Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for sharing memory among a plurality of compute nodes. The apparatus includes a memory, a plurality of interfaces for coupling the apparatus with the compute nodes, a switching fabric coupled with the interfaces, and a processor coupled with the switching fabric and the memory. The processor is operable to assign a portion of the memory to a particular compute node for exclusive access by the particular compute node.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system for distributing an application environment to a compute node. The system includes a first storage unit for storing blocks of a root image of the compute node and a second storage unit for storing a leaf image comprising new data blocks and changes to the blocks of the root image. The system further includes a union block device for interfacing between the compute node and the first and second storage units to distribute the application environment to the compute node. The union block device creates the application environment by merging the blocks of the root image stored on the first storage unit with the leaf image stored on the second storage unit.

Abstract: A computerized data backup system and method for dynamically preserving a consistent state of primary data stored in a logical volume of a disk volume management system during processing thereof in a real-time environment. A file system command invokes a cloning of the logical volume, thereby reserving a portion for shadow-paged blocks. A read/write translation map is generated, mapping non-shadowed pages to corresponding shadowed pages in the reserved portion. Upon generating a read command for a page in the logical volume, a map search detects that a shadow page is allocated in the shadow-paged blocks corresponding to the page and effects the read. In like manner, in response to a write command to a page of the logical volume, the map is searched and a shadow page in the shadow-paged blocks is allocated if there has been no prior allocation, whereupon writing to such allocated page occurs. The backup occurs during runtime, facilitating reading from the non-shadow paged blocks during backup.

Abstract: A client workstation generates a network request for an initial program load. The request is serviced by a server which preferably includes in the reply to the client the addresses of an authentication server (AS), client, and a secure initial program load server (SECIPL). The client then requests an SECIPL service ticket from the AS, also sending a common identifier known to the AS and the client, preferably stored in the client ROM. This identifier is utilized by the AS to validate the ticket request as originating from a bona fide client, whereupon the ticket is provided by the AS to the client, the SECIPL service ticket is then presented by the client to the SECIPL server which then authenticates that the ticket is bona fide and was received by the client from the AS. The SECIPL then provides a secure kernel to the client, either encrypted with a key known to the SECIPL and client, or otherwise secured by a cryptographic checksum utilizing a key known to the client and the SECIPL.