Abstract: A filter element includes a construction of pleated filter media defining an interior volume. First and second opposite end caps are secured to opposite ends of the filter media. A support structure supports the filter media and is operably oriented in the interior volume. The support structure extends from the first opposing interior face to the second opposing interior face. The support structure is provided to extend less than a full extension between the first end cap and second end cap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for enabling nodes in a distributed system to share one or more memory portions. A home node makes a portion of its main memory available for sharing, and one or more sharer nodes mirrors that shared portion of the home node's main memory in its own main memory. To maintain memory coherency, a memory coherence protocol is implemented. Under this protocol, load and store instructions that target the mirrored memory portion of a sharer node are trapped, and store instructions that target the shared memory portion of a home node are trapped. With this protocol, valid data is obtained from the home node and updates are propagated to the home node. Thus, no “dirty” data is transferred between sharer nodes. As a result, the failure of one node will not cause the failure of another node or the failure of the entire system.

Abstract: Nodes in a distributed node system are configured to support memory corruption detection when memory is shared between the nodes. Nodes in the distributed node system share data in units of memory referred to herein as “shared cache lines.” A node associates a version value with data in a shared cache line. The version value and data may be stored in a shared cache line in the node's main memory. When the node performs a memory operation, it can use the version value to determine whether memory corruption has occurred. For example, a pointer may be associated with a version value. When the pointer is used to access memory, the version value of the pointer may indicate the expected version value at the memory location. If the version values do not match, then memory corruption has occurred.

Abstract: A system and method implementing revocable secure remote keys is disclosed. A plurality of indexed base secrets is stored in a register of a coprocessor of a local node coupled with a local memory. When it is determined that a selected base secret expired, the base secret stored in the register based on the base secret index is changed, thereby invalidating remote keys generated based on the expired base secret. A remote key with validation data and a base secret index is received from a node requesting access to the local memory. A validation base secret is obtained from the register based on the base secret index. The coprocessor performs hardware validation on the validation data based on the validation base secret. Hardware validation fails if the base secret associated with the base secret index has been changed in the register of the selected coprocessor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sending and receiving messages between nodes on a compute cluster is provided. Communication between nodes on a compute cluster, which do not share physical memory, is performed by passing messages over an I/O subsystem. Typically, each node includes a synchronization mechanism, a thread ready to receive connections, and other threads to process and reassemble messages. Frequently, a separate queue is maintained in memory for each node on the I/O subsystem sending messages to the receiving node. Such overhead increases latency and limits message throughput. Due to a specialized coprocessor running on each node, messages on an I/O subsystem are sent, received, authenticated, synchronized, and reassembled at a faster rate and with lower latency. Additionally, the memory structure used may reduce memory consumption by storing messages from multiple sources in the same memory structure, eliminating the need for per-source queues.

Abstract: Nodes in a distributed node system are configured to support memory corruption detection when memory is shared between the nodes. Nodes in the distributed node system share data in units of memory referred to herein as “shared cache lines.” A node associates a version value with data in a shared cache line. The version value and data may be stored in a shared cache line in the node's main memory. When the node performs a memory operation, it can use the version value to determine whether memory corruption has occurred. For example, a pointer may be associated with a version value. When the pointer is used to access memory, the version value of the pointer may indicate the expected version value at the memory location. If the version values do not match, then memory corruption has occurred.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that uses unused bits in a memory pointer. During operation, the system determines a set of address bits in a address space that will not be needed for addressing purposes during program operation. Subsequently, the system stores data associated with the memory pointer in this set of address bits. The system masks this set of address bits when using the memory pointer to access the memory address associated with the memory pointer. Storing additional data in unused pointer bits can reduce the number of memory accesses for a program and improve program performance and/or reliability.

