Abstract: Barriers for rear frame mounted spare tires are disclosed. An example vehicle disclosed herein includes a frame including a cross member, a spare tire, a skid plate, and a barrier extending between the skid plate and the cross member, the barrier abutting the spare tire, the barrier including a first surface having a first curvature, the first curvature concave relative to a rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: Barriers for rear frame mounted spare tires are disclosed. An example vehicle disclosed herein includes a frame including a cross member, a spare tire, a skid plate, and a barrier extending between the skid plate and the cross member, the barrier abutting the spare tire, the barrier including a first surface having a first curvature, the first curvature concave relative to a rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and an article of manufacture for detecting errors while accessing a storage device. A host system writes an identical initialization pattern into each block of a plurality of blocks while formatting the storage device. Each block of the plurality of blocks has a checksum field capable of containing a value. Any host system generates an error when data from a retrieved block from the plurality of blocks computes to a checksum that is different from the value contained within the checksum field for the retrieved block, and the retrieved block does not contain the initialization pattern.

Abstract: A latent error detector may be configured to reveal latent errors within a plurality of components within a computer system. The latent error detector may be configured to access configuration data specifying one or more types of components and one or more modules for each type of component. The one or more modules for each type of component may be configured to initiate a component-specific operation to reveal a latent error within the one or more components of the one or more types of components. A framework may be configured to call the one or more modules for each type of component. The framework may be configured as a main software module to access the one or more modules.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and an article of manufacture for detecting errors while accessing a storage device. A host system writes an identical initialization pattern into each block of a plurality of blocks while formatting the storage device. Each block of the plurality of blocks has a checksum field capable of containing a value. Any host system generates an error when data from a retrieved block from the plurality of blocks computes to a checksum that is different from the value contained within the checksum field for the retrieved block, and the retrieved block does not contain the initialization pattern.

Abstract: Error detection using data block mapping is provided. One method includes receiving a write request to write a user data block having a first block size, generating an error detection code for the user data block, appending the error detection code to the user data block to form an extended data block, and mapping the extended data block to a plurality of actual data blocks, each actual data block having a block size equal to the first block size.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for operating a computer system, wherein the computer includes at least two storage units. A boot routine from an operating system on a first storage unit of the at least two storage units designated as the primary storage unit is executed. A second storage unit of the at least two storage units comprises a spare storage unit, wherein both the storage units maintain copies of the operating system and file system in the computer. If the boot routine does not succeed, then the second storage unit is designated as the primary storage unit, wherein the first storage unit is the spare storage unit after the second storage unit is designated as the primary storage unit. After designating the second storage unit as the primary storage unit, the boot routine is executed from an operating system on the second storage unit designated as the primary storage unit.

Abstract: A latent error detector may be configured to reveal latent errors within a plurality of components within a computer system. The latent error detector may be configured to access configuration data specifying one or more types of components and one or more modules for each type of component. The one or more modules for each type of component may be configured to initiate a component-specific operation to reveal a latent error within the one or more components of the one or more types of components. A framework may be configured to call the one or more modules for each type of component. The framework may be configured as a main software module to access the one or more modules.

Abstract: Error detection using data block mapping is provided. One method includes receiving a write request to write a user data block having a first block size, generating an error detection code for the user data block, appending the error detection code to the user data block to form an extended data block, and mapping the extended data block to a plurality of actual data blocks, each actual data block having a block size equal to the first block size.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and an article of manufacture for detecting errors while accessing a storage device. A host system writes an identical initialization pattern into each block of a plurality of blocks while formatting the storage device. Each block of the plurality of blocks has a checksum field capable of containing a value. Any host system generates an error when data from a retrieved block from the plurality of blocks computes to a checksum that is different from the value contained within the checksum field for the retrieved block, and the retrieved block does not contain the initialization pattern.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for managing a configuration file including device parameters that define attributes of at least one device. A device driver uses the device parameters to control the at least one device. A determination is made of device parameters provided with the device driver for a device, wherein the device parameters are maintained external to the configuration file. User selection of at least one of the determined device parameters is received and a parameter code for each selected device parameter is written to the configuration file.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for managing a configuration file including device parameters defining attributes of at least one device. A device driver uses the device parameters to control the at least one device. An association is provided of device parameters and parameter codes for devices accessible through the device driver, wherein the device parameters define attributes of the devices. Information is presented on the device parameters through a user interface. User selection is received of at least one of the device parameters. A determination is made from the association of the parameter code corresponding to the user selected device parameter for each user selected device parameter. The configuration file is then modified to include each determined parameter code.

