Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus and software can implement a flexible I/O fence mechanism framework allowing clustered computer systems to conveniently use one or more I/O fencing techniques. Various different fencing techniques can be used, and fencing mechanism can be customized.

Abstract: A method for computer systems management using mind map techniques comprises receiving a request to generate a graphical summarization of relationships of a particular entity associated with an information technology (IT) infrastructure with other entities associated with the infrastructure, and generating a graphical representation of the particular entity and its relationships as a mind map comprising a plurality of linked nodes. The network of nodes may include a primary node representing the particular entity, a first link from the primary node to a first sub-network of nodes representing a first relationship, and a second link from the primary node to a second sub-network of nodes representing a second relationship.

Abstract: A system for disaster recovery rehearsals using copy-on-write may include a data set of an application and a disaster recovery manager. The disaster recovery manager may be configured to perform a disaster recovery rehearsal using a copy-on-write snapshot of the data set.

Abstract: System and method for distributing volume status information in a storage system. According to one embodiment, a system may include a plurality of volumes configured to store data, where the volumes are configured as mirrors of one another, and a plurality of hosts configured to access the plurality of volumes. A first one of the plurality of hosts may be configured to execute a mirror recovery process and to maintain a progress indication of the mirror recovery process, and the first host may be further configured to distribute the progress indication to another one or more of the plurality of hosts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing high availability of a database. A first front end server is coupled to a first back end server, and a second front end server is coupled to a second back end server. The second front end server provides redundancy to the first front end server and the second back end server provides redundancy to the first back end server. The front end servers function as a gateway into the database and comprise protocol services for processing input/output requests to the gateway. The back end servers comprise database protocol services and interface directly to the gateway to retrieve information requested by the processed database requests received from the front end servers.

Abstract: A method for automatically (i.e., programmatically) determining a storage configuration for a storage system for a given application. The method may receive information on existing storage capabilities in the storage system and information regarding the software application that will use the storage system. The method may then automatically determine a storage configuration for the storage system based on the existing storage capabilities in the storage system, the information regarding the application, and application specific rules about storage configuration principles of the application. The rule may comprise priority information that specifies a priority in application of the rules, e.g., a structure or list of storage types in order of priority for different application data types.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for automatically obtaining documents that are referenced by an electronic communication, such as an email or instant message, for archival are disclosed. One method involves searching at least a portion (e.g., the header and/or body) of an electronic communication for a reference to a document and, in response to detecting the reference, automatically obtaining an electronic copy of the document. The electronic copy of the document can then be archived.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for scoring applications are disclosed. One method involves generating a baseline measuring a parameter of a computer system. The parameter is related, directly or indirectly, to the energy consumption of the computer system. The method next involves installing and running an application on the computer system. The previously measured parameter is measured with the application running. Next, a score is calculated for the application based on the two measurements. This score indicates how green the application is.

Abstract: Procedures and systems may be used for assigning data partitions to data-processing host computers, for example, to initially assign data partitions at the outset of a large data-processing job or during failover measures taken in response to a failed host in a share-nothing database management system (SN-DBMS). In one implementation, a method of managing exclusive access to a data partition within a database system assesses a first host and a second host that have exclusive access to a first and second data partition, respectively, within a database system. The method assigns exclusive access of the data partition to one of the first and second hosts based on factors that may include the processing powers of first and second the hosts, and on processing requirements (such as data quantity and data criticalness) for data on the first and second data partitions.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus and software can implement clusterizing processes on existing standalone server application installations. A server computer system on which a server application resides is renamed from its original name. Cluster software is installed on the server computer system. A virtual server is created to represent the server application to client applications and users. The virtual server is given the original server computer system name and can also be given the server computer system's network address. Cluster functionality can further be extended to allow a virtual server to failover to any other node available in a cluster.

