Abstract: A system and method for migrating a client partition between computer electronic complexes (CECs) while maintaining access to a Storage Area Network. An active and inactive world wide port name are generated for a client virtual channel adapter. A query is sent to a name server from the VIOS on the source CEC. The name server creates a list of small computer system interface (SCSI) targets that are available. The list is used by the VIOS on the destination CEC to verify whether any physical ports in the destination CEC have access to the same SCSI target. The client partition may be migrated between a source CEC and a destination CEC and the access to the Storage Area Network access may be maintained.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for delivering data, received from a network on a network adapter to a pre-assigned port, to a storage buffer assigned to an application are disclosed. An application designates an application-specific buffer within a local data processing system for buffering data communicated with the application. The local data processing system reports to a network interface of the local data processing system a memory address of the designated application-specific buffer, and the data processing system designates a port on which to receive packets addressed to the memory address. The data processing system then sends a port registration message to the local network interface, enabling the network interface to compare the port number of incoming traffic to a registered port number and route incoming traffic from a remote data processing system directly to the designated application-specific buffers in the event of a match.

Abstract: A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided for controlling the number of Ethernet adapters connected in an EtherChannel depending upon the current bandwidth requirements of the system. This system reduces power consumption, inter alia, wherever possible while not sacrificing performance or flexibility of an EthernetChannel. An exemplary embodiment EtherChannel's total bandwidth utilization is monitored and controlled. When the bandwidth utilization is a predetermined amount less than or more than a predetermined threshold level, power supplied to one or more of the physical Ethernet adapters that are part of the EtherChannel is adjusted, i.e. reduced or increased, accordingly. In another embodiment, in systems where ethernet devices support different levels of power, the power supplied to one or more adapters can be systematically incrementally reduced or increased in response to reduced or increased bandwidth utilization.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided to enhance the scalability of network caching capabilities. All network client applications running on a partition in a virtualized environment are configured to query information from a single virtual input/output server (VIOS) network caching daemon. Thus, the illustrative embodiments provide a 1:n model where a VIOS partition has a network caching daemon, and each of the n partitions uses the network caching daemon of the VIOS partition. The mechanism of the illustrative embodiments only requires the system administrator to control one copy of the local files on the VIOS server. The system administrator does not need to monitor all of these local files on each individual partition. The system administrator consolidates the entries used by the different individual partitions into one single file on the VIOS server side.

Abstract: A method for intelligent patch scheduling for a virtual (I/O) server is provided. Virtual I/O performance indicators of a virtual I/O server are monitored. The performance indicators are stored in a database. Historic averages of the performance indicators are maintained in the database. Patches to be applied to a client partition of the virtual I/O server are received. A reboot window is received for the client partition and is an allowed time frame for rebooting to apply the patches. Future virtual I/O utilization is predicted by running predictive modeling utilizing the historic averages of the performance indicators, and based on the predictive modeling, a specific time within the allowed time frame is determined for rebooting the client partition of the virtual I/O server to apply the patches. The virtual I/O server is rebooted to apply the patches to the client partition at the specific time within the reboot window.

Abstract: The reassembly timer in a TCP/IP receiver is dynamically set to avoid data corruption on fast networks caused by IP identification wrap-around. A sender generates IP packets with a special option specifying a reassembly time for fragments based on the subnet of the destination or on the calculated round-trip time of the connection. A receiver sets the reassembly timer to the reassembly time specified in the option. A sender can generate IP packets with an alternative option setting a time stamp for the generated packet. A receiver calculates a traversal time based on the difference between the arrival time of the fragment and this time stamp, and sets the reassembly timer based on this traversal time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for enabling a telephone caller to generate a brief message for transmission to an intended call recipient, as part of the initial procedure of setting up a phone call between the caller and recipient. The message is sent and displayed or otherwise made available to the recipient before the recipient is required to answer the call. The message could comprise a sequence of alphanumeric characters that conveyed an abbreviated message, or otherwise indicates the purpose to the call to the recipient or provides other information. Respective characters could be transmitted as corresponding sequences of binary tones sent to the call recipient between telephone rings.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product is provided that receives a backup request at a virtual input/output server (VIOS) from a client of the VIOS. The backup request corresponds to a virtual nonvolatile storage that is used by the client. The VIOS retrieves data from the nonvolatile storage device where the virtual nonvolatile storage is stored. The VIOS transmits the retrieved data to a backup server via a computer network, such as the Internet. In one embodiment, a backup software application runs on the VIOS client and a backup proxy software application runs on the VIOS.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for use with a SEA or other bridge device, which is positioned between virtual and physical LANS and is adapted to monitor connection setup packets. If the SEA detects such a packet, it determines whether it can accommodate the MSS value listed in the packet. In one embodiment, a method is provided for implementation by a bridge device positioned to transfer data packets between a specified LPAR system arid a specified host. The method comprises the step of detecting a packet that is transmitted to the bridge device, in order to set up a connection between the LPAR system and the host. The method further comprises determining whether the detected packet indicates an initial MSS value for the connection that is greater than a prespecified MSS value. Upon determining that the detected packet indicates an initial MSS value that exceeds the prespecified MSS value, the packet is altered to establish the prespecified MSS value as the MSS value for the connection.

