IP Library Granted Patent US 9,262,329
Granted Patent B2
US 9,262,329 · App. 13/593,865 · Granted Feb 16, 2016

Snapshot access

Inventors: Marc David Olin (Edina, MN); Michael James Klemm (Minnetonka, MN); Ranjit Pandit (Portland, OR)
Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
G06F12/0866G06F3/065G06F3/067G06F3/0619G06F11/00G06F12/16G06F11/2046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,262,329
App. No.
13/593,865
Filed
Aug 24, 2012
Granted
Feb 16, 2016
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2136
USPC
711/142
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method performed by one or more computing devices includes receiving at a host cache a first request for data comprising at least one snapshot of a cached logical unit number (LUN), sending, by the host cache, the data comprising at least one snapshot of the cached LUN in response to the first request, and in response to the completing sending the data comprising at least one snapshot of the cached LUN, sending, by the host cache, a first response indicating that sending the data is complete.

Claims (57)

1. A method, performed by one or more computing devices, comprising:

creating a logical unit number (LUN) on a SAN array;

coupling communicatively a host cache to the SAN array, wherein non data network communications between the SAN array and the host cache are used to manage connectivity and coordinate one or more snapshot requests, wherein the non-data network communications comprises a virtual IP address interface;

creating a cached LUN at the host cache, wherein the cached LUN represents a caching instance of the LUN across a plurality of servers;

preparing a volume of the host cache for creating a first snapshot of the cached LUN, wherein preparing the volume of the host cache is dependent on a mode of the host cache, wherein the mode of the host cache comprises at least one of write-through (WT), write-back (WB), or write-back-write-through (WB-WT) switching, and wherein preparing the volume comprises:

flushing a set of data comprising at least one snapshot of the cached LUN when the host cache is in WB or WB-WT switching modes;

switching the host cache to WT mode when the host cache is in WB-WT switching mode; and

sending a message indicating that the volume is prepared for creating the snapshot of the cached LUN;

creating, at the host cache, the first snapshot of the cached LUN;

receiving at the host cache a request for data comprising the first snapshot of the cached LUN;

sending, by the host cache, the data comprising the first snapshot in response to the request; and

in response to completing sending the data comprising the first snapshot, sending, by the host cache, a first response indicating that sending the data comprising the first snapshot is complete.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data comprising the first snapshot further comprises a data map of the cached LUN that indicates how one or more data blocks of the cached LUN are associated with one or more files of the cached LUN.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data comprising the first snapshot further comprises a second snapshot of the cached LUN, and in response to the request, sending, by the host cache, the first snapshot and then the second snapshot.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the host cache, a second response that cancels sending the data comprising the first snapshot.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deleting, at the host cache, the data comprising the first snapshot.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, switching, by the host cache, from a first mode to a second mode, in response to completing the sending of the data comprising the first snapshot.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first mode and the second mode of the host cache comprises at least one of write-through (WT), write-back (WB), or write-back-write-through (WB-WT) switching.

8. A system comprising:

a memory comprising instructions executable by one or more processors; and the one or more processors coupled to the memory and operable to execute the instructions, the one or more processors being operable when executing the instructions to:

create a logical unit number (LUN) on a SAN array;

communicatively couple a host cache to the SAN array, wherein non-data network communications between the SAN array and the host cache are used to manage the connectivity and coordinate one or more snapshot requests, wherein the non-data network communications comprises a virtual IP address interface;

create a cached LUN at the host cache, wherein the cached LUN represents a caching instance of the LUN across a plurality of servers;

prepare a volume of the host cache for creating a first snapshot of the cached LUN, wherein preparing the volume of the host cache is dependent on a mode of the host cache, wherein the mode of the host cache comprises at least one of write-through (WT), write-back (WB), or write-back-write-through (WB-WT) switching, and wherein preparing the volume comprises:

flushing a set of data comprising at least one snapshot of the cached LUN when the host cache is in WB or WB-WT switching modes;

