Abstract: Disclosed is a method implementable by a computer system for maintaining consistency between mirrors of a mirrored data volume. In one embodiment, the method includes the computer system generating first and second write transactions in response to the generation of transaction to write data to a mirrored data volume. The first and second write transactions comprise first and second tags, respectively. The first and second tags relate the first write transaction to the second write transaction. In one embodiment, the first and second tags are identical. After the first and second write transactions are generated, the computer system transmits the first and second write transactions to first and second storage subsystems, respectively. In one embodiment, the first and second storage subsystems store or are configured to store respective mirrors of the data volume.

Abstract: Binary files of one or more applications are scanned to identify database command templates contained therein, wherein each DB command template comprises a sequence of elements including one or more input markers. Once the DB command templates are identified, they are copied to a memory. While in the memory, the command templates can be used to identify abnormal DB commands. In one embodiment of a method, a first template is generated in response to receiving a first DB command from a computer system, wherein the first DB command comprises a sequence of elements including one or more user input values. The first template can be generated by replacing all user input values in the received first DB command with input markers. Thereafter the first template is compared to one or more of the DB command templates copied to the memory.

Abstract: A method, system, computer system, and computer program product that use application requirements, business priorities, and compatibility and dependency among applications to allocate resources among those applications in a clustering environment. A workload policy engine is aware of the resources available within each cluster, as well as the capacities of those resources. Multiple instances of the workload policy engine can be run in different clusters. The workload policy engine can be used in conjunction with disaster recovery products as well as with provisioning software so that new machines can be provisioned in and out of a cluster dynamically, such as in a blade environment. Furthermore, the workload policy engine can be used in conjunction with dynamic repartitioning capabilities provided by different hardware platforms for large computer systems, as well as with performance monitoring software.

Abstract: A system allowing a target machine to be booted up from a disk image stored in memory. Instead of reading the boot-up information from a disk drive or other physical device the data is read from memory. No modification is necessary to native operating system, input/output subsystem, bootstrap code, etc., since the invention modifies characteristics, such as vectors used by the operating system, to make the disk image in memory appear to be the same as a standard external device.

Abstract: Instant messages are sent to and from a device. For example, one embodiment of a method involves detecting an instant message on a port associated with a device and performing an action corresponding to an administrative command, where the instant message includes information indicative of the administrative command. Another embodiment of a method involves detecting a trigger condition during operation of a device and sending an instant message to an administrator, where the instant message includes information indicative of the trigger condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for single sign-out from one or more application servers in a distributed computing environment. A user accesses at least one second application server via a first application server. The user is able to sign-out from all the application servers to which he is connected via the first application server by signing out of any one of the signed in application servers. The single sign out procedure ensures the user does not inadvertently remain signed into the application servers when the user does not explicitly sign out of each signed in application server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying the context of messages based on a selected rule set are provided. The method comprises selecting a rule set from the database, scanning the message while comparing content of a textual message to the rule set, and determining textual modifications to the textual message based on the selected rule set to define a modified message having content that is different from the textual message.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided to update file change log data to indicate that a change to a file in a file system has occurred. The file change log data are accessible for read access using a file system-independent operating system function. Applications can read, open, close, and seek data in the file change log using file system-independent operating system functions. The file change log data can be read by multiple applications simultaneously, even when data are being written to the file change log. Operations such as writing data to the file change log and renaming or deleting the file change log file itself are prevented when performed by an application rather than the file system. These prohibitions protect the file change log.

Abstract: One method of redirecting an in-process backup operation to a new storage device involves receiving a request to perform a backup from a backup application. In response to reception of the request, the method causes backup information generated by the backup application to be stored on a first storage device. The first storage device is monitored in order to detect how much free space is available. If the amount of space available on the first storage device drops below a threshold amount prior to completion of the backup, the backup is redirected by causing any subsequent backup information generated by the backup application to be stored on a second storage device. Metadata associated with the backup identifies that information associated with the backup is stored on both the first storage device and the second storage device.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for implementing agents that facilitate end user searches of a backup catalog via a desktop search tool are disclosed. One method involves: receiving a search request from a desktop search tool, which is configured for use by an end user of a backup system; searching a backup catalog, maintained by the backup system, in response to the search request; and providing a result of searching the backup catalog to the desktop search tool.

Abstract: System and method for discovering Storage Area Network (SAN) fabrics and mapping switches to the fabrics. Embodiments may collect switch information from one or more sources and examine the collected switch information to determine interconnections among the switches. From this information, one or more SAN fabrics of which the switches are components may be determined, and the switches mapped to the SAN fabrics of which they are components. Embodiments may use an out-of-band protocol such as SNMP to collect switch information for all switches that can be discovered, either from individual switches or from a central switch management server, and then traverse the switch information to construct a map of how the switches are connected. From the map, one or more SAN fabrics, and which switches are connected in the same fabric(s), may be determined.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises a plurality of nodes. On each node, a storage virtualization component may receive the I/O operations generated from local applications on the node. The storage virtualization component may transmit the I/O operation, and detect any failures that occur in the I/O operations. If a failure is detected, the storage virtualization component may cooperate with other storage virtualization components on other nodes to successfully complete an I/O operation that experiences a failure. In one embodiment, if the I/O operation is successful on a remote node, the storage virtualization component may migrate the application that sourced the I/O operation to the remote node. In other embodiments, the storage virtualization component may monitor I/O operations and migrate the application after a pattern of local failures and successes on the remote node.

