Abstract: A storage adapter for use in a data storage subsystem includes a controlling processor, a volatile memory, and a nonvolatile memory “dump device.” The storage adapter also includes a battery that can be used to provide sufficient power to the storage adapter to allow data from the volatile memory to be written to the nonvolatile memory of the storage adapter under the control of the processor in the event of an interruption or failure in the main power supply to the storage adapter, i.e. to preserve data stored in the volatile memory in that event. The processor uses the current state of charge of the battery to determine the amount of data that can be “dumped” to the nonvolatile dump device before the battery is depleted.

Abstract: A method and device for use in installing a cable past a desk based on positioning the cable ready for use above a desktop by means of a temporary cable-gripping component and a supporting component adapted to hang adjacent a desktop edge. This provides the advantages of making the installation job quicker and simpler, and allowing it to be performed by just one person. Alternatively, the device can be provided integrally with the cable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of copying and updating data in a processor memory during program run-time without suspending the program's access to its data in the memory during the data-copying and updating processes. In one aspect, the invention concerns a method of copying data from processor memory to a dump memory during run-time, including determining whether data in a segment of the processor memory is to be updated by a program and copying the data to a corresponding segment in the dump memory prior to the data being updated. According to one embodiment, a data-copying instance is utilized to obtain a point-in-time image of a data content of processor memory while the program is running.

Abstract: A data storage subsystem includes a volatile memory in which stored data can be denoted as being data that should be preserved in the event of an interruption in the power supply to the volatile memory. The available capacity for such data storage is dynamically allocated between multiple firmware client components of the storage subsystem, such that each client component has its own (varying) allocation of the available capacity. A higher priority for the storage of such data is given to client components on which other client components depend, such as lower layers of the software stack, thereby allowing them to get a larger share of the available capacity for such data storage when needed and complete their input/output requests faster.

Abstract: storage adapter for use in a data storage subsystem includes a controlling processor, a volatile memory, and a nonvolatile memory “dump device.” The storage adapter also includes a battery that can be used to provide sufficient power to the storage adapter to allow data from the volatile memory to be written to the nonvolatile memory of the storage adapter under the control of the processor in the event of an interruption or failure in the main power supply to the storage adapter, i.e. to preserve data stored in the volatile memory in that event. The processor uses the current state of charge of the battery to determine the amount of data that can be “dumped” to the nonvolatile dump device using the battery in its current state. The processor then uses that determined amount of data to control the storage of data in the volatile memory.