Abstract: A logical unit number (LUN) cloning technique separates data blocks referenced by a writable virtual disk (vdisk) from data blocks referenced only by a backing store to conserve storage resources of a storage system. The LUN cloning technique separates the writable vdisk data blocks from the backing store during periods of reduced processing activity and in a manner that does not interfere with storage service provided by the system.

Abstract: An improved combination ion-selective electrode has a thin ion-sensing body extending from an outer reference body. The exposed portion of the ion-sensing body is encompassed by a sleeve which effectively forms an extension of the reference body and also provides mechanical stability to the ion-sensing body. One or more fluid channels are formed interior to the sleeve to provide an electrically conductive path from the reference solution within the reference body to the tip of the electrode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assessing operational process quality and risk of an entity or a group of entities. The present invention enables a user to effectively compare one or more events, representing what actually happened, with a reference, which represents ideal performance in terms of operational process quality and risk, and express the corresponding results in quantitative terms. The present invention is capable of presenting results in a form and with sufficient rapidity that a human decision-maker is able to timely observe conditions which represent unacceptable quality or excessive risk and respond appropriately.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a remote access session may be established between a first computer and a second computer. In response to detecting a device in low-level local communication with the first computer via a first local communication port of the first computer, the low-level local communication at the first local communication port may be intercepted and transmitted to the second computer via the remote access session. Then, the low-level local communication may be injected to a second local communication port of the second computer, wherein the second computer responds to the low-level local communication as though the device were located at the second local communication port of the second computer. For example, the device may be configured to autoconnect with the second computer via the remote access session when the device is connected to the first computer.

Abstract: A system and method for guard point licensing is provided. Licensed software executing on a storage system is modified to include one or more guard points to ensure that appropriate licenses have been obtained by a customer. During initialization of a guard point, a management system obtains a first random number (R1) from the first system and passes R1 and an application specific context command to the second system. The second system returns to the management system a pass phrase and a second random number (R2), which are then forwarded to the first system. The pass phrase is a data structure identifying the system that generated the pass phrase as well as containing the application specific context command. The above steps are then repeated with the first and second systems inverted.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing more rapid takeover of a failed filer by a clustered takeover partner filer in the presence of a coredump procedure (e.g. a transfer of the failed filer's working memory) is provided. To save time, the coredump is allowed to occur contemporaneously with the takeover of the failed filer's regular, active file service disks by the partner so that the takeover need not await completion of the coredump to begin. This is accomplished, briefly stated, by the following techniques. The coredump is written to a single disk that is not involved in regular file service, so that takeover of regular file services can proceed without interference from coredump. A reliable means for both filers in a cluster to identify the coredump disk is provided, which removes takeover dependence upon unreliable communications mechanisms.

Abstract: A nozzle for extinguishing devices and the like, made of a material with a high heat conductivity coefficient and comprising at least one through opening, at least one portion of which is blocked hermetically by at least one pad made of thermoplastic material, the pad being automatically removable, due to the pressure of the extinguishing agent, at a preset temperature, so as to allow the automatic dispensing of the extinguishing agent.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a mechanism by which a server system executing a host application monitors utilization of overwrite reserve space on a volume storing application data. The server system executes space reservation policies to ensure that the volume cannot run out of space due to snapshot creation. In one implementation, the server system initiates deletion of backup datasets stored on the volume if certain criteria provided by a system administrator are met. If deleting backup datasets cannot not stop the volume from running out of space due to continuous snapshot creation, the server system prevents the host application from temporarily issuing I/O requests to the storage system until space is recovered. Preventing the host application from issuing I/O requests, rather than failing I/O requests by the storage system, eliminates undesirable consequences, such as loss of data and the need to perform data recovery.

