Abstract: A data corruption indicator circuit for providing error free data transfer between a first device and a second device, clocked by different clock signals, is implemented. The data corruption indicator circuit can allow for faster throughput than the described prior art and provides a circuitry for detecting corrupt data. The data corruption indicator circuit provides a clocked data ready signal that updates a status lip-flop and a delayed data ready signal that updates a plurality of data flip-flops and a potential corruption flip-flop. Additionally, the delayed data ready signal may be used as an interrupt signal to notify the second device that data is available for transfer. The delay between the clocked data ready signal and the delayed data ready signal is such that a hazard cannot exist for the data signal and the status signal simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and system for remapping physical memory that is malfunctioning. The physical memory has memory locations with addresses. The addresses are ordered from a lowest to a highest address, and each address has bits ordered from a highest-order bit to a lowest-order bit. The system scans physical memory to determine which memory locations are malfunctioning. The system identifies a lowest address and a highest address of the memory locations that are malfunctioning. The system then identifies the highest-order, contiguous bits of the lowest address that are the same as the highest-order, contiguous bits of the highest address. The system generates a remapping value whose highest-order bits are equal to the inverse of the identified highest-order, contiguous bits of the address and whose lowest-order bits are all zeroes. When the system receives an address to access physical memory, the system generates a remapped address by performing a bitwise exclusive-OR of the received address with the remapping value.

Abstract: A fault tolerant method by which individual components of a server are monitored and controlled through independent, programmable microcontrollers interconnected through a microcontroller network. An external agent can control and monitor the microcontrollers by extending the interconnection network beyond the physical server. Intervention of the server operating system software is not required and is not utilized for the access and control operations. The method includes the processes running on a remote interface so as to enable communication between the microcontroller network and an external modem that communicates with a remote client machine. The remote interface also provides for connection to a local client machine.

Abstract: Security is provided for a docking station. Within the docking station a docking password is stored. Upon a portable computer being attached to the docking station, a password stored in the portable computer is compared to the docking password. If the password stored in the portable computer is equal to the docking password, the portable computer is allowed to access the docking station. If the password stored in the portable computer is not equal to the docking password, the portable computer is prevented from accessing the docking station.

Abstract: Feedback is provided to a user during installation of electronic equipment. Prior to installation of the electronic equipment, a plurality of installation feedback lights are placed on a case of the electronic equipment. During installation of the electronic equipment after attempting performance of an installation step, a determination is made as to whether performance of the installation step was successful. When performance of the installation step was successful, notification is provided to an installer that the installation step was successful. The notification includes activating one of the installation feedback lights.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a ROM disposed in a data processing apparatus, and a writeable and nonvolatile memory device storing an operation setting value of the ROM is provided. When powered on, the apparatus determines whether the ROM has been changed or replaced. If it is determined that the ROM has been changed, the apparatus writes the initial values of the ROM into the memory device. Thereby, the device eliminates the need for a person to perform the rewriting operation on the writeable and nonvolatile memory device even when the ROM has been replaced.

Abstract: A system for reporting a failure condition in a server system which includes: a controller which monitors the server system for system failures, and generates an event signal and failure information if a system failure is detected; a system interface, coupled to the controller, which receives the event signal; a central processing unit, coupled to the system interface, wherein, upon receiving the event signal, the system interface reports an occurrence of an event to the central processing unit; and a system log which stores the failure information.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for targeting a digital information playback device. A device ID and or a group ID is embedded in the playback device. A device ID or a group ID is also embedded in a digital information file. Upon receiving the digital information file, the device ID or the group ID of the playback device is compared to that contained in the digital information file. The digital information file is then played if either the device ID or the group ID of the digital information file matches that of the playback device.

Abstract: An initiating engine is instantiated on a first machine to initiate a request for diagnostic information about one or more managed node machines. The request includes an expression to be evaluated and is received by at least one expression engine, each of which can be located on the first machine, on the managed node machine, or on another machine. Each expression engine processes the request by periodically evaluating the expression, obtaining the data required for the expression from one or more managed node machines, and transmitting the results back to the initiating engine. The expression engine can be configured to transmit the results only when the results are different than a previous evaluation of the expression. Furthermore, to detect a failed connection to the expression engine, the initiating engine maintains a heartbeat function to monitor the activities of the expression engine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing security to a server running an application program received over a network is provided. The application program, along with a source identifier is received from a source computer. Access privileges to server resources are granted based on the source identifier. The application program is loaded into a predetermined, bounded region of memory.

Abstract: A method is described for operating a control apparatus having a programmable memory unit wherein the programming of the memory unit takes place with a sequential execution of a multiplicity of memory programming control operations. The described method is characterized in that: a check step S1 is provided with the aid of which it can be determined whether all, selected individual or several of the memory programming control operations, which must be then have been carried out and a decision step S2 is provided, in which, while considering the check result, a decision is made as to whether the programming operation should be continued as prescribed by executing further memory programming control operations.

