Abstract: A storage router and method for providing virtual local storage on remote storage devices to devices are provided. Devices are connected to a first transport medium, and a plurality of storage devices are connected to a second transport medium. In one embodiment, the storage router maintains a map to allocate storage space on the remote storage devices to devices connected to the first transport medium by associating representations of the devices connected to the first transport medium with representations of storage space on the remote storage devices, wherein each representation of a device connected to the first transport medium is associated with one or more representations of storage space on the remote storage devices and controls access from the devices connected to the first transport medium to the storage space on the remote storage devices in accordance with the map and using native low level block protocol.

Abstract: A storage router and method for providing virtual local storage on remote storage devices to devices are provided. Devices are connected to a first transport medium, and a plurality of storage devices are connected to a second transport medium. In one embodiment, the storage router maintains a map to allocate storage space of the discovered storage devices to devices connected to the first transport medium by associating representations of the devices connected to the first transport medium with representations of the storage space and controls access from the devices connected to the first transport medium to the discovered storage devices in accordance with the map and using native low level block protocols.

Abstract: A storage router (56) and storage network (50) provide virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) to Fibre Channel devices. A plurality of Fibre Channel devices, such as workstations (58), are connected to a Fibre Channel transport medium (52), and a plurality of SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) are connected to a SCSI bus transport medium (54) The storage router (56) interfaces between the Fibre Channel transport medium (52) and the SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) maps between the workstations (58) and the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) and implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64). The storage router (56) then allows access from the workstations (58) to the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and the access controls.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for service management in a distributed database environment. In general, embodiments of the present invention provide a service manager that connects to or is part of a database appliance that collects database performance data in the distributed database system. The database appliance accesses traffic between database clients and database servers and collects a variety of database performance statistics without having to rely on agents at the database clients or database servers. The service manager can access the performance data from the database appliance (locally or over communications link) and archive the performance data. Additionally, the service manager can compare items of the performance data (e.g., specific performance statistics) to user defined thresholds. If a threshold is met, the service manager can notify a user by, for example, sending an email.

Abstract: A system and method of media library access that utilizes distributed mapping of media library partitions. A first controller can be connected to a data transport element of a media library and a second controller can be connected to a media changer of the media library. The first controller can maintain a media library partition representing a portion of the media library, receive a command from a host application based on the media library partition and forward the command to the second controller. The first controller can further translate logical addresses referenced in the command to physical addresses before forwarding the command to the second controller. The second controller can receive the command from the first controller and forward the command to the media changer. The second controller can also prioritize the command on using a FIFO or other prioritization scheme.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for diagnosing a network and identifying problems in a network which reduce the data transfer rate of data through the network. One embodiment of a method for network diagnosis may include infusing data into a network upstream and downstream of a portion of the network relative to a library drive, querying the drive at intervals over time for drive data to determine the data transfer rate at the drive and comparing the data transfer rate of the data infused upstream of the device or network portion with the data transfer rate of the data infused downstream of the device or network portion to determine throughput. By comparing the data transfer rate of data infused upstream and downstream of a network device or network portion, problem devices in a network may be identified.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for handling status commands directed to a partitioned media library. A controller (e.g., storage router or other device) that controls access to the physical media library can receive a status command and determine whether it should respond to the status command without passing the command to the media changer of the physical media library. If the controller should respond, the controller can construct a response and send it to the issuing host application. Otherwise the controller can pass the command to the media changer of the physical media library.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a media library controller that can communicate with multiple physical libraries that are physically separate from each other (i.e., that cannot pass media back and forth). The media library controller can maintain a virtualized aggregate media library representing the physical media libraries with which it is in communication. From the physical media libraries, the media library controller can establish a virtual media library and associate a host with the virtual media library. The virtual media library can represent the portions of a physical media library to which the host is allowed access.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for applying policies at a database appliance. The database appliance, according to one embodiment, can receive a database request and determine a set of information related to the request. The information related to the request can include information, such as metadata, defined at information systems external to the database server to which the request is directed. Policies can be applied in terms of the information related to the request. By leveraging information systems, embodiments of the present invention allow policies to be applied to account for the networked environment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a media library controller that can communicate with multiple physical libraries that are physically separate from each other. The media library controller can maintain a virtualized aggregate media library representing the physical media libraries with which it is in communication. From the physical media libraries, the media library controller can establish a virtual media library and associate a host with the virtual media library. The virtual media library can represent the portions of a physical media library to which the host is allowed access.

