Abstract: A needle access assembly and method for obtaining percutaneous needle access with little or no fluoroscopy. The method can include selecting a target for percutaneous access, directing a laser guide at a desired needle-insertion angle and in line with the selected target, aligning the needle access assembly with the laser, and inserting the needle into the target.

Abstract: A needle access assembly and method for obtaining percutaneous needle access with little or no fluoroscopy. The method can include selecting a target for percutaneous access, directing a laser guide at a desired needle-insertion angle and in line with the selected target, aligning the needle access assembly with the laser, and inserting the needle into the target.

Abstract: Surgical tools for use during scarless or near scarless surgical procedures. At least some of the surgical tools can include a handle portion and a working end removably connected to the handle portion.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing enhanced management features for a SAN with scalable hosts. Partitioned hosts (or ‘scalable’ hosts) are managed by extending SAN manager host-centric logical views to show (1) the host partition hierarchy and (2) the storage resource ownership for a SAN-attached scalable host. The extended host-centric view includes the host system, hosting OSes (if applicable), hosted OSes for each hosting OS (or the host system), OS volumes for each hosted OS, and logical mapping of each OS volume to the SAN storage resource (logical unit). The SAN manager is extended to also show how hosting (trusted) partitions, blades, and/or cluster members physically connect into a SAN. Users are able to toggle between a host centric view and a physical topology view by selection of items within the interface.

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: The invention includes a calibrator washer apparatus and a method for cleaning extrusion calibrators such as a calibrator used in the extrusion of a hollow, thin walled polyvinyl profile for use in the fenestration industry. The inventive calibrator cleaning method involves scrubbing the interior calibration surface of the calibrator with a bristle brush, pumping a hot water and detergent cleaning fluid through the calibrator vacuum ports that connect to the vacuum slots in the interior calibration surface, pumping hot water through calibrator vacuum ports that connect to the vacuum slots in the interior calibration surface to rinse off the detergent. The method may further include running cool water through the calibrator vacuum ports to cool the calibrator and wiping down the cleaned calibrator with a water-displacing lubricant.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing enhanced management features for a SAN with scalable hosts. Partitioned hosts (or ‘scalable’ hosts) are managed by extending SAN manager host-centric logical views to show (1) the host partition hierarchy and (2) the storage resource ownership for a SAN-attached scalable host. The extended host-centric view includes the host system, hosting OSes (if applicable), hosted OSes for each hosting OS (or the host system), OS volumes for each hosted OS, and logical mapping of each OS volume to the SAN storage resource (logical unit). The SAN manager is extended to also show how hosting (trusted) partitions, blades, and/or cluster members physically connect into a SAN. Users are able to toggle between a host centric view and a physical topology view by selection of items within the interface.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for generating a name for a system of devices. An identifier identifies each component in the system. Once each component is identified, information such as the World Wide Name (WWN) of each component is stored in a database. Additional information such as the IP address of each component may also be stored within the database. A comparator then compares a name such as the WWN of each component and selects the name of a selected component based on specified parameters provided by a user. The selected name is modified and then assigned as an identifier of the entire system of devices. The system of devices is thus assigned a unique identifier that remains the same each time those components form a system of devices.

Abstract: An innovation for managing a virtual storage area network involves several processing stages. First, a logical portion of each network switch allocated to the virtual storage area network is discovered. Second, for each discovered network switch, a virtual switch is generated as a representation of the logical portion of the corresponding network switch. Third, the virtual storage area network is managed based on visual presentation(s) of the virtual switch(es).

Abstract: Mechanisms have been developed for synchronizing information, e.g., password or other access credential information, amongst replicated directory spaces or repositories. In some exemplary realizations, directory spaces are embodied as directory servers, services or similar components of computer operating systems, including LDAP, UDDI, Active Directory or other standardized or proprietary directory environments. In one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a method includes invalidating an entry of at least one replica store. The invalidation of the entry of the replica store triggers information synchronization of a corresponding invalidated entry of a master store to a corresponding entry of an authoritative store on a next attempt to authenticate against the invalidated entry of the replica store. The method may include propagating information of the synchronized master store entry to at least one other replica store.

Abstract: Mechanisms have been developed for synchronizing information, e.g., password or other access credential information, amongst directory spaces or repositories, that employ dissimilar protective transformations, e.g., hashes, encryption, etc. In some exemplary realizations, directory spaces are embodied as directory servers, services or similar components of computer operating systems. In some exemplary realizations, dissimilar protective transformations include differing hashes (or encryption) techniques or facilities employed by products available from Sun Microsystems, Inc., on the one hand, and Microsoft Corporation on another. However, the inventive techniques are not limited thereto. The mechanism includes detecting changes to information encoded in a first information store and invalidating a corresponding entry of a second information store. The invalidating triggers information synchronization upon a subsequent attempt to authenticate against this entry in the second store.

Abstract: Mechanisms have been developed for synchronizing information amongst directory spaces or repositories that employ dissimilar protective transformations. In some exemplary realizations, directory spaces are embodied as directory servers, services or similar components of computer operating systems. In some exemplary realizations, dissimilar protective transformations include differing hashes (or encryption) techniques or facilities employed by products available from Sun Microsystems, Inc., on the one hand, and Microsoft Corporation on another. However, the inventive techniques are not limited thereto. The mechanism is responsive to a change in the second store, invalidating a corresponding entry in the first store. Upon receipt, by the first store, of an authentication request that includes a credential and which corresponds to the invalidated entry, the method chains the authentication request to the second store.