Abstract: A host of a multi-device file system may instruct an external data mover implementing a third party copy to move data from one storage device to another without the host reading or writing data as part of the move. The data being moved may remain accessible through the file system after being moved. A host may instruct an external data mover to write moved data to multiple mirrored devices. A host may instruct the data mover to move data between storage classes in a multi storage class file system. A journaling file system may utilize an external data mover implementing a third party copy to move data from a system log to another storage destination and may also instruct the data mover to move metadata as well as data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is contemplated. A first parameterization is generated, which describes a desired result in at least a first dimension of a plurality of dimensions of a protection system. The first parameterization is evaluated over a plurality of parameterizations. Each of the plurality of parameterizations corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of instances of a second dimension of the plurality of dimensions. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that implement the method and a system implementing the method are also contemplated.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a programming-language-independent interface for querying file system content. In one embodiment, the system may include a storage device configured to store a plurality of files and a file system configured to manage access to the storage device and to store file system content. The file system may include a programming-language-independent interface whereby an application queries the file system content. In various specific implementations of the system, file system content may include file data stored in one or more of the plurality of files, or metadata stored in a named stream corresponding to a given file, respectively. In another specific implementation of the system, the application querying file system content may include the application generating a query in a query language, the application submitting the query to a query engine via the programming-language-independent interface, and the query engine evaluating said query.

Abstract: A method and system for efficient space management for single-instance-storage volumes is provided. A backup module storing data within a collection of containers according to access locality and retention time of the data, wherein the retention time defines an amount of time the data is stored within the collection of containers before deletion of the data, and the access locality comprises an order in which the data is to be accessed is further provided. A compaction module compacting the stored data by selecting at least two containers among the collection of containers, wherein the selection is performed using a predetermined criteria that includes access locality and retention time of the data is also provided. The compaction module distributes the data among the at least two containers. The compaction criteria creates an imbalance among the containers to create more empty, full, or nearly full containers.

Abstract: A system and method for the backup and archival of online content. In one embodiment, an archival manager receives user authentication information corresponding to a user account, wherein the user account corresponds to a website hosted by at least one content server, the website enables a user to create and store online content associated with the user account, and the online content associated with the user account is stored on a memory accessible by the at least one content server. The archival manager receives an archival schedule, wherein the archival schedule specifies at least one parameter for archiving the online content. According to the archival schedule, the archival schedule periodically archives the online content to an archive server.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient upgrading of computing system software. A computing system includes clients and one or more servers coupled to a network. Cluster server software allows the clients and server(s) to work together as a cluster. This software is platform- and version-specific depending on the customer. Each customer has a customized configuration with customer-dependent edits performed on the original configuration. When a new-release configuration is made available, the three configurations are translated to abstract object trees. A series of predetermined abstract operations are preformed on the abstract object trees in order to generate a target abstract object tree. The target abstract object tree is translated to a target file, wherein the target file includes the common portions between the original and new-release configurations and the merged upgrades of the customized and new-release configurations.

Abstract: A method for increasing the QoS in a data center. The method can be employed in first and second components of the data center. In one embodiment, the method includes a first component of the data center receiving first and second requests. The first component generates first and second priority values corresponding to the first and second requests, respectively. The first component processes the first and second requests to generate third and fourth requests, respectively, wherein the first request is processed before the second request if the first priority value is numerically greater than the second priority value, or the first request is processed after the second request if the first priority value is numerically less than the second priority value. A second component of the data center receives the third and fourth requests. The second component generates third and fourth priority values corresponding to the third and fourth requests, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method for visually depicting component states in a computing system. A graphical analysis tool includes a graphical user interface for use in viewing the history of a selected component. A user selects a system component for viewing and then using a timeline “drags” the state of the selected component to various points on the timeline in order to view states of the component at the selected point in time. States of the selected component may also be played forward or backward in a continuous manner. Logging agents in the system are configured to log data corresponding to detected events and forward the log data to a central repository. The analysis tool may access the data in the repository for use in creating visual displays. Point-in-time snapshots of a component may also be stored in the central repository and used to reproduce the history.

Abstract: A system and method for managing data transfers between client computers and a computer network. Each client comprises a data transfer controller and at least two data transfer rules. The data transfer controller associates each of at least two connection states with one of the data transfer rules. The data transfer controller also detects a connection state of a client device, applies a first data transfer rule to the client device in response to detecting a first connection state, and applies a second data transfer rule to the client device in response to detecting a second connection state. In a further embodiment, the data transfer controller associates a data transfer policy with attributes of a connection between the client device and the computer network, wherein a connection state comprises a set of values of the attributes of the connection.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-accessible medium are disclosed for maintaining data at a plurality of summary levels in a single table. Data may be summarized into a plurality of summary levels. Each of the summary levels may comprise summarized data over a respective one of a plurality of intervals of time. The plurality of summary levels may vary in granularity of the summarized data. The summarized data in the plurality of summary levels may be stored in a single table in a database.