Abstract: The present invention, in particular embodiments, is directed to methods, apparatuses and systems directed to the authentication of cartridge-based storage media. In a particular embodiment, the present invention provides authentication passwords that are stored on authorized cartridge-based hard disc drives. The authentication password, in one embodiment, is a hash of an interleaved combination of a cartridge-based hard disc drive's serial number and model number strings. Upon insertion of a locked cartridge-based hard disc drive into a carrier, carrier logic obtains the serial number and model number strings of the hard disc drive and generates a password additionally using a base string. The carrier logic then attempts to unlock/authenticate the cartridge-based hard disc drive with the newly-generated password. Authentication occurs with an authorized cartridge as the password contained in the associated hard disc drive will match the password sent by the carrier logic.

Abstract: A method and a system for volume group creation based on an automatic drive selection scheme are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of a redundant array of independent drives (RAID) includes processing at least one attribute data describing a volume group of the RAID. The method also includes automatically selecting a plurality of drives of the volume group based on at least one of an optimum tray distribution of the volume group, a spindle speed of each drive in the volume group, and an alignment of the plurality of drives in the volume group. In another embodiment, a system of a RAID includes a user device to communicate an attribute data describing a volume group of the RAID, and a drive selection module to automatically select a plurality of drives of the volume group based on the attribute data using a baseline selection algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a storage system, a method for managing the same, and a storage controller, to obtain a storage apparatus that uses iSCSI protocol, which makes it possible for each user to configure the necessary settings within the scope of their provided right.

Abstract: A processor includes multiple processor core units, each including a processor core and a cache memory. Victim lines evicted from a first processor core unit's cache may be stored in another processor core unit's cache, rather than written back to system memory. If the victim line is later requested by the first processor core unit, the victim line is retrieved from the other processor core unit's cache. The processor has low latency data transfers between processor core units. The processor transfers victim lines directly between processor core units' caches or utilizes a victim cache to temporarily store victim lines while searching for their destinations. The processor evaluates cache priority rules to determine whether victim lines are discarded, written back to system memory, or stored in other processor core units' caches. Cache priority rules can be based on cache coherency data, load balancing schemes, and architectural characteristics of the processor.

Abstract: A method of operating a central cache controller (“CCC”) in a first cell of a multiprocessor system comprising multiple cells each including globally shared memory (“GSM”), wherein the first cell is disposed in a first partition and the CCC is connected to a plurality of CPUs of the first cell. In one embodiment, the method comprises, responsive to a new transaction request from one of the CPUs, logging the transaction in a transaction table; determining whether an identity marker in a timeout map corresponding to a cell to which the transaction was issued is set; and, responsive to the corresponding identity marker in the timeout map being set, immediately returning a special error to the one of the CPUs that requested the transaction.

Abstract: A method for deinterleaving a sequence of interleaved data stored in a set of memory locations from a first order to a second order in-place of a memory with linear time. Two data items are withdrawn from the center of the sequence, creating a hole therein. Destination positions for said withdrawn data items are determined. It is determined whether the destination positions contain any data items. If so, the data items of said destination positions are replaced with the withdrawn data items, and second destination positions are determined for the data items withdrawn from the first destination positions. Otherwise, the first data items are inserted at the destination positions directly. If a data item is inserted at the hole of the sequence before the sequence is properly deinterleaved, an incorrect positioned data item is determined and repositioned. The repositioning sequence is repeated until all data items are correctly positioned.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for a load address dependency mechanism in a high frequency, low power processor. A load instruction corresponding to a memory address is received. At least one unexecuted preceding instruction corresponding to the memory address is identified. The load instruction is stored in a miss queue. And the load instruction is tagged as a local miss.

Abstract: A host computer acquires remote copy status information of storage subsystems that are not directly coupled to the host computer. Each storage subsystem comprises: a unit which receives a status information acquisition command from the host computer; a unit which analyses the received command to judge whether the storage subsystem in question is a target of the command; a unit which sends the command to a downstream storage subsystem connected to the storage subsystem in question when the storage subsystem in question is not the target; and a unit which sends status information to an upstream storage subsystem connected to the storage subsystem in question when the status information is received from the downstream storage subsystem.

Abstract: Systems and methods of determining DNS information, such as an IP address, associated with a domain name. The methods using a cache segregated to store various domain name system (DNS) data in different data structures. The data structures are configured for minimization of data retrieval times. In some embodiments, answer information is stored in a hash table. In these and other embodiments, times required to search for answers are essentially constant as a function of the number of labels comprising the domain name.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for transmitting blocks of data. It is determined whether any high priority out of sync (HPOOS) indicator is set to indicate that a number of modified segments associated with a block of data are less than or equal to a modified segments threshold. In response to determining that at least one high priority out of sync indicator is set, one or more sub-blocks of data in the modified segments associated with the block of data and with one set high priority out of sync indicator are transferred.

