Abstract: The present invention is a disc drive storage unit incorporating novel apparatus, data structure and method for uniquely identifying data written during each write command operation of the disc drive storage unit. The disc drive storage unit attaches unique write identification data (sequence data, time data, or both) to host computer data written during each sector write operation. The unique write identification data is attached through independent action of the disc drive storage unit. The unique write identification data is attached to the host computer data in such a way that the unique write identification data is transparent to the host computer. The data structure relates the host computer data to the unique write identification data. The method documents the manner in which unique identification data is attached to, and detached from, the host computer data.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for determining clock rate failure in a serial communication interface. A complete clock rate failure can be detected. Alternatively, or in addition, the interface includes a rate matching buffer in which fill characters are added or deleted to accommodate minor clock variations. The number of fill characters added or deleted is monitored to determine whether clock variation is outside of a desired threshold.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and system of improving the efficiency, and ensuring the integrity, of a data transfer in a serverless backup, or third party copy, system having one or more physical storage devices. The present invention provides improvements to the processing of serverless copy, or EXTENDED COPY, commands, and transfers of data associated with such commands. These improvements increase the speed at which such commands are executed and completed, and increase the capabilities of copy managers in serverless backup systems. The improvements also make better use of the storage devices involved in the data backup process. The method broadly includes determining a desired manner of execution of segment descriptors, or instructions, as a function of components of those instructions. Other aspects of the invention allow for execution of data segments of any size, and validation of segment descriptors and target descriptors prior to data transfer.

Abstract: The present invention is a disc drive storage unit incorporating novel apparatus, data structure and method for uniquely identifying data written during each write command operation of the disc drive storage unit. The disc drive storage unit attaches unique write identification data (sequence data, time data, or both) to host computer data written during each sector write operation. The unique write identification data is attached through independent action of the disc drive storage unit. The unique write identification data is attached to the host computer data in such a way that the unique write identification data is transparent to the host computer. The data structure relates the host computer data to the unique write identification data. The method documents the manner in which unique identification data is attached to, and detached from, the host computer data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preserving loop fairness. Some embodiments include a dynamic half-duplex feature. One aspect includes a communications channel system and method for preserving loop fairness that includes a first channel node having one or more ports, each port supporting and attached to a fibre-channel arbitrated-loop serial communications channel. One of the ports will arbitrate for control of that port's attached channel, wherein control of the channel loop, once arbitration is won, a fairness-preserving apparatus causes control of the communications channel to be released based at least in part on whether a predetermined amount of use has occurred between the first port and the communications channel. In some embodiments, the predetermined amount of use includes a transfer of a first predetermined amount of data. In some embodiments, release of control of the channel is inhibited if less than a second predetermined amount of data remains to be transferred.

Abstract: A system includes shared Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) storage devices for processing clients coupled by a fiber channel interface. The storage devices include storage blocks, and locks controlling their use by clients. Clients issue actions to the storage devices for performing operations on the locks. A client may exclude other clients from using storage blocks using a state element to acquire the lock for shared or exclusive use. If the client modified the data, a version counter in the lock is updated when the lock is released. If an activity bit is set, the version counter is updated upon both reading and writing. Other clients can forcibly release a lock owned by a failed client by monitoring its version counter. Expiration timers associated with the locks allow acquired locks to be released by timing out. A serverless global file system (GFS) manages use of the shared storage resources, and allows remapping of the locks to the storage blocks, for example, based on activity of the locks.

Abstract: Control of a loop of a fiber-channel arbitrated-loop serial communications channel is maintained (i.e., the loop connection is held open) as long as a minimum amount of data, which optionally is determined by programming (called a “programmable amount of data”), is available for transmission, in order to reduce the overall amount of time spent arbitrating for control of the loop. The improved communications channel system includes a channel node having one or more ports, each port supporting a fiber-channel arbitrated-loop serial communications channel loop, wherein each port arbitrates for control of that port's attached channel loop. The system also includes an arbitration-and-control apparatus to reduce arbitrated-loop overhead, wherein control of the channel loop, once control is achieved by arbitration, is maintained by the arbitration-and-control apparatus as long as a predetermined amount of data is available within control of the node.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a priority encoder (PE)/read-only-memory (ROM) combination circuit (200) includes detect circuits (206-xy) and passgate circuits (208-xy) arranged into rows (202-x) and columns (202-y). Detect circuits (206-xy) of the same column can be activated by a corresponding input signal (M0 to M7). When a detect circuit (206-xy) of a column (202-y) is activated, the passgates (208-xy) of the same column are disabled, preventing any lower priority active input signals (M0 to M7) from propagating further into the circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preserving loop fairness. Some embodiments include a dynamic half-duplex feature. One aspect includes a communications channel system and method for preserving loop fairness that includes a first channel node having one or more ports, each port supporting and attached to a fiber-channel arbitrated-loop serial communications channel. One of the ports will arbitrate for control of that port's attached channel, wherein control of the channel loop, once arbitration is won, a fairness-preserving apparatus causes control of the communications channel to be released based at least in part on whether a predetermined amount of use has occurred between the first port and the communications channel. In some embodiments, the predetermined amount of use includes a transfer of a first predetermined amount of data. In some embodiments, release of control of the channel is inhibited if less than a second predetermined amount of data remains to be transferred.

Abstract: A soft-sided insulative container includes a base, a rear wall and three side walls extending upward from the base, and a cover. The base, rear wall and cover are integrally formed, with the cover connected to the rear wall with a folding hinge. The side walls are integrally formed with each other, with the side walls connected to the base and rear wall at seams. Each side wall has a side wall ear flexibly attached to it with a folding hinge to extend inward adjacent the cover. The cover has cover ears each flexibly attached to it with a folding hinge, and cover ears extend downward around all the peripheral edges of the cover. In a closed position, each unhinged edge between the cover and the side walls includes both a side wall ear and a cover ear in an overlapping configuration. The cover ears are temporarily secured to the side walls in this closed position.

Abstract: An animal restraint and/or tethering device is composed of a metal rod with one end being pointed to allow easy insertion into the ground, and the other end having a flat metal disk affixed transversely to it. The rod also has one conventional nut affixed around the rod slightly below the disk. Both the disk and the nut are welded in place. The device has two metal chain-like links, one encircling the metal rod below the disk and above the nut, and the other interlinked to the first link but not encircling the rod. Both links are loose so as to rotate freely around the rod. This allows any standard lead or leash loop handle to be received through the loose link and looped over the disk and around the rod and be held in place by the disk and link members.

Abstract: Control of a loop of a fiber-channel arbitrated-loop serial communications channel is maintained (i.e., the loop connection is held open) as long as a minimum amount of data, which optionally is determined by programming (called a “programmable amount of data”), is available for transmission, in order to reduce the overall amount of time spent arbitrating for control of the loop. The improved communications channel system includes a channel node having one or more ports, each port supporting a fiber-channel arbitrated-loop serial communications channel loop, wherein each port arbitrates for control of that port's attached channel loop. The system also includes an arbitration-and-control apparatus to reduce arbitrated-loop overhead, wherein control of the channel loop, once control is achieved by arbitration, is maintained by the arbitration-and-control apparatus as long as a predetermined amount of data is available within control of the node.