switching the host cache to WT mode when the host cache is in WB-WT switching mode; and

sending a message indicating that the volume is prepared for creating the snapshot of the cached LUN;

creating, at the host cache, the first snapshot of the cached LUN;

receive at the host cache a request for data comprising the first snapshot of the cached LUN;

send, by the host cache, the data comprising the first snapshot in response to the request; and

in response to completing sending the data comprising the first snapshot, send, by the host cache, a first response indicating that sending the data comprising the first snapshot is complete.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the data comprising the first snapshot further comprises a data map of the cached LUN that indicates how one or more data blocks of the cached LUN are associated with one or more files of the cached LUN.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the data comprising the first snapshot further comprises a second snapshot of the cached LUN, and the memory coupled to the processors further comprise instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to, in response to the request, send, by the host cache, the first snapshot and then the snapshot.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the memory coupled to the processors further comprise instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to: send, by the host cache, a second response that cancels sending the data comprising the first snapshot.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the memory coupled to the processors further comprise instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to: delete, at the host cache, the data comprising the at least one snapshot.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the memory coupled to the processors further comprise instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to switch, by the host cache, from a first mode to a second mode, in response to completing the sending of the data comprising at least one snapshot of the cached LUN.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first mode and the second mode of the host cache comprises at least one of WT, WB, or WB-WT switching.

15. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software operable when executed by one or more computer systems to:

create a logical unit number (LUN) on a SAN array;

communicatively couple a host cache to the SAN array, wherein non-data network communication between the SAN array and the host cache are used to manage the connectivity and coordinate one or more snapshot requests, wherein the non-data network communications comprises a virtual IP address interface;

create a cached LUN at the host cache, wherein the cached LUN represents a caching instance of the LUN across a plurality of servers;

prepare a volume of the host cache for creating a first snapshot of the cached LUN, wherein preparing the volume of the host cache is dependent on a mode of the host cache, wherein the mode of the host cache comprises at least one of write-through (WT), write-back (WB), or write-back-write-through (WB-WT) switching, and wherein preparing the volume comprises:

flushing a set of data comprising at least one snapshot of the cached LUN when the host cache is in WB or WB-WT switching modes;

switching the host cache to WT mode when the host cache is in WB-WT switching mode; and

sending a message indicating that the volume is prepared for creating the snapshot of the cached LUN;

create, at the host cache, the first snapshot of the cached LUN;

receive, at the host cache, a second request to create the snapshot of the cached LUN;

receive at the host cache a request for data comprising the first snapshot of the cached LUN;

send, by the host cache, the data comprising the first snapshot in response to the request; and

in response to completing sending the data comprising the first snapshot, send, by the host cache, a first response indicating that sending the data is complete.

16. The media of claim 15 , wherein the first snapshot further comprises a data map of the cached LUN that indicates how one or more data blocks of the cached LUN are associated with one or more files of the cached LUN.

17. The media of claim 15 , wherein the data comprising the first snapshot further comprises a second snapshot of the cached LUN, and the one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media is operable when executed to, in response to the request, send, by the host cache, the data comprising the first snapshot of the cached LUN and then the data comprising the second snapshot of the cached LUN.

18. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 15 that is operable when executed to:

send, by the host cache, a second response that cancels sending the data comprising at least one snapshot of the cached LUN.

19. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 15 that is operable when executed to: delete, at the host cache, the data comprising the at least one snapshot.

20. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 15 that is operable when executed to:

switch, by the host cache, from a first mode to a second mode, in response to completing the sending of the data comprising at least one snapshot of the cached LUN, the first mode and the second mode of the host cache comprises at least one of WT, WB, or WB-WT switching.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2012
From: OLIN, MARC DAVID; KLEMM, MICHAEL JAMES; PANDIT, RANJIT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L. P.
Reel/Frame 028844/0110 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140059300A1 · Feb 27, 2014