Abstract: A mechanism is provided for validating a connection of powered elements within a data processing system. A request for data is issued to a set of powered elements using a set of communication channels. The set of communication channels comprises one or more alternating current power lines. The request is sent as a set of instructions injected onto the communication channels to the set of powered elements. Data received from the set of powered elements using the set of communication channels includes physical connection information for the set of powered elements. A determination is made as to whether each powered element in the set of powered elements is connected in a predetermined configuration. A notification is presented to a user identifying each powered element in the set of powered elements that is not connected in the predetermined configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for performing a storage device maintenance operation. A management module receives a command through an interconnection module configured as a non-blocking switch. The management module performs a maintenance operation on a storage device through the interconnection module in response to the command. In addition, the management module may receive queries on the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module and report the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automatically and transparently managing addresses in an arbitrated loop network. An arbitrated loop network switch is programmed with an address map and configured with the necessary modules to monitor an address assignment process and associate soft assigned addresses claimed during the address arbitration process with physical slot addresses. In one embodiment, the address fields of packets addressing a specific physical slot are changed (in route) to the soft address assigned during the address arbitration process. The entire process may be transparent to the rest of the network and to users. The present invention facilitates maintaining a physically ordered addressing scheme despite any soft addressing that occurs during loop initialization.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for resetting an inter-integrated circuit data line with a clock line. A hang module detects that a data line that carries data between an I2C bus master and an I2C bus slave is hung, wherein the I2C bus master and I2C bus slave communicate over the data line and a clock line that carries a clock signal. The clock module increases a clock line frequency to a specified frequency in response to the detected data line hang. The pulse generation module transmits specified clock pulses from the I2C bus master to the I2C bus slave over the clock line at the specified increased frequency in response to the detected data line hang. A frequency detector module detects clock pulses at the specified increased frequency. A timer module detects the specified clock pulses at the specified increased frequency. A reset module resets the I2C bus slave in response detecting the specified clock pulses.

Abstract: Calibration of an automated data storage library having a plurality of storage slots configured to store at least one data storage cartridge. An element is placed in one of the plurality of storage slots having a known location, the element having similar external dimensions as a data storage cartridge having a fiducial mark thereon. The fiducial mark is sensed, and the position of the fiducial mark is calibrated with respect to the known location of the storage slot. The element comprises an exterior shell having similar external dimensions as a data storage cartridge; and the fiducial mark located on the exterior shell comprises at least one contrasting edge defining a specific calibration location on the element.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for storage enclosures to communicate with one another using pre-existing cables allowing the user to dynamically attach different types and speeds of Fiber Channel enclosures together. The mechanism uses a transmit disable line and receive loss of signal line of a small form-factor pluggable optical cable to provide a communication link between enclosures before the Fiber Channel loop is setup and stable. The mechanism on the transmit side pulses the transmit disable line to communicate configuration information. The mechanism on the receive side receives the configuration information on the receive loss of signal line. The transmit disable line and the receive loss of signal line operate as a one-wire communication scheme, providing a communication link to communicate configuration information before the Fiber Channel loop is established.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture wherein at least a first zone is maintained in a fibre channel arbitrated loop system, and wherein a plurality of storage devices is included in the first zone. A determination is made that diagnostic operations have to be performed on a storage device that is included in the plurality of storage devices. A second zone is generated, wherein the second zone includes the storage device on which the diagnostic operations have to be performed, and wherein the storage device is removed from the plurality of storage devices in the first zone leaving a remaining set of storage devices in the first zone. Diagnostic operations are performed on the storage device in the second zone while other operations are performed on the remaining set of storage devices in the first zone.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting and reporting network mis-cabling. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a detection module, a comparison module, and a cabling connection module. The detection module is configured to detect a new connection at a network switch. The new connection is formed by physically connecting a network cable to the network switch, at one termination, and to another network device, at another termination. The comparison module is configured to compare the new connection to a connection rule, where the connection rule defines either a legal cabling connection or an illegal cabling connection. The cabling connection module is configured to control whether or not the new connection is inserted into the data network or maintained isolated from the data network.

Abstract: A method to communicate information within a data storage system comprising a plurality of enclosures, wherein the method defines and stores a first waveform comprising a frequency FB, a second waveform comprising a frequency F0 wherein that second waveform is decoded to mean a bit comprising a first value, and a third waveform comprising a frequency F1, wherein that third waveform is decoded to mean a bit comprising a second value. The method transmits by an initiating enclosure a byte of data encoded as eight data waveforms, wherein each of those data waveforms comprises the frequency FB in combination with either the frequency F1 or the frequency F0.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for resetting an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) data line with negative voltage. A hang detection module detects an I2C hung line selected from a data line and a clock line wherein an I2C bus master and I2C bus slave communicate over the data line and the clock line. In response to the detected hung line, a negative voltage generator drives the data line to a specified negative voltage for a specified time interval. A clamp diode clamps the voltage of the data line to greater than a specified limit. On receiving the specified negative voltage, a voltage detector module detects the specified negative voltage of the data line. A timer module detects the specified negative voltage for the specified time interval. In response to detecting the specified negative voltage for the specified time interval, a reset module resets the I2C bus slave.

