Abstract: Systems consistent with the present invention perform quiescence of a network storage system in a storage virtualization environment including a virtualization layer that interfaces between a host and at least one storage device, wherein the virtualization layer defines at least one virtual volume comprising objects defining a mapping to data in the at least one storage device and storing information about a state of the at least one storage device in a virtualization database that is distributed across more than one processor in the virtualization layer. A quiescence instruction may be implemented to maintain reliability and scalability of the storage virtualization environment.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture provide a single multi-language source code file and effects single-language executable files from the multi-language source code file. A program extracts text elements in the first language from the source code. The extracted text elements include context information that identifies a location of the text element in the first language in the source code. Translations of the extracted text elements in a second language are obtained. The translations of the text elements in the second language are merged into the source code at merge locations based on the context information. Versions of the source code in the first language and the second language are then generated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing uncompressed data by applying a transform prior to the application of a data compression scheme. At decompression time, a transform can be applied after a data decompression scheme has been applied to compressed data.

Abstract: A method and mechanism of enforcing community access control in a computer network, wherein access to objects by users and processes is controlled. A Multi-Community Node (MCN) processes information for users in multiple communities and must enforce a community separation policy. The enforcement method and mechanism use a database of associations of sets of communities corresponding to users, processes, and system objects. Upon receiving a request for access to an object by a user, the MCN permits access if a user community set (UCS) of the user is a superset of an object community set (OCS) of the object; otherwise, access is denied. Upon receiving a request for access to an object by a process, the MCN permits access if an application process community set (ACS) of the process is a superset the OCS of the object; otherwise, access is denied.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward dynamic downloading of keyboard keycode data to a networked client. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a user logs into a networked client by presenting a smart card to a card reader attached to the client (or by some other authentication mechanism) and enters a PIN into the keyboard. The keycodes entered by the user logging into the client are obtained, translated into ASCII characters, and presented to the smart card. If the PIN is correct, the user is able to log in, otherwise the log in fails. In one embodiment, when the user enters the PIN, a translation table is downloaded from the server into the client. The client uses the translation table to convert the keycodes to ASCII text and presents the ASCII text to the smart card for authentication.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for integration of URL's into standard file systems of a local computer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the file system (e.g., a Uniform File System (UFS)) of a local computer is integrated with an Internet protocol, such as the Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP). Once the protocol has been integrated into the file system of the local computer, applications running on local computer can access any Web based documents under that protocol. Thus, the local applications (and/or users) can access these Web based documents (and/or files) as if they are local files even though the documents are actually located on the Internet (and away from the local computer). In a further embodiment, the applications (and/or users) are able to access these Web based documents by utilizing a relating apparatus that relates the applications (and/or users) to their corresponding Web based documents.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that buffers data inside of a byte-stream protocol at a transport layer on a client, which is receiving the data from an external source. The system operates by receiving a configuration parameter at the transport layer from an application executing on the client, wherein the configuration parameter specifies a condition upon which data buffered at the transport layer is to be sent to the application. The system then buffers data destined for the application at the transport layer on the client, and sends the buffered data to the application when the condition specified by the configuration parameter is met. Buffering data at the transport layer on the client facilitates more efficient processing of system calls.

Abstract: A hard disk drive bracket including a bezel, a lever arm attached to the bezel rotatably between a closed position against the bezel and an open position apart from the bezel, and a unitarily formed body attached to the bezel. The lever arm includes an extension on the rotating end. The unitarily formed body includes a locking member adapted to secure the lever arm in the closed position and a release button arranged to release the locking member when the release button is depressed. The unitarily formed body may be adapted to serve as a horn attached to the bezel rotatably between a natural position in which the locking member impedes the path of the lever arm, and a forced position in which the locking member is clear of the path of the lever arm.

Abstract: A battery-backed cache system with a pluggable battery module. The system includes a RAID controller and a cache. A back up power board is provided upon which a second power connector is provided and the two power connectors are connected. A socket assembly is mounted on the board and is connected to the second power connector. The socket assembly is a standard socket for use with PC Cards and includes a bulkhead adapter for mounting to a case wall with a slot of the socket assembly accessible through the case wall. A battery module is included having a body with dimensions corresponding to the slot. A battery is positioned within the body and a connection interface is provided in the battery module for mating with the socket assembly. The body and connection interface of the battery module comply with PCMCIA specifications for card bodies and interfaces.

Abstract: A hard disk drive bracket latch and release mechanism includes a lever arm attached to a hard disk drive bracket bezel rotatably between a closed position against the bezel and an open position apart from the bezel, and a locking mechanism including a wireform disposed in a release button. The lever arm includes a slotted end and spring. The wireform translates between a forced releasing position when the release button is depressed and a natural latching position otherwise. The wireform is shaped to bias the release button outward. The wireform fits into the slotted end of the lever arm in the latching position.

