Abstract: A link table recovery method for a flash memory having a plurality of blocks is provided. The method includes: selecting one block from the blocks; selecting a last page containing data of the selected block; checking the last page to determine whether the last page has errors; moving the correct data in the selected block to one of the spare blocks when the last page of the selected block detects errors; and updating a link table of the flash memory.

Abstract: The intelligent distributed file system enables the storing of file data among a plurality of smart storage units which are accessed as a single file system. The intelligent distributed file system utilizes a metadata data structure to track and manage detailed information about each file, including, for example, the device and block locations of the file's data blocks, to permit different levels of replication and/or redundancy within a single file system, to facilitate the change of redundancy parameters, to provide high-level protection for metadata, to replicate and move data in real-time, and to permit the creation of virtual hot spares among the smart storage units without the need to idle any single smart storage unit in the intelligent distributed file system.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automated data determination propagation. A data package source collects data and compiles the data into data packages. A local data package prioritization module determines a prioritized order of the data packages based on a local priority matrix. The local data package prioritization module sends the data packages in the prioritized order over a temporary data connection to a central data package prioritization module. The local data package prioritization module updates the local priority matrix over the temporary data connection based on a central priority matrix. The central data package prioritization module receives the data packages and makes one or more updates to the central priority matrix based on the data packages.

Abstract: Multiple copies of firmware code for controlling operation of a non-volatile flash memory system are stored at different suitable locations of the flash memory of a memory system. A map of addresses of these locations is also stored in the flash memory. Upon initialization of the memory system, boot code stored in the memory controller is executed by its microprocessor to reference the address map and load one copy of the firmware from the flash memory into a controller memory, from which it may then be executed by the microprocessor to operate the memory system to store and retrieve user data. An error correction code (ECC) is used to check the data but the best portions of the two or more firmware copies stored in the flash memory are used to reduce the need to use ECC. The firmware code may be stored in the flash memory in two-states when user data is stored in the same memory in more than two-states.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data processing system comprising a central processing unit, a first memory coupled to the central processing unit for storing variable data values, an eventing engine coupled to the central processing, a debug module coupled to the central processing unit and to the eventing engine for receiving the variable data values by way of the eventing engine in real time and configured to trigger breakpoints; and an interface to connect to an external device. Both event-based variable watching and debugging can occur contemporaneously by a user using an external device connected to the interface.

Abstract: A storage system that may include one or more memory sections, one or more switches, and a management system. The memory sections include memory devices and a section controller capable of detecting faults with the memory section and transmitting messages to the management system regarding detected faults. The storage system may include a management system capable of receiving fault messages from the section controllers and removing from service the faulty memory sections. Additionally, the management system may determine routing algorithms for the one or more switches.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a state machine may enable retraining of a link, where the state machine is to be initiated responsive to an external input received from a logic analyzer coupled to the link or a periodic timer. Such external input may indicate that the logic analyzer has lost synchronization with respect to link communications, and the retraining thus enables the logic analyzer to regain resynchronization. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: When a primary computer is taken over to a secondary computer in a redundancy configuration computer system where booting is performed via a storage area network (SAN), a management server delivers an information collecting/setting program to the secondary computer before the user's operating system of the secondary computer is started. This program assigns a unique ID (World Wide Name), assigned to the fiber channel port of the primary computer, to the fiber channel port of the secondary computer to allow a software image to be taken over from the primary computer to the secondary computer.

Abstract: A method for fault handling of a data processing unit is disclosed. The method includes automatic acquisition of input information and/or output information of a user at at least one user interface of the data processing unit; automatic detection of a fault message that indicates a fault of the data processing unit; transmission of the acquired fault message together with the input information and/or the output information to a fault handling center; and evaluation of the transmitted fault message in the fault handling center.

Abstract: A method and system for troubleshooting a communications network by recognizing one or more alarm patterns is provided. An incoming status indication (such as an alarm notification) associated with a network resource is received, whereby topological information associated with the network resource is referenced to identify parent(s) and sibling(s) of the network resource. A data structure is referenced to retrieve patterning criteria associated with the parent. The identified network resources are evaluated to determine whether the patterning criteria is met, and if so, then causing an alarm event, such as generation of a synthetic status indication, to be instantiated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to support autonomic computing for system configuration. Common base events (CBEs) are generated and, based upon system configuration, are employed to monitor system resources and to resolve system configuration conflicts prior to an error. A symptom database stores a set of rules for the configuration information. The configurations CBEs for the system configuration are compared with the symptom rules, and any discrepancies between the two elements are communicated to a user prior to an occurrence of an error in the system. Accordingly, an autonomic computer system is provided to support system configuration data.