Abstract: A storage router (56) and storage network (50) provide virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) to Fiber Channel devices. A plurality of Fiber Channel devices, such as workstations (58), are connected to a Fiber Channel transport medium (52), and a plurality of SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) are connected to a SCSI bus transport medium (54) The storage router (56) interfaces between the Fiber Channel transport medium (52) and the SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) maps between the workstations (58) and the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) and implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64). The storage router (56) then allows access from the workstations (58) to the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and the access controls.

Abstract: A storage router and storage network provide virtual local storage on remote storage devices. A plurality of devices are connected to a first transport medium. In one embodiment, a storage router maintains a map to allocate storage space on the remote storage devices to devices connected to the first transport medium by associating representations of the devices connected to the first transport medium with representations of storage space on the remote storage devices. The storage router controls access from the devices connected to the first transport medium to the storage space on the remote storage devices in accordance with the map and allows access from devices connected to the first transport medium to the remote storage devices using native low level block protocol.

Abstract: A storage router (56) and storage network (50) provide virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) to Fiber Channel devices. A plurality of Fiber Channel devices, such as workstations (58), are connected to a Fiber Channel transport medium (52), and a plurality of SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) are connected to a SCSI bus transport medium (54) The storage router (56) interfaces between the Fiber Channel transport medium (52) and the SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) maps between the workstations (58) and the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) and implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64). The storage router (56) then allows access from the workstations (58) to the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and the access controls.

Abstract: A method for decreasing routing latency of a switching platform comprises identifying ports which have changed their operational state and modifying the port polling code associated with the respective ports so that operational ports are polled for frames to be routed, while non-operational ports are not polled. In one embodiment, the method is implemented in a fiber channel switch. Non-operational ports are identified as having operational states below a pre-determined threshold level of functionality. The polling code for the ports is modified while polling operations are carried out in the switch. The code for a newly operational port is modified by copying into the code one or more instructions that poll the port for a frame and routes the frame. The code for a newly non-operational port is modified by copying into the code a branch instruction that bypasses the remainder of the polling code for the port.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems comprise collecting data associated with a library or library components and storing the collected data in repository. By collecting data associated with a library or library components and storing the collected data in a repository, the degradation of library components can be monitored and the reliability of library components determined, allowing unreliable components to be bypassed or replaced, enhancing the reliability of the library and preventing data loss.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for verifying paths to databases. A method for identifying paths to a database may comprise opening a database in a set of databases utilizing a known path to the database, creating an object in the database and checking for the object utilizing one or more paths in a set of paths to databases, wherein paths in the set of paths corresponding to a database containing the alias are paths to the database. By repeating the above process for multiple databases, paths to multiple databases may be verified.

Abstract: Inquiry data received from sequential target devices is stored in a cache memory. In one embodiment, the cache memory is coupled to a router. In one embodiment, when the router receives from a host an inquiry command about a target, the router first checks to see if the inquiry command can be serviced from the cache. If so, the inquiry data about the target is retrieved from the cache and returned to the host. If not, the router checks to see if the target is busy. If not busy, the router routes the inquiry command to the target and stores the inquiry data returned by the target in the cache. If the target is busy, the router places the inquiry command in a queue. When the target becomes available, the router forwards the inquiry command to the target for processing, thereby keeping the inquiry command from timing out.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an interface device and method for command processing for commands requiring data flow in both directions on a Fiber Channel or other data transport protocol exchange. The commands can include proprietary commands, SCSI linked commands or other commands known in the art. According to one embodiment, and interface device can assign a command a data flow direction indicator. When a reply to the command is received, the interface device can determine if the reply is expected or unexpected based on the data flow direction specified by the data flow direction indicator. If the reply is unexpected, the interface device can determine whether to process the reply. According to one embodiment, the data flow direction indicator can be the exchange identification.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a system for application-layer monitoring of communication between one or more database clients and one or more database servers. The system includes one or more decoders residing at a decoding layer above a network layer. The decoders reside at a first network location between one or more database clients residing at one or more second network locations and one or more database servers residing at one or more third network locations. The decoders receive database messages communicated from the database clients and intended for the database servers and database messages communicated from the database servers and intended for the database clients, decode the database messages, and extract query-language statements from the database messages. The system also includes a monitoring application residing at an application layer above the decoding layer. The monitoring application resides at the first network location.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for summarizing and reporting the impact of database statements at a database appliance. The database appliance, according to one embodiment, can receive a database request and determine a set of information related to the request. Embodiments disclosed herein take in as input the database statement text and output multiple impact vectors, each containing both the name of an affected entity and a 32-bit “impact bitmap” for that entity. This concise and unambiguous output format can be computed using fast AND, OR, XOR, and NOT operations, allowing for highly efficient evaluation of database statements against user defined policies and finer policy granularity.