Abstract: A method for defragmenting volumes in a mirrored system. The method includes determining that a defragmentation process has been performed on a second server. The method further includes storing a before and after mapping of a second set of tracks, wherein the before and after mapping includes information identifying at least one track of the second set of tracks and a corresponding first location of the respective track before the performing of the defragmentation process and a second location of the respective track after the performing of the defragmentation process and sending an indication to a first server to relocate at least one track of a first set of tracks on the first server from a first location on the first server to a second location on the first server according to the stored before and after mapping of the corresponding second set of tracks on the second server.

Abstract: Disclosed aspects include management of a set of blocks in a storage system. A set of write requests is initiated to the set of blocks. In response to the set of write requests, a set of expiration metadata for the set of blocks is established. Based on the set of expiration metadata, an expiration event is detected. In response to detecting the expiration event, an expiration operation on the set of blocks is processed.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing traffic alerts includes a distance module, analysis module, transmission module, and signaling module. The distance module measures the distance between a vehicle and an object in front of the vehicle. The analysis decides whether to signal a presence of the object that comprises determining that the measured distance is equal to or less than a threshold distance. The transmission module transmits an alert in response to the analysis module deciding to signal a presence of the object. The signaling module transmits a visual signal to one or more vehicles behind the vehicle in response to receiving the alert from the transmission module. The visual signal has one or more characteristics.

Abstract: A method for defragmenting volumes in a mirrored system. The method includes suspending one or more updates from being mirrored from a first set of tracks on a first server to a second set of tracks on a second server. A defragmenting process is performed on the second server. The defragmentation process stores a before and after mapping of the second set of tracks, wherein the before and after mapping includes information identifying at least one track of the second set of tracks and a corresponding first location of the respective track before the defragmenting and a second location of the respective track after the defragmenting. The method further includes, upon the defragment process completion, relocating at least one track of the first set of tracks on the first server according to the stored before and after mapping of the corresponding second set of tracks on the second server.

Abstract: Disclosed aspects include management of a set of blocks in a storage system. A set of write requests is initiated to the set of blocks. In response to the set of write requests, a set of expiration metadata for the set of blocks is established. Based on the set of expiration metadata, an expiration event is detected. In response to detecting the expiration event, an expiration operation on the set of blocks is processed.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for selective write control in accordance with the present description. In one aspect, a write operation which is associated with a read operation, may be selectively discarded if write operations have been disabled and if the write operation is directed to update a designated write operation acceptance area such as metadata associated with the target data set, for example. As a result, the read operation may be permitted to proceed and will not fail because the associated write operation was discarded rather than attempting to commit the write operation to the designated write operation acceptance area, thereby avoiding an error condition for a storage unit such as a volume, in which write operations have been disabled. Accordingly, applications which seek to perform read operations may be permitted to access data stored on such a volume. Other aspects are described.

Abstract: A method for defragmenting volumes in a mirrored system. The method includes suspending one or more updates from being mirrored from a first set of tracks on a first server to a second set of tracks on a second server. A defragmenting process is performed on the second server. The defragmentation process stores a before and after mapping of the second set of tracks, wherein the before and after mapping includes information identifying at least one track of the second set of tracks and a corresponding first location of the respective track before the defragmenting and a second location of the respective track after the defragmenting. The method further includes, upon the defragment process completion, relocating at least one track of the first set of tracks on the first server according to the stored before and after mapping of the corresponding second set of tracks on the second server.

Abstract: A method for releasing storage space in a space-efficient volume is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes maintaining, for a space-efficient volume, a bitmap comprising a bit for each track in the space-efficient volume. A host system indicates whether a track is one of used and unused by marking the corresponding bit in the bitmap. A storage controller reads the bitmap and frees tracks from the space-efficient volume that the bitmap indicates are unused. In certain embodiments, the bitmap is stored on the space-efficient volume. For example, the bitmap may be appended to a volume table of contents (VTOC) stored on the space-efficient volume. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for data unit classification in accordance with one embodiment of the present description, in which in response to a data processing command, a storage controller classifies data units of a storage unit as either allocated to a data set or as unallocated to any data set. If allocated to a data set, the storage controller can further classify data set-allocated data units as either containing client data or metadata or as empty. In accordance with one aspect of the present description, the storage controller may bypass data processing of the data units which have not been allocated to any data set or otherwise do not contain client data or metadata. Other aspects of data unit classification in accordance with the present description are described.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for managing filesystem inodes. The mechanism monitors inode consumption in a filesystem. The mechanism periodically determines a number of inodes to add to the filesystem based on the inode consumption and adds the number of inodes to the filesystem.

