Abstract: A computer system has a main system to execute an application in cooperation with a human user. The auxiliary system evaluates problems in the main system. The auxiliary system has a service module to collect problem related data from the main system, an acquisition module to acquire knowledge representations, a knowledge module to store knowledge representations, an inference module for processing problem related data with knowledge representations to identify solutions and for forwarding the solutions through the service module to the main system. The main system has a client/server configuration with a database, an application server, and a front-end-server. The auxiliary system uses basis functions of the main system.

Abstract: A fault management system is directed to the access network part of a communications network where terminating lines in the form of pairs of copper wires extend from a local switch through a series of nodes to terminal equipment provided for user of the network. Each night, a test head performs a series of tests on each of the terminating lines. The results of the tests are transmitted to an access network management system where they are analyzed with respect to a set of parameters to identify characteristics that would indicate that a fault is likely to occur on the associated circuit within a predetermined period e.g. 1 year. Further analysis can then be carried out to establish the probability of the fault actually occurring and/or whether the potential fault analyzed is going to occur in either the underground or the over-ground part of the network. Further analysis determines relative costs of repair for circuits or network elements in which faults or potential faults have been identified.

Abstract: There is provided a novel failure prediction system, a failure prediction program, a failure prediction method, a device, a printer and a device management server capable of accurately predicting a failure of a device connected on a network. A failure prediction system is provided with multiple devices and a device management server for managing the multiple devices via a network. Each of the devices is provided with a device diagnosis section for diagnosing the state of the device to notify diagnosis results; and the device management server is provided with a failure prediction section for predicting a device with a failure tendency based on the diagnosis results sent by each of the device diagnosis sections. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately predict not only a failure due to an expected factor but also a failure due to an unexpected factor.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for generating an error chain in a call stack. A function is invoked to perform a functionality. If an error occurs during performing the first function, errors including the ones contained in an error chain, created based on at least one context specific error state and represented by an error tokan, and the error, occurred during said performing the functionality, are processed. The function then returns to another function that invokes it either with a new token error token representing a new error chain containing the error occurred and the errors contained in the error chain or with an error status. If the function does not error, it returns a normal status to the other function that invokes it.

Abstract: A fault management system is operated for an access network which forms part of a communications network. In the access network, terminating lines in the form of pairs of copper wires extend from a local switch through a series of nodes to terminal equipment provided for users of the network. The fault management system includes a test head and an access network system. Each night, the test head performs a series of tests on each of the terminating lines. The results of the tests are transmitted to the access network management. The test results are then analyzed with respect to a set of parameters to identify characteristics that would indicate that a fault is likely to occur on the associated circuit within a predetermined period e.g. 1 year. Further analysis can then be carried out to establish the probability of the fault actually occurring and/or whether the potential fault analyzed is going to occur in either the underground or the over-ground part of the network.

Abstract: A data processing system (10) has a system debug module (19) coupled to a processor (12) for performing system debug functions. Located within the system, and preferably within the processor, is debug circuitry (32) that selectively provides debug information related to the processor. The circuitry identifies which of a plurality of registers (26) is sourcing the debug information. A user-determinable enable and disable mechanism that is correlated to some or all of the registers sourcing the debug information specifies whether to enable or disable the providing of the debug information. In one form a single bit functions as the mechanism for each correlated register. Debug operations including breakpoints, tracing, watchpoints, halting, event counting and others are qualified to enhance system debug. The registers may be included in a programmer's model and can be compliant with one or more industry debug related standards.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for diagnostics execution in which diagnostics code is stored in a designated partition on a removable nonvolatile memory device, such as a compact flash or a personal computer (PC) card that is interfaced with the motherboard of a file server system. The file server system firmware is programmed in such a manner that, upon receipt of a diagnostics command, a normal boot mechanism is interrupted, and a diagnostics boot is performed. The firmware is programmed to probe the removable nonvolatile memory device, and to load the diagnostics code contained thereon into main memory and to execute the diagnostics in response to an initiation by an operator's key sequence. Data produced as a result of the diagnostics test sequence is captured and stored in a maintenance log in another partition on the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for managing traces with a computer system having a plurality of resources is disclosed. One or more conditions can be established for the computer system. The resources may then be monitored to determine whether the computer system has reached the one or more conditions. If so, then the parameters of the traces may be changed according to the one or more conditions that have been reached.

Abstract: A method for validating operation of a fiber link when the fiber link is initialized includes the steps of entering a trial link up state upon receiving a command to initialize the fiber link so that normal commands to other devices within the fiber channel loop are not resumed, and thereafter entering a final link up state and resuming normal commands to other devices within the fiber channel loop. In exemplary embodiments, the method may be implemented by devices within a system such as a disk array system of a storage area network (SAN), or the like.

