Abstract:
A multi-protocol storage appliance serves file and block protocol access to information stored on storage devices in an integrated manner for both network attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN) deployments. A storage operating system of the appliance implements a file system (320) that cooperates with novel virtualization modules to provide a virtualization system (300) that "virtualizes" the storage space provided by the devices. The file system provides volume management capabilities for use in block-based access to the information stored on the devices. The virtualization system (300) allows the file system to logically organize the information as named file (324), directory (326) and virtual disk storage objects (322, 328) to thereby provide an integrated NAS and SAN appliance approach to storage by enabling file-based access to the files and directories while further enabling block-based access to the virtual disks.
Abstract:
As seen in Figure 1, a storage virtualization selection technique "automates" a virtualization selection process to create virtual disk (vdisk) storage objects over a volume (150) & (160) of a file system implemented by a storage operating system (200) of a multi-protocol storage appliance (100). The file system provides a virtualization system that aggregates physical storage of a set of disks (130) or portions (e.g., extents) of disks into a pool of blocks that can be dynamically allocated to form a vdisk. The file system also provides reliability guarantees for the vdisks in accordance with its underlying architecture. That is, the file system organizes its storage within volumes created among the managed disks. The vdisk is thereafter created as a storage object within a volume and inherits the underlying reliability configuration associated with that volume.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for restoring a virtual disk (vdisk) in a data storage system as the vdisk was at an earlier time. Pointers are maintained to point to data represented by the vdisk. The pointers are saved to persistent storage at the earlier time. The data at the earlier time is maintained on the data storage device. A pointer pointing to data represented by the vdisk at a later time is compared with the pointers saved at the earlier time. If the pointer from the later time matches the pointer saved at the earlier time, keeping the pointer from the later time in the active file system. If the pointer from the later time does not match the pointers saved at the earlier time, copying a set of pointers associated with the pointer saved at the earlier time to the active file system.
Abstract:
A multi-protocol storage appliance serves file and block protocol access to information stored on storage devices in an integrated manner for both network attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN) deployments. A storage operating system of the appliance implements a file system (320) that cooperates with novel virtualization modules to provide a virtualization system (300) that “virtualizes” the storage space provided by the devices. The file system provides volume management capabilities for use in block-based access to the information stored on the devices. The virtualization system (300) allows the file system to logically organize the information as named file (324), directory (326) and virtual disk storage objects (322, 328) to thereby provide an integrated NAS and SAN appliance approach to storage by enabling file-based access to the files and directories while further enabling block-based access to the virtual disks.
Abstract:
A multi-protocol storage appliance serves file and block protocol access to information stored on storage devices in an integrated manner for both network attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN) deployments. A storage operating system of the appliance implements a file system (320) that cooperates with novel virtualization modules to provide a virtualization system (300) that ~virtualizes~ the storage space provided by the devices. The file system provides volume management capabilities for use in block-based access to the information stored on the devices. The virtualization system (300) allows the file system to logically organize the information as named file (324), directory (326) and virtual disk storage objects (322, 328) to thereby provide an integrated NAS and SAN appliance approach to storage by enabling file-based access to the files and directories while further enabling block-based access to the virtual disks.
Abstract:
A multi-protocol storage appliance serves file and block protocol access to information stored on storage devices in an integrated manner for both network attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN) deployments. A storage operating system of the appliance implements a file system that cooperates with novel virtualization modules to provide a virtualization system that “virtualizes” the storage space provided by the devices. Notably, the file system provides volume management capabilities for use in block-based access to the information stored on the devices. The virtualization system allows the file system to logically organize the information as named file, directory and virtual disk (vdisk) storage objects to thereby provide an integrated NAS and SAN appliance approach to storage by enabling file-based access to the files and directories, while further enabling block-based access to the vdisks.
Abstract:
A multi-protocol storage appliance serves file and block protocol access to information stored on storage devices in an integrated manner for both network attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN) deployments. A storage operating system of the appliance implements a file system that cooperates with novel virtualization modules to provide a virtualization system that “virtualizes” the storage space provided by the devices. Notably, the file system provides volume management capabilities for use in block-based access to the information stored on the devices. The virtualization system allows the file system to logically organize the information as named file, directory and virtual disk (vdisk) storage objects to thereby provide an integrated NAS and SAN appliance approach to storage by enabling file-based access to the files and directories, while further enabling block-based access to the vdisks.
Abstract:
A multi-protocol storage appliance serves file and block protocol access to information stored on storage devices in an integrated manner for both netwo rk attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN) deployments. A storage operating system of the appliance implements a file system (320) that cooperates with novel virtualization modules to provide a virtualization system (300) that ~virtualizes~ the storage space provided by the devices. T he file system provides volume management capabilities for use in block-based access to the information stored on the devices. The virtualization system (300) allows the file system to logically organize the information as named file (324), directory (326) and virtual disk storage objects (322, 328) to thereby provide an integrated NAS and SAN appliance approach to storage by enabling file-based access to the files and directories while further enabli ng block-based access to the virtual disks.
Abstract:
A multi-protocol storage appliance serves file and block protocol access to information stored on storage devices in an integrated manner for both network attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN) deployments. A storage operating system of the appliance implements a file system that cooperates with novel virtualization modules to provide a virtualization system that “virtualizes” the storage space provided by the devices. Notably, the file system provides volume management capabilities for use in block-based access to the information stored on the devices. The virtualization system allows the file system to logically organize the information as named file, directory and virtual disk (vdisk) storage objects to thereby provide an integrated NAS and SAN appliance approach to storage by enabling file-based access to the files and directories, while further enabling block-based access to the vdisks.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for restoring a virtual disk (vdisk) in a data storage system as the vdisk was at an earlier time. Pointers are maintained to point to data represented by the vdisk. The pointers are saved to persistent storage at the earlier time. The data at the earlier time is maintained on the data storage device. A pointer pointing to data represented by the vdisk at a later time is compared with the pointers saved at the earlier time. If the pointer from the later time matches the pointer saved at the earlier time, keeping the pointer from the later time in the active file system. If the pointer from the later time does not match the pointers saved at the earlier time, copying a set of pointers associated with the pointer saved at the earlier time to the active file system.