Abstract: A method for processing a packet includes receiving the packet in a network interface card (NIC), obtaining a first classification for the packet, placing the packet in one of a first plurality of receive rings based on the first classification, obtaining a security association (SA) from one of a plurality of security association database (SADB) partitions, decrypting the packet using the SA, obtaining a security policy (SP) from one of a plurality of security policy database (SPD) partitions, determining an admittance of the packet based on the SP, obtaining a second classification for the packet based on the admittance, placing the packet in one of a second plurality of receive rings based on the second classification, and sending the packet to a host operatively connected to the NIC, wherein the packet is further processed by the host.

Abstract: A network interface card (NIC) includes a security association database (SADB) comprising a plurality of security associations (SAs), a cryptographic offload engine configured to decrypt a packet using one of the plurality of SAs, a security policy database (SPD) comprising a plurality of security policies (SPs) and a plurality of filter policies, and a policy engine configured to determine an admittance of the packet using one of the plurality of SPs from the SPD and apply one of the plurality of filter policies to the packet.

Abstract: A tape head for use with a magnetic tape includes a support structure that has a tape bearing surface that is configured to engage the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape passes over the support structure. The support structure is made of a first material having a first hardness. The tape head further includes a transducer element having an interface surface for reading from and/or writing to the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape passes over the tape bearing surface. The tape head also includes a protective layer that substantially covers the interface surface, the protective layer being made of a second material having a second hardness that is at least as hard as the first hardness of the first material.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a method of handling an incoming packet at a node in a network. The method includes associating at least one source identifier with a link into the node. A packet is then received at the node over the link, and a source identifier is extracted from the received packet. The extracted source identifier is compared with the source identifier(s) associated with the link in order to authenticate the packet.

Abstract: An expansion card bracket for a computer server has an expansion card support attachable to a motherboard and an expansion card accepting portion disposed near a top of the support. The expansion card accepting portion is configured to support an expansion card at an acute angle of inclination with respect to the motherboard. The acute angle of inclination is substantially equal to an angle of inclination of a connector for receiving the expansion card.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that identifies a drift in a signal in a computer system. During operation, the system receives a sequence of quantized signal values of the signal. Next, the system generates a statistical distribution based on the sequence of quantized signal values, wherein the statistical distribution is generated using a set of counters, wherein each counter keeps track of the number of occurrences of an associated quantized signal value. The system periodically adjusts the counters by multiplying each counter by a compression factor if the system determines the sum of the set of counters is greater than or equal to a threshold. The system identifies the drift in the signal by comparing the statistical distribution with a reference distribution of the quantized signal values, wherein the reference distribution is associated with normal operation of the computer system.

Abstract: A kernel data transfer optimizing system for dynamically subdividing data blocks which are presented by application programs to be transferred to the kernel's network subsystem for processing into blocks of data in accordance with data transfer parameters set by the application program. The data transfer optimizing system includes logic that allows a programmer to dynamically adjust the size of data buffers that store the data blocks of the application program data in the kernel according to the application program parameters prior to transmitting the data blocks in the transport layer of the network subsystem. The data transfer optimizer allows the kernel to process data in large chunks thereby reducing the processing time of data presented to the network subsystem.

Abstract: A proximity interconnect module includes a plurality of processors operatively connected to a plurality of off-chip cache memories by proximity communication. Due to the high bandwidth capability of proximity interconnect, when an off-chip cache memory is searched for requested data, either the requested data is at the same time searched for in on-chip cache memories of the proximity interconnect module or the requested data is at the same time retrieved from main memory. This reduces latency by reducing serial operations.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that assigns jobs to a system containing a number of central processing units (CPUs). During operation, the system captures a current state of the system, which describes available resources on the system, characteristics of jobs currently being processed, and characteristics of jobs waiting to be assigned. The system then uses the current system state to estimate a long-term benefit to the system of not preempting any jobs currently being processed. If the benefit from preempting one or more jobs exceeds the benefit from not preempting any jobs, the system preempts one or more jobs currently being processed on the system with a new job.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering a device driver to an operating system without user intervention. One or more operating systems (e.g., different operating system programs, different versions of one operating system) execute on a computer platform. During booting of an operating system a device is identified for which a driver is needed. The driver is requested from a service processor of the platform, which includes memory or storage for storing multiple device drivers (or multiple versions of one driver, for different operating systems). The driver is retrieved from the service processor's storage and delivered to the operating system.