Abstract: Loop interface failure is managed. A first device on a loop is identified as a potential cause of the loop interface failure. The loop is tested with the first device functionally removed from the loop. Depending on the results of the test, it is determined that the first device is not the cause of the loop interface failure and a second device on the loop is identified as the cause of the loop interface failure.

Abstract: Disk drive power states are managed. Information is received for use in determining a desired power state of a disk drive that is not currently being accessed. The disk drive is caused to have a spun up power state before the disk drive is next accessed.

Abstract: Communications settings are managed. System characteristics are determined that affect communications on a high speed transmission link between nodes. The system characteristics includes system hardware information and physical characteristics of a cable. Tuning information is derived from the system characteristics. At least some of the tuning information is communicated between the nodes.

Abstract: A system and method for managing one or more Storage Area Networks (SAN), in which the one or more SAN's consist of one or more data storage volumes and one or more hosts. Whereas the one or more data storage volumes are in a switched storage network.

Abstract: A system and method for management for data replication in a data storage environment is disclosed. The system includes an architecture, software, and methodology for recovering from failure of software agents, which are operational in the data storage environment, by an ordered allocation of non-failed software agents to compensate for the failed agents.

Abstract: A system and method for performing File System checKing (FSCK) allows a file system to be accessed while the file system is being checked for consistency in the background. In the event that a file is accessed prior to having been checked for consistency by the background FSCK process, the background FSCK process is interrupted, and an in-context FSCK is performed on the accessed file. In addition, an in-context FSCK method and system is described which uses a snapshot block bitmap, FSCK block bitmap and FS block bitmap to check block consistency in the context of handling a block access to handle consistency and corruption issues as part of the file access.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a technique for storing and/or locating content units stored on an object addressable storage (OAS) system, wherein each content unit is identified by an object identifier. The OAS system may comprise a plurality of zones, each of which stores content units. A mapping process may be defined that maps object identifiers for content units to zones on the OAS system. Thus, the storage location for a content unit on the OAS system may be the zone on the OAS system to which the object identifier for the content unit maps.

Abstract: An architecture for managing a switched storage network consisting of one or more data storage volumes and one or more hosts. The data storage volumes are in a switched storage network. One or more processors provide the switching capability for the switched storage network. The one or more processors are capable of embodying logical constructions of a storage presentation layer and a volume presentation layer.

Abstract: A method, system, or computer program product for controlling access to software component features is disclosed. There are three available states for selectable component features. The three available states, of which one is selected, are: (i) enabled access to the selected software component features for users and other software component features on a data storage system, (ii) enabled access to the selected software component features by other software component features on a data storage system, or (iii) disabled access to the software component features.

Abstract: A computer-based method and computer program product for determining customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Abstract: An improved policy enforcement architecture includes several components that improve the performance of policy enforcement in a hierarchical storage environment. A File System Query instruction permits a richer set of queries to be expressed by a policy engine, thereby permitting more complex policies to be implemented with ease. The File System result is generated at the file server, and only files of interest are forwarded to the policy engine. The file system query advantageously may be applied against a pre-generated index having one more characterizing attributes to further reduce the processing required to retrieve policy data. An Index Build instruction, added to a programming interface, allows a policy engine generate the characterizing indices in advance of use. Index maintenance techniques maintain consistency between the index and the file system to ensure that the policy can be enforced using accurate file information.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to the containerization of content units that are accessed using an identifier. Applicants have appreciated that file systems sometimes impose limits on the number of files that may be stored therein that are too restrictive. Thus, in one embodiment, multiple content units may be stored in a single file, called a container file, in a file system. Each content unit may have an identifier associated with it. When an accessing entity requests access to a previously-stored content unit and provides the identifier for the content unit, the identifier may be used to locate the container file in which the content unit is stored.

Abstract: A method, system and computer product for analyzing a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) network composed of a plurality of components are disclosed. The method comprises the method comprises the steps of representing selected ones of the plurality of components, providing a mapping between a plurality of first events and a plurality of second events occurring in selected ones of the components; and determining at least one first event based on at least one of the plurality of second events by determining a measure between each of a plurality of values associated with the plurality of first events and the plurality of second events.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for handling a trace of workload data for analysis by performing multiple passes through it and gathering information from it on each pass related to component type affected by the workload and information type, such as task event and response times.

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 has 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 method and apparatus for operating on a system containing a plurality of components in communication using at least one communication protocol is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of representing selected ones of the plurality of components, the relationship among the components and the associated communication protocols, determining a mapping between a plurality of events and a plurality of observable events occurring among the components and among the communication protocols, wherein the mapping is represented as a value associating each event with each observable event, and performing the operation in conjunction with the events and observable events, wherein events associated with the communication protocols are distinguished from events associated with the components. The operations may be selected from the group of monitoring, discovering, managing, analyzing and displaying the components associated with the multicast protocols.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for managing the use of available bandwidth for a link used for movement of data being copied in a data storage environment.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method related to providing a plurality of different virtual computing environments in a data storage environment. A system and method that includes configuring the server as a virtual machine server including a plurality of virtual machines and a virtual kernel. A plurality of logical units are assigned to virtual machines. The logical volumes are available to the virtual machine server through a mirroring operation. The logical volumes are associated with metadata to create a plurality of different virtual computing environments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining and identifying types of Virtual Private Networks is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of representing the network by a model containing a plurality of object classes, evaluating an import/export relationship of a first one and a second one of the object classes and identifying the network type based on the evaluated relationship.

Abstract: An improved policy enforcement architecture includes several components that improve the performance of policy enforcement in a hierarchical storage environment. A File System Query instruction permits a richer set of queries to be expressed by a policy engine, thereby permitting more complex policies to be implemented with ease. The File System result is generated at the file server, and only files of interest are forwarded to the policy engine. The file system query advantageously may be applied against a pre-generated index having one more characterizing attributes to further reduce the processing required to retrieve policy data. An Index Build instruction, added to a programming interface, allows a policy engine generate the characterizing indices in advance of use. Index maintenance techniques maintain consistency between the index and the file system to ensure that the policy can be enforced using accurate file information.