Abstract: A system and method suppresses chattering events in a storage system by determining a suppression level based upon a rate of growth of log files. An event management system of the storage system calculates a histogram and a set of statistics including a mean and standard deviation associated with non-chattering events. A cutoff point is determined for the non-chattering events and is utilized for each received event to determine if the received event is a chattering event. Events determined to be a chattering event are suppressed according to a predefined suppression rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing data on a computer data storage system are described. Two or more computers are coupled together to form a cluster of computers. One or more data storage devices are coupled to the two or more computers. One or more volumes of data storage devices are implemented on a plurality of computers of the two or more computers, where each volume is a logical arrangement of the one or more storage devices coupled to a selected computer of the plurality of computers. A data container holds data stored by the data storage system. The data container is striped over a plurality of the one or more volumes of data storage devices, whereby data stored in the data container is striped over a plurality of the volumes of data storage devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for generating a point-in-time restoration of database files and associated log files by utilizing a snapshot feature of the file system storing the files. At regular intervals, snapshots, which produce read-only copies of the files, are taken along with backups of the associated log files. To restore to a given point-in-time, the snapshot and stored log files are transferred to the active file system. In a second embodiment, all log files associated with snapshots taken after the selected snapshot are also restored.

Abstract: A system and method for coordinated bringup of a storage appliance in a storage appliance cluster. The repaired storage appliance, during its initialization, sets a variety of state values in a predetermined memory location comprising a state data structure, which is detected by a remote direct memory access read operation by the surviving storage appliance. By the use of the RDMA operations, the repaired storage appliance and surviving storage appliance coordinate the bringup and giveback of data servicing functionality.

Abstract: A software framework configured to execute in a computer system and adapted to monitor statistics associated with one or more servers coupled to the computer system is disclosed. A data structure is configured to store statistics associated with the one or more servers coupled to the computer system. A server-monitoring thread is configured to update at least some of the statistics stored in the data structure, the server-monitoring thread to execute on a processor of the computer system. An application programming interface (API) responsive to a plurality of software modules executes in the computer system, the API is configured to process requests from the plurality of software modules for (i) adding or removing servers in the data structure or (ii) accessing statistics from the data structure. The computer system may be a network cache.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products implementing a sizing infrastructure module that receives from a calling application program input requirements for a data storage system. A configuration for the data storage system is computed based on the input requirements, and the configuration is returned to the calling application program.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first set of one or more control policies at a control server of a network domain may be transmitted to a routing master controller of the network domain, which uses a second set of one or more traffic policies to determine optimal paths for directing traffic through the domain. The routing master controller may then generate a third set of one or more integrated policies based on the first and second sets of policies, e.g., based on the knowledge and policies of both the control server and the routing master controller.

Abstract: A measurement/calibration cell for potentiometrically measuring ion concentration in a fluid interposes a barrier between measuring and reference electrodes and positions the measuring electrode at a sufficiently higher gravimetric potential above the reference electrode that seepage of electrolyte from the latter to the former is effectively precluded. A controller associated with the cell displays instructions and other desired information on a scrolling display such that a substantial amount of information can be presented in a relatively small display window.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing enclosure services information is provided. A plurality of storage systems that are operatively interconnected with one or more intermediate networking devices and/or disk shelves are modified to include a target device driver module that is adapted to receive and process target commands from other storage systems to enable the sharing and retrieval of SES information from a storage shelf's master storage system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a target bandwidth, a lower boundary constraint on bandwidth, and an upper boundary constraint on cost are configured on a path computation device. The device may then compute a set of paths that is within the lower bandwidth boundary and upper cost boundary constraints. If the set of paths contains one or more paths, the device may select a path having a bandwidth value that is closest to the target bandwidth. However if the set of paths contains no paths, the device may search amongst paths that violate either the maximum cost or minimum bandwidth limits, selecting the path closest to the violated constraint (e.g., whose combined violation is minimized). Also, a weighting factor may be configured to establish the relative importance for a cost violation in comparison to a bandwidth violation.

Abstract: A system and method for providing persistent node names is provided. The system and method stores the node name associated with a given storage system in the root volume associated with the storage system. Thus various components of the storage appliance may be modified without changing the node name associated with a given storage system. This enables clients to have a consistent and persistent node name to connect to in a given network environment.

Abstract: A triple parity (TP) technique reduces overhead of computing diagonal and anti-diagonal parity for a storage array adapted to enable efficient recovery from the concurrent failure of three storage devices in the array. The diagonal parity is computed along diagonal parity sets that collectively span all data disks and a row parity disk of the array. The parity for all of the diagonal parity sets except one is stored on the diagonal parity disk. Similarly, the anti-diagonal parity is computed along anti-diagonal parity sets that collectively span all data disks and a row parity disk of the array. The parity for all of the anti-diagonal parity sets except one is stored on the anti-diagonal parity disk. The TP technique provides a uniform stripe depth and an optimal amount of parity information.