Abstract: A system and method implementing revocable secure remote keys is disclosed. A plurality of indexed base secrets is stored in a register of a coprocessor of a local node coupled with a local memory. When it is determined that a selected base secret expired, the base secret stored in the register based on the base secret index is changed, thereby invalidating remote keys generated based on the expired base secret. A remote key with validation data and a base secret index is received from a node requesting access to the local memory. A validation base secret is obtained from the register based on the base secret index. The coprocessor performs hardware validation on the validation data based on the validation base secret. Hardware validation fails if the base secret associated with the base secret index has been changed in the register of the selected coprocessor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for enabling nodes in a distributed system to share one or more memory portions. A home node makes a portion of its main memory available for sharing, and one or more sharer nodes mirrors that shared portion of the home node's main memory in its own main memory. To maintain memory coherency, a memory coherence protocol is implemented. Under this protocol, load and store instructions that target the mirrored memory portion of a sharer node are trapped, and store instructions that target the shared memory portion of a home node are trapped. With this protocol, valid data is obtained from the home node and updates are propagated to the home node. Thus, no “dirty” data is transferred between sharer nodes. As a result, the failure of one node will not cause the failure of another node or the failure of the entire system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sending and receiving messages between nodes on a compute cluster is provided. Communication between nodes on a compute cluster, which do not share physical memory, is performed by passing messages over an I/O subsystem. Typically, each node includes a synchronization mechanism, a thread ready to receive connections, and other threads to process and reassemble messages. Frequently, a separate queue is maintained in memory for each node on the I/O subsystem sending messages to the receiving node. Such overhead increases latency and limits message throughput. Due to a specialized coprocessor running on each node, messages on an I/O subsystem are sent, received, authenticated, synchronized, and reassembled at a faster rate and with lower latency. Additionally, the memory structure used may reduce memory consumption by storing messages from multiple sources in the same memory structure, eliminating the need for per-source queues.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that validates message-signaled interrupts. During operation, the system receives a message-signaled interrupt from a requesting device. This message-signaled interrupt includes an interrupt vector that identifies an interrupt, and is accompanied by an identification tag that identifies the source of the interrupt. The system uses the interrupt vector to access a stored tag from a tracking mechanism that associates source devices with their assigned interrupt vector(s). The system then compares the identification tag and the stored tag to validate the message-signaled interrupt.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that validates message-signaled interrupts. During operation, the system receives a message-signaled interrupt from a requesting device. This message-signaled interrupt includes an interrupt vector that identifies an interrupt, and is accompanied by an identification tag that identifies the source of the interrupt. The system uses the interrupt vector to access a stored tag from a tracking mechanism that associates source devices with their assigned interrupt vector(s). The system then compares the identification tag and the stored tag to validate the message-signaled interrupt.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that uses unused bits in a memory pointer. During operation, the system determines a set of address bits in a address space that will not be needed for addressing purposes during program operation. Subsequently, the system stores data associated with the memory pointer in this set of address bits. The system masks this set of address bits when using the memory pointer to access the memory address associated with the memory pointer. Storing additional data in unused pointer bits can reduce the number of memory accesses for a program and improve program performance and/or reliability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering a device driver to an operating system without user intervention. One or more operating systems (e.g., different operating system programs, different versions of one operating system) execute on a computer platform. During booting of an operating system a device is identified for which a driver is needed. The driver is requested from a service processor of the platform, which includes memory or storage for storing multiple device drivers (or multiple versions of one driver, for different operating systems). The driver is retrieved from the service processor's storage and delivered to the operating system.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for managing timers in a multithreaded processing system. A storage device stores a plurality of count values corresponding to a plurality of timers. A read address generator is coupled to convey a read address to the storage device. The read address generator is configured to maintain and increment a first counter. In response to determining the counter does not equal a predetermined value, the mechanism conveys a first read address for use in accessing a count value in the storage device. In response to determining the count equals the predetermined value, the mechanism conveys a second read address for use in accessing a count value in the storage device. The predetermined value is utilized to repeat accesses to a given count value a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: A system maintains a copy of data stored in a first memory device in a redundant distinct second memory device. Upon detecting an uncorrectable error in the first memory device, the system then relies on the copy of the data in the second memory device. The system, once it starts relying on the data in the second memory device, may then test the first memory device to determine if the uncorrectable error was due to a physical problem or a transient event. If the first memory device is then found to be working correctly, it may, in turn, become a redundant memory device for the second memory device.

Abstract: A method and system to allow user applications can access hardware platform-specific configuration information in a generic way. A platform independent framework lies on a layer that interfaces with the operating system layer. Accordingly, when a platform is changed, the operating system layer is notified of the change to facilitate informing the user of the change. This framework also has a plug-in publishing interface that is used to develop platform-specific modules to publish or export hardware configurations to other users. In another embodiment, this framework has a user interface that allows the user to make the necessary changes to the system management and hardware diagnostic tools whenever the platform is changed to ensure that the tools function correctly.

Abstract: A method and system to allow user applications can access hardware platform-specific configuration information in a generic way. A platform independent framework lies on a layer that interfaces with the operating system layer. Accordingly, when a platform is changed, the operating system layer is notified of the change to facilitate informing the user of the change. This framework also has a plug-in publishing interface that is used to develop platform-specific modules to publish or export hardware configurations to other users. In another embodiment, this framework has a user interface that allows the user to make the necessary changes to the system management and hardware diagnostic tools whenever the platform is changed to ensure that the tools function correctly.

Abstract: A system for preventing damage to cargo shipped in air-ride suspension semi-trailers loaded on railroad flat cars which comprise at least part of a freight train is provided. The system comprises a coupling element connected to the air brake line of the freight train. The coupling element is connected to an air reservoir mounted on the flat car or on the semi-trailer and supplies compressed air to the reservoir from the brake line of the train. The coupling element includes a valve to prevent air from flowing from the train brake line to the air reservoir when the air pressure in the brake line drops below a predetermined safety level to prevent unwanted activation of the train's brakes. The air reservoir is connected to the air line of the semi-trailer and provides compressed air to the air bags which comprise the air suspension system of the semi-trailer.