Abstract: A method of configuring a blade enclosure is provided in which, in a first step, slots are identified whose SAS connectors are to be connected to SAS device blades in a minimum capacity configuration. In a second step, slots are identified whose SAS connectors are to be connected to the SAS device blades in a maximum capacity configuration. A path is then established from the SAS switch to the SAS connector of each slot identified in either the first step or the second step. Blade devices, such as RAID controller blades and disk enclosure blades are installed in the identified slots. Thus, the SAS switch within the enclosure selectively and efficiently interfaces with a predetermined number of blade slots rather than with all slots.

Abstract: A method, system and program product manage files to be offloaded by multiple users into a common storage repository. A request is received from a user to offload a file from a computer. A determination is made whether the file is currently stored in the common storage repository. If the file is not currently stored in the common storage repository, the file is offloaded to the common storage repository. If the file is currently stored in the common storage repository, a link is established for the user to the file in the common storage repository. If the requested file is in-transit, the link is established when the transfer is complete.

Abstract: Data storage systems and methods and computer program product for managing data storage systems are provided. The system includes at least first and second storage enclosures, each having a plurality of hard disks configured as first and second arrays of disks and an intra-enclosure path between the first and second arrays. The intra-enclosure path is disabled during normal operation of the storage system. Inter-enclosure paths respectively link the first arrays in the first and second storage enclosures and the second arrays in the first and second storage enclosures and are enabled during normal operation of the storage system.

Abstract: An audio amplifier is provided having a compressor with an automatically-adjustable compressor. Compression is linked to the volume control in an inverse relationship whereby, when the volume is reduced, the compression ratio is increased to boost the listening level of quieter passages in the source material. Conversely, when the volume is increased, the compression ratio is decreased. The compression control may be physically connected to the volume control, such as in a dual-potentiometer, or may be coupled electronically, such as with a digital signal processor. An effects level control may be included to allow a listener to increase or decrease the effect of the compression by applying a multiplier to the compression ratio. An ambient noise detector may also be included such that compression is increased as ambient noise increases or exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: A method for transferring data over a network operating in accordance with a protocol, such as the ESCON protocol, that supports a limited logical address range includes establishing a logical path over the network from a host or other device to a second device, such as a storage system, using path logical addresses within the given logical address range. A virtual path is created over the logical path to carry the data from the source to the target, wherein the target logical subsystem has a subsystem logical address which is outside the given logical address range.

Abstract: In a fibre channel, arbitrated loop (FC-AL) network environment, an operating speed of devices within a switch domain within the network is optimized. The FC-AL switch domain is isolated from an attached storage controller, and a first signal is transmitted to each of a plurality of storage devices within the domain. The first signal comprises a request that each storage device transmit inquiry data to a control and management node (CMN) within the domain. In response to receipt of the inquiry data from each storage device, the speeds at which each storage device is operable are identified and an operational speed is then established for the domain. The established speed may be the fastest speed at which all devices can operate. Alternatively, one or more slower devices may be bypassed and the established speed may be the fastest speed at which all remaining devices can operate.

Abstract: A method, system and program product accurately model the error characteristics of a communications system, such as a tape storage system. Input parameters are entered which describe defect rates and sizes, Codeword Data Structure bytes, and any interleaving factor. Bit defects from simulated defect sources are generated, defined by the starting and ending bits of each defect within a codeword. Any codewords which are defect-free are filtered out and not processed further, thereby increasing the processing speed of the model. Within the defect streams, overlapping defects are merged, redefining defect regions by starting and ending bits. Because only the definitions are processed, not the entire length of the codewords or defects, processing efficiency is further enhanced. The number of defects that occur in each codeword is determined and the probability of the occurrence of N bytes in error per processed codeword may be computed.

Abstract: A blade enclosure is provided which may accommodate a first configuration which includes integrated drive enclosure blades (I-DEBs) or a second configuration which includes I-DEBs and non-integrated or switched DEBs (S-DEBs). Each I-DEB includes a pair of redundant RAID controllers, each having two configurable ports. In the first configuration, all four ports are configured as host adapter (HA) ports through which data is exchanged with server blades. In the second configuration, one port of each RAID controller is configured as an HA port, through which data is exchanged with server blades, and the other port of each RAID controller is configured as a device adapter (DA) port, through which data may be exchanged with the S-DEB. Zones may also be established to separate traffic between the servers and the I-DEB from traffic between the I-DES and the S-DEB.

Abstract: Resynchronization of data between a primary (production) data site and a secondary (recovery) site following a failure is enhanced when the size of a data track at the production site is different from the size of a data track at the recovery site. The recovery site reads an out-of-sync (OOS) bitmap created at the production site and expands or contracts the bitmap to accommodate the size difference. The resulting production site bitmap is merged with a OOS bitmap maintained at the recovery site to indicate those tracks which are to be transferred from the recovery site to the production site. Thus, only those tracks which are required to be transferred are transferred. Buffer space may be allocated in which to expand or contract the production site OOS bitmap. Buffer space may be conserved by sequentially reading portions of the production site OOS bitmap into a small buffer.

Abstract: In an automated library, data cartridges, such as magnetic tape cartridges, are stored in storage cells or shelves and accessed by data storage drives. An accessor with a gripper transports cartridges between storage cells and storage drives. Cartridges on the library floor may damage the accessor. A cartridge sensor is provided and positioned to detect cartridges on the floor of the library. The sensor may be mounted to the base of the accessor, may be mounted to the gripper, or one or more sensors may be mounted proximate to the floor of the library. If the library includes more than one library frame, a sensor may be mounted proximate to the floor of each of one or more of the frames, thereby allowing for the location of a dropped cartridge to be identified.