Abstract: Method for diagnosing data packet transfer faults in a system under test (SUT) are provided. A representative method includes: identifying at least some portions of the data transmission paths of the SUT capable of introducing errors in data packet transfer; providing constraints defining data packet transfer relationships of at least some of the portions of the data transmission paths; and diagnosing the SUT with respect to the constraints. Systems, computer-readable media and other methods also are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for clustered failover over transport media that does not support moving of transport addressed between network interface controllers is provided. This reviving file server of a cluster, upon detection of the failure of its partner, assumes ownership of the disks owned by the failed file server. The surviving file server activates a secondary discriminator or port for access by clients who normally utilized the failed file server. Clients generate the name of the surviving or failover file server by appending at set item to the name of the failed file server.

Abstract: A system, and a method, for reorganizing an execution schedule. According to the invention, the recovery time of a storage device where a failure occurs is determined. Then, according to the recovery time, a schedule is produced for the operations that use the storage device where the failure occurred, and for the operations that do not use the storage device.

Abstract: A system and method for recovering from a computer system crashing as a result of the storage disk suffering physical damage and/or the corruption of an application, operating system, and/or data. The computer system may be standalone or a part of a communication network. The computer includes a hard disk storage divided into a primary partition containing a unique operating system for executing application programs and a recovery partition containing a unique operating system for executing application programs and for backup data storage. A boot track storing a boot manager, a backup status information file for establishing communication between the operating systems of the primary and recovery partitions, and a status validation file verifying the integrity of the backup status information file.

Abstract: A method of creating a facility in a clustered server configuration, includes: creating a facility on a first cluster node; adding facility registry keys to a resource in the cluster group, the registry keys comprising a facility key, a full text key, open database connectivity format keys, and connectivity information keys; performing a fail-over operation of the cluster group from the first cluster node to the second cluster node; resetting a password for the open database connectivity for the added facility; and removing the added facility registry keys to prevent replication back to the first cluster node. An apparatus for providing a facility in a cluster server configuration, includes: a first cluster node; a second cluster node; a shared disk system coupled to the first cluster node and second cluster node; where a facility can be created on the first cluster node.

Abstract: A method for providing data integrity of a database system. A standby database is selected to replace a failed primary database. At least one redo log file having at least one data transaction is selected to be applied to the selected standby database. The selected standby database is updated with the data transaction from the selected redo log file if an identification code in the redo log file matches an identification code in the standby database.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for using a mirrored disk as a bootable backup disk for a computer system. A mirroring routine may be used to create a backup disk, then discontinued during normal operations. Should a problem occur with the main disk, the computer system may be rebooted using the backup disk and the main disk can be rebuilt from the backup disk using the mirroring routine. The system and method may be applied to two disk systems and various multiple-disk arrays such as RAID systems.

Abstract: A method for automatic peer to peer address switching, comprising: defining a secondary device as a logical alias of a primary device and performing the following steps concurrently for the primary-secondary device pair upon a determination that address switching is desired: terminating the device pair binding, terminating all logical alias bindings to the first device except the logical alias binding of the primary device to the secondary device, preventing the primary device from receiving I/O requests, and allowing the secondary device to receive I/O requests.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for continuing a write operation in a RAID device when parity cannot be generated. In cases where a read error or plurality of read errors prohibits the proper calculation of parity for a block of data, the parity block may be written as a bad block of data for subsequent read operations. The parity block may be forced to be a bad block of data by writing a recognizable pattern of data with a known bad error correction code or other method of forcing a read error to occur on an otherwise good block of a disk storage device. This method allows the write operation to continue without halting the system as with conventional RAID devices.

Abstract: A method for recovering from malfunctions in a primary agent module of a modular network device. The primary agent module is installed in a modular network device having a number of network interface modules housed in a chassis. A backup agent module is installed in the chassis when the modular network device is powered on. The backup agent module determines if the primary agent module has been installed when three dedicated signals of the primary agent module are asserted. The network device then synchronizes all configuration information of the network interface modules from the primary to the backup agent module. The backup agent module detects that the primary agent module has failed if it cannot receive a message sent from the primary agent module within a predetermined time interval. As a result, the modular network device is rebooted and the backup agent module becomes the primary agent module.

Abstract: An error-handling framework is provided for business process transactions. The error-handling framework facilitates coordination of the invocation of exception and compensation handlers in response to errors. The error-handling framework includes support for custom ordering of compensation actions, data flow into and out of compensation actions, and management of the process state visible to compensation actions.