Abstract: A method and system for executing 32-bit flat address programs during a System Management Interrupt. The system provides a 16-bit SMI routine that is given control when an SMI occurs. That routine initially saves the state of the processor and then executes an instruction to switch to protected mode. When in protected mode, the routine transfers control to 32-bit code. The 32-bit code uses a global descriptor table that is different from that used by the interrupted operating system. When the 32-bit code completes, it restores the saved processor state and returns from the interrupt by executing an RSM instruction.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for propagating commit times between a plurality of database servers is provided. A database server maintains a set of one or more values that indicate which timestamps have been exchanged with at least one other database server that shares access to a common database. The one or more values maintained by the database server include a first value describing the most recent timestamp that the database server has sent to another database server and a second value describing the most recent timestamp that the database server has received from the other database server. The database server determines whether to send a commit timestamp associated with a committing transaction to another database server based, at least in part, on the set of one or more values. These techniques may be utilized for propagating commit times between any number of database servers.

Abstract: Techniques for distributing database functions in a system of database devices includes performing database management tasks for a database on a first device connected to a network. The first device is designated a database host. Data file storage and retrieval tasks for the database are sent to a second device connected to the network. The second device is designated an off-host storage device. The first device may be a database server appliance, which includes a processor; a database server process, a special purpose operating system and non-volatile storage. The database server process persistently stores data files for the database on a second device connected to the database server appliance over a network. The special purpose operating system has features and configuration that are dictated by the database server and supporting components.

Abstract: A database or some portion thereof is partitioned into ownership groups. Each ownership group is assigned one or more database servers as owners of the ownership group. The database servers that are assigned as owners of an ownership group are treated as the owners of all data items that belong to the ownership group. That is, they are allowed to directly access the data items within the ownership group, while other database servers are not allowed to directly access those data items. Accordingly, a database system is provided which includes one or more persistent storage devices having a database stored thereon, and a plurality of database servers executing on a plurality of nodes. Each node has direct access to the persistent storage devices. At least a portion of the database is partitioned into a plurality of ownership groups. Each ownership group is assigned an owner set.

Abstract: A system and method for providing access to a unified message store logically storing computer telephony messages is disclosed. A multiplicity of heterogeneous storage objects corresponding to computer telephony messages are stored in a unified message store. An application software layer exchanging the heterogeneous storage objects with a computer telephony server is exported. The computer telephony server is interfaced via a container subsystem defining encapsulated methods including organization strategy methods and storage strategy methods. A unified inbox generating an indicator for at least one of the computer telephony messages is provided. The unified inbox exports user controls for accessing the corresponding heterogeneous storage objects stored in the unified message store.