Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Webster
Kevin J. Webster has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10084640Abstract: For automatic updates to fabric alert definitions, a method monitors fabric alert definitions defined for a storage area network having a plurality of switches and a plurality of fabrics. The fabric alert definitions define alert conditions within the storage area network relevant to events occurring within one or more of the plurality of fabrics. The method further detects one or more changes to the plurality of fabrics by discovering relationships between each fabric and each switch within the storage area network and comparing current relationships against previous relationships. In addition, the method automatically modifies fabric alert definitions having a reference to changed fabrics responsive to detection of the one or more changes to the plurality of fabrics.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Sunil Bharadwaj, Stephen A. Byrd, David L. Merbach, Kevin J. Webster, Li Zhou
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Patent number: 9323474Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for selective zone control session termination. A zone control service executing in the data processing system creates logical zoning definitions in memory for each client session. Each client session attempts to make changes to a fabric. Responsive to the zone control service receiving a request to commit a session from a given client and changes made by the given client during the session not conflicting with changes made by another client in a concurrent session based on the logical zoning definitions, the zone control service applies the changes made by the given client during the session to the fabric.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Kevin J. Webster
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Publication number: 20140250233Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for selective zone control session termination. A zone control service executing in the data processing system creates logical zoning definitions in memory for each client session. Each client session attempts to make changes to a fabric. Responsive to the zone control service receiving a request to commit a session from a given client and changes made by the given client during the session not conflicting with changes made by another client in a concurrent session based on the logical zoning definitions, the zone control service applies the changes made by the given client during the session to the fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2013Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Kevin J. Webster
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Patent number: 8627001Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for creating at least one volume in a disk storage system. A request is received to create at least one volume on the disk storage system indicating a volume size and number of volumes to create. Selection is made of a storage pool object representing one of a plurality of storage pools having available storage space to create the requested number of volumes. retrieving a storage configuration service of the disk storage system using an association of a disk storage system object representing the disk storage system and the selected storage pool object. The disk storage system object representing the disk storage system is associated with the retrieved storage configuration service. A volume size of the volume to create is set to a calculated size. The storage pool is set as the selected storage pool object. A method is invoked through the retrieved storage configuration service for each volume in the requested number of volumes to create.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster
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Patent number: 8443078Abstract: Techniques for identifying and selecting equivalent sets of agents with defined capabilities to perform certain actions are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, determining agents to gather information for a storage area network fabric may be performed through the use of fabric discovery operations which identify agents capable of performing various actions within the fabric. From the determined capabilities of the agents, a dynamic capability grid may be populated to assist with the generation of a list of equivalent subsets to perform the various actions. The most efficient set of agents from each equivalent subset may then be selected to perform actions, with other sets of agents in the equivalent subset available as secondary choices in case of an unexpected failure. For example, a fabric probe may be executed in a storage area network using discovered agents from a list of equivalent subsets to most efficiently accomplish network operations such as zoning and topology.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Sunil Bharadwaj, Stephen A. Byrd, David L. Merbach, Sumant Padbidri, William Tuminaro, Kevin J. Webster, Li Zhou
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Patent number: 8326978Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for updating fabric alert definitions defined for a fiber channel or other fabric-based network within a storage management system. One embodiment provides techniques for detecting fabric merges, fabric segmentations, and principal switch changes of the fabric and modifying fabric alert definitions as a result of these changes. Thus, any alert definitions scoped by fabric will remain relevant even after fabric structural changes, and duplicate and/or redundant alerts may be reduced within the storage management system. In a further embodiment, detection of fabric changes is performed by first storing relationships between fabrics and switches, and comparing the current relationships between the fabrics and the switches against the stored relationships. Upon recognition of changes within the fabrics, the fabric alert definitions may be automatically analyzed and updated.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Sunil Bharadwaj, Stephen A. Byrd, David L. Merbach, Kevin J. Webster, Li Zhou
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Patent number: 8132183Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for dynamic categorized event cool off for CIM indications. Exemplary embodiments include a method for dynamic categorized event cool-off for CIM indications for a SMIS client having a handler for CIM indications, the method including categorizing incoming CIM Indications into the SMIS client, the categorization being based on the handler for the CIM indications, identifying a default delay of CIM indications handling during SMIS client operation in an absence of an indications storm, detecting the presence of an indications storm in the SMIS client, generating an alert when the indications storm is detected, increasing the default delay of CIM indications handling during the indications storm, and returning the default delay of CIM indications handling to EventCoolOffPeriod.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Craig A. Laverone, Kevin J. Webster
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Publication number: 20120047249Abstract: Techniques for identifying and selecting equivalent sets of agents with defined capabilities to perform certain actions are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, determining agents to gather information for a storage area network fabric may be performed through the use of fabric discovery operations which identify agents capable of performing various actions within the fabric. From the determined capabilities of the agents, a dynamic capability grid may be populated to assist with the generation of a list of equivalent subsets to perform the various actions. The most efficient set of agents from each equivalent subset may then be selected to perform actions, with other sets of agents in the equivalent subset available as secondary choices in case of an unexpected failure. For example, a fabric probe may be executed in a storage area network using discovered agents from a list of equivalent subsets to most efficiently accomplish network operations such as zoning and topology.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2010Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Sunil Bharadwaj, Stephen A. Byrd, David L. Merbach, Sumant Padbidri, William Tuminaro, Kevin J. Webster, Li Zhou