Abstract: A method to detect component removal while operating in a battery backup mode, comprising providing power from a battery backup unit (“BBU”) to a control card memory device, and measuring the current drawn by the control card memory device. If the current drawn by the control card memory device is less than or equals a pre-determined disconnect current, the method determines if a BBU release pin has been asserted. If the BBU release pin has been asserted, the method encodes in an event log a battery backup removal event. If the BBU release pin has not been asserted, the method encodes in the event log a control card removal event.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided for validating a connection of powered elements within a data processing system. A request for data is issued to a set of powered elements using a set of communication channels. The set of communication channels comprises one or more alternating current power lines. The request is sent as a set of instructions injected onto the communication channels to the set of powered elements. Data received from the set of powered elements using the set of communication channels includes physical connection information for the set of powered elements. A determination is made as to whether each powered element in the set of powered elements is connected in a predetermined configuration. A notification is presented to a user identifying each powered element in the set of powered elements that is not connected in the predetermined configuration.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided for providing reliable redundant data communications. A programming unit issues a request for data to a set of powered elements using a set of secondary communication channels in response to a reduction in a level of communications being detected. The set of secondary communication channels comprises one or more alternating current power lines and the request is sent as data injected onto the alternating current power lines to the set of powered elements. The programming unit receives the data using the set of secondary communication channels from the set of powered elements, analyzes the data to determine a set of recovery actions to restore the level of communications, and issues the set of recovery actions to the set of powered elements using the set of secondary communication channels.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided for communicating to a powered element in a rack system. A controller injects communication data onto power lines that provides power to a plurality of powered elements. The powered elements determine if the communication data transmitted via the power lines should be used for configuration using an address embedded within the communication data. The powered elements compare an embedded target address within the communication data to the address of the particular element. If there is a match between the addresses, the corresponding powered element processes the communication data to configure the powered element. As a result, data may be communicated over the power lines thereby eliminating the need for separate communication lines. Thus, the amount of cables required to interconnect the powered elements of the distributed data processing system may be reduced by eliminating the communication lines from the system configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for performing a storage device maintenance operation. A management module receives a command through an interconnection module configured as a non-blocking switch. The management module performs a maintenance operation on a storage device through the interconnection module in response to the command. In addition, the management module may receive queries on the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module and report the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for storage enclosures to communicate with one another using pre-existing cables allowing the user to dynamically attach different types and speeds of Fibre Channel enclosures together. The mechanism uses a transmit disable line and receive loss of signal line of a small form-factor pluggable optical cable to provide a communication link between enclosures before the Fibre Channel loop is setup and stable. The mechanism on the transmit side pulses the transmit disable line to communicate configuration information. The mechanism on the receive side receives the configuration information on the receive loss of signal line. The transmit disable line and the receive loss of signal line operate as a one-wire communication scheme, providing a communication link to communicate configuration information before the Fibre Channel loop is established.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture wherein at least a first zone is maintained in a fibre channel arbitrated loop system, and wherein a plurality of storage devices is included in the first zone. A determination is made that diagnostic operations have to be performed on a storage device that is included in the plurality of storage devices. A second zone is generated, wherein the second zone includes the storage device on which the diagnostic operations have to be performed, and wherein the storage device is removed from the plurality of storage devices in the first zone leaving a remaining set of storage devices in the first zone. Diagnostic operations are performed on the storage device in the second zone while other operations are performed on the remaining set of storage devices in the first zone.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for resetting an inter-integrated circuit data line with a clock line. A hang module detects that a data line that carries data between an I2C bus master and an I2C bus slave is hung, wherein the I2C bus master and I2C bus slave communicate over the data line and a clock line that carries a clock signal. The clock module increases a clock line frequency to a specified frequency in response to the detected data line hang. The pulse generation module transmits specified clock pulses from the I2C bus master to the I2C bus slave over the clock line at the specified increased frequency in response to the detected data line hang. A frequency detector module detects clock pulses at the specified increased frequency. A timer module detects the specified clock pulses at the specified increased frequency. A reset module resets the I2C bus slave in response detecting the specified clock pulses.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for resetting an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) data line with negative voltage. A hang detection module detects an I2C hung line selected from a data line and a clock line wherein an I2C bus master and I2C bus slave communicate over the data line and the clock line. In response to the detected hung line, a negative voltage generator drives the data line to a specified negative voltage for a specified time interval. A clamp diode clamps the voltage of the data line to greater than a specified limit. On receiving the specified negative voltage, a voltage detector module detects the specified negative voltage of the data line. A timer module detects the specified negative voltage for the specified time interval. In response to detecting the specified negative voltage for the specified time interval, a reset module resets the I2C bus slave.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for performing a storage device maintenance operation. A management module receives a command through an interconnection module configured as a non-blocking switch. The management module performs a maintenance operation on a storage device through the interconnection module in response to the command. In addition, the management module may receive queries on the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module and report the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module.