Patent ID: 8055723
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for providing on-demand storage capacity to a local storage server including a virtual repository volume comprising a defined virtual memory capacity and a staging area volume in communication with the virtual repository volume, the method comprising: assigning an amount of memory space on the local storage server to a customer; associating the local storage server with a customer computing device via a network; associating a remote storage server comprising a virtual array site with the local storage server via the network; creating a virtual array on the virtual array site, the virtual array incorporating one or more attributes selectable by the customer, the one or more attributes comprising at least one of an array type, a device type, and a number of arrays to supplement the amount of memory space in the local storage server; creating a virtual extent pool associated with the virtual array; creating a volume associated with the virtual extent pool, the volume comprising at least a portion of the virtual array site; associating a first pointer in the virtual repository volume to first locations in the staging area volume; and associating a second pointer in the staging area volume to second locations in the remote storage server, wherein: