TL;DR: In this article, the primary data storage subsystem assigns a virtual storage address to a specified backup version, and the host processor sends to the primary storage subsystem data access requests that specify the virtual storage addresses.
Abstract: A data storage system has a primary data storage subsystem including primary data storage and a secondary data storage subsystem including secondary data storage. The secondary data storage contains backup versions of data stored in the primary data storage. To permit a host processor to access a specified backup version, the primary data storage subsystem assigns a virtual storage address to a specified backup version, and the host processor sends to the primary data storage subsystem data access requests that specify the virtual storage address. If the primary data storage subsystem has spare data storage, then a copy of the specified backup version is read from the secondary storage and written into the spare storage, and the address of the copy in the spare storage is mapped to the virtual storage address and accessed in response to the storage access requests from the host processor. Otherwise, a block-level direct access of the secondary storage is performed to access the specified backup version. In either case, the backup version appears to be in the primary data storage subsystem when the host accesses it.
TL;DR: In this article, a storage device configuration manager is implemented in software for a computer system including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and at least one storage device coupled to a processor.
Abstract: A storage device configuration manager implemented in software for a computer system including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and at least one storage device coupled to the processor, can advantageously allow a user having relatively limited knowledge to configure storage devices for use with specific applications. The storage device configuration manager includes a user interface allowing for selecting, editing, deleting, and/or activating storage polices. The storage policies include information useful for configuring the storage device to operate efficiently with a particular application, or within a particular user environment. The information is used by a policy engine to configure the storage device, thereby reducing the knowledge and effort required by a user.
TL;DR: In this paper, a method and system for reducing storage requirements and speeding up storage operations by reducing the storage of redundant data includes receiving a request that identifies one or more data objects to which to apply a storage operation.
Abstract: A method and system for reducing storage requirements and speeding up storage operations by reducing the storage of redundant data includes receiving a request that identifies one or more data objects to which to apply a storage operation. For each data object, the storage system determines if the data object contains data that matches another data object to which the storage operation was previously applied. If the data objects do not match, then the storage system performs the storage operation in a usual manner. However, if the data objects do match, then the storage system may avoid performing the storage operation.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe a storage operation on electronic data in a network, where a media management component is selected to manage the storage operation and a network storage device is associated with the operation.
Abstract: Methods and systems are described for performing storage operations on electronic data in a network. In response to the initiation of a storage operation and according to a first set of selection logic, a media management component is selected to manage the storage operation. In response to the initiation of a storage operation and according to a second set of selection logic, a network storage device to associate with the storage operation. The selected media management component and the selected network storage device perform the storage operation on the electronic data.
TL;DR: In this article, the storage device may allocate logical capacity in the logical address space, which may exceed a physical storage capacity of the device, when there is sufficient unassigned and/or unallocated logical capacity to satisfy the request.
Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for allocating non-volatile storage. The storage device may present a logical address, which may exceed a physical storage capacity of the device. The storage device may allocate logical capacity in the logical address space. An allocation request may be allowed when there is sufficient unassigned and/or unallocated logical capacity to satisfy the request. Data may be stored on the non-volatile storage device by requesting physical storage capacity. A physical storage request, such as a storage request or physical storage reservation, when there is sufficient available physical storage capacity to satisfy the request. The device may maintain an index to associate logical identifiers (LIDs) in the logical address space with storage locations on the storage device. This index may be used to make logical capacity allocations and/or to manage physical storage space.