Abstract: A method involves: detecting a storage resource indication within a workflow request and, in response to the storage resource indication, generating an availability indication. The storage resource indication indicates a storage resource (e.g., by directly or indirectly identifying or selecting the storage resource). The availability indication indicates that the indicated storage resource is not available for subsequent workflow requests. The availability indication is generated prior to allowing the consumer that generated the workflow request to use the storage resource. The workflow request can include a request to allocate a logical storage structure (e.g., a volume or logical disk). The logical storage structure is allocated in response to the workflow request. If the workflow request is denied or expires, the logical storage structure is deleted.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to track cluster nodes and provide high availability in a computing system. A computer system includes hosts, a cluster manager, and a cluster database. The cluster database includes entries corresponding to the hosts which identify the physical location of a corresponding host. The cluster manager uses the data to select at least two hosts and assign the selected hosts to a service group for executing an application. The cluster manager selects hosts via an algorithm that determines which hosts are least likely to share a single point of failure. The data includes a hierarchical group of location attributes describing two or more of a host's country, state, city, building, room, enclosure, and radio frequency identifier (RFID). The location-based algorithm identifies a group of selected hosts whose smallest shared location attribute is highest in the hierarchical group. The system updates the data whenever a physical location of a host changes.

Abstract: A charging circuit and method for charging a power storage device in a power over Ethernet environment are necessary to prevent unnecessary power consumption. Power sourcing equipment continuously supplies power to a connected device after determining that the device is compatible. In order to prevent supply of power after a power storage device attains full charge, a charging circuit may include an interface for supplying electric power; a sensing circuit including a switch in series with a resistor; and a voltage detection circuit. The voltage detection circuit may communicate with the sensing circuit and may output a first signal that turns the switch OFF when the voltage of the power storage device is greater than or equal to a first voltage and may output a second signal that turns the switch ON when the voltage of the power storage device is less than or equal to a second voltage.

Abstract: A charging circuit and method for charging a power storage device in a power over Ethernet environment are necessary to prevent unnecessary power consumption. Power sourcing equipment continuously supplies power to a connected device after determining that the device is compatible. In order to prevent supply of power after a power storage device attains full charge, a charging circuit may include an interface for supplying electric power; a sensing circuit including a switch in series with a resistor; and a voltage detection circuit. The voltage detection circuit may communicate with the sensing circuit and may output a first signal that turns the switch OFF when the voltage of the power storage device is greater than or equal to a first voltage and may output a second signal that turns the switch ON when the voltage of the power storage device is less than or equal to a second voltage.

Abstract: A system for ensuring availability using volume server sets in a storage environment employing distributed block virtualization includes a plurality of volume servers, one or more volume clients, one or more physical block devices and a volume server manager. The volume server manager may be configured to designate the plurality of volume servers as a volume server set with an associated volume server set management policy, and to verify each volume server in the volume server set has access to storage within each block device. In addition, the volume server manager may be configured to designate a first volume server of the volume server set to aggregate storage within the block devices into a logical volume, to make the logical volume accessible to the volume clients, and to share configuration information about the volume with the other volume servers of the volume server set.

Abstract: A method, system, computer system, and computer-readable medium to classify a storage device on a SAN prior to allocating the storage device for data storage. A device accessible via a storage area network is detected, and access to the device by a node on the storage area network is established. The device is accessed by a recognizer to determine the type of the device and information about contents of the device. The type of the device can be checked for compatibility with a requester sending a request for a storage device. By checking the compatibility between storage devices and nodes before allocation, spending resources to allocate incompatible storage is avoided and costs of storage management are reduced. Classification information about devices and nodes can be stored in a persistent data store that can be accessed by nodes connected to the SAN.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing and maintaining information for the operation of a client, locally to the client. This information is updated (or, initially, retrieved) as necessary and appropriate, by accessing corresponding information stored locally to a server.