Abstract: A method of characterizing a storage area network (SAN) includes collecting information associated with the SAN, analyzing the collected information, generating an assessment of one or more aspects of the SAN based on the analyzing, and reporting the assessment. The information collected may include one or more of host information, storage information and network information. The analyzing may further include evaluating information from two or more subsystems that constitute the SAN, and the assessment may be based on technical knowledge associated with the two or more subsystems.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a method, corresponding system, and corresponding apparatus that may store data and may monitor, detect, and handle one or more warning or error indications within one or more synchronized replication volumes. Some embodiments may provide first and second storage pools of storage devices with respective volumes. In some embodiments, the first and second storage pools may not share the same controller. Some embodiments may synchronize the first and second storage pools by a storage device of the first storage pool. Some embodiments may monitor for failures, including but not limited to warnings, soft errors, and/or hard errors, at a storage device of the first storage pool. In some embodiments, the one or more failures may be invisible or inaccessible to a user. Prior to an out of sync event or failure, some embodiments may automatically replace the second volume with the first volume.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and corresponding apparatus for verifying connectivity in a storage area network. An embodiment begins by communicating with one or more storage devices, through at least one of one or more host machines connected to one or more network switches. Based on the communication, the method may activate a test procedure at the one or more storage devices. The method may determine, through the test procedure, each state of connectivity from the one or more storage devices to each member computing device of a connectivity set. The connectivity set may include at least one of the following: at least one other storage device, at least one of the one or more network switches, and at least one of the one or more host machines. The method may provide a report to one or more users, the report including each state of connectivity.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a method, corresponding system, and corresponding apparatus that may store data and may monitor, detect, and handle one or more warning or error indications within one or more synchronized replication volumes. Some embodiments may provide first and second storage pools of storage devices with respective volumes. In some embodiments, the first and second storage pools may not share the same controller. Some embodiments may synchronize the first and second storage pools by a storage device of the first storage pool. Some embodiments may monitor for failures, including but not limited to warnings, soft errors, and/or hard errors, at a storage device of the first storage pool. In some embodiments, the one or more failures may be invisible or inaccessible to a user. Prior to an out of sync event or failure, some embodiments may automatically replace the second volume with the first volume.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a storage area network (SAN) includes collecting information associated with the SAN, analyzing the collected information, generating an assessment of one or more aspects of the SAN based on the analyzing, and reporting the assessment. The information collected may include one or more of host information, storage information and network information. The analyzing may further include evaluating information from two or more subsystems that constitute the SAN, and the assessment may be based on technical knowledge associated with the two or more subsystems.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and corresponding apparatus for verifying connectivity in a storage area network. An embodiment begins by communicating with one or more storage devices, through at least one of one or more host machines connected to one or more network switches. Based on the communication, the method may activate a test procedure at the one or more storage devices. The method may determine, through the test procedure, each state of connectivity from the one or more storage devices to each member computing device of a connectivity set. The connectivity set may include at least one of the following: at least one other storage device, at least one of the one or more network switches, and at least one of the one or more host machines. The method may provide a report to one or more users, the report including each state of connectivity.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process to produce a purified carboxylic acid product. The process comprises removing impurities from a crude carboxylic acid slurry in a solid-liquid displacement zone to form a slurry product. The slurry product if further treated in a staged oxidation zone and a crystallization zone to from a crystallized product. The crystallized product is further cooled in a cooling zone and subsequently filtered and dried in a filtration and drying zone. The process produces purified carboxylic acid product having good color and low impurity levels without the use of purification steps like hydrogenation.