Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for migrating an operating system from a source computer to a destination computer. Some embodiments include identifying a destination adapter of the destination computer that is coupled for data communications to a SAN that is also coupled for data communications to a source adapter of the source computer, logging off a virtual port name of the source adapter from the login manager, deregistering the virtual port name from the source adapter, registering the virtual port name with the destination adapter, and logging on the destination adapter to the login manager with the virtual port name. Typical embodiments also include transferring the operating system from the source computer to the destination computer.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for negotiating parameters for an IPSec connection between a requesting client and an iSCSI system using a computer system other than an iSCSI system are provided. By design, the iSCSI system monitors TCP (Transmission Control protocol) port 500 for secure requests. When a request enters port 500, the iSCSI system transmits all information received on port 500 to a computer system better suited to handle IPSec parameter negotiations. After the computer system has negotiated the parameters, the parameters are passed to the iSCSI system for a secure data transaction to ensue.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for multicasting or broadcasting a piece of data from one partition of a partitioned computer system to a plurality of partitions of the system are provided. When a partition needs to transfer data to more than one partition of the system, the partition first stores the data into a global memory accessible by all partitions of the system. The memory is then marked “read-only” to ensure that the data is not over-written and the Ids (identifications) of the recipient partitions are passed to a piece of firmware or hardware of the computer system. This firmware or hardware then alerts the recipient partitions that there is a piece of data ready to be read in the memory. Once all the recipient partitions have read the data, the global memory is reverted to a “read” and “write” memory.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and system for detecting a first-hop dead gateway. In one embodiment, a method comprises the step of sending a TCP packet of data from an application of a sender host to a receiver host through a first gateway, where the first gateway is a first-hop away from the sender host. The method further comprises the step of TCP failing to receive an acknowledgment of received data from the receiver host. The method further comprises the step of deleting an ARP entry associated with the first gateway in the sender host. The method further comprises the step of establishing a new communication using the first gateway by the application or new application of the sender host. The method further comprises the step of sending an ARP request to the first gateway by the sender host.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for negotiating parameters for an IPSec connection between a requesting client and an iSCSI system using a computer system other than an iSCSI system are provided. By design, the iSCSI system monitors TCP (Transmission Control protocol) port 500 for secure requests. When a request enters port 500, the iSCSI system transmits all information received on port 500 to a computer system better suited to handle IPSec parameter negotiations. After the computer system has negotiated the parameters, the parameters are passed to the iSCSI system for a secure data transaction to ensue.

Abstract: Network input processing is distributed to multiple CPUs on multiprocessor systems to improve network throughput and take advantage of MP scalability. Packets are received by the network adapter and are distributed to N receive buffer pools set up by the device driver, based on N CPUs being available for input processing of packets. Each receive buffer pool has an associated CPU. Packets are direct memory accessed to one of the N receive buffer pools by using a hashing function, which is based on the source MAC address, source IP address, or the packet's source and destination TCP port numbers, or all or a combination of the foregoing. The hashing mechanism ensures that the sequence of packets within a given communication session will be preserved. Distribution is effected by the network adapter, which sends an interrupt to the CPU corresponding to the receive buffer pool, subsequent to the packet being DMAed into the buffer pool.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for multicasting or broadcasting a piece of data from one partition of a partitioned computer system to a plurality of partitions of the system are provided. When a partition needs to transfer data to more than one partition of the system, the partition first stores the data into a global memory accessible by all partitions of the system. The memory is then marked “read-only” to ensure that the data is not over-written and the Ids (identifications) of the recipient partitions are passed to a piece of firmware or hardware of the computer system. This firmware or hardware then alerts the recipient partitions that there is a piece of data ready to be read in the memory. Once all the recipient partitions have read the data, the global memory is reverted to a “read” and “write” memory.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for transferring data from one partition of a partitioned system to another without using a network are provided. When a first partition needs to transfer data to a second partition, it marks the data, which is located in its part of the system's partitioned memory, as a “read-only” data and indicates so to partitioned system's firmware or hardware. This indication is usually manifested by passing a pointer to the data, as well as the identification of the partition to receive the data to the firmware or hardware. Upon being notified, the firmware or hardware of the partitioned system re-assigns the memory locations containing the data to the second partition and passes the pointer to the second partition. As a measure of (redundant) security, the second partition checks to see whether the data is indeed a “read-only” data. If so, it reads the data, else it does not.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for determining an optimal capacity of a server within a set of servers. Resource use and units of work data are dynamically collected from the server. An optimal capacity is identified for the server using the resource use and unit of work data from the server.

Abstract: Network input processing is distributed to multiple CPUs on multiprocessor systems to improve network throughput and take advantage of MP scalability. Packets received on the network are distributed to N high priority threads, wherein N is the number of CPUs on the system. N queues are provided to which the incoming packets are distributed. When one of the queues is started, one of the threads is scheduled to process packets on this queue at any one of the CPUs that is availableat the time. When all of the packets on the queue are processed, the thread becomes dormant. Packets are distributed to one of the N queues by using a hashing function based on the source MAC address, source IP address, or the packet's source and destination TCP port number, or all or a combination of the foregoing. The hashing mechanism ensures that the sequence of packets within a given communication session will be preserved. Distribution is effected by the device drivers of the system.