Abstract: Consistency for replicating data storage subsystem configurations in accordance with a “golden” configuration file. A data storage subsystem comprises a blade system with a plurality of slots, the blade system configured to support a plurality of blades and a storage system, each arranged in a predetermined slot of the blade system. The storage system arranges a logical configuration of the server blades in accordance with a “golden” configuration file. The server blade slot versus WWN information is collected and provided to the storage system. The storage system converts the “golden” configuration file slot information to WWNs. The server blades are enabled for access to said storage system as they log on with WWNs in accordance with the “golden” configuration file.

Abstract: Consistency for replicating data storage subsystem configurations in accordance with a “golden” configuration file. A data storage subsystem comprises a blade system configured to support a plurality of blades and a storage system, each arranged in a predetermined slot of the blade system, and at least one zoneable switch whose zoning is disabled at power on. A management module operates the blade system to power on all slots. The storage system, in accordance with a “golden” configuration file, transfers port enablement sequencing to the switch, and the switch enables and zones ports in sequence to allow the server blades to see the storage system in accordance with the port enablement sequence. The storage system is configured with the “golden” configuration file to log on the server blades in accordance with the port enablement sequence to logically configure the server blades in accordance with the “golden” configuration file.

Abstract: A sector conversion device includes a non-volatile memory area that is used to save two sectors' worth of data when power is lost during the sector conversion process. These two sectors of data are stored in the non-volatile memory area within the sector conversion device itself. The non-volatile memory within the sector conversion device is connected to the main internal memory of the device by a special link that is wider than the normal word size of the buffer. When power is lost to the storage enclosure during a scenario where data is being written to the hard disk drives, which involves sector conversion, the internal processor of the sector conversion device immediately initiates a transfer from the volatile buffer queue memory to the non-volatile memory. The information that is transferred (hardened) is the two sectors of data that were involved in the sector conversion process.

Abstract: Consistency for replicating data storage subsystem configurations in accordance with a “golden” configuration file. A data storage subsystem comprises a blade system with a plurality of slots, the blade system configured to support a plurality of blades and a storage system, each arranged in a predetermined slot of the blade system. A management module operates the blade system to first power on the storage system, and subsequently to power on the plurality of server blades in a sequential order that matches a blade system natural boot sequence order, skipping the storage system, and the storage system is configured with the “golden” configuration file to log on the server blades in accordance with the power on sequence to logically configure the server blades in accordance with the “golden” configuration file.

Abstract: Consistency for replicating data storage subsystem configurations in accordance with a “golden” configuration file. A data storage subsystem comprises a blade system with a plurality of slots, the blade system configured to support a plurality of blades and a storage system, each arranged in a predetermined slot of the blade system. A management module operates the blade system to first power on the storage system. In accordance with a “golden” configuration file, the storage system passes sequence information to the management module. The management module powers on the plurality of server blades in accordance with the sequence information. The storage system is configured with the “golden” configuration file to log on the server blades in accordance with the power on sequence to logically configure the server blades in accordance with the “golden” configuration file.

Abstract: Components in a data storage subsystem are tracked, and their status monitored, with the use of memory devices such as RFID tags. In the practice of the invention, a component of a data storage subsystem, such as a data recording device, is associated with a memory device, such as but not limited to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, that is capable of storing information regarding a status of the data storage component. A storage controller controls the data storage component. A reader/writer operably integrated into the storage controller, wherein the reader/writer is operable to be controlled by the storage controller to communicate in a wireless manner an update of the information within said memory device regarding the status said data storage component.

Abstract: A mechanism detects cable length in a storage subsystem with wide ports. The mechanism uses in-situ bidirectional cable wrapping for determining different cable lengths. The mechanism under-margins transmitter output to failure for each external port and even for each PHY within a wide port. Based on the transition point from “good” wrap to “bad” wrap, the cable length may be determined. The transition point identifies if the cable is long or short, at which point the optimum tuning parameters can accordingly be set. A calibration mechanism calibrates the high speed transmitter/receiver pair characteristics, and, thus, optimizes the transmission performance between subsystems. The calibration mechanism mitigates the need for frequent error correction and does not incur the performance degradation associated with error correction techniques.

Abstract: A mechanism detects cable length in a storage subsystem with wide ports. The mechanism uses in-situ bidirectional cable wrapping for determining different cable lengths. The mechanism under-margins transmitter output to failure for each external port and even for each PHY within a wide port. Based on the transition point from “good” wrap to “bad” wrap, the cable length may be determined. The transition point identifies if the cable is long or short, at which point the optimum tuning parameters can accordingly be set. A calibration mechanism calibrates the high speed transmitter/receiver pair characteristics, and, thus, optimizes the transmission performance between subsystems. The calibration mechanism mitigates the need for frequent error correction and does not incur the performance degradation associated with error correction techniques.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for discovering and isolating failure of high speed traces in a manufacturing environment. The mechanism utilizes transmit pre-emphasis and receiver equalization in combination with attenuated wrap plugs to enhance discovery and isolation of manufacturing defects in the manufacturing environment. The mechanism adjusts pre-emphasis and equalization in real time in high speed devices, allowing for much greater variation to compensate for design margins and specification variances. While the card is under test with wrap-backs installed, the pre-emphasis and receiver equalization are brought to the limits while logging the bit error rate to a non-volatile memory element. The mechanism then compares the bit error rate information to empirically derived signatures for failure isolation.