Abstract: Provided is a method, system, and an article of manufacture for implementing a checksumming technique to a device driver to detect silent data corruption during read requests. A storage device is reformatted to create larger data blocks where a checksum can be stored with the data. A checksum is added during a write request, and calculated and compared during a read request. If an error was detected during retrieval, an error message is generated. However, if no error is detected, the checksum is removed before returning the data blocks to the application program.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for mounting a user removable media in a computer system includes acquiring a media identifier input and a function identifier input from a user of the computer system. The media identifier input identifies the user removable media, and the function identifier input specifies a mounting operation to be performed on the user removable media. The media identifier and the function identifier inputs are processed to access a system media interface of the computer system, for example, by converting the media identifier input to a physical path of the user removable media in the computer system, and determining if the physical path of the media identifier input is valid within the computer system. A simulated media event is generated to mount the user removable media in the computer system. If desired, a determination may be made whether the user has valid permission to control the user removable media identified by the media identifier input.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for mounting a user removable media in a computer system includes acquiring a media identifier input and a function identifier input from a user of the computer system. The media identifier input identifies the user removable media, and the function identifier input specifies a mounting operation to be performed on the user removable media. The media identifier and the function identifier inputs are processed to access a system media interface of the computer system, for example, by converting the media identifier input to a physical path of the user removable media in the computer system, and determining if the physical path of the media identifier input is valid within the computer system. A simulated media event is generated to mount the user removable media in the computer system. If desired, a determination may be made whether the user has valid permission to control the user removable media identified by the media identifier input.

Abstract: Programmable options for a mount command are checked for compatibility with file system types when attaching a media file system to a existing file system in a computing system. The options are programmed into a mount entry in a configuration file. The configuration file is used to generate the mount command. The mount entry defines file system types for the media file system and programmable options to control operation of the computing system with the media file system. The file system types, the programmable options and the compatibility of the programmable options with the file system types are all verified.

Abstract: A computing system operates a volume management system to manage accesses to the storage of information and provides to the users of the volume management system parallel process paths for accessing a storage device is as an access volume operation or as an access device operation. Further the volume management system prevents the two parallel logical operations from conflicting with each other by performing an open volume operation and an open device operation. These operations indirectly communicate by setting and clearing characteristics in stored volume data characteristics that they share for each device being accessed. The characteristics include an open count to track the open status of a device and an exclusive flag to track whether the storage device has been opened exclusively by either the open volume or the open device operation request from a user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making reduced odor individualized, crosslinked fibers which includes the steps of providing cellulosic fibers, contacting the fibers with a solution containing a C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent, mechanically separating the fibers into substantially individual form, drying the fibers and reacting the crosslinking agent with the individualized fibers to form intrafiber crosslink bonds. The individualized cellulosic fibers are then contacted with a strong alkaline solution and strong oxidizing agent to reduce the odor and increase the brightness. Preferably, the crosslinking agent is citric acid, and preferably, between about 1.0 weight % and about 12.0 weight % of the crosslinking agent reacts to form the intrafiber crosslink bonds. Preferably, the alkaline solution is an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, and preferably, about 0.09 weight % of the sodium hydroxide, on a dry fiber weight basis, is applied to the crosslinked fibers.

Abstract: A two-stage pulp refining system in which the fibrous material from the first stage refiner is in contact with an alkaline bleaching solution between refining stages at a temperature of 32.degree.-96.degree. C. and at a consistency of 15-25% on an oven dry basis. The material is then diluted and then pressed to a consistency of at least 20% and passes through the second stage refiner.