Abstract: An architecture provides the ability to create and maintain multiple instances of virtual servers, such as virtual filers (vfilers), within a server, such as a filer. A vfiler is a logical partitioning of network and storage resources of the filer platform to establish an instance of a multi-protocol server. Each vfiler is allocated a subset of dedicated units of storage resources, such as volumes or logical sub-volumes (qtrees), and one or more network address resources. Each vfiler is also allowed shared access to a file system resource of a storage operating system. To ensure controlled access to the allocated and shared resources, each vfiler is further assigned its own security domain for each access protocol. A vfiler boundary check is performed by the file system to verify that a current vfiler is allowed to access certain storage resources for a requested file stored on the filer platform.

Abstract: A platform management device configured to control the functionality of a provisioned electronic device is disclosed. The platform management device includes a processor operative to execute commands. A memory maintains a series of instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: (1) establish a connection with a corresponding electronic device; and (2) transfer operating parameters to the corresponding electronic device, such that access to and operation of the electronic device may be controlled. Examples of device control include denying access to an unauthorized user and forcing the electronic device into a disabled state by remote operation from an authorized user.

Abstract: A method for enabling a server configured with a plurality of virtual servers to participate in a plurality of private network address spaces and service requests within those address spaces is disclosed. Each virtual server is associated with an IPspace. Each network interface is tagged with an IPspace identifier (ID). Each virtual server is provided with one or more routing tables that control routing operations for requests processed by the virtual server. The IPspace ID is applied to translation procedures that enable selection of a virtual server to process an incoming request, and an appropriate routing table used to process an outgoing request.

Abstract: A method for operating a server first assigns a plurality of storage volumes to one or more storage devices. A plurality of sub-volumes is established within a namespace of each of the plurality of storage volumes. An instance of a virtual server is created, the virtual server having a plurality of assigned sub-volumes, the assigned sub-volumes chosen from different storage volumes of the plurality of storage volumes. A file system function is shared between the server and the instance of the virtual server, the file system function using at least one of the plurality of assigned sub-volumes.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating data with a contact is disclosed. The technology initially receives a first data element from a contact and provides a representation of the first data element. The representation of the first data element is then coupled with the contact on a contact list. A second data element is then received from the contact and a representation of the second data element received is also provided. The representation of the second data element is then coupled with the contact on the contact list, such that the representation of the first data element and the representation of the second data element are concurrently coupled with the contact on the contact list.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhanced DNS resolver architecture configured to operate in high availability environments, such as the Internet. Specifically, the DNS resolver code of the present invention may be implemented by a storage operating system in a filer. The resolver code modifies a conventional resolver algorithm so as to reduce the time necessary to map IP addresses to alphanumeric domain names and vice versa. Advantageously, the enhanced resolver code keeps track of non-responsive or “dead” DNS servers as well as non-resolvable or “bad” domain names and IP addresses.

Abstract: An architecture provides the ability to create and maintain multiple instances of virtual servers, such as virtual filers (vfilers), within a server, such as a filer. A vfiler is a logical partitioning of network and storage resources of the filer platform to establish an instance of a multi-protocol server. Each vfiler is allocated a subset of dedicated units of storage resources, such as volumes or logical sub-volumes (qtrees), and one or more network address resources. Each vfiler is also allowed shared access to a file system resource of a storage operating system. To ensure controlled access to the allocated and shared resources, each vfiler is further assigned its own security domain for each access protocol. A vfiler boundary check is performed by the file system to verify that a current vfiler is allowed to access certain storage resources for a requested file stored on the filer platform.

Abstract: An architecture provides the ability to create and maintain multiple instances of virtual servers, such as virtual filers (vfilers), within a server, such as a filer. A vfiler is a logical partitioning of network and storage resources of the filer platform to establish an instance of a multi-protocol server. Each vfiler is allocated a subset of dedicated units of storage resources, such as volumes or logical sub-volumes (qtrees), and one or more network address resources. Each vfiler is also allowed shared access to a file system resource of a storage operating system. To ensure controlled access to the allocated and shared resources, each vfiler is further assigned its own security domain for each access protocol. A vfiler boundary check is performed by the file system to verify that a current vfiler is allowed to access certain storage resources for a requested file stored on the filer platform.

Abstract: A system and method enables a server, such as a filer, configured with a plurality of virtual servers, such as virtual filers, to provide two types of administrators for administering the filer. A physical filer (pfiler) administrator manages or administers common physical aspects of the filer, such as hardware resources of the filer and software objects that represent those resources. In contrast, a virtual filer (vfiler) administrator administers logical aspects of a vfiler, such as access control for logical storage resources belonging to the vfiler. The system provides full administrative capability authority to the pfiler administrator to administer the filer platform, including the ability to create and administer vfilers, whereas only a subset of administrative capabilities is provided to each vfiler administrator to facilitate its administrative function on behalf of a client.

Abstract: A technique efficiently creates and serves a backup data set on a backup filer located at a remote site from a primary filer by essentially moving an entire operating environment of a primary data set to the backup filer. The primary filer is organized into one or more virtual filers (vfilers), one of which (the primary vfiler) is configured to serve data, such as the primary data set, for a client. In the event that the primary filer or primary vfiler becomes unavailable, the technique may be implemented as a disaster recovery or data migration sequence to enable efficient instantiation of a backup vfiler to serve the backup data set for the client.

Abstract: A technique efficiently creates and serves a backup data set on a backup filer located at a remote site from a primary filer by essentially moving an entire operating environment of a primary data set to the backup filer. The primary filer is organized into one or more virtual filers (vfilers), one of which (the primary vfiler) is configured to serve data, such as the primary data set, for a client. In the event that the primary filer or primary vfiler becomes unavailable, the technique may be implemented as a disaster recovery or data migration sequence to enable efficient instantiation of a backup vfiler to serve the backup data set for the client.

