Abstract: On disk failure, the storage system migrates only those disk blocks that included allocated data, and treats unallocated disk blocks as being logically zero when possible. When there is no spare disk, the source data block is logically set to zero and parity is recalculated for the RAID stripe associated with the source data block. When there is a spare, unallocated blocks on the spare are logically or physically set to zero upon migration. Write operations for the failed disk are redirected to other non-failing disks, and a record of which in-use disk blocks have been thus “migrated” to those other non-failing disks in maintained. Unused disk blocks are proactively set to zero. A target mirror copy is created using information regarding allocated disk blocks, by copying those blocks including allocated data or parity, and by clearing at the mirror those blocks not including any allocated data or parity.

Abstract: A method (and system) of reducing a time for a computer system to recover from a degradation of performance in a hardware or a software in at least one first node of the computer system, includes monitoring a state of the at least one first node, and based on the monitoring, transferring a state of the at least one first node to a second node prior to the degradation in performance of the hardware or the software of the at least one first node.

Abstract: A device for analyzing digital data formulated in accordance with a communication protocol has a data memory for storing digital data to be analyzed. A microcode memory stores a microcode that represents at least part of the communication protocol. A data register is loaded with a pre-determined number of bits from the data memory, and a microcode register is loaded with a pre-determined number of bits from the microcode memory. The content of the microcode register is used to analyze the content of the data register. The results of the analysis are stored in an output memory. An addressing unit for the data memory and another addressing unit for the microcode memory take into account the contents of the data and/or microcode registers in determining the corresponding addresses.

Abstract: A remote monitoring system providing diagnostic and remedial functions to a computer system. The remote monitoring system comprises a service center and a diagnostic agent. The diagnostic agent is located proximate to the monitored computer system and electronically coupled to the monitored computer system such that the diagnostic agent can retrieve information about the various states of the monitored computer system. The diagnostic agent stores the retrieved information and further processes it for future use. Such information includes fault monitor information, accounting information, system performance information, and system management information. In addition, the diagnostic agent has control over the monitored computer system allowing it to perform diagnostic and remedial functions. Further, the diagnostic agent is electronically coupled to a service center located remotely to the monitored computer system.