Abstract: Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include defining a plurality of failure domains for sets of storage devices in a storage facility, and defining, using the failure domains, one or more limitations for distributing data on the storage devices. Upon identifying a data distribution configuration for a software defined storage system that is compliant with the one or more limitations, the identified data distribution configuration can be presented to a user. The failure domains may include physical failure domains, logical failure domains, or a combination of physical and logical failure domains, and the limitations may include mandatory limitations or a combination of mandatory and non-mandatory limitations.

Abstract: Responsive to determining an in-memory image of a metadata disk block, a buffer is generated in memory and includes metadata updates made to the metadata disk block. Metadata updates to the disk block by a first transaction are recorded and stored in the buffer. Transfer of metadata updates that are logically complete, but remain in an active transaction list stored in the buffer, are delayed to a completed transaction list, scheduled to be written to a log file on disk at a subsequent time. A determination is made as to whether the metadata disk block is deleted by a second transaction following the first, and responsive to determining the metadata disk block is to be deleted and the metadata updates of the second transaction transfer to the completed transaction list, preventing the writing of the metadata updates to the log file and the metadata disk block to disk.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system includes a processor(s) obtaining, at a first connector, contextual information related to one or more additional connectors within a potential communication path of the first connector, where each of the one or more additional connectors initializes data transmission connections to a respective application. The processor(s) accesses usage policy metadata of a second application (the respective application of a second connector of the one or more additional connectors). The processor(s) determines whether initializing a data transmission connection between the first application and the second application is consistent with the contextual information related to the second connector and the usage policy metadata. Based on determining that the contextual information and the usage policy metadata are inconsistent, the processor(s) transmits an error.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for reusing importance sampling for efficient cell failure rate estimation of process variations and other design considerations. First, the mechanism performs a search across circuit parameters to determine failures with respect to a set of performance variables. For a single failure region, the initial search may be a uniform sampling of the parameter space. Mixture importance sampling (MIS) efficiently may estimate the single failure region. The mechanism then finds a center of gravity for each metric and finds importance samples. Then, for each new origin corresponding to a process variation or other design consideration, the mechanism finds a suitable projection and recomputes new importance sampling (IS) ratios.

Abstract: A facility is provided for automatically updating a version of a base image included within an application container of a container-based processing environment. The facility includes providing an application container having an associated configuration file with automatic update specified in connection with a referenced based image. The application container includes an existing version of the referenced base image. Availability of an updated version of the base image with the container-based processing environment is identified, and based on identifying availability of the updated version of the base image, the application container is automatically updated to an updated container, which includes the updated version of the base image.

Abstract: Communication between one communication bus having one set of characteristics and another communication bus having another set of characteristics is facilitated by a bridge coupling the two communication buses. The bridge includes a scoreboard to manage data communicated between the buses. In one particular example, the one communication bus is a Processor Local Bus (PLB6) and the other communication bus is an Application Specific Integrated Chip (ASIC) Interconnect Bus (AIB).

Abstract: A method for reducing I/Os to a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes receiving a write request comprising new data for overwriting corresponding old data in cache. The method performs an XOR (exclusive OR) operation on the new data and the old data to yield a parity delta and overwrites, in the cache, the old data with the new data. In certain embodiments, the XOR operation is performed prior to overwriting the old data with the new data. The method further stores the parity delta in the cache and links the parity delta to the new data. Upon destaging the new data from the cache, the method provides the parity delta with the new data so that the parity delta may be applied to an existing parity value in the RAID. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Preserving collaborative history includes detecting a trigger for a chat session between at least two participants using a processor and, responsive to the trigger, obtaining event data for an event occurring during the chat session and involving at least one of the participants. The event data is included within a transcript of the chat session. In other cases, event data is obtained from external systems that is correlated with the chat session and is included within the transcript.

Abstract: An approach is provided in which an information handling system creates a first language profile corresponding to a first user account in response to determining that the first user account generated a first offensive message. The information handling system computes an accumulated risk score of the first user account based on correlating the first language profile to a second language profile corresponding to a second user account that generated a second offensive post. The accumulated risk score is based on a first risk score of the first user account and a second risk score of the second user account. In turn, the information handling system generates a notification in response to determining that the accumulated risk score reaches a risk threshold.

Abstract: A computing device communicates with a different computing device over a network. The computing device and the different computing device communicate with one another in a peer-to-peer architecture such that the computing device and the different computing device are peers to one another. An agent is executed on the computing device and receives an artifact deployed at the different computing device for deployment at the computing device. The agent receives the artifact via a user-initiated command. A run-time engine is executed on the computing device at which the artifact is to be deployed. After the user-initiated command has been triggered, the agent receives and deploys the artifact without further user interaction.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a content artifact. The content artifact includes information content and functional content. Extracting the functional content includes creating a functional content artifact. The computer-implemented method further includes extracting the functional content into a functional content artifact based on one or more decision criteria. The computer-implemented method further includes presenting the functional content artifact to a functional content artifact application. Optionally, the computer-implemented method further includes transferring the functional content artifact to an operational environment. Optionally, the computer-implemented method further includes modifying the functional content artifact into a modified functional content artifact. Optionally, the computer-implemented method further includes making available the modified functional content artifact available to an operational environment.

