Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to system firmware management in a computing system. Aspects of the embodiments enable a selective BIOS restoration process by storing and retrieving BIOS modification record in a storage device. By utilizing a relative inexpensive service controller, some embodiments herein can achieve a remote and efficient BIOS recovery management method.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or computing devices are provided for preserving coredump data. A first storage controller, of a first storage cluster, may have a disaster recovery relationship with a second storage controller of a second storage cluster. When the first storage controller fails, the first storage controller performs a coredump process to dump memory contents of the first storage controller into a storage device. During implementation of the coredump process, the first storage controller stores a storage device identifier of the storage device into a disk mailbox. Upon detecting the failure, the second storage controller reads the storage device identifier from the disk mailbox. The second storage controller performs a switchover operation to change ownership of storage devices, but excluding the storage device used by the coredump process, from the first storage controller to the second storage controller for providing clients with failover access to the storage devices.

Abstract: Methods for a mobile device restarting subsystem software on a schedule that reduces the likelihood of subsystem failures without requiring a general system restart or impacting other subsystems. The mobile device may calculate a restart time window during which a first subsystem may be restarted efficiently and prior to the occurrence of software failures. Upon initialization of the first subsystem, a restart timer may be established which indicates the period since a previous restart of the first subsystem. Once the restart timer indicates a time within the restart time window, the mobile device may transmit request messages to other subsystems dependent upon the first subsystem. In response to a unanimous vote by the other subsystems or the restart timer exceeding the time restart window, the mobile device may restart the first subsystem. In an aspect, the mobile device may transmit the request messages at an increasing rate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for backing up data (copying data) from a primary computer system onto a removable backup medium and/or a copy computer system combined with verifying the data copied onto the medium and/or computer, whereby a more fail-safe backup system is provided and a stand-in computer in case of primary computer failure is readily available. In particular the verification includes functional tests, wherein the functionality of files and databases on the copy computer system is tested. The method offers the user a possibility of assuring that a functional backup has been obtained and furthermore, in case of breakdown of the primary computer the copy computer may function as stand-in.

Abstract: A software testing architecture can comprise a three-level framework. The three-level framework can comprise a first level (comprising a first data source), a second level (comprising a second data source), and a third level (comprising a third data source). The framework can further comprise an intermediate entity data source. The first data source can specify test pages, the second test cases for the test pages, and the third test data for the test cases. Each of the three levels can be associated with respective scripts. A method for testing multi-staged scenarios can select test pages and, for the test pages, determine and execute test cases and save intermediate entities. A method for testing multi-staged scenarios using a three-level framework can execute a first test case for a first test page, save an intermediate entity, and execute a second test case for a second test page using the saved intermediate entity.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for distributed file system I/O recovery in storage networks. Embodiments may detect loss of access to a server in the storage network and recover application I/O requests in real-time once access to the server is restored. Embodiments may detect server and/or network failures and store failed and new I/O requests. Recovery from the failure (e.g. network reconnect, server node reboot, or failover, if this is a clustered environment) may be detected and, after recovery is detected, any stored failed and new I/O requests may be sent to the server. In one embodiment, to detect recovery from the failure, a failed I/O request may be repeatedly re-issued until the I/O request succeeds. Embodiments may be implemented in a variety of storage environments, including environments where clients issue direct I/O over a storage network to storage and control I/O over a network to a server.

Abstract: A method and system for updating or recovering a computer device's software image using a single portable operating system image stored on a bootable, secure partition on local storage (hard drive); a method and system utilizing delta image patching technology to allow the single image to work on a large number of diverse computer device platforms; and a method for distributing software patches and updates via a, secure local partition to ensure patches and updates are applied to well known software images that have not been modified to include malicious software and do not include any other undesirable changes that have been made to the primary, running operating system image.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a high-availability cluster apparatus having a plurality of computing nodes and a hardware interface configured to connect to each of said nodes. The internode connections are coupled to the hardware interface to communicate node status signals between said nodes. A node is removable from being connected to the hardware interface without interrupting a topological continuity of the internode connections. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: To enable the host server side to be aware of the recovery of an error when the error is recovered by the user's power off/on operation, the most recent state regarding occurrences of errors at printer 16 (steps S61 and S62) is stored in the backup RAM 12a each time a status change occurs (steps S63 and S64), and when an user performs a power off/on operation and a printing device is re-activated (step S65), if a most recent state at the time of the previous activation was in a state of service call error occurrence (step S66), the current status of the printer 16 is then sent (steps S68 and S69).