Abstract: A SAN (storage area network) configuration utility may be used to automatically configure a SAN management system for SAN discovery and management. The SAN configuration utility may be used to identify and verify SAN devices, device firmware, device drivers, etc. for the SAN management system, and to configure the SAN management system to support one or more previously incompatible SAN devices. In one embodiment, the SAN configuration utility may automatically configure the SAN management system to use only the SAN devices that are known to be compatible with the SAN management system. In one embodiment, the SAN configuration utility may automatically modify one or more SAN management system configuration files to support the discovered SAN devices and/or automatically modify one or more SAN devices for support by the SAN management system (e.g. by updating firmware). In one embodiment, the SAN configuration utility may generate one or more SAN configuration reports.

Abstract: In distributed storage environments, nodes may send replicated writes for temporal volumes and may be configured to request on-demand consistency intervals in order to allow multiple nodes to transition between timestamps for temporal data in a uniform and coordinated manner. In response to a request from a node for a consistency interval transition, a consistency interval coordinator may end a current consistency interval and start another and may provide coordination to various nodes to enable the nodes to transition from one timestamp to another, and thus from one temporal version to another, while prevent data corruption or inconsistency between the temporal versions. Additionally, periodic consistency intervals may be utilized to provide consistent and coordinated transitions between temporal timestamps. In some embodiments, replicated writes including temporal timestamp information may be stored persistent spillover logs allowing offline updating and versioning of data to temporal volumes.

Abstract: A method for performing backup operations while avoiding data loss due to backup failure. A backup agent software receives a database server backup request and decomposes the backup request into a plurality of smaller backup requests. The plurality of smaller backup requests are then performed on the database to backup the specified database components to an archive. The backup agent software monitors success (or failure) of each of the plurality of backup requests and generates backup scripts for those backup requests that failed. These backup scripts may be subsequently executed to “re-run” the failed backups. The backup agent software is a modular program separate from the client application and the database server software.

Abstract: A set of probabilities may indicate the chance of finding the latest version of a data item in any particular data image layer of a data image. A client may use the set of probabilities to request the data item from one or more layers that have a higher probability of having that version of the data item. A client may query more recently created layers to determine whether they have a version of the data item. If any of the more recently created data image layers has a version of the data item, a client may request the data item from the most recent of the more recently created layers and may discard any data returned from the originally requested layer. A client may update the historical probabilities based on which layers contain versions of the data item.

Abstract: A method of recovering a target data object. In one embodiment, the method includes restoring the target data object to a data state that existed at a point of time prior. Once the target data object is restored, a first object is retrieved from backup memory, wherein the first object comprises a plurality of transactions for modifying the target data object. After the target data object is restored, the target data object is modified in accordance with the transactions of the first object. A second object is retrieved from backup memory, wherein the second object comprises a plurality of transactions for modifying the target data object. The second object is retrieved from backup memory before the target data object is modified in accordance with all of the transactions of the first object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically restoring the structure and data of a disk drive of a live client computer, i.e., a disk drive that does not store the operating system of the computer system has failed. A “live” computer is one that is booted into an operating system from the computer's own system disks. In one example, the method commences by obtaining a disk layout file from backup storage. This disk layout file typically contains the original disk structure of a particular disk drive. The new disk structure is then rebuilt on a disk drive. Next, file data stored in backup storage is acquired and subsequently written onto the disk drive. In an alternative example, the disk structure on the disk layout file is acquired and adjusted in accordance to the user's needs. This modified disk structure layout is then established on the disk drive.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus and software can make use of standard input/output (I/O) interface commands to make information about virtual storage devices available to clients of those virtual storage devices. Where the storage virtualization is carried out using a switch, router, or other storage network appliance, the information about virtual devices is stored (and in many cases determined and/or processed) local to the device. Applications operating on the storage clients can conveniently access the information using I/O interface commands and need not have access to some or all of the software or functionality that virtualizes the storage.

Abstract: A computer system or memory medium with instructions executable by a computer system to use a single allocator to coordinate volume transformations across virtualization layers. In one embodiment, the computer system creates a first storage object, wherein the first storage object is created to have a property. The computer system creates a second storage object out of the first storage object, wherein the second storage object depends on the property of the first storage object. The computer system then modifies the first storage object, wherein the modified first storage object maintains the property upon which the second storage object depends.