Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method in a computer system including a host computer and at least one storage system including first and second storage volumes, the host computer including at least one application program executing thereon. The method comprises acts of intercepting and redirecting an access request from the at least one application program to the first storage volume to the second storage volume. Other embodiments are directed to a computer readable medium with instructions for performing the method, a host computer with at least one controller to intercept and redirect the access request. Other aspects are directed to methods in a computer system including a host computer, a first storage system including a first storage volume, and a second storage system including a second storage volume, wherein the second storage volume is a hardware mirror of the first storage volume.

Abstract: A data packet routing mechanism including a plurality of clients for issuing read requests to a host device, the read requests each including a TAG field for identifying which of the plurality of clients issued a particular read request, wherein a completion response corresponding to the particular read request, including the TAG field, is issued from the host to the client that sent the read request, the plurality of clients being organized into M groups, each group including a predetermined number of clients; a first level routing device having an input for receiving completion responses from the host and a plurality of outputs for transmitting completion responses; and a plurality of second level routing devices, each being coupled to the plurality of clients in one of the M groups, and having an input for receiving completion responses from the first level routing device and a plurality of outputs, each output for transmitting completion responses to one of the plurality of clients in the group.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a device interface for receiving data access requests, a plurality of non-volatile memory devices and a controller that accesses the non-volatile memory devices in response to the received data access requests. The plurality of non-volatile memory devices include at least one of flash memory; compact flash memory; magnoresistive RAM; ferroelectric RAM; any type of volatile memories, such as dynamic and static RAM, maintained as non-volatile with the use of a power subsystem; mechanical memory devices and microelectromechanical memory devices.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a disk drive array including a plurality of disk drives; a first storage processor for controlling the operation of the data storage system; a second storage processor for controlling the operation of the data storage system; a first arbiter for controlling communication of data from the first storage processor and the second storage processor to a first group of disk drives of the disk drive array; and a second arbiter for controlling communication of data from the first storage processor and the second storage processor to a second group of disk drives of the disk drive array. Selected data is redundantly stored on disk drives in the first group of disk drives and the second group of disk drives, such that, upon failure of the first arbiter, the selected data is available to the first storage processor and the second storage processor through the second arbiter.

Abstract: Access to content addressable data on a network is facilitated using digital information storing devices or data repositories (“silos”) that monitor broadcast data requests over the network. A number of silos automatically monitor both data requests and data itself that are broadcast over a network. The silos selectively store data. Each silo responds to data requests broadcast over the network with data the silo has previously intercepted. A content addressable file scheme is used to enable the data repositories to reliably identify data being requested. When a data request is received, each silo evaluates whether it has all or a portion of the data being requested and responds to requests when it has the data. Requests for data are implemented by broadcasting a cryptographic hash data identifier of the data file needed. The data identifier is used by a silo to determine which data to receive and store.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a power supply; a load coupled to the power supply via a power supply line to receive a voltage therefrom; and a circuit protection device. The circuit protection device includes at least one switch device coupled between the power supply and the load on the power supply line; a first controller coupled to the at least one switch for: A. monitoring current flow through the at least one switch; B. maintaining the at least one switch in an ON state while current flows through the at least one switch in a first direction; and C.

Abstract: Representing a number of assets on an originating computer begins with selecting the assets to be represented. Cryptographic hash asset identifiers are generated; each of the asset identifiers is computed using the contents of a particular asset. The asset identifier is a content-based or content-addressable asset name for the asset and is location independent. An asset list is generated that includes the asset identifiers computed from the assets. A cryptographic hash asset list identifier is generated that is computed from the asset list. The asset list identifier is stored for later retrieval. The assets selected are also stored for safekeeping either locally or on a computer network. In the event of loss of the files from the originating computer, the asset list identifier is retrieved. Using the asset list identifier, the original asset list is found and retrieved from its safe location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a change in the operational status of a first host computer and automatically configuring a second host computer to provide additional computing resources that replace or complement the first host computer. In one embodiment, a controller is provided that is capable of detecting a malfunction or failure of the first computer and automatically configuring a second host computer to replace the first host computer. In another embodiment, the controller is capable of detecting changes in the performance of the first host computer and automatically configuring a second host computer to provide additional computing resources for the first host computer. In a further embodiment, both of these techniques can be used to support an electronic commerce site and provide the electronic commerce site with failsafe operation and virtually unlimited computational resources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for specifying and generating an alteration in a model representative of a system composed of a plurality of components, the method comprising the steps of associating configuration non-specific representations with corresponding functions operable on the model, each of the configuration non-specific representations includes representations of objects and attributes of, and/or relationships among system components, associating configuration non-specific representations of desired changes to the model for enabling alterations to the objects, attributes, relationships and/or functions of the objects, attributes and relationships subject to constraints imposed by attributes of the system, and applying the configuration non-specific represented changes to the configuration of a baseline model representation of the system to generate a new configuration non-specific model where the changes have been applied.

