Abstract: A tension control assembly including a rotating member, a braking member, at least one brake pad, a means for driving the at least one brake pad against the braking member, and a temperature sensing means. The braking member is attached to the rotating member. The at least one brake pad is positioned adjacent to the braking member. The means for driving the at least one brake pad against the braking member forces frictional contact between the at least one brake pad and the braking member, thus providing torque to the rotating member. The temperature sensing means measures the temperature of the at least one brake pad.

Abstract: Novel storage area networks (SANs) and methods of operation thereof utilize a plurality of hosts coupled via an interconnect with one or more storage units. A manager device, process or other functionality in communication with a plurality of agent processes, devices or other functionality, each of which is associated with a host. The agents identify attributes of (i) their associated hosts, (ii) interconnect to which that host is coupled, and/or (iii) storage units to which that host is coupled via the interconnect. The manager responds to these attributes identified by the agents to manage the SAN. The manager can be implemented on a first digital data processor and the hosts on further digital data processors. These digital data processors can be coupled via a first network, e.g., an IP or other network, to support communications between the manager and the agents. A second network, e.g.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for intelligent discovery of network information from multiple information gathering agents adapted to discover information concerning the network. The discovery agents each have an associated discovery capability. Based on consideration of the agent discovery capabilities, discovery assignments are computed and network discovery is performed according to the assignments so as to reduce discovery poll overhead.