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which is capable of notifying a management server of only necessary information for the management server to perform its proper maintenance function, as information on the maintenance of an image forming apparatus after recovery of the management server, to thereby avoid the management server from performing processing more than necessary. A device information transmission and retransmission schedule controller transmits maintenance information including status information and cumulative counter information on an image forming apparatus to an information collecting server. A retransmission data storage section stores the status information and the cumulative counter information. Upon recovery from failure in communication with the server, the schedule controller transmits the status information collected in a plurality of timings and part of the cumulative counter information collected in a plurality of timings to the server.

Abstract: Stable and automated recovery of an application executing on a primary computer system by transitioning to secondary computer system is provided. Intelligent agents installed on a primary client server allow the primary environment to be replicated on a host, secondary environment. This creates continuous availability of applications executing on the primary system via the mirrored host environment. Every transaction on the client environment (e.g., every piece of data) is replicated in real-time on the host environment. A simple mechanism (e.g., a button) is provided to allow access to the secondary environment thereby switching over from the client environment to the host environment in the case of, with respect to the primary environment, a disaster, a need to perform maintenance, system failure and the like.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the functionality of a dual opposing ISA/PCI bus alarm card of an industrial computer where the alarm card includes a microserver for communicating with web-enabled information on the host computer.

Abstract: A method in which data is stored or transferred together with an information message on the basis of which it can be determined in which order, at which time, and/or during which time span, the data concerned has been acquired, stored or transferred.

Abstract: When an event occurs in a storage system that is not recognized by a host, it is not possible to recover data at the point before and after this event. Provided is a storage system including a first storage area storing data to be used by a computer, and a second storage area for storing updated data and its update log information when there is an update request from the computer to the first storage area. This storage system monitors its own storage system and detects an event, and creates a recovery point and its update log information based on the event. When the storage system receives a recovery command at a certain recovery point, it recovers data of the first storage area at the time of recovery point by writing, in a replication storage area at a certain point of the first storage area, update data up to the recovery point among the update data stored in the second storage area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing data in a receiver used in a wireless communication system is provided. The data processing method uses the receiver apparatus comprising a medium access control (MAC) layer and a radio link control (RLC) layer for processing data units. The data processing comprises communicating a data unit and a cyclic redundancy code (CRC) check result associated with the data unit from the MAC layer to the RLC layer; examining in the RLC layer that the CRC check result sent from the MAC layer that indicates whether the data unit has an error; and discarding the data unit when the data unit has error and when an error handling scheme is not provided.

Abstract: A technique wherein High Availability (HA) hardware is used to automatically validate control and configuration registers, e.g. automatically generate parity, detect parity errors, and report errors within software-written configuration and control registers of ASIC and IC products. Parity control logic and Masking Registers are utilized to facilitate automatic parity generation and subsequent parity error reporting. The specific location of where the error occurred can be stored to enable software to correct and/or reconfigure the registers. The HA hardware verifies the validity of control and configuration registers coupled to a bus, utilizing idle cycles in addition to valid bus cycles so there is no impact on system throughput.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device having a plurality of embedded processor/controllers and a parallel emulation trace port coupled thereto to provide trace data for debugging the integrated circuit device. A serializer macro is provided within the integrated circuit device to serialize the parallel data from the emulation trace port in order to provide trace data from the IC device in a serial data stream instead of a parallel data stream. A high speed differential serial driver is used to provide the bandwidth required to support the data speeds associated with embedded processors running at high clock rates. An external serial to parallel converter is also provided to convert the high speed serial trace data back to parallel trace data such that the trace data can be input into an emulator in the normal manner. In one embodiment, two serializers are provided within the integrated circuit device to meet data throughput requirements, such as when the IC device has more than one embedded processor/controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the transmission of safe process information including detecting two or more process signals redundantly, identifying an event that is relevant to system safety, and converting said process signals to a single process signal for further system-based processing.

Abstract: A network of microcontrollers for monitoring and diagnosing the environmental conditions of a computer is disclosed. The network of microcontrollers provides a management system by which computer users can accurately gauge the health of their computer. The network of microcontrollers provides users the ability to detect system fan speeds, internal temperatures and voltage levels. The invention is designed to not only be resilient to faults, but also allows for the system maintenance, modification, and growth—without downtime. Additionally, the present invention allows users to replace failed components, and add new functionality, such as new network interfaces, disk interface cards and storage, without impacting existing users. One of the primary roles of the present invention is to manage the environment without outside involvement. This self-management allows the system to continue to operate even though components have failed.

Abstract: When a primary server executing a task fails in a computer system where a plurality of servers are connected to an external disk device via a network and the servers boot an operation system from the external disk device, task processing is taken over from the primary server to a server that is not executing a task in accordance with the following method. The method for taking over a task includes the steps of detecting that the primary server fails; searching the computer system for a server that has the same hardware configuration as that of the primary server and that is not running a task; enabling the server, searched for as a result of the search, to access the external disk device; and booting the server from the external disk device.