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Publication number: 20110196958Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for updating fabric alert definitions defined for a fibre channel or other fabric-based network within a storage management system. One embodiment provides techniques for detecting fabric merges, fabric segmentations, and principal switch changes of the fabric and modifying fabric alert definitions as a result of these changes. Thus, any alert definitions scoped by fabric will remain relevant even after fabric structural changes, and duplicate and/or redundant alerts may be reduced within the storage management system. In a further embodiment, detection of fabric changes is performed by first storing relationships between fabrics and switches, and comparing the current relationships between the fabrics and the switches against the stored relationships. Upon recognition of changes within the fabrics, the fabric alert definitions may be automatically analyzed and updated.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2010Publication date: August 11, 2011Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Sunil Bharadwaj, Stephen A. Byrd, David L. Merbach, Kevin J. Webster, Li Zhou
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Publication number: 20110167213Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for creating at least one volume in a disk storage system. A request is received to create at least one volume on the disk storage system indicating a volume size and number of volumes to create. Selection is made of a storage pool object representing one of a plurality of storage pools having available storage space to create the requested number of volumes. retrieving a storage configuration service of the disk storage system using an association of a disk storage system object representing the disk storage system and the selected storage pool object. The disk storage system object representing the disk storage system is associated with the retrieved storage configuration service. A volume size of the volume to create is set to a calculated size. The storage pool is set as the selected storage pool object. A method is invoked through the retrieved storage configuration service for each volume in the requested number of volumes to create.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster
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Patent number: 7970907Abstract: An example of a method for assigning a resource (for example, storage) includes receiving a request for a resource, wherein the request includes a list of paths. This example also includes retrieving a HardwareAccount, Controller, and an AccessAuthorization object for a first path in the list of paths. This example further includes making an attach device request to a CIMOM for a first available resource, using the Controller and the AccessAuthorization object. This example also includes determining if the first available resource was successfully attached, and if so, recording the assignment as successful, and if not, rolling back all assignments for the first available resource that were previously recorded as successful. Another aspect of the invention is a method for creating at least one LUN.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster
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Patent number: 7725473Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for responding to an inquiry. An example of the method includes receiving the inquiry, obtaining information from a CIMOM, and creating at least one Storage Object. This example of the method also includes populating the at least one Storage Object with information received from the CIMOM, and sending the at least one Storage Object to a calling function.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2003Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael L. Lamb, Edward M. McCrickard, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster, Timothy C. Willging
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Publication number: 20090320046Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for dynamic categorized event cool off for CIM indications. Exemplary embodiments include a method for dynamic categorized event cool-off for CIM indications for a SMIS client having a handler for CIM indications, the method including categorizing incoming CIM Indications into the SMIS client, the categorization being based on the handler for the CIM indications, identifying a default delay of CIM indications handling during SMIS client operation in an absence of an indications storm, detecting the presence of an indications storm in the SMIS client, generating an alert when the indications storm is detected, increasing the default delay of CIM indications handling during the indications storm, and returning the default delay of CIM indications handling to EventCoolOffPeriod.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2008Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Craig A. Laverone, Kevin J. Webster
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Publication number: 20090132711Abstract: An example of a method for assigning a resource (for example, storage) includes receiving a request for a resource, wherein the request includes a list of paths. This example also includes retrieving a HardwareAccount, Controller, and an AccessAuthorization object for a first path in the list of paths. This example further includes making an attach device request to a CIMOM for a first available resource, using the Controller and the AccessAuthorization object. This example also includes determining if the first available resource was successfully attached, and if so, recording the assignment as successful, and if not, rolling back all assignments for the first available resource that were previously recorded as successful. Another aspect of the invention is a method for creating at least one LUN.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster
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Patent number: 7500000Abstract: An example of a method for assigning a resource (for example, storage) includes receiving a request for a resource, wherein the request includes a list of paths. This example also includes retrieving a HardwareAccount, Controller, and an AccessAuthorization object for a first path in the list of paths. This example further includes making an attach device request to a CIMOM for a first available resource, using the Controller and the AccessAuthorization object. This example also includes determining if the first available resource was successfully attached, and if so, recording the assignment as successful, and if not, rolling back all assignments for the first available resource that were previously recorded as successful. Another aspect of the invention is a method for creating at least one LUN.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2003Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster
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Patent number: 7272690Abstract: An example of a method for assigning storage includes receiving a request for storage, wherein the request includes a requested amount of storage space and connectivity information. This example of the method also includes identifying storage that is accessible by a requesting device based on the connectivity information, and identifying all LUNs that are masked from all hosts, in the identified storage. This example of the method further includes selecting at least one identified LUN, and assigning the at least one selected LUN to the requesting device.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2003Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Douglas S. Noddings, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster