Abstract: An invention is disclosed for a segregated user interface for parameter configuration in a multi-path failover system. The segregated user interface includes a user interface module capable of receiving configuration parameters for the multi-path failover system from a user. Further included is an object module that is capable of receiving the configuration parameters from the user interface module. The object module provides functionality and can detect the current controller status of controllers and the current device status of devices. In addition, the object module is capable of configuring a failover driver using the configuration parameters received from the user interface module.

Abstract: An architecture for implementing host-based security such that data security may be applied whenever the confidential data leaves a host computer or a networked device. The improved method and architecture may be implemented in a single integrated circuit for speed, power consumption, and space-utilization reasons. Within the integrated circuit, a combination of hardware-implemented, network processor-implemented, and software-implemented functions may be provided. The innovative host-based security architecture may offer line-rate IPSec acceleration, TCP acceleration, or both.

Abstract: A system and method for providing multiple disk fault tolerance in an N-column by R-row logical representation of stored elements in an array of N independent disks, R minus 1 being less than N divided by a number of disk failures F, includes assigning each strip containing data to at least F different parity groups so that each strip containing data in a respective column is assigned to parity groups different than other strips containing data in the column. The method also includes calculating, for each parity group, a parity value corresponding to all of the strips assigned to the parity group. The method further includes storing each of the parity values in strips of different columns, so that none of the strips containing data in a column are assigned to a parity group for which the parity value for the parity group is stored in the column.

Abstract: A method for managing the configuration of a host adapter is provided. The method provides for the access and configuration of a host adapter from within the computer operating system. Icons and graphical user interfaces are displayed providing a plurality of configuration options and diagnostic tools to allow access, evaluation, management and testing of host adapters and peripheral devices connected thereto in a manner with the look and feel of any other computer system device. When configuration changes are input, the method provides a prompt indicating the system must be rebooted for the changes to be implemented, and a reboot command for the user to execute. While executing the reboot command, the system flashes the host adapter configuration changes to the EEPROM on the host adapter, and the system initializes in accordance with the changed configuration settings.

Abstract: A method for minimizing compilation time of a test case during development testing of an integrated circuit is provided. The method initiates with identifying a test case. The test case is associated with the tasks and the tasks are written as text files. Then, a file associated with the test case is generated. Next, a sequence of the tasks of the file is determined. Then, hardware description language (HDL) tasks, associated with the tasks of the file according to the sequence, are identified. Next, a simulation of an integrated circuit is performed through the HDL tasks. A computer readable medium having program instructions for minimizing compilation time of a test case during development testing of an integrated circuit and a system for testing an integrated circuit design are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the performance of communications between a host processor and an interconnected device is provided. The present invention allows data transfers to be performed without requiring frequent interrupts of the host processor by the adapter interconnecting the host processor to the device. In addition, the present invention allows the host to issue commands without writing extensive commands or data to the adapter. Instead, the host is merely required to increment a value held by a register, and to place commands in memory that is local to the host. Furthermore, the present invention allows direct memory access operations to commence even in the absence of receiving confirmation from the device that the device is ready to perform such operations. The present invention is suitable for interconnecting a host system to one or more devices, including in connection with the provisions of a redundant array of inexpensive disks.

Abstract: A system and a method for multiplying data throughput in a SCSI bus includes identifying multiple frequencies within a bandwidth of a SCSI bus. A binary value is assigned to each one of the multiple frequencies. One of the multiple frequencies is selected. The assigned binary value of the selected frequency corresponds to a set of bits to be transmitted during a first sampling cycle. The selected frequency is transmitted on the SCSI bus during the first sampling cycle.

Abstract: A method and system for batching commands and status information between a host computer and an adapter installed on the host computer. The method for command batching includes the host storing command pointers, each command pointer pointing to a command in an array, and providing an array pointer to the array. When a predetermined threshold of stored commands has been reached, the host can deliver a multitude of commands via the array pointer with a single bus access. A method for status batching includes transferring command statuses from the adapter to the host computer and providing a pointer to the transferred statuses. When a predetermined threshold of statuses has been reached, the adapter interrupts the host computer once to fetch the pointer and the host can then read the statuses without requiring any more bus interrupts.

Abstract: A software-implemented shared bus system model for modeling a shared bus system that includes a plurality of devices interconnected via a shared bus. The system model includes a first device model for partially modeling a first one of the plurality of devices, the first device model including a first modified logical module and a first modified I/O-specific module. The system model further includes a sharable module having provisioned therein first shareable data. The first shareable data is shareable by the first device model and another device model of the plurality of device models. The first shareable data represents I/O-specific data associated with the first device model that is also needed by the another device model of the plurality of device models during configuration of the shared bus system model.

