary storage system processes I/O requests directed to the logical volume by accessing its physical storage volume and forwarding the request to be replicated to all secondary storage systems over the replication link. Secondary storage systems process I/O requests by shipping them over the replication link to the primary storage system for processing.

Methods and systems for improved storage replication management and service continuance in a computing enterprise

Methods and structure within a storage system for tuning performance of the storage system based on monitored block level access within the storage system. Block level access, either in cache memory or on the storage devices of the storage system, is monitored to detect patterns of access and/or data that correspond to an identified host system program. Based on the identified host system program, a profile of desired storage device configuration information is selected by the storage system. The profile comprises information identifying optimal configuration of a logical volume used by the corresponding host system program. Reconfiguration options are identified from the profile information and used either to automatically reconfigure the logical volume or are presented to a user to permit the user to select desired options from the reconfiguration options.

Methods and structure for tuning storage system performance based on detected patterns of block level usage

Methods and systems for managing a device in a Web Based Enterprise Management ('WBEM') environment. At least a management software component and a device management adapter are reused through receiving a network command from the management software component, and forwarding the network command to the device management adapter for conversion to a device message. The WBEM environment is supported by packaging the device message in a WBEM envelope, and transmitting the device message in the WBEM envelope to a computer system. The computer system comprises the device. Subsequently, a native command based on the device message is issued to the device.

Methods and systems for managing a device in a web based enterprise management environment

Disclosed is a method of controlling power. Multiple paths via multiple I/O ports couple a server to a storage array. When I/O loads are low, it is determined if an I/O port may be deactivated and placed in a power saving mode. An I/O port may not be deactivated if deactivating that I/O port will affect a high-availability requirement or a performance requirement. Requests are stopped from being sent to an I/O port to be deactivated. When the port to be deactivated becomes idle, the I/O port is placed in a power saving mode. When I/O loads increase to a point where it is necessary to reactivate the I/O port, the I/O port is activated.

Multipath power management

Methods and systems for support a unified Web Based Enterprise Management ('WBEM') solution is provided. A first processing element for generating first HTTP content data is provided such that a response to a non-Common Information Model ('CIM') request is based on the first HTTP content data. A second processing element for generating second HTTP content data is also provided such that another response to a CIM request is based on the second HTTP content data. At least one of the first processing element and the second processing element is accessible directly only from within the system to unify access to the two elements.

Unified support for web based enterprise management ('WBEM') solutions

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code are provided for managing dual active controllers in a high availability storage configuration. Redundant dual active controllers in high availability storage configurations are made to appear as individual storage target devices to a host system. Each controller owns certain volumes of data storage. When a host system sends a request to identify available data volumes, the controller that owns certain volumes provides preferred paths to those owned volumes. The host system may also send an inquiry to a controller that asks the controller about data volumes not owned by the controller. For such inquiries, no paths to the non-owned data volumes are returned to the host system.

Method for reporting redundant controllers as independent storage entities

Methods and systems for automatically identifying storage array modifications thereof. An interface device associated with a data-processing system and a storage array thereof can be automatically monitored in order to identify one or more command completion events associated with the interface device. Data indicative of the status of the interface device can then be automatically compiled in response to identifying the command completion even(s) as a result of automatically monitoring the interface device. Data indicating that the storage array has been modified can thereafter be generated if the data indicative of a status of the interface device is equivalent to a particular value.

Methods and systems for automatically identifying a modification to a storage array

Methods and systems for distributing I/O requests from a computer system to a storage system over multiple paths having non-homogeneous transfer speeds. A large I/O request is partitioned into a plurality of smaller I/O operations between a computer system and a storage system. The I/O operations are distributed over a plurality of communication paths coupling the computer system and the storage system. The distribution attempts to balance the load over the multiple paths based on the transfer speed of each path. In one embodiment, operations are distributed only to the highest speed paths presently operable. In another embodiment, an estimated completion time for an operation is determined for each path and a path with the lowest estimated completion time is selected to transfer the next operation.

Systems and methods for load balancing storage system requests in a multi-path environment based on transfer speed of the multiple paths

Disclosed is a system and method for transmitting computer data within a single computer system along more than one physical data path by providing a multiple-path driver that creates virtual (or non-physical) data paths without modifying the source code of the operating system. The system and method may be used with any computer hardware regardless of manufacturer. In one embodiment, a multiple-path driver may be used within a Linux operating system to create virtual data paths and transmit data between the upper-level drivers of the Linux system and at least one computer data storage device without modifying the Linux source code.

System and method of creating virtual data paths using a multiple-path driver

A persistent reservation emulation structure to emulate exclusive reservation SCSI-3 protocol features in a host system having multiple paths to a storage device. An enhanced multiple-path driver layer (or other processing elements) provide emulation of persistent reservation commands directed from a host system to a storage device. The driver does not forward exclusive type reservations to the storage device but rather emulates the desired exclusive operations on the systems behalf using only non-exclusive reservation types. The emulated reservation handling enables parallel use of multiple paths between a host system and a storage device to improve reliability and/or performance of the storage device.

Methods and structure for supporting persistent reservations in a multiple-path storage environment

Methods and associated structures for transparently mapping SCSI2 reservation protocol exchanges into corresponding SCSI3 reservation protocol exchanges. A mapping element may be operable within host systems that support SCSI2 reservation protocols. The mapping element intercepts and translates SCSI2 reservation exchanges into corresponding SCSI3 reservation protocol exchanges. The mapped exchanges may then be forwarded to a SCSI3 based storage subsystem to permit such an updated storage subsystem to appropriately interact with a cluster of host systems. The cluster of host systems may then be comprised of a heterogeneous mix of SCSI2 and SCSI3 based host applications.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Yanling Qi