APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR REFERENCING DATA BLOCK USAGE INFORMATION BY WAY OF AN INTERFACE
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for data management. The method includes referencing data block usage information provided by way of an interface operable to communicate with a storage controller managing non-volatile storage media. The method also includes identifying to the storage controller one or more blocks for deallocation by the data block usage information.
1 . A method for data management on non-volatile storage media, the method comprising:
referencing data block usage information provided by way of an interface operable to communicate with a storage controller managing non-volatile storage media; and
identifying to the storage controller one or more blocks for deallocation by the data block usage information.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data block usage information is independent of second data block usage information maintained by a storage manager.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein referencing the data block usage information further comprises referencing the data block usage information from one or more of a user and an application.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising exposing the interface to a user space application independent of a storage manager.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the user space application comprises a command line utility having a command line interface.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage controller deallocates used blocks identified by the storage controller corresponding to the one or more blocks identified by the data block usage information in response to identifying to the storage controller the one or more blocks for deallocation.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising deallocating used blocks identified by the storage controller corresponding to the one or more blocks identified by the data block usage information in response to identifying to the storage controller the one or more blocks for deallocation.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein referencing the data block usage information further comprises receiving a notification comprising blocks identified for deallocation by the storage controller, the notification comprising no requirement for action by the storage controller in accordance with the interface.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein referencing the data block usage information further comprises receiving a directive comprising blocks identified for deallocation by the storage controller, the directive requiring the storage controller to erase the non-volatile storage media comprising the blocks in accordance with the interface.
10 . The method of claim 1 , referencing the data block usage information further comprises receiving a purge instruction passing the blocks identified for deallocation by the storage controller, the purge instruction requiring the storage controller to erase the non-volatile storage media comprising the blocks and to overwrite the blocks in accordance with the interface.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a request for allocation status information for one or more blocks and returning the allocation status information for the one or more blocks in response to the request.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving one or more deallocation parameters according to the interface.
13 . An apparatus for data management on non-volatile storage media, the apparatus comprising:
a reference module that references data block usage information provided by way of an interface operable to communicate with a storage controller managing non-volatile storage media; and
an identification module that identifies to the storage controller one or more blocks for deallocation by the data block usage information.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the data block usage information is independent of second data block usage information maintained by a storage manager.
15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the reference module referencing the data block usage information further comprises the reference module receiving a notification comprising blocks identified for deallocation by the storage controller, the notification comprising no requirement for action by the storage controller in accordance with the interface.
16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the reference module referencing the data block usage information further comprises the reference module receiving a directive comprising blocks identified for deallocation by the storage controller, the directive requiring the storage controller to erase the non-volatile storage media comprising the blocks in accordance with the interface.
17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the reference module referencing the data block usage information further comprises the reference module receiving a purge instruction passing the blocks identified for deallocation by the storage controller, the purge instruction requiring the storage controller to erase the non-volatile storage media comprising the blocks and to overwrite the blocks in accordance with the interface.
18 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the reference module further receives a request for allocation status information for one or more blocks and returns the allocation status information for the one or more blocks in response to the request.
19 . A system for data management on non-volatile storage media, the system comprising:
a processor;
a memory in communication with the processor;
non-volatile storage media that stores a plurality of data blocks, the non-volatile storage media in communication with the memory;
a storage controller that manages the non-volatile storage media;
a reference module that references data block usage information provided by way of an interface operable to communicate with the storage controller; and
an identification module that identifies to the storage controller one or more blocks for deallocation by the data block usage information.
20 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising a user space application communicating with the reference module through the interface, the user space application passing the data block usage information through the interface.