Abstract: A single fibre channel switch or serial attached SCSI expander applies zoning on the initiator ports to each of the two ports of one or more drives. The fibre channel switch or serial attached SCSI expander uses zoning to connect both ports of each drive to a single expander and set the zones in the expander such that each zone includes at least one initiator port and one drive port.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for dynamically zoning or rezoning serially attached SCSI expanders using an intelligent failover mechanism. The mechanism uses serially attached SCSI (SAS) zoning by zoning off one port of the SAS hard disk drive to the initiator that does not “own” the resource. The drive will appear to only one initiator as a result of the zoning. In the event of a failure on the “owning” initiator, the failover mechanism may change the zones, zoning off the failed initiator and including the drives in the zone(s) of the active initiator(s). By using zoning in this fashion, the zoning mechanism creates an active-passive SAS multiplexer with configurable and intelligent failover.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for performing a storage device maintenance operation. A management module receives a command through an interconnection module configured as a non-blocking switch. The management module performs a maintenance operation on a storage device through the interconnection module in response to the command. In addition, the management module may receive queries on the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module and report the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module.

Abstract: A system and method for thresholding system power loss notifications in a data processing system are provided. Power loss detection modules are provided in a data processing system having one or more data processing devices, such as blades in an IBM BladeCenter® chassis. The power loss detection modules detect the type of infrastructure of the data processing system, a position of a corresponding data processing device within the data processing system, and a capability of the data processing system to provide power during a power loss scenario. The detection module detects various inputs identifying these types of data processing system and power system characteristics and provides logic for defining a set of behaviors during a power loss scenario, e.g., behaviors for sending system notifications of imminent power loss. The detection of the various inputs and the defining of a set of behaviors may be performed statically and/or dynamically.

Abstract: A system and method for thresholding system power loss notifications in a data processing system are provided. Power loss detection modules are provided in a data processing system having one or more data processing devices, such as blades in an IBM BladeCenter® chassis. The power loss detection modules detect the type of infrastructure of the data processing system, a position of a corresponding data processing device within the data processing system, and a capability of the data processing system to provide power during a power loss scenario. The detection module detects various inputs identifying these types of data processing system and power system characteristics and provides logic for defining a set of behaviors during a power loss scenario, e.g., behaviors for sending system notifications of imminent power loss. The detection of the various inputs and the defining of a set of behaviors may be performed statically and/or dynamically.

Abstract: A data storage enclosure management system of a plurality of service processors is configured to communicate externally via a pair of FC-AL loops. Lead and subsidiary service processors are defined and lead service processors connect to ones of the FC-AL loops with an FC-AL address, and the lead and subsidiary service processors are connected by a secondary communication link. The lead service processor(s) employ an identifier unassociated with the FC-AL address to differentiate communications of the lead service processor from communications of an associated subsidiary service processor, the lead service processor serving as a proxy for the associated subsidiary service processor with respect to the FC-AL address and communicating with the associated subsidiary service processor via the secondary communication link.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for selecting IDLE patterns based on data being transmitted on the different ports of a wide lane serial attached small computer system interface cable. The mechanism examines the frequency content of the data bearing lanes and selects a DWORD to transmit for an IDLE that has a different frequency content to reduce spikes in electromagnetic interference emissions at a given frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for performing a storage device maintenance operation. A management module receives a command through an interconnection module configured as a non-blocking switch. The management module performs a maintenance operation on a storage device through the interconnection module in response to the command. In addition, the management module may receive queries on the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module and report the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module.

Abstract: A blade server system includes a plurality of blade slots, a management module, and a plurality of switch modules. The switch modules provide connectivity to a plurality of communications fabrics. At least one switch module includes an integrated redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller. A storage enclosure may be connected to the switch with the integrated RAID controller without having to include a stand-alone RAID controller, such as in one of the blade slots, and without having to include a RAID controller within the storage enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for integrating a blade RAID controller and storage. A storage blade enclosure communicates with a blade chassis. The storage blade enclosure is mounted within the blade chassis. A RAID controller disposed in the storage blade enclosure receives a command through the storage blade enclosure. In one embodiment, the command is communicated through the blade chassis from a processor blade mounted in the blade chassis. The RAID controller redundantly stores data to or retrieves data from a storage module disposed in the storage blade enclosure in response to the command using a RAID redundancy methodology.

Abstract: A computing device comprising a plurality of devices and a plurality of visual indicators is disclosed. Each of the plurality of visual indicators is interconnected with a power source and is associated with a different one of the plurality of devices. None of the plurality of visual indicators comprises a capacitor.