Abstract: A system and method for storing data. In one embodiment, a file system includes a hierarchy of nodes partitioned into a plurality of containers. The file system further includes metadata associated with each node. First metadata describes each node's references to other nodes and second metadata identifies each node's parent node. The file system further includes a linkage table associated with each container. Each linkage table comprises entries describing links between a node owned by the associated container and other nodes. In response to detecting that a file system error has occurred, the file system identifies a container which corresponds to the detected error, corrects inconsistencies between the first and second metadata associated with each node owned by the container, and corrects inconsistencies between each of the entries of the linkage table associated with the identified container and the first and second metadata.

Abstract: A maintenance management system according to the present invention has an electronic device and a database server. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device further includes: (1) a log generating unit for collecting states of components and generating a log when a failure is detected during execution of a process; (2) a DB inquiry unit for transmitting the log to the database server and making an inquiry about whether firmware capable of solving the failure exists; and (3) an updating process unit for obtaining firmware capable of solving the failure from the database server and updating firmware in the electronic device with the obtained firmware. In addition, the database server further includes: a storing unit for storing a database having version information of firmware and failure correction information; and an inquiry responding unit for identifying when firmware for solving the failure exists.

Abstract: A method and system for achieving highly available, fault-tolerant execution of components in a distributed computing system, without requiring the writer of these components to explicitly write code (such as entity beans or database transactions) to make component state persistent. It is achieved by converting the intrinsically non-deterministic behavior of the distributed system to a deterministic behavior, thus enabling state recovery to be achieved by advantageously efficient checkpoint-replay techniques. The method comprises: adapting the execution environment for enabling message communication amongst and between the components; automatically associating a deterministic timestamp in conjunction with a message to be communicated from a sender component to a receiver component during program execution, the timestamp representative of estimated time of arrival of the message at a receiver component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of disaster recovery in data processing systems and to a recovery system. The invention allows for easy, fast and reliable recovery of a data processing system in a disaster situation. Unmodified backup data is stored to a target data processing system, the hardware of the target data processing system being different from the hardware of the source data processing system, from which the backup data originated. The stored backup data is then adapted to the hardware of the target data processing system by a remote recovery system using previously obtained reference data.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that prolongs a remaining useful life of a power supply in a computer system. First, performance parameters of the power supply are monitored. Next, the remaining useful life of the power supply is predicted based on the monitored performance parameters. Then, an operational regime of the power supply is adjusted based on the predicted remaining useful life to prolong the remaining useful life.

Abstract: The reliability is improved at a low cost even in a virtualized server environment. The number of spare servers is reduced for improving the reliability and for saving a licensing fee for software on the spare servers. A server system comprises a plurality of physical servers on which a plurality of virtual servers run, a single standby server, a module for detecting an active virtual server, and a module for switching the correspondence of boot disks of virtualization modules for controlling virtual servers to the physical servers. When a physical server fails, the boot disk of the associated virtualization module is connected to a spare server to automatically activate on the spare server those virtual servers which have been active upon occurrence of the failure.

Abstract: A method of detecting a network hang and restoring an application that communicates on a connection giving rise to the network hang. A user experience may be improved by providing the user with an option to restore the hung application without losing unsaved data or state information. The network hang may be detected when the user tries to terminate the application. The method may include determining whether the network hang is recoverable, which may involve diagnosing a type of the hang. If recoverable, a network connection reset mechanism may be triggered by instructing a network stack of the computer to terminate the network connection.

Abstract: An improved automated software testing system provides the ability to generate and reuse test cases over multiple platforms. Keywords and natural language are used in test case creation, simplifying the process for non-technical business users. Business users can write test cases without scripts. Test cases can be generated even before the application to be tested is available. Data substitution provides ability for test cases to adapt to changing data. Abstraction allows use of all third-party and custom software test tools to be incorporated. Persistent data handling allows capture of data generated during test execution for later use. Testing can be performed entirely automatically or can incorporate some manual interaction. Test results, screen captures of the system tested, along with environment and machine variables are saved in results logs for later review.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for managing execution stability of an application carried out using a plurality of pluggable processing components. Managing execution stability of an application includes: receiving, by an application manager, component stability metrics for a particular pluggable processing component; determining, by the application manager, that the particular pluggable processing component is unstable in dependence upon the component stability metrics for the particular pluggable processing component; and notifying, by the application manager, a system administrator that the particular pluggable processing component is unstable.