Abstract: A storage area network management and configuration system is provided. The system includes an enterprise network that has a plurality of computer systems, and some of the plurality of computer systems include a server component, some include a client component, and some include both the client component and the server component. The system also includes a storage enclosure that is connected to a computer system having at least the server component. A graphical user interface window is provided by the client component, and the graphical user interface provides a graphical representation and icon links to configuration tools for controlling the drives and arrays of the storage enclosure. In one aspect, the enterprise network can include a plurality of storage enclosures that are connected to selected computer systems that are part of the enterprise network and that have the server component.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing a RAID 1 controller subsystem are provided. According to the invention, data or commands issued by a host system and addressed to a transport master are provided to a system bus interface. The system bus interface simultaneously provides the data or commands to the transport master and to a transport slave. The data or commands are then passed to the first and second devices substantially simultaneously. In a normal RAID 1 mode of operation, data retrieved from the first device is passed to the host system by the transport master. In a failover RAID 1 mode of operation, the data retrieved from the first device is not provided to the transport master. Instead, a multiplexer is operated to provide the transport master with the data retrieved from the second device. The invention also allows the controller to operate in a non-RAID 1 mode.

Abstract: Circuit and method for hiding peer devices from a computer host are provided. The devices and host share a common electrical bus, e.g., a PCI bus. The method allows to generate a signal indicative of the presence of a first peer device. The method further allows to hide a second peer device from the host so that the second device is controlled by the first peer device whenever the signal indicates the presence of the first device.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed that provides device information using a Fibre Channel network. Initially, device information is obtained for a device coupled to a Fibre Channel based network, and an address database is constructed that includes a device entry for the device. Preferably, the device entry includes a port target identifier and a logical unit identifier for the device, and associates the previously obtained device information with the port target identifier and the logical unit identifier. A request is then received for the device information that typically includes the port target identifier and the logical unit identifier. The device information associated with the port target identifier and the logical unit identifier is then returned in response to the request.

Abstract: A RAID 6 architecture including a disk array having a prime number minus 1 disks. A method of providing multiple disk fault tolerance in an N?column×R?row logical representation of a set of data elements, wherein N represents the number of disks in the array and R is equivalent to N/2, includes assigning each strip containing data to at least two different parity groups so that each strip containing data in a respective column is assigned to parity groups different than other strips containing data in the column. The method also includes calculating, for each parity group, a parity value corresponding to all of the strips assigned to the parity group. The method further includes storing each of the parity values in strips of different columns, so that none of the strips containing data in a column are assigned to a parity group for which the parity value for the parity group is stored in the column.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed that provides a method for facilitating communication with a Fiber Channel controller. Initially, a data structure is defined that includes a Fiber Channel attribute value, which defines a particular functionality of a Fiber Channel controller. Although the data structure can include a plurality of Fiber Channel attributes, preferably at least one Fiber Channel attribute is defined in the data structure. A user is then enabled to modify the Fiber Channel attribute value. Further, during operation of the Fiber Channel controller, a modification request can be received from a code segment to alter the Fiber Channel attribute. The functionality of the Fiber Channel controller is then altered based on the Fiber Channel attribute value.

Abstract: A method for receiving receive data associated with a bi-directional data flow between a first host computer and a second host computer. The first host computer and the second host computer are coupled via a computer network. The method includes storing receive-facilitating parameters employed for the receiving the receive data in a first control block. The first control block is implemented in the first host computer and associated with the bi-directional data flow. The receiving the receive data is performed in accordance with the TCP protocol. The method also includes employing the receive-facilitating parameters in the first control block to facilitate receiving a given portion of the receive data at the first host computer from the second computer.

Abstract: A method for reducing audio latency when executing program instructions for processing audio data is provided. In this method, a top threshold value and a bottom threshold value are provided. A determination is then made as to the amount of audio data stored in an audio buffer of an audio renderer. Thereafter, the amount is compared with the top threshold value and the bottom threshold value, and accordingly, an audio data feed to the audio renderer is adjusted incrementally such that the amount is between the top threshold value and the bottom threshold value.

Abstract: A system for displaying video from a video game console is provided. The system includes an audio and video data conversion device in communication with the video game console. Additionally, a computer in communication with the audio and video data conversion device is included. The system also includes a display panel in communication with the computer, whereby the display panel is capable of displaying the video from the video game console. A method for displaying the video from the video game console also is described.

Abstract: A two-dimensional parity method and system that provides four-disk fault tolerance in an array of disks, such as a RAID system, is presented. The method includes arranging strips containing data in the disk array into horizontal, diagonal, and stepped parity sets, each parity set including at least one data strip as a member and no single data strip is repeated in any one parity set. The horizontal, diagonal, and stepped parities are than stored in respective disks and stripes of the array. In the event of up to a four simultaneous disk failures, lost data can be reconstructed by using the corresponding stored horizontal, diagonal, and stepped parity information and the data stored on the remaining intact disks.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing multiple ports to a single port device are provided. According to the present invention, single port devices that are incapable of communicating across a shared communication bus, and therefore require a point to point communication channel, may be interconnected to multiple hosts using a switch assembly. The switch assembly selectively establishes a communication path between a single host and a device. Additionally, the present invention provides a method and apparatus by which computer subsystems, such as RAID storage subsystems, may be implemented using inexpensive storage devices. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing a high reliability computer subsystem by configuring the subsystem such that no single active component failure will result in the failure of the entire subsystem.