Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing database system workload and replaying that workload in a database system is provided. According to one aspect, in order to subject a test database system to the same workload to which the production database system actually would be subjected, a database server in the production system captures and records workload that the database server receives from external entities. This captured workload is processed. Processes external to a database server in the test database system send the processed workload to that database server. As a result, the test database system is subjected to the same workload to which the production database system originally was subjected. The foregoing technique permits a database administrator to determine how the production database system will fare if the difference that is present in the test database system is introduced into the production database system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing database system workload and replaying that workload in a database system is provided. According to one aspect, in order to subject a test database system to the same workload to which the production database system actually would be subjected, a database server in the production system captures and records workload that the database server receives from external entities. This captured workload is processed. Processes external to a database server in the test database system send the processed workload to that database server. As a result, the test database system is subjected to the same workload to which the production database system originally was subjected. The foregoing technique permits a database administrator to determine how the production database system will fare if the difference that is present in the test database system is introduced into the production database system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a soft start circuit includes a slew rate controller to limit inrush current to a voltage regulator during start up. The output voltage of the regulator may be compared to a previous sampled value to determine the slew rate of the output voltage. The slew rate of the output voltage may be controlled by adjusting the current limit of the regulator. The current limit of the regulator may be adjusted using digital circuits, such as a counter and a digital to analog converter, or analog circuits using a pulsed current source, for example. The slew rate may be controlled to exceed a target slew rate or to stay within a range of slew rate limits.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method for performing a data uniqueness check in a set of sorted data blocks comprising accessing data to be inserted into the set of sorted data blocks, determining a proper data block of the set of sorted data blocks for which the data to be inserted should be located based on a first sorting key. The method further includes examining the proper data block for an existing data entry and if the proper data block is empty, the method further includes inserting the data to be inserted into the proper data block of the set of sorted data blocks.

Abstract: A semiconductor die package capable of being mounted to a motherboard is disclosed. The semiconductor die package includes a substrate, and a first semiconductor die mounted on the substrate, where the first semiconductor die includes a first vertical device comprising a first input region and a first output region at opposite surfaces of the first semiconductor die. The semiconductor die package includes a second semiconductor die mounted on the substrate, where second semiconductor die comprises a second vertical device comprising a second input region and a second output region at opposite surfaces of the second semiconductor die. A substantially planar conductive node clip electrically communicates the first output region in the first semiconductor die and the second input region in the second semiconductor die. The first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die are between the substrate and the conductive node clip.

Abstract: In one embodiment, in a power converter system having first and second switches connected in a half-bridge arrangement at a common node from which current flows through an inductor to a regulated output terminal, wherein the regulated output terminal is connectable to a load, wherein the first and second switches are turned on and off in cycles, a method is provided for synchronous rectification. The method includes: initiating a cycle in which the first switch is turned on; developing a timer based on the on-time of the first switch during the cycle; turning off the first switch and turning on the second switch during the cycle; and outputting a control signal to turn off the second switch when either the timer expires or a new cycle is initiated to turn on the first switch, thereby providing synchronous rectification in the power converter system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for a control interface includes: receiving a signal conveying bits of information over a single line; and for each bit of information, comparing the proportion of time that the signal on the single line is low versus the proportion of time that the signal on the single line is high for a respective bit period defined from one operative edge of the signal to the next operative edge of the signal in order to determine a logic value for that bit of information.

Abstract: A semiconductor die package capable of being mounted to a motherboard is disclosed. The semiconductor die package includes a substrate, and a first semiconductor die mounted on the substrate, where the first semiconductor die includes a first vertical device comprising a first input region and a first output region at opposite surfaces of the first semiconductor die. The semiconductor die package includes a second semiconductor die mounted on the substrate, where second semiconductor die comprises a second vertical device comprising a second input region and a second output region at opposite surfaces of the second semiconductor die. A substantially planar conductive node clip electrically communicates the first output region in the first semiconductor die and the second input region in the second semiconductor die. The first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die are between the substrate and the conductive node clip.

Abstract: An infrastructure is provided for gathering diagnostic data that is relevant to an error or other conditions detected in a monitored system. A diagnosability framework is provided that automates the gathering of relevant diagnostic data upon occurrence of the condition in the monitored system. In one embodiment, context data is determined for the condition detected in the monitored system. A rule-based engine is provided that is configured to automatically determine one or more actions to be performed for the condition detected in the monitored system based on the determined context data. The actions may include performing tasks that gather diagnostic data that is relevant to the detected condition, store the gathered diagnostic data in a repository, recommend one or more diagnostic actions to a user, and other diagnostic related actions.