Abstract: A heat dissipation apparatus includes a heat absorption device coupled to a board, the heat absorption device configured to absorb heat generated by an electrical device mounted on the board, a heat dispersion device configured discretely from the heat absorbing device and the board for dispersing heat input thereto and a heat transporting device coupled between the heat absorption device and the heat dispersion device for transporting heat absorbed by the heat absorption device to the heat dispersion device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for managing a complex, the system comprising a discovery and monitoring subsystem, a reference model store subsystem, a reference model transcription subsystem, a reference model generation subsystem, a model comparator subsystem, a reference model update subsystem, a nonconformance visualization subsystem, a conformance monitoring subsystem, a change procedure generator subsystem, and a change automation subsystem.

Abstract: Caching techniques for use in a computer system comprising a core and at least one edge device. The core comprises at least one object addressable storage system. At least one cache is disposed logically between the core and the at least one edge device. The cache has a prefetch policy that selects from among the content units based upon at least one prefetch criterion selected from the group consisting of: a source that wrote an evaluated content unit; a size of an evaluated content unit; a content type of an evaluated content unit; when the prefetch is performed subsequent to a request to access at least one of the plurality of content units, an identity of the requestor; when the prefetch is performed subsequent to a request to access at least one of the content units stored at a first time, proximity of a time at which an evaluated content unit was stored relative to the first time; and metadata written with the evaluated content unit.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method related to restoring data in a data storage environment and includes program logic.

Abstract: One embodiment is a system for locating content on a storage system, in which the storage system provides a location hint to the host of where the data is physically stored, which the host can resubmit with future access requests. In another embodiment, an index that maps content addresses to physical storage locations is cached on the storage system. In yet another embodiment, intrinsic locations are used to select a storage location for newly written data based on an address of the data. In a further embodiment, units of data that are stored at approximately the same time having location index entries that are proximate in the index.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in managing disk drive spinup includes a plurality of disk drives newly inserted into a data storage system enclosure that is in an already powered up steady state. The apparatus also includes first and second control cards in the enclosure, and first control logic operable to cause the first and second control cards to coordinate to cause the disk drives to spin up in stages.

Abstract: The present invention is a system, method, and apparatus for configuring a host computer to cooperatively operate with a data storage system in a data storage environment. This invention provides particular advantages when configuring a Unix-based host, such as a Sun Solaris computer available from Sun Microsystems of Santa Clara, Calif., USA in connection with a data storage system.

Abstract: Disk drive status is managed. A detection is made that a disk drive has asserted its Enable Bypass signal. It is determined whether the drive has asserted and de-asserted its Fault LED signal in a pattern of transitions signifying that the drive cannot operate at a specified data rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing a network and performing operations on the represented network are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of creating at least one configuration non-specific object class associated with components of the network, creating at least one configuration non-specific representation of relationships among associated object classes, representing a behavior relationship among the object classes based on the representations of the relationships among the object classes and analyzing properties of the network based on the behavior relationships. In aspects of the invention, the represented network may be an MPLS network, a VPN or a combined MPLS-VPN.

Abstract: One embodiment is a method and apparatus for modifying retention periods in a storage system, in which previously defined retention periods for units of data may be reduced. In another embodiment, the retention period of a unit of data may be modified in response to the occurrence of an event by renewing previously defined retention periods until the occurrence of the event is detected. If the occurrence of the event is detected, a retention period associated with that event may be established for the unit of data. In yet another embodiment, retention classes are used to define retention periods for units of data so that the retention period of a unit of data may be modified without modifying the unit of data itself. In a further embodiment, a request to the storage system to reduce a retention period includes authentication information that the storage system may use to verify the request.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for logically representing and performing an analysis on a home network is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of representing selected ones of a plurality of components and the relationship among the components associated with the home network, providing a mapping between a plurality of events and a plurality of observable events occurring among the components, wherein the mapping is represented as a value associating each event with each observable event, and performing a system analysis based on the mapping of events and observable events. In another aspect of the invention, the home network is included in a larger system logically represented as a plurality of domains, wherein at least one of the plurality of components in the network is associated with at least two of the domains.