Abstract: A node for a distributed system includes computing resources and a node manager. The node manager identifies a failure of a second node of the distributed system; in response to identifying the failure: makes a first determination that the second node is a primary node of the distributed system; after making the first determination: identifies a new primary node by accessing a distributed system configuration stored in a primary share out-of-band management entity; and provides services of the distributed system to a client using the computing resources after identifying the new primary node.

Abstract: A node for a distributed system includes computing resources and a node manager. The node manager identifies a failure of a second node of the distributed system; in response to identifying the failure: makes a first determination that the second node is a primary node of the distributed system; after making the first determination: identifies a new primary node by accessing a distributed system configuration stored in a primary share out-of-band management entity; and provides services of the distributed system to a client using the computing resources after identifying the new primary node.

Abstract: A storage controller includes a storage controller memory to store virtual disk metadata including an original stripe size (OSS) field and a logical stripe size (LSS) field, and a cache memory having an OSS buffer and a LSS buffer. The storage controller stores a first block size in the OSS field, configures a RAID array to provide storage blocks of the first block size based on the OSS field, stores a second block size in the LSS field, receives a first data transaction that includes a first data block of the second block size based upon the LSS field, maps the first data block from the second block size to the first block size, and executes the first data transaction on the RAID array using the first block size.

Abstract: A storage controller includes a storage controller memory to store virtual disk metadata including an original stripe size (OSS) field and a logical stripe size (LSS) field, and a cache memory having an OSS buffer and a LSS buffer. The storage controller stores a first block size in the OSS field, configures a RAID array to provide storage blocks of the first block size based on the OSS field, stores a second block size in the LSS field, receives a first data transaction that includes a first data block of the second block size based upon the LSS field, maps the first data block from the second block size to the first block size, and executes the first data transaction on the RAID array using the first block size.

Abstract: A system that includes a first indicator, a second indicator, and a device associated with the first indicator and the second indicator is provided. The device is configured to receive a packet. The device is also configured to detect a first protocol associated with the packet and cause the first indicator to be activated in response to detecting the first protocol. The device is further configured to detect a second protocol associated with the packet and cause the second indicator to be activated in response to detecting the second protocol.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for performing the installation of cabling in a computing system. In one embodiment, one or more configuration utilities are employed which guide an installer through the appropriate sequence of cable connections for a given computing system. By illuminating various LEDs present on the assorted computing components, an installer is provided with an indication of which component and which port should be connected first, second and so on such that an installation results in a robust computing system.

Abstract: A failover method and system is provided for a computer system having at least three nodes operating as a cluster. One method includes the steps of detecting failure of one node, determining the weight of at least two surviving nodes, and assigning a failover node based on the determined weights of the surviving nodes. Another method includes the steps detecting failure of one node and determining the time of failure, and assigning a failover node based in part on the determined time of failure. This method may also include the steps of determining a time period during which nodes in the cluster are heavily utilized, and assigning a failover node that is not heavily utilized during that time period.

Abstract: A failover method and system is provided for a computer system having at least three nodes operating as a cluster. One method includes the steps of detecting failure of one node, determining the weight of at least two surviving nodes, and assigning a failover node based on the determined weights of the surviving nodes. Another method includes the steps detecting failure of one node and determining the time of failure, and assigning a failover node based in part on the determined time of failure. This method may also include the steps of determining a time period during which nodes in the cluster are heavily utilized, and assigning a failover node that is not heavily utilized during that time period.

Abstract: A system and method for providing field upgradeable switches built from ASIC-based routing components is disclosed. A network switch contains intermediate routing components and an interface that allows the switching component to couple with a module. The module contains additional routing components and may be coupled to the network switch as a simple field operation. When the module is coupled with the network switch, the routing components of the module are communicatively coupled with the intermediate routing components of the network switch. Thus, the network switch now contains additional routing components. As a result, the addition of the module enhances the internal topology of network switch and increases its effective bisectional bandwidth.