Abstract: A computer room management device communicates with a serviceable device via a computer room serviceability network (CRSN) that is distinct from other functional data networks utilized to accomplish computing tasks. The CRSN may be, for example, a Bluetooth connection that provides for the communication of serviceability instructions between devices within the computer room. The management device instructs the serviceable device to activate a location identifier proximately located to a service location. The management device provides a service interface that includes a representation of the activated location identifier along with instructions for providing service at the service location.

Abstract: An apparatus for migrating data in a tiered storage architecture includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices coupled to the processors and storing instructions for execution by the processors. The instructions cause the one or more processors to: track temperature (i.e., frequency of access) of data blocks in a tiered storage architecture; generate heat maps indicating the temperature of the data blocks across different time intervals; process the heat maps using an image processing algorithm; compress the heat maps to reduce the size of the heat maps; compare the heat maps from the time intervals to identify temperature patterns occurring over time; predict, from the temperature patterns, when selected data blocks will change in temperature; and migrate the selected data blocks between tiers of the tiered storage architecture in anticipation of their changes in temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed aspects include management of a set of blocks in a storage system. A set of write requests is initiated to the set of blocks. In response to the set of write requests, a set of expiration metadata for the set of blocks is established. Based on the set of expiration metadata, an expiration event is detected. In response to detecting the expiration event, an expiration operation on the set of blocks is processed.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for modifying an assignment of nodes to roles in a computing environment. There are a plurality of resource thresholds for each of a plurality of roles, wherein each role defines a type of operations and node resource usage for the nodes, and a measurement of node resource usage for the nodes. For at least one of the node, operations are performed comprising: determining at least one of the roles assigned to the node; determining a role resource threshold for each role assigned to the node; determining whether the measured node resource usage at the node exceeds the determined role resource thresholds for each role assigned to the node, wherein the role having the determined resource threshold exceeded by the node resource usage comprises a role to adjust; and determining a modification of the assignment of nodes to the role to adjust.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for managing filesystem inodes. The mechanism monitors inode consumption in a filesystem. The mechanism periodically determines a number of inodes to add to the filesystem based on the inode consumption and adds the number of inodes to the filesystem.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for modifying an assignment of nodes to roles in a computing environment. There are a plurality of resource thresholds for each of a plurality of roles, wherein each role defines a type of operations and node resource usage for the nodes, and a measurement of node resource usage for the nodes. For at least one of the node, operations are performed comprising: determining at least one of the roles assigned to the node; determining a role resource threshold for each role assigned to the node; determining whether the measured node resource usage at the node exceeds the determined role resource thresholds for each role assigned to the node, wherein the role having the determined resource threshold exceeded by the node resource usage comprises a role to adjust; and determining a modification of the assignment of nodes to the role to adjust.

Abstract: A method, according to one embodiment, includes receiving a request for a hypervisor to run a virtual machine, determining using a processor whether the virtual machine is authorized to run using a data structure having metadata about properties of the virtual machine, determining using a processor whether the hypervisor is authorized to run the virtual machine using a digital signature of the data structure, receiving a decryption key from a key authority when it is determined that the virtual machine is authorized to be run and it is determined that the hypervisor is authorized to run the virtual machine, unlocking and/or decrypting the virtual machine using the decryption key, and running the virtual machine on a computer system. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: A method for migrating data in a tiered storage architecture is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes tracking the temperature of data blocks in a tiered storage architecture, where the temperature indicates the frequency the data blocks are accessed. Heat maps are generated that indicate the temperature of the data blocks across different time intervals. These heat maps are compared to identify temperature patterns that may occur over time. The temperature patterns, in turn, may be used to predict when selected data blocks will change in temperature. Data blocks may be migrated between tiers of the tiered storage architecture in anticipation of the predicated changes in temperature. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: An incremental backup system that performs the following (not necessarily in the following order): (i) making a plurality of time-ordered journal entries; (ii) determining that a corruption condition exists; (iii) responsive to a corruption condition, constructing a first incremental mirror data set that reflects a backup data set and all journal entries up to a first corrupted journal entry which is the earliest in time journal entry, of the plurality of journal entries, that is a corrupted journal entry; (iv) responsive to a corruption condition, constructing a second incremental mirror data set that reflects the backup data set and all journal entries up to the first corrupted journal entry; and (v) checking for corruption in the first and second incremental mirror data sets to determine the latest uncorrupted version of the data set.

Abstract: A method for migrating data in a tiered storage architecture is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes tracking the temperature of data blocks in a tiered storage architecture, where the temperature indicates the frequency the data blocks are accessed. Heat maps are generated that indicate the temperature of the data blocks across different time intervals. These heat maps are compared to identify temperature patterns that may occur over time. The temperature patterns, in turn, may be used to predict when selected data blocks will change in temperature. Data blocks may be migrated between tiers of the tiered storage architecture in anticipation of the predicated changes in temperature. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.