Abstract: Mechanisms and techniques for database fragment cloning and management are provided. A database object, such as a table, rowset or index, is divided into fragments. Each fragment is cloned to create cloned fragments, which operationally are substantially identical to one another. One or more of the cloned fragments may be designated as a primary cloned fragment for performing database operations or as a secondary cloned fragment for serving as backup. Updates to each fragment are implemented on the primary cloned fragment and are then propagated from the primary cloned fragment to the corresponding secondary cloned fragments. A cloned fragment can go offline, becoming unavailable to be updated. When the cloned fragment returns online, the cloned fragment is refreshed with data included in the primary cloned fragment. While being refreshed, the cloned fragment may continue to be updated.

Abstract: A technique is described for storing data from a database across a plurality of data storage devices, wherein each data storage device is capable of being accessed only by a corresponding computer system in a group of interconnected computer systems. In accordance with the technique, an identifier of the database is received. An identifier of a storage tier instance is also received, wherein the storage tier instance comprises a logical representation of one or more storage locations within each of the data storage devices. Responsive to the receipt of the identifier of the database and the identifier of the storage tier instance, data from the database is stored in two or more of the storage locations logically represented by the storage tier instance, wherein each of the two or more storage locations in which data is stored is within a corresponding one of the data storage devices.

Abstract: A virtual applications architecture is provided according to the present invention. The architecture includes a topology manager for managing applications across a plurality of members, and a virtual applications manager for defining a plurality of resources comprising the applications. The topology manager communicates with the plurality of members to initiate scaling of the applications associated with the virtual applications manager to the members. The architecture may also include a replication system for deploying the applications to the members.

Abstract: A virtual applications architecture is provided according to the present invention. The architecture includes a topology manager for managing applications across a plurality of members, and a virtual applications manager for defining a plurality of resources comprising the applications. The topology manager communicates with the plurality of members to initiate scaling of the applications associated with the virtual applications manager to the members. The architecture may also include a replication system for deploying the applications to the members.

Abstract: An access-check system for a network server comprises an access-cache for storing access-permissions generated by the server in response to resource access requests. The system retrieves the appropriate access-permission from the access-cache in response to receipt of a request necessitating the same access-permission as already generated for an earlier processed request. A user-token cache is also employed to assign a unique user-token, to be used in the access-cache, to each user logged on to the server. Changes made to the user-token cache are reflected in the access-cache by removing from the access-cache those entries containing the changed user-token. Changes made to an access control list are reflected in the access-cache by removing from the access-cache those entries containing the server resource with which the changed access control list is associated.

Abstract: A method for tracking usage patterns of users of hyper-media systems, such as the World-Wide Web, that creates a usage log on a user's client computer and periodically transmits the usage log from the user's client machine to a usage tracking server computer to be incorporated in an overall usage log for a given information server computer. Alternatively, proxy server may be connected between a client computer and an information server with the proxy server acting as a client to the information server and creating a usage log of the user's client computer access to the information server computer to be sent to usage tracking computer. Each time a user connects to a Web site, the client computer or proxy server creates a usage log that records all objects retrieved from that particular Web site and other attributes of user processing such as time spent viewing an object, amount of an object viewed, etc.

Abstract: An access-check system for a network server comprises an access-cache for storing access-permissions generated by the server in response to resource access requests. The system retrieves the appropriate access-permission from the access-cache in response to receipt of a request necessitating the same access-permission as already generated for an earlier processed request. A user-token cache is also employed to assign a unique user-token, to be used in the access-cache, to each user logged on to the server. Changes made to the user-token cache are reflected in the access-cache by removing from the access-cache those entries containing the changed user-token. Changes made to an access control list are reflected in the access-cache by removing from the access-cache those entries containing the server resource with which the changed access control list is associated.