Abstract: Methods, system and computer program product are provided to configure a path between nodes through a fabric in a fibre channel storage area network (SAN). A node name is provided for a target node on the SAN and a port name is provided for each port in the target node. A relationship is established in a data structure between each port name and a slot in which each port is physically located in the target node. Prior to configuring a path between a source node and a port in the target node, the ports which are physically connected and logged in to the fabric are identified by port address. The port names corresponding to the port addresses are then identified. The port names are used to generate interface_ids of the ports corresponding to the physical slots in which the ports are located. A data structure is created to maintain the relationship between interface_ids and port names.

Abstract: In a data processing environment, data is replicated to a remote or secondary storage device in a manner which reduces the adverse performance effects and inefficient bandwidth usage imposed by the conventional one-transaction-at-a-time process. Transactions to be transferred are grouped by a replication manager by selecting transactions having start times earlier than the completion time of a first transaction. Thus, no transaction in a group will be dependent upon any other transaction in the group. Once selected, all transactions in the group may then be transferred to the secondary storage device.

Abstract: A serial SCSI (SAS) storage drive system includes a drive enclosure having a first interface card coupled to one storage controller over a single SAS path and a second interface card coupled to another storage controller over a different single SAS path. At least one disk drive within the enclosure is assigned to the first storage controller and interconnected to the storage controller through the first interface card. At least a second disk drive within the enclosure is assigned to the second storage controller and interconnected to the storage controller through the second interface card. The interface cards are selectively interconnected with each other through a crossover port. In the event of a failure in a storage controller or an interface card, the crossover port may be activated, thereby maintaining access to both sets of disk drives.

Abstract: In an automated library, data cartridges, such as magnetic tape cartridges, are stored in multi-cartridge storage cells or shelves and accessed by data storage drives. An accessor with a deep-reach gripper transports cartridges between storage cells and storage drives. The gripper is capable of extending into the cell to grip and remove a cartridge stored in any position therein. The gripper may include a scissors mechanism, a set of units extendable with lead screws, or another extendable mechanism.

Abstract: A storage system includes a RAID adapter, disk array switches, sub-processors, and hard disk drives (HDDs). The system permits the isolation of a suspected faulty HDD to allow diagnostics to be performed without impacting operation of the rest of the system. Upon detection of a possible fault in a target HDD, a private zone is established including the target HDD and one of the sub-processors, thereby isolating the target HDD. The sub-processor performs diagnostic operations, then transmits its results to the adapter. A faulty HDD can then be fully isolated and the private zone is disassembled, allowing the sub-processor to rejoin the network.

Abstract: A method of recovery from a data storage system failure in a data storage system having a host computer writing data to a first storage unit with a first storage controller synchronously mirroring the data to a second storage unit, and with a second storage controller asynchronously mirroring the data to a third storage unit. Upon detection of an error or failure associated with the first storage unit, the synchronous data mirroring relationship between the first storage unit and the second storage unit is terminated and the host is directed to write data updates directly to the second storage unit. Upon correction of the failure associated the asynchronous mirroring of data updates from the second storage unit to the third storage unit is suspended and synchronous mirroring of the data updates in a reverse direction, from the second storage unit to the first storage unit, is commenced.

Abstract: A cartridge handling system and method are provided to initialize a data storage cartridge having rewritable media and a cartridge memory for tamper resistant write once recording. During initialization of the cartridge for write once recording, selected data set information table fields of each data set are scrambled. The scrambling algorithm may employ a random number generator seeded with a unique cartridge identifier. The fields thus becomes unreadable if the unique identifier is changed, such as if the cartridge memory of the cartridge has been altered or replaced.

Abstract: In an automated library, data cartridges, such as magnetic tape cartridges, are stored in storage cells and accessed by data storage drives. An accessor with a gripper transports cartridges between storage cells and storage drives. Cartridges are prioritized according to their relative importance. A processor manages the placement of the cartridges in cells by having higher priority cartridges stored closer to the front of multi-cartridge cells than cartridges with a lower priority. Cartridges with a higher priority may also be stored closer to a storage drive than cartridges with a lower priority. A pusher may be used to push cartridges towards the front of multi-cartridge cells with an empty position to enable the gripper to reach the front cartridge.

Abstract: A method, system and program product save state data in a multi-processor system. A problem in the multi-processor system is detected and a statesave thread is spawned for each processor in the system. Each statesave thread directs a processor, in parallel with the other processors to attempt to identify a component in the system having a status of “incomplete”, indicating that state data of the component remains to be offloaded. When a component having a status of “incomplete” is identified, the processor executes statesave code to offload state data from the identified component. Upon completion of the state data offload from the identified component, the processor changes the status of the component to “complete”. The foregoing processes are repeated until no components are identified in the system having a status of “incomplete”.

Abstract: In a RAID storage system, a parity value is generated. The storage system includes a RAID adapter, a plurality of disk array processors managing corresponding sets of RAID storage drives, and a connecting fabric. The RAID adapter initiates a parity generation operation, parallel instructions are dispatched for the array processors to each generate a partial parity value from data blocks on drives on respective managed RAID storage drives, the partial parity value is received in the RAID adapter from each array processor, and the partial parity values are combined in the RAID adapter to generate a complete parity value. The parity value may be an actual parity block to be stored on a hard disk drive or may be a reconstructed data block in the event of a failed drive.