Abstract: A method of runtime analysis of a computer program can include detecting allocations of virtual memory regions during runtime of the computer program. An entry can be created in a list of existing virtual memory regions for each allocation of a virtual memory region during runtime. The list can be updated, during runtime, according to usage of the virtual memory regions. Virtual memory regions allocated to, but not used by, the computer program can be indicated according to the list.

Abstract: A method of partitioning storage is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes connecting at least one initiator with at least one target device. Upon connection of the at least one initiator with the at least one target device, at least one initiator-target association object may be created. The method may also include selecting at least one storage partition with the at least one initiator-target association object.

Abstract: An improved system and method are disclosed for the backup and restoration of data. An init image is created for a new system. Data is uploaded from a current system and a data image is generated. The resulting data image and the init image are combined to create a combined data image, which is then stored on an on-line backup host. A copy of the combined data image is transferred to the new system. The uploaded data is extracted from the copy of the combined data image and stored on the new system in the same location as the original system. Metadata describing the location of the combined data on the new system is captured and then applied to the combined data image stored on the on-line backup host. The extracted data on the new system is compared to the current data on the original system and the new system is updated. A differential backup is performed on the new system and then uploaded to the on-line backup host, where it is associated with the combined data image.

Abstract: A clustered storage system includes a plurality of nodes and a management server that consolidates physical position information concerning data in each of the nodes. The management server includes a process to relate the information to the configuration of the clustered storage system and the configuration of each node and present such relations. Each node has a process to obtain the size and load of resources that are used in processing. The management server has a process to collect and tally such resource usage status from each node, and a process to relate the resource usage status, the data information and configuration information to each other and present the relations in a hierarchy. The clustered storage system has a process to move logical volumes among nodes in a manner transparent to the host computer.

Abstract: There are disclosed systems and computer program products for dynamically resizing memory pools used by database management systems. In one aspect, if a decrease in allocation to the memory pool is required, at least one page grouping that may be freed from the memory pool is identified as a candidate based on its position in a list of page groupings. If the page grouping contains any used memory blocks, the used memory blocks may be copied from a candidate page grouping to another page grouping in the list in order to free the candidate page grouping. Once the candidate page grouping is free of used memory blocks, the candidate page grouping may be freed from the memory pool. As an example, this system or computer program product may be used for dynamically resizing locklists or lock memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods which provide an extensible caching framework are disclosed. These systems and methods may provide a caching framework which can evaluate individual parameters of a request for a particular piece of content. Modules capable of evaluating individual parameters of an incoming request may be added and removed from this framework. When a request for content is received, parameters of the request can be evaluated by the framework and a cache searched for responsive content based upon this evaluation. If responsive content is not found in the cache, responsive content can be generated and stored in the cache along with associated metadata and a signature formed by the caching framework. This signature may aid in locating this content when a request for similar content is next received.

Abstract: In a nonvolatile memory system, a host allocates clusters and records allocation information in a File Allocation Table that is stored in the nonvolatile memory. A controller separately allocates certain data and records allocation in a record in a volatile memory. File Allocation Table information provided to the host is modified according to the record in the volatile memory.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for reducing the latency associated with media protection notification for serial interface mass storage devices, such as serial AT attachment (SATA) hard disk drives. A new link layer primitive, referred to as hold-emergency (HOLDE), incorporates the flow-control behavior of the existing HOLD command, with the additional new action of notifying the hard disk drive to take emergency steps to prepare for impact. The HOLDE link layer primitive operates in conjunction with the existing hold-acknowledge (HOLDA) primitive and is semantically similar to the existing HOLD primitive. The HOLDE mechanism is preferably implemented directly in hardware in the SATA link layer state machines within the host and the hard disk drive.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for facilitating the management of multiple controller code versions for implementing operational aspects of storage system controllers are provided. In particular, multiple versions of storage controller code are loaded into the physical memory of a storage controller. The logical region in which a particular controller code version is loaded may be designated in metadata as a primary, secondary or other region. The controller code that is associated with a logical version designated as the primary region is selected by the storage controller for execution upon a storage controller reboot. Accordingly, time consuming copy operations are not required in order to switch between different versions of storage controller code.

Abstract: In some types of non-volatile memory devices, the same signal from a memory device may be used for two purposes: During a read operation, the signal may be used by a memory controller to latch the data that is being received from the memory device. During a block erase operation and/or a block write operation, the signal may be used to notify the memory controller that the operation has been completed by the memory device.