Abstract: Techniques are described for allowing a data storage system to provision all vVols (or other similar virtual storage containers) as logical storage devices, which can be bound to either a block-based protocol endpoint as an exposed LUN or to a file-based protocol endpoint as a file. This may be accomplished by operating, as part of the file-based protocol endpoint, a lightweight filesystem that creates file abstractions that map to underlying logical storage devices.

Abstract: An improved technique involves providing application workload simulation capability via a centrally located synthetic data generation service to an external party. Along these lines, a client inputs a description of an application scenario into a web form which sends a request to a central server to generate a synthetic data simulation program. The central server extracts parameters values from the request corresponding to the application scenario and finds a model in a model database based on the parameter values. From the model, the central server derives a Java program that generates synthetic data for simulating the operation load of the application scenario described by the client, and sends the Java program to the client. The client is then able to generate synthetic data using the Java program on various configurations to determine which will successfully handle the synthetic data load continuously over a given period of time.

Abstract: A display interface and method for displaying multiple items arranged in a sequence are provided for presenting to the user via the display the multiple items along one of multiple paths as the user scrolls through the items. The display interface includes a display, a user input and a controller. The display is adapted for visually presenting to the user the multiple items from the group of items arranged in the sequence. The user input is adapted for receiving at least one of multiple different user gestures. The controller is adapted for comparing a received user gesture with one of a plurality of predefined gestures which are intended to signal a desire to scroll through the group of items arranged in the sequence, where as the group of items are scrolled through, a different subset of multiple items from the group of items arranged in the sequence are presented to the user via the display.

Abstract: An improved technique involves providing a decision procedure to determine whether an unsolved customer problem goes to a public problem-solving forum or internal support. For example, when a support center receives a customer problem and determines that the problem does not have a known solution, it assigns a severity weight to the problem based on a description of the problem. Along these lines, suppose that the call center receives a customer problem regarding excessive down time. When the call center places the problem into a “downtime” classification, the call center counts how many other unsolved “downtime” problems are awaiting solution. If there are not many similar problems awaiting solution, then the call center assigns a high severity level and assigns the task of solving the problem to a public forum, such as a crowdsourcing application.

Abstract: A display interface and method for displaying multiple items arranged in a sequence are provided for presenting to the user via the display the multiple items along one of multiple paths as the user scrolls through the items. The display interface includes a display, a user input and a controller. The display is adapted for visually presenting to the user the multiple items from the group of items arranged in the sequence. The user input is adapted for receiving at least one of multiple different user gestures. The controller is adapted for comparing a received user gesture with one of a plurality of predefined gestures which are intended to signal a desire to scroll through the group of items arranged in the sequence, where as the group of items are scrolled through, a different subset of multiple items from the group of items arranged in the sequence are presented to the user via the display.