Abstract: A system, method and software are disclosed for scheduling the dispatch of large data processing operations. In an exemplary embodiment, the software identifies a plurality of information handling system nodes to receive a first dispatch of data processing operations. Identification of the nodes is generally directed to selection of a plurality of nodes substantially evenly distributed across one or more bottleneck points in a node network. Following dispatch of data processing operations, throughput on the network, such as at a bottleneck point, is measured to determine whether network throughput is approaching a saturation threshold. If data throughput is approaching a saturation threshold, the software delays additional dispatches of data processing operations until network throughput regresses from the saturation threshold.

Abstract: A failover method and system is provided for a computer system having at least three nodes operating as a cluster. One method includes the steps of detecting failure of one node, determining the weight of at least two surviving nodes, and assigning a failover node based on the determined weights of the surviving nodes. Another method includes the steps detecting failure of one node and determining the time of failure, and assigning a failover node based in part on the determined time of failure. This method may also include the steps of determining a time period during which nodes in the cluster are heavily utilized, and assigning a failover node that is not heavily utilized during that time period.

Abstract: A failover method and system is provided for a computer system having at least three nodes operating as a cluster. One method includes the steps of detecting failure of one node, determining the weight of at least two surviving nodes, and assigning a failover node based on the determined weights of the surviving nodes. Another method includes the steps detecting failure of one node and determining the time of failure, and assigning a failover node based in part on the determined time of failure. This method may also include the steps of determining a time period during which nodes in the cluster are heavily utilized, and assigning a failover node that is not heavily utilized during that time period.

Abstract: A failover method and system is provided for a computer system having at least three nodes operating as a cluster. One method includes the steps of detecting failure of one node, determining the weight of at least two surviving nodes, and assigning a failover node based on the determined weights of the surviving nodes. Another method includes the steps detecting failure of one node and determining the time of failure, and assigning a failover node based in part on the determined time of failure. This method may also include the steps of determining a time period during which nodes in the cluster are heavily utilized, and assigning a failover node that is not heavily utilized during that time period.

Abstract: A failover method and system is provided for a computer system having at least three nodes operating as a cluster. One method includes the steps of detecting failure of one node, determining the weight of at least two surviving nodes, and assigning a failover node based on the determined weights of the surviving nodes. Another method includes the steps detecting failure of one node and determining the time of failure, and assigning a failover node based in part on the determined time of failure. This method may also include the steps of determining a time period during which nodes in the cluster are heavily utilized, and assigning a failover node that is not heavily utilized during that time period.

Abstract: A system that includes a first indicator, a second indicator, and a device associated with the first indicator and the second operator is provided. The device is configured to receive a packet. The device is also configured to detect a first protocol associated with the packet and cause the first indicator to be activated in response to detecting the first protocol. The device is further configured to detect a second protocol associated with the packet and cause the second indicator to be activated in response to detecting the second protocol.

Abstract: A system and method for indicating the availability of a controller channel are disclosed. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include a controller operable to manage an array of data storage devices. The devices may include, for example, disk drives with both read and write functionality. Preferably, the controller will have at least one channel, which may have both an internal and an external connector. The system may also include an indicator operable to indicate when a data storage device is attached to an internal connector of a given channel. As such, employing teachings of the present disclosure may allow a user to accurately and expeditiously determine whether a given controller channel is available.

Abstract: A cable identification system and method according to which one or more rings, having identifying indicia thereon, extend around the cable, and a cover extends around the ring and has a window formed therein, so that rotation of the ring relative to the cover exposes the identifying indicia.

Abstract: A cable identification system and method according to which one or more rings, having identifying indicia thereon, extend around the cable, and a cover extends around the ring and has a window formed therein, so that rotation of the ring relative to the cover exposes the identifying indicia.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is described herein for accommodating two types of hard disks, for example, SCSI disks and FC-AL disks, using a single, dual-purpose backplane. The dual-purpose backplane includes a plurality of drive bays each including a first connector for receiving a complementary connector of an SCSI disk and a second connector for receiving a complementary connector of an FC-AL disk. In a computer system, one or the other of the first and second connectors is mounted upside down to avoid overlapping and structural interference with connection of other hard disks to the backplane. In an external storage system, hard disks are inserted sideways, and thus one connector type is mounted on the backplane in an orientation rotated 180 degrees from the other connector type.