Abstract: A switchgear cabinet monitoring installation, wherein a switchgear cabinet has at least one control device for units built-in or units attached to the switchgear cabinet, and at least one server. A rapid detection and reaction to a failure of the network is achieved with each control device and each server being connected via the network with a lead computer, wherein the control devices are coupled through additional connections with the lead computer and via connectors with the servers. In case of a failure of the network, the data exchange between the control devices and the lead computer can be established via the additional connection.

Abstract: A computer system having central processors (CPs), an associated L2 cache, and processor memory arrays (PMAs), is provided with store logic and and fetch logic used to detect and correct data errors and to write the resulting data the associated cache. The store logic and and fetch logic blocks UEs from the cache for CP stores, for PMA (mainstore) fetches/loads, and for cache-to-cache loads, and with uncorrectable error recovery cache fetch and store logic injects `Special UEs` into the cache when loads cannot be blocked and abends CP jobs for UEs during CP stores, for UEs from PMA, for UEs from remote cache, and for UEs from local cache.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a status condition of a first server with a second server in a server network, and also providing synchronization and messaging between the two servers, the method including: transmitting a software-generated pulse waveform from the first server to a device coupled to the first server, wherein the software-generated pulse waveform is comprises a first command corresponding to a logic level low and a second command corresponding to a logic level high; setting said device to a first state during logic level lows of said pulse waveform and to a second state during logic level highs of said pulse waveform; receiving the software-generated pulse waveform with the second server by determining when said device is in the first state and when it is in the second state; and determining when said device no longer changes from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: In a method for swapping a system host board (150,160,170,180), when a failure is detected on a first system processor board (150), control of a first CompactPCI bus (110) is transferred from a first system processor board system host (154) to a first bridge board system host(164). In an active/standby configuration, control of a second CompactPCI bus (120) is transferred from a second bridge board system host (184) to a second system processor board system host (174), and control of the devices on the first CompactPCI bus (110) and second CompactPCI bus (120) is transferred from the first system processor (152) to the second system processor (172) without resetting any devices on the system.

Abstract: A system of Flash EEprom memory chips with controlling circuits serves as non-volatile memory such as that provided by magnetic disk drives. Improvements include selective multiple sector erase, in which any combinations of Flash sectors may be erased together. Selective sectors among the selected combination may also be de-selected during the erase operation. Another improvement is the ability to remap and replace defective cells with substitute cells. The remapping is performed automatically as soon as a defective cell is detected. When the number of defects in a Flash sector becomes large, the whole sector is remapped. Yet another improvement is the use of a write cache to reduce the number of writes to the Flash EEprom memory, thereby minimizing the stress to the device from undergoing too many write/erase cycling.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided for managing resources in a computing cluster. The managed resources include cluster nodes themselves, as well as sharable resources such as memory buffers and bandwidth credits that may be used by one or more nodes. Resource management includes detecting failures and possible failures by node software, node hardware, interconnects, and system area network switches and taking steps to compensate for failures and prevent problems such as uncoordinated access to a shared disk. Resource management also includes reallocating sharable resources in response to node failure, demands by application programs, or other events. Specific examples provided include failure detection by remote memory probes, emergency communication through a shared disk, and sharable resource allocation with minimal locking.

Abstract: A data receiving apparatus in which mail from a sender for which a secret setting is made cannot be directly confirmed. In this data receiving apparatus, when a password is not inputted or when an incorrect password is inputted by a user when a display is in a state of password input screen, the display indicates only a received mail list for mails from persons who are identified by personal data sets stored in advance which do not have a secret flag. The display also indicates the number of all the mail data sets, including the mail data sets from persons for which the secret flag is set.

Abstract: Multiple Array Management Functions (AMFs) are connected to multiple redundancy groups over a storage area network (SAN), such as a fiber-channel based SAN. The multiple AMFs share management responsibility of the redundancy groups, each of which typically includes multiple resources spread over multiple disks. The AMFs provide concurrent access to the redundancy groups for associated host systems. When a host requests an AMF to perform an operation on a resource, the AMF synchronizes with the other AMFs sharing control of the redundancy group that includes the resource to be operated on, so as to obtain a lock on the resource. While performing the operation, the AMF send replication data and state information associated with the resource such that if the AMF fails, any of the other AMFs are able to complete the operation and maintain data reliability and coherency.

Abstract: An environment monitoring integrated circuit is provided that allows the boundaries of operating parameters to be conveniently modified. The present invention allows the hardware designer to easily change the temperature boundary of the computer operation, or the boundaries of the operating voltage, the operating temperature and the rotation speed of the fan. The present invention uses limit registers which provide a simple implementation for changing the boundaries of the operating parameters of the computer.