Abstract: Techniques for proactively and reactively running diagnostic functions. These diagnostic functions help to improve diagnostics of conditions detected in a monitored system and to limit/quarantine the damages caused by the detected conditions. In one embodiment, a health monitor infrastructure is provided that is configured to perform one or more health checks in a monitored system for diagnosing and/or gathering information related to the system. The one or more health checks may be invoked pro-actively on a scheduled basis, reactively in response to a condition detected in the system, or may even be invoked manually by a user such as a system administrator.

Abstract: A diagnosability system for automatically collecting, storing, communicating, and analyzing diagnostic data for one or more monitored systems. The diagnosability system comprises several components configured for the collection, storage, communication, and analysis of diagnostic data for a condition detected in monitored system. The diagnosability system enables targeted dumping of diagnostic data so that only diagnostic data that is relevant for diagnosing the condition detected in the monitored system is collected and stored. This in turn enables first failure analysis thereby reducing the time needed to resolve the condition detected in the monitored system.

Abstract: Techniques for intelligently identifying diagnostic data to be communicated from a product or system site (e.g., a customer site) to a diagnosis site (e.g., a vendor site). An appropriate amount of diagnostic data is identified to facilitate efficient and quick diagnosis and error resolution. Techniques are also provided that enable a customer to review the data identified for transmission to the diagnosis site prior to the transmission.

Abstract: Techniques that enable a user or customer at a system site to review and, if desired, modify data identified at the system site for transmission to a diagnosis site prior to the transmission. The identified diagnostic data may be modified such that data that the user does not want to be sent to the diagnosis site (e.g., sensitive data) is excluded from the data communicated to the diagnosis site. The data may be modified by removing or excluding the sensitive data from the data that is communicated to the diagnosis site or replacing the sensitive data with non-sensitive data. The modified data may then be communicated from the system site to the diagnosis site in the form of a package.

Abstract: Techniques for systematically gathering, organizing, and storing diagnostic data related to multiple monitored systems (e.g., multiple instances of a product or multiple products). A centralized repository is provided that is organized in a hierarchical manner to facilitate proper organization of the diagnostic data related to multiple monitored systems. In one embodiment, a root directory comprising one or more subdirectories is provided for storing diagnostic data collected for each monitored system. Multiple root directories may be provided under a common base directory for storing diagnostic data corresponding to multiple monitored systems. This enables correlation of diagnostic data across multiple monitored systems.

Abstract: Techniques for indicating the status or health of a software system in a simple and summarized manner. In one embodiment, a health meter is displayed that displays a status value indicating the status or health of the software system. The status or health of the system as indicated by the health meter may be based upon one or more characteristics or perspectives (or components) of the system, such as performance, resource utilization, reliability, availability, scalability, and status values computed for the components.

Abstract: A fact table is set up without any dimension columns. The data in the table is ordered according to an order corresponding to the ordering of the dimensions. The table is divided into segments corresponding to contiguous portions of data. The portions of the table containing non-null values for the measures are placed into the segments. The size of the segments and the location segments may be determined according to the density of discontinuities in the data. An indexed organized table is used to determine the beginning and end of each segment of the table, the locations of the discontinuities in the data, and to facilitate accessing the measures of the table.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for hysteretic control of a DC-to-DC power converter system having first and second switches connected in a half-bridge arrangement at a common node and through an inductor to a regulated output terminal, wherein the regulated output terminal is connectable to an output capacitor and a load. The method includes the following: generating a feedback signal which tracks current flowing through the inductor; comparing the feedback signal against a reference voltage to generate a control signal; and controlling the magnitude of an output voltage which appears at the regulated output terminal in response to the control signal, thereby providing hysteretic control of the DC-to-DC converter which is not dependent on an equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the output capacitor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a soft start circuit includes a slew rate controller to limit inrush current to a voltage regulator during start up. The output voltage of the regulator may be compared to a previous sampled value to determine the slew rate of the output voltage. The slew rate of the output voltage may be controlled by adjusting the current limit of the regulator. The current limit of the regulator may be adjusted using digital circuits, such as a counter and a digital to analog converter, or analog circuits using a pulsed current source, for example. The slew rate may be controlled to exceed a target slew rate or to stay within a range of slew rate limits.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for a control interface includes: receiving a signal conveying bits of information over a single line; and for each bit of information, comparing the proportion of time that the signal on the single line is low versus the proportion of time that the signal on the single line is high for a respective bit period defined from one operative edge of the signal to the next operative edge of the signal in order to determine a logic value for that bit of information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing database system workload and replaying that workload in a database system is provided. According to one aspect, in order to subject a test database system to the same workload to which the production database system actually would be subjected, a database server in the production system captures and records workload that the database server receives from external entities. This captured workload is processed. Processes external to a database server in the test database system send the processed workload to that database server. As a result, the test database system is subjected to the same workload to which the production database system originally was subjected. The foregoing technique permits a database administrator to determine how the production database system will fare if the difference that is present in the test database system is introduced into the production database system.