Abstract: Methods and systems for bias control in an optical switch fabric include monitoring optical power at outputs of a plurality of switch elements in an N×N switch fabric that has N inputs, N outputs, and M?2 stages. A bias control of a first of the plurality of switch elements is adjusted. It is determined whether the optical power at the outputs of the first switch element after bias control adjustment conform more closely to a predetermined criterion relative to the monitored optical power at the outputs of the first switch element prior to adjustment. The adjusting and determining steps are repeated for each of the remainder of the plurality of switch elements.

Abstract: Collecting online group chat messages. The method may include receiving a message associated with an online group chat session between chat participants. The method may also include determining the received message satisfies at least one message collection rule. The method may further include recording the received message to at least one message table based on each chat participant mentioned in the received message. The method may also include determining a first chat participant chooses to open a private chat session with at least one second chat participant. The method may further include identifying recorded messages within the message tables associated with the at least one second chat participant. The method may also include displaying the identified recorded messages in a private chat session sub-window.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to two general purpose computers connected in a peer-to-peer mode by connecting a cable (or wireless connection) between universal ports (e.g., PCIe ports) on each computer. A timing protocol utility runs on each computer to time schedule operations performed by its respective computer. Because the system clocks on each peer computer operate independently (asynchronously), they may vary somewhat from each other. To support time synchronized peer-to-peer operations, paired clock value (one for each peer computer) are generated continually and independently by each peer system. Each peer system periodically supplies the paired clock values to its associated timing protocol utility, which uses the paired clock values to time synchronize peer-to-peer computer operations. The timing protocol utilities may also exchange the paired clock values with each other for integrity checking and other operations.

Abstract: In a distributed computing environment that includes hosts that execute a VMM, with each VMM supporting execution of one or more VMs, administering VMs may include: assigning, by a VMM manager, the VMMs of the distributed computing environment to a logical tree topology, including assigning one of the VMMs as a root VMM of the tree topology; and executing, amongst the VMMs of the tree topology, a scatter operation, including: pausing, by the root VMM one or more executing VMs; storing, by the root VMM in a buffer, a plurality of VMs to scatter amongst the other VMMs of the tree topology; and sending, by the root VMM, to each of the other VMMs of the tree topology a different one of the VMs stored in the buffer.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing marketing impressions. An apparatus identifies utility of a seller and utility of a user. The apparatus generates an offer of a reward based on the utility of the seller and the utility of the user. The offer of the reward is for performing a social marketing task. The social marketing task is for generating a first number of marketing impressions to achieve a set of objectives of the seller. The apparatus activates the reward for the user when the social marketing task is completed. The social marketing task is completed when the apparatus determines that the user has accepted the offer and the performing of the social marketing task has generated the first number of marketing impressions.

Abstract: A method enables cluster-level backup and restore functionality of all Virtual Input/Output Server (VIOS) configuration data within a VIOS cluster and the data of a shared VIOS cluster database. The method comprises: performing, via a backup/restore utility of a VIOS partition, a cluster level backup, which creates a first VIOS cluster configuration backup file having configuration information about hardware, logical and virtual devices of each VIOS partition within a VIOS cluster and all cluster data from the shared VIOS database of the VIOS cluster; storing the VIOS cluster configuration backup file within a storage location; and responsive to receipt of a VIOS restore command at a VIOS partition: retrieving the configuration backup file from the storage location; restoring a configuration of the hardware, logical and virtual devices of each VIOS within the VIOS cluster to prior state; and restoring the shared VIOS database with the backed-up cluster data.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a conditional branch is detected that selects between execution of a first alternative block and a second alternative block. A first count and a second count are saved, where the first count is a number of times the first alternative block was executed, and the second count is a number of times the second alternative block was executed. If the first count is greater than a threshold and the second count equals zero, the first alternative block is compiled into first alternative block object code and the second alternative block is not compiled. If the first count is not greater than the threshold, the first alternative block is compiled into the first alternative block object code and the second alternative block is compiled into second alternative block object code.

Abstract: A system and methods for extracting value from a portfolio of assets, for example a patent portfolio, are described. By granting floating privileges described herein, a portfolio owner can extend an opportunity for obtaining an interest in selected assets from the portfolio to a client who lacks the resources to accumulate and maintain such a portfolio, in return for an annuity stream to the portfolio owner. The floating privilege can take many forms, depending on the needs of the client and the nature of the assets in the portfolio. The privilege is executed for a set of assets selected by the client and approved by the portfolio owner in accordance with a floating privilege agreement controlling the floating privilege.

Abstract: A caller telecommunication device transmits a call to an intended receiving wireless telecommunication device. In response, the caller telecommunication device transmits an instruction to a first proximate telecommunication device, wherein the instruction directs the first proximate telecommunication device to determine if the first proximate telecommunication device is within a predefined proximity of the intended receiving wireless telecommunication device. The predefined proximity is a distance within which the intended receiving wireless telecommunication device and other wireless telecommunication device can directly communicate by local signals. The caller communication device re-routes the call to the first proximate telecommunication device if the first proximate telecommunication device is within the predefined proximity of the intended receiving wireless telecommunication device.