Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program in a distributed cluster storage network comprises storage control nodes to write data to storage on request from a host; a forwarding layer at a first node to forward data to a second node; a buffer controller at each node to allocate buffers for data to be written; and a communication link between the buffer controller and the forwarding layer at each node to communicate a constrained or unconstrained status indicator of the buffer resource to the forwarding layer. A mode selector selects a constrained mode of operation requiring allocation of buffer resource at the second node and communication of the allocation before the first node can allocate buffers and forward data, or an unconstrained mode of operation granting use of a predetermined resource credit provided by the second to the first node and permitting forwarding of a write request with data.

Abstract: A method for operating a mirrored disk storage system, comprises a determiner component for determining a repair characteristic of a pair of mirrored disks, a comparator for comparing said repair characteristic of a first of said pair with said repair characteristic of a second of said pair, and a cancelling component for cancelling a repair action for said one of said first or said second of said pair that is not selected by said selector.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving an I/O request for data, and determining whether the I/O request refers to migrated or unmigrated data. Unmigrated data is data residing on a first portion of a drive array, the first portion being arranged in according to a first array configuration having at least a first parameter. Migrated data is data that has been migrated from the first portion to a second portion of the drive array, the second portion having a second array configuration having at least a second parameter. The method also includes using parameters corresponding to the first array configuration in response to determining that the requested data is unmigrated data. However, in response to determining that the requested data is migrated data, parameters corresponding to the second array configuration are used.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program in a distributed cluster storage network comprises storage control nodes to write data to storage on request from a host; a forwarding layer at a first node to forward data to a second node; a buffer controller at each node to allocate buffers for data to be written; and a communication link between the buffer controller and the forwarding layer at each node to communicate a constrained or unconstrained status indicator of the buffer resource to the forwarding layer. A mode selector selects a constrained mode of operation requiring allocation of buffer resource at the second node and communication of the allocation before the first node can allocate buffers and forward data, or an unconstrained mode of operation granting use of a predetermined resource credit provided by the second to the first node and permitting forwarding of a write request with data.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving an I/O request for data, and determining whether the I/O request refers to migrated or unmigrated data. Unmigrated data is data residing on a first portion of a drive array, the first portion being arranged in according to a first array configuration having at least a first parameter. Migrated data is data that has been migrated from the first portion to a second portion of the drive array, the second portion having a second array configuration having at least a second parameter. The method also includes using parameters corresponding to the first array configuration in response to determining that the requested data is unmigrated data. However, in response to determining that the requested data is migrated data, parameters corresponding to the second array configuration are used.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to an apparatus and corresponding method that includes reading data from a first portion of an in-use redundant array of independent disks (RAID), wherein the first portion of the in-use RAID is arranged according to a first array configuration having at least a first parameter. One or more reserved extents in a storage pool is used to store at least a first portion of the data for writing to the in-use RAID. One or more free extents in the storage pool and/or in the in-use RAID is used to store at least a second portion of the data for writing to the in-use RAID. The data is written to a second portion of the in-use RAID. The second portion of the in-use RAID is arranged according to a second array configuration having at least a second parameter.

Abstract: A method for operating a mirrored disk storage system, comprises a determiner component for determining a repair characteristic of a pair of mirrored disks, a comparator for comparing said repair characteristic of a first of said pair with said repair characteristic of a second of said pair, and a cancelling component for cancelling a repair action for said one of said first or said second of said pair that is not selected by said selector.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to an apparatus and corresponding method that includes reading data from a first portion of an in-use redundant array of independent disks. (RAID), wherein the first portion of the in-use RAID is arranged according to a first array configuration having at least a first parameter. One or more reserved extents in a storage pool is used to store at least a first portion of the data for writing to the in-use RAID. One or more free extents in the storage pool and/or in the in-use RAID is used to store at least a second portion of the data for writing to the in-use RAID. The data is written to a second portion of the in-use RAID. The second portion of the in-use RAID is arranged according to a second array configuration having at least a second parameter.

Abstract: A method for operating a mirrored disk storage system, comprises a detector component operable to detect that a failure has left read stability in doubt, a determiner component for determining a repair characteristic of a pair of mirrored disks, a comparator for comparing the repair characteristic of a first of the pair with the repair characteristic of a second of the pair, and a selector for selecting one of the first or the second of the pair having a preferred repair characteristic to be used as a synchronization source disk. The preferred repair characteristic comprises the characteristic that no repair is required for the one of the first or the second of the pair, or that a least repair time is required for the one of the first or the second of the pair.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes reserving extents in a storage pool, reading data from a first portion of an in-use RAID arranged according to a first array configuration, using the reserved extents in the storage pool to store a first portion of the data for writing to the in-use RAID, using one or more free extents in the storage pool or in the in-use RAID to store a second portion of the data for writing to the in-use RAID, writing the data to a second portion of the in-use RAID arranged according to a second array configuration, performing one or more first I/O operations according to the first array configuration, wherein the one or more first I/O operations are performed on the data before the data is read by the data migrating component, and performing one or more second I/O operations according to the second array configuration.