Abstract: A method and system for auto-detection of communication mismatch, such as in a networking environment. A device using a communication protocol uses a technique for protocol augmentation to determine sufficient information about whether there is a protocol parameter mismatch, and to determine how to adjust its protocol parameters so that the parameter mismatch is obviated. In a preferred embodiment, the protocol includes an Ethernet protocol, and the mismatch includes information about whether devices at ends of a communication link are using half-duplex or full-duplex settings. A first device using the Ethernet generates messages that force a set of second devices using the same Ethernet to generate responsive messages to send to the first device; the first device determines, by examining features of the responsive messages from the second devices, what protocol settings the second devices are using.

Abstract: A method for enabling a server configured with a plurality of virtual servers to participate in a plurality of private network address spaces and service requests within those address spaces is disclosed. Each virtual server is associated with an IPspace. Each network interface is tagged with an IPspace identifier (ID). Each virtual server is provided with one or more routing tables that control routing operations for requests processed by the virtual server. The IPspace ID is applied to translation procedures that enable selection of a virtual server to process an incoming request, and an appropriate routing table used to process an outgoing request.

Abstract: The apparent speed of a connection between a browser at a user station and a proxy or gateway on a network such as the Internet is increased by providing a local proxy at the user station which interacts with a remote proxy. While the remote proxy is retrieving a newly requested World Wide Web page, for example, from the appropriate content provider, it may also be sending to the local proxy a stale cached version of that page. When the new version of the page is finally retrieved, the remote proxy determines the differences between the new version and the stale version, and, assuming the differences do not exceed the new page in size, sends the differences to the local proxy which then reconstructs the new page from the differences and the stale version. The local proxy delivers the new page to the browser, which need not even be aware that a local proxy exists; it is aware only that it received the page it requested.

Abstract: A method of generating IP identification numbers for IP datagrams. A plurality of IP identification number generators are maintained. A plurality of receiving stations are associated with the plurality of IP identification number generators such that each receiving station has an IP identification number generator associated therewith. An IP identification number is generated for a datagram sent to a receiving station based on an output of the associated IP identification number generator. Also, a method of reducing a likelihood of misassembly of received data fragments from fragmented IP datagrams. The data fragments have an IP identification number. All received data fragments of the datagram are discarded upon detection of receipt of an overlapping data fragment having the IP identification number. Timeouts for reassembling datagrams are reduced. First, timeouts for reassembling the datagrams are reduced to less than a standard timeout.

Abstract: A technique enables a server, such as a filer, configured with a plurality of virtual servers, such as virtual filers (vfilers), to participate in a plurality of private network address spaces having potentially overlapping network addresses. The technique also enables selection of an appropriate vfiler to service requests within a private address space in a manner that is secure and distinct from other private address spaces supported by the filer. An IPspace refers to each distinct address space in which the filer and its storage operating system participate. An IPspace identifier is applied to translation procedures that enable the selection of a correct vfiler for processing an incoming request and an appropriate routing table for processing an outgoing request.

Abstract: A method and system for computer assisted automatic error detection and diagnosis of file servers. Software modules periodically and continuously review monitoring statistics gathered by the file server regarding its operation. The monitoring statistics are processed by a pattern matching system and a rule-based inference system. Software modules augment known network protocols, by manipulating parameters of lower-level protocols using different higher-level protocols. Using the higher-level protocols, software modules determine if the selected parameters for the lower-level protocols are correct. Software modules track hardware and software configuration changes to the file server, and relate changes in known monitoring statistics to timing of those hardware and software configuration changes.

Abstract: This invention comprises auto-diagnosis logic that can be implemented in operating systems in an appliance-like auto-diagnosis module coupled to the TCP receiver, the TCP sender or both. TCP events are sampled and a set of statistics on these events is maintained. Receiver side TCP diagnostic techniques include detecting sender's re-transmission timeouts, evaluating the average size of packets being received, determining if a receiver is a bottleneck, and performing other evaluations of an incoming data stream. Sender side diagnostic techniques include flagging transmission timeouts, monitoring the average size of a transmitted packet, evaluating if the advertised window accounts for the delay-bandwidth product of the network connecting the receiver and the sender systems, performing bottleneck checks, and other evaluations of an outgoing data stream. The results are aggregated using system attributes. Systems with common problem areas and attributes are grouped together.

Abstract: An architecture provides the ability to create and maintain multiple instances of virtual servers, such as virtual filers (vfilers), within a server, such as a filer. A vfiler is a logical partitioning of network and storage resources of the filer platform to establish an instance of a multi-protocol server. Each vfiler is allocated a subset of dedicated units of storage resources, such as volumes or logical sub-volumes (qtrees), and one or more network address resources. Each vfiler is also allowed shared access to a file system resource of a storage operating system. To ensure controlled access to the allocated and shared resources, each vfiler is further assigned its own security domain for each access protocol. A vfiler boundary check is performed by the file system to verify that a current vfiler is allowed to access certain storage resources for a requested file stored on the filer platform.

Abstract: An architecture provides the ability to create and maintain multiple instances of virtual servers, such as virtual filers (vfilers), within a server, such as a filer. A vfiler is a logical partitioning of network and storage resources of the filer platform to establish an instance of a multi-protocol server. Each vfiler is allocated a subset of dedicated units of storage resources, such as volumes or logical sub-volumes (qtrees), and one or more network address resources. Each vfiler is also allowed shared access to a file system resource of a storage operating system. To ensure controlled access to the allocated and shared resources, each vfiler is further assigned its own security domain for each access protocol. A vfiler boundary check is performed by the file system to verify that a current vfiler is allowed to access certain storage resources for a requested file stored on the filer platform.