Abstract: Data processing systems, computer implemented methods, and computer program products are provided for updating an address resolution protocol table. Updates received for the address resolution protocol table are comprised of an internet protocol address, a media access control address, and a unique identifier.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing keepalive transmissions. A keepalive packet is received from a remote data processing over a particular connection within a set of connections to the remote data processing system. Timers for each of the set of connections are reset in response to receiving a response to a keepalive packet from the remote data processing system such that only a single keepalive packet is required to maintain all of the plurality of connections with the remote data processing system. In this manner, the number of requests and responses with respect to whether a connection is active is minimized, reducing congestion in a network data processing system.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a secure network install. One aspect of the present invention provides a proxy server within the same subnet of the client for performing a lookup of the boot image file and downloading the boot image file from a boot file server in a secure manner. The client in turn downloads the file from the proxy TFTP server. Another aspect of the present invention modifies the client remote boot code to include a secure boot file download discovery (SBDD) mode. The client starts the SBDD mode by sending a request for a boot image file to a subnet broadcast address and port, which is listened by a proxy TFTP server. The proxy TFTP server receives the client request and downloads the boot image file. The client in turn downloads the boot image file from the proxy TFTP server.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for multicast tunneling for mobile devices. The method comprises receiving a multicast packet directed to a plurality of mobile nodes, the mobile nodes being associated with a home subnet and identifying if any of the plurality of the mobile nodes are coupled to a subnet other than the home subnet, wherein each of the identified mobile nodes has an associated transmission path through which that mobile node can be reached. The method further provides that in response to determining that at least some of the mobile nodes are coupled to the subnet other than the home subnet, determining which of the identified mobile nodes has a common next hop in their associated transmission path and generating a packet including at least a portion of the multicast packet and including in the packet a list of mobile nodes that have the common next hop. The method further provides for transmitting the generated packet to the common next hop.

Abstract: A method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for protocol definition for software bridge failover. In a first aspect of the present invention, a first software bridge determines the proper working operation of a physical adapter. Limbo packets are sent to a second software bridge alerting the second software bridge that the first software bridge is no longer bridging traffic responsive to the physical adapter failure in the first software bridge. The second software bridge receives the limbo packets, and, in response to receiving the limbo packets, asserts primary control and initiates bridging of traffic. In an alternative aspect of the present invention a first software bridge sends keep-alive packets. A second software bridge monitors the keep-alive packets from the first software bridge and, in response to a failure to detect the keep-alive packets from the first software bridge, the second software bridge initiates bridging of traffic.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for handling requests in a data processing system. A plurality of processes is provided to handle the requests. Each of the plurality of processes is assigned to handle requests from a subset of foreign ports within a plurality of foreign ports such that a set of foreign ports assigned to a process is unique with respect to other subsets of foreign ports within the plurality of foreign ports. A foreign port is identified in a request in response to receiving the request. The request is sent to a process assigned the subset of foreign ports having a match to the foreign port in the request, wherein the process handles the request.

Abstract: A method for securely maintaining communications network connection data is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed according to which a user is prompted for network element address substitution data which specifies a substitute network element address for a network element address associated with a network element of a first communications network. The network element address substitution data is then stored within a first storage element, wherein access to the first storage element outside of the first communications network is restricted. Connection monitor data associated with the first communications network is processed utilizing the network element address substitution data. According to the described embodiment, such connection monitor data processing includes identifying metadata of the connection monitor data which specifies the described network element address, and substituting the metadata with metadata which specifies the substitute network element address.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for configuring a remote data processing system. A configuration is identified for the remote data processing system to form an identified configuration. The hardware for the remote data processing system is configured. An installation application is sent to the remote data processing system across a communications link after the hardware in the remote data processing system has been configured, wherein the installation application executes on the remote data processing system to configure the remote data processing system. Installation files are sent across the communications link to the installation application executing on the remote data processing system. The installation program uses the installation files to configure install a set of operating systems, install applications, and configure software on the remote data processing system.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for accessing data processing systems behind a NAT enabled network are provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, a NAT data processing system is located behind a NAT enabled network with a NAT device as a gateway to the NAT enabled network. A client system located outside the NAT enabled network queries the NAT device for the address of the NAT data processing system located behind the NAT enabled network. The query is automatically routed through the NAT device to a DNS server. The DNS server then returns an address for the NAT data processing system and source routing for the NAT device. The NAT device forwards the address and source routing to the client system. Then, the client system sends packets to the NAT data processing system at the address with source routing through the NAT device, such that the NAT data processing system behind the NAT enabled network is directly accessed by the client system from outside the NAT enabled network.

Abstract: A NAT data processing system is located behind a NAT enabled network with a NAT device as a gateway to the NAT enabled network. A client system located outside the NAT enabled network queries the NAT device for the address of the NAT data processing system located behind the NAT enabled network. The query is automatically routed through the NAT device to a DNS server. The DNS server returns an address for the NAT data processing system and source routing for the NAT device. The NAT device forwards the address and source routing to the client system. The client system sends packets to the NAT data processing system at the address with source routing through the NAT device, such that the NAT data processing system behind the NAT enabled network is directly accessed by the client system from outside the NAT enabled network.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a secure network install. One aspect of the present invention provides a proxy server within the same subnet of the client for performing a lookup of the boot image file and downloading the boot image file from a boot file server in a secure manner. The client in turn downloads the file from the proxy TFTP server. Another aspect of the present invention modifies the client remote boot code to include a secure boot file download discovery (SBDD) mode. The client starts the SBDD mode by sending a request for a boot image file to a subnet broadcast address and port, which is listened by a proxy TFTP server. The proxy TFTP server receives the client request and downloads the boot image file. The client in turn downloads the boot image file from the proxy TFTP server.