Mass-storage system utilizing auxiliary solid-state storage subsystem

A mass storage system, comprising:

• a main storage subsystem providing a main physical storage space of the mass storage system and comprising a plurality of NSSDs, the plurality of NSSDs providing a plurality of physical storage locations and the main storage space comprising the plurality of physical storage locations provided by the plurality of NSSDs;
• a storage system controller coupled to the main storage subsystem and is configured for mapping a plurality of logical storage addresses to a respective plurality of physical storage locations within the main storage space, giving rise to a logical storage space;
• and
• an auxiliary storage subsystem comprising a plurality of solid-state data retention devices SSDRDs capable of substantially permanently storing data thereon, the plurality SSDRDs providing a plurality of physical storage locations collectively giving rise to an auxiliary storage space,
• wherein the storage system controller is coupled to the auxiliary storage subsystem and is:
• responsive to a first condition for overriding a mapping of a logical storage area within the logical storage space to a plurality of physical storage locations within the main storage subsystem with a mapping of the logical storage area to a plurality of physical storage locations within the auxiliary storage space, giving rise to overriding and overridden physical storage locations, and for loading into the overriding physical storage locations a snapshot of the data currently stored in the overridden physical storage locations, and
• is further responsive to a second condition, for loading a snapshot of the data currently stored in the overriding physical storage locations into the overridden physical storage locations, and for reinstating the mapping of the logical storage area to the overridden physical storage locations.

A mass storage system, comprising:

• a main storage space associated with a first plurality of storage devices characterized by relatively large storage volume, relatively low purchasing cost and relatively low performance, the main storage space comprising a plurality of physical storage locations provided by the first plurality of storage devices which are mapped to a plurality of logical storage addresses;
• an auxiliary storage space associated with a second plurality of storage devices characterized by relatively small storage volume, relatively high purchasing cost and relatively high performance, the auxiliary storage space comprising a plurality of physical storage locations provided by the second plurality of storage devices;
• a storage system controller coupled to the main storage space and to the auxiliary storage space and is
• responsive to a first condition for overriding a mapping of a plurality of logical addresses to a respective plurality of physical storage locations provided by the first plurality of storage devices with a mapping of the plurality of logical storage address to a respective plurality of physical storage locations within the auxiliary storage space, giving rise to overriding and overridden physical storage locations, and for loading into the overriding physical storage locations a snapshot of the data currently stored in the overridden physical storage locations, and
• is further responsive to a second condition, for loading a snapshot of the data currently stored in the overriding physical storage locations into the overridden physical storage locations, and for reinstating the mapping of the logical storage area to the overridden physical storage locations.