Abstract: A method for operating a mirrored disk storage system, comprises a detector component operable to detect that a failure has left read stability in doubt, a determiner component for determining a repair characteristic of a pair of mirrored disks, a comparator for comparing the repair characteristic of a first of the pair with the repair characteristic of a second of the pair, and a selector for selecting one of the first or the second of the pair having a preferred repair characteristic to be used as a synchronization source disk. The preferred repair characteristic comprises the characteristic that no repair is required for the one of the first or the second of the pair, or that a least repair time is required for the one of the first or the second of the pair.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes reserving extents in a storage pool, reading data from a first portion of an in-use RAID arranged according to a first array configuration, using the reserved extents in the storage pool to store a first portion of the data for writing to the in-use RAID, using one or more free extents in the storage pool or in the in-use RAID to store a second portion of the data for writing to the in-use RAID, writing the data to a second portion of the in-use RAID arranged according to a second array configuration, performing one or more first I/O operations according to the first array configuration, wherein the one or more first I/O operations are performed on the data before the data is read by the data migrating component, and performing one or more second I/O operations according to the second array configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus or method for operating a mirrored disk storage system, comprises a detector component operable to detect that a failure has left read stability in doubt, a determiner component for determining a repair characteristic of a pair of mirrored disks, a comparator for comparing the repair characteristic of a first of the pair with the repair characteristic of a second of the pair, and a selector for selecting one of the first or the second of the pair having a preferred repair characteristic to be used as a synchronization source disk. The preferred repair characteristic comprises the characteristic that no repair is required for the one of the first or the second of the pair, or that a least repair time is required for the one of the first or the second of the pair.

Abstract: A method for managing cache accessing of CKD formatted records that uses a Predictive Track Table to reduce host delays resulting from cache write misses. Because a significant portion of CKD formatted DASD tracks contain records having no key fields, identical logical and physical cylinder and head (CCHH) fields and similar-sized data fields, a compact description of such records by record count and length data, indexed by track, can be quickly searched to determine the physical track location of a record update that misses the cache. The Predictive Track Table search is much faster than the host wait state imposed by access and search of the DASD to read the missing track into cache. If the updated record that misses cache is found within the set of records in the Predictive Track Table, then the update may be immediately written to cache and to a Non-Volatile Store (NVS) without a DASD read access. This update then may be later destaged asynchronously to the DASD from either the cache or the NVS.

Abstract: A collar for a respirator or resuscitator that provides for a relatively air-tight seal on the neck of the patient but is gentle enough to prevent injury to the skin and subcutaneous tissue as well as being constructed so as to minimize pressure on the anterior neck and anterior lateral neck to avoid undue injurious pressure on the jugular vein, carotid arteries, trachea and other delicate structures in this area of the neck. With the two frame parts separated and a patient in place with the neck in the collar opening, the collar is brought up tightly around the back of the neck and the lower collar portion clamped against the head side of the lower frame part by a U-shaped clamp. The upper portion of the collar then is passed between the two separated parts of the collar frame to the body side thereof. The wall or frame parts are then closed.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing and preventing escape of noxious fumes from a commode bowl has a plurality of circumferentially arranged radially inwardly directed air inlet passages adjacent the bowl rim for the intake of ambient air surrounding the commode. A plurality of circumferentially arranged radially outwardly directed outlet passages are positioned below the inlet passages for suction withdrawal of the noxious fumes mixed with the incoming air. The inner edge of the commode opening between the inlet and outlet passages is configured to create turbulence within the bowl to mix the fumes therein with the incoming air.

Abstract: A resuscitator or respirator, especially designed for newborn infants, has a pressure chamber divided by a partition into separate gas-tight head and body compartments. The partition has a neck-receiving opening provided with neck-engaging sealing means. Means are provided for automatically admitting an oxygen-containing breathable gas alternately to one of the compartments under a predetermined positive pressure and then to the other of the compartments under another predetermined positive pressure while alternately creating a predetermined negative pressure in the other compartment and then another predetermined negative pressure in the one compartment. The time interval of each of the alternate admissions and negative pressure creations is predetermined to thereby perform respiratory cycles for a patient in the chamber with the duration of the inspiratory portion and of the expiratory portion of each cycle being predetermined.