Abstract: A system and method for facilitating configuration of client stations in a computer network. A virtual disk representing configuration information is formed and selectively exported via the network to the client stations. The stations are configured with the configuration information identified by the virtual disk. Snapshot disks representing modifications to the configuration information required at the client stations can also be created, transported across the computer network, and used to upgrade client station.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to a storage element that forms a portion of a logical storage device includes setting a write-barrier value to a first value upon receiving a request to copy the contents of the logical storage device. Write operations to the storage element are prohibited with the write-barrier value set to the first value. The portions of the logical storage device associated with the storage element are then copied. Upon the completion of the copying, the write-barrier value is then set to a second value.

Abstract: A file system is distributed over a plurality of computers connected to each other by a network. The plurality of computers execute user programs, and the user programs access files stored on a plurality of physical disks connected to the plurality of computers. The file system includes a plurality of file servers executing on the plurality of computers as a single distributed file server layer. In addition, the file system includes a plurality of disk servers executing on the plurality of computers as a single distributed disk server layer, and a plurality of lock servers executing on the plurality of computers as a single distributed lock server to coordinate the operation of the distributed file and disk server layers so that the user programs can coherently access the files on the plurality of physical disks.

Abstract: A system and method for managing memory in a network. In a computer network in which multiple computers (nodes) are interconnected by a network, the primary memory on one node may be used to store memory data (pages)from other nodes. The transfer of a data page over the network from the memory of a node holding it to the memory of another node requesting that data gives improved performance when compared to the transfer of the same data from disk, either local or remote, to the requesting node. Global information about the disposition of the nodes and their memories in the network is used to determine the nodes in the network that should best be used to hold data pages for other nodes at a particular time. This information is exchanged by the nodes periodically under command of a coordinating node.

Abstract: In a distributed shared memory computer system a plurality of workstations are connected to each other by a network. Each workstation includes a processor, a memory having addresses, and an input/output interface connected to each other by a bus. The input/output interfaces connect the workstations to each other by the network. In a software implemented method for batching access checks to shared data stored in the memories, a set of the addresses of the memories are designated virtual shared addresses to store shared data. A portion of the virtual shared addresses is allocated to store a shared data structure as one or more lines accessible by instructions of the programs executing in any of the processors, the size of each line being a predetermined number of bytes. The programs are analyzed to locate a set of instructions of a particular program which access a range of target addresses storing shared data, the range of target addresses being no greater than the size of one line.