Abstract: A data storage system includes multiple tiers of data storage accessible by multiple hosts. The multiple tiers include an upper tier having a lower access latency and a lower tier having a higher access latency. For each extent among a plurality of extents of file system objects in the data storage, the storage controller separately tracks, for each of one or more hosts that access the extent, a respective heat indicative of a frequency of access by that host. In response to an event disassociating a first host among the multiple hosts from a particular extent among the plurality of extents, the storage controller recalculates an overall heat of the particular extent while excluding a first heat of the first host for the particular extent. The storage controller migrates extents among the multiple tiers based on overall heats of the plurality of extents.

Abstract: In an example, there is disclosed a network apparatus, comprising: one or more logic elements, including at least one hardware logic element, to provide a network manager engine to: provide a switched fabric management function; communicatively couple to at least one network switch, the network switch configured to provide optional native hardware-based load balancing; monitor one or more load balancing factors; and at least partly responsive to the one or more load balancing factors, configure native hardware-based load balancing on the at least one network switch.

Abstract: A computing device includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a communication system, a memory that stores operational instructions, and processing circuitry operably coupled to the interface and to the memory that is configured to execute the operational instructions to perform various operations. The computing device determines to de-stage information stored in a cache memory to a nonvolatile memory device. The computing device determines whether the de-stage is based on a power interruption and when the de-stage is not based on a power interruption the computing device updates access counters associated with the information and the target location for the information in the nonvolatile memory, updates a data access tracking module and initiates a data relocation function to transfer the information to the nonvolatile memory device.

Abstract: A computing device includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a communication system, a memory that stores operational instructions, and processing circuitry operably coupled to the interface and to the memory that is configured to execute the operational instructions to perform various operations. The computing device determines to de-stage information stored in a cache memory to a nonvolatile memory device. The computing device determines whether the de-stage is based on a power interruption and when the de-stage is not based on a power interruption the computing device updates access counters associated with the information and the target location for the information in the nonvolatile memory, updates a data access tracking module and initiates a data relocation function to transfer the information to the nonvolatile memory device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to data management in a multitier storage system (MSS), the MSS comprises a storage virtualization controller (SVC) having at least one storage pool, and the storage pool comprises at least one logic volume, and the at least one logic volume comprises at least one tier. In response to the completion of a data migration from a source physical space of a first tier to a destination physical space of a second tier in a logic volume of a first storage pool, it is determined there is a free physical space in the source physical space. In response to the result of the determination indicating there exists a free physical space and the source physical space being thin provisioned, the free physical space of the source physical space is released to the storage array by the SVC.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for adjusting tiering based on operation types in a multi-tier storage system is provided. The present invention may include retrieving an extent to be managed and operations associated with the extent; analyzing the operations of the extent to determine an IO pattern associated with the extent; receiving a list of storage devices within the multi-tier storage system; querying each storage device of the storage devices for suitable pattern types; selecting, based on the querying and the IO pattern associated with the extent, a suitable storage device; and transferring the extent to the suitable storage device.

Abstract: An example operation may include one or more of identifying application instances in a cluster group, receiving a request to perform a consensus decision regarding ownership of the cluster group via peer nodes of a blockchain, identifying individual consensus decision votes from the peer nodes, and performing the consensus decision based on the individual consensus decision votes.

Abstract: Methods that can dynamically merge parity data for multiple data stripes are provided. One method includes detecting, by a processor, a disk failure in a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) configuration and, in response to detecting the disk failure, merging parity data stored in a plurality of sets of segments in a stripe of the RAID configuration to free space in a set of parity segments of the plurality of sets of segments. Systems and computer program products for performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: Methods that can migrate storage data are provided. One method includes receiving, by a processor, an input/output (I/O) request and, in response to receiving the I/O request, simultaneously transmitting data associated with the I/O request to a first controller and a second controller as a portion of a data migration process. Systems and computer program products that can perform and/or implement the method are also provided.

Abstract: Aspects cognitively displaying media wherein processors are configured to determine an age of a media item as a function of a publication date of the media item, determine a validity value of the media item as a function of content of the media item and the determined age, and display the media item to a viewer in an appearance format that is selected to convey the determined validity value of the content of the media item to the viewer in a manner that is appropriate to the determined age of the media item.

Abstract: A data storage system includes multiple tiers of data storage accessible by multiple hosts. The multiple tiers include an upper tier having a lower access latency and a lower tier having a higher access latency. For each extent among a plurality of extents of file system objects in the data storage, the storage controller separately tracks, for each of one or more hosts that access the extent, a respective heat indicative of a frequency of access by that host. In response to an event disassociating a first host among the multiple hosts from a particular extent among the plurality of extents, the storage controller recalculates an overall heat of the particular extent while excluding a first heat of the first host for the particular extent. The storage controller migrates extents among the multiple tiers based on overall heats of the plurality of extents.

Abstract: A computer implemented method comprises detecting a failure of a primary volume at a first location, the primary volume having data stored on a first plurality of media according to a first heat map; in response to detecting the failure of the primary volume, overwriting a second heat map of a secondary volume at a second location with a copy of the first heat map, the secondary volume having data stored on a second plurality of media according to the second heat map; migrating extents of data on the second plurality of media at the second location according to the copy of the first heat map prior to a next heat map cycle update after detection of the failure; and processing data access requests from the secondary location using the extents of data on the secondary plurality of media migrated according to the copy of the first heat map.

Abstract: In an example, there is disclosed a network apparatus, comprising: one or more logic elements, including at least one hardware logic element, to provide a network manager engine to: provide a switched fabric management function; communicatively couple to at least one network switch, the network switch configured to provide optional native hardware-based load balancing; monitor one or more load balancing factors; and at least partly responsive to the one or more load balancing factors, configure native hardware-based load balancing on the at least one network switch.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently distributing traffic on available best-effort service flows within a system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for forwarding a packet which includes destination information and source information upstream from a source to a destination includes determining a first value associated with the packet using the destination information and the source information. A first service flow that is suitable for use to forward the packet is identified using the first value. The first service flow is one of a set of service flows between a source and a central access point. Once the first service flow is identified, the packet is sent on the first service flow. In one embodiment, the source is a subscriber unit and the central access point is a headend.

Abstract: The present invention detects a micro-roaming client in a WLAN. Once a micro-roaming client is detected, APs coordinate with each other and assign the client to a specific AP. In an embodiment, a user-configurable anchor timer for micro-roaming clients is provided, so that when the timer has expired, the client is free to roam within the overlapping cell until it becomes anchored to an AP again. In various embodiments, environmental variables can affect APs to release an anchored client to roam again. These environmental variables may include low RSSI from the client, a high percentage of frame loss to the client, or a low data rate. The present invention also provides a new protocol that is resilient and self-sustaining with minimal user configuration required.

Abstract: Systems and methods for retransmitting unsuccessfully transmitted data across a communication link. The retransmission mechanism may be applied to point to multipoint networks including wireless networks. Each packet is encapsulated in an ARQ frame and assigned a sequence number for the purpose of coordinating acknowledgments and retransmissions. Information as to which packets require retransmission is communicated in the form of a bitmap where each bit indicates an acknowledgment status for a given packet. Any missing packets in the received sequence are assumed to require retransmission.

Abstract: A technique increases the efficiency of functions performed by an intermediate device of a computer network by encoding a portion of a routing information field (RIF) of a token ring frame transported over the network with information for use by the device. The maximum number of route descriptor (RD) hops in the network is altered to provide a predetermined portion of the RIF for storing encoded information. Each intermediate device configured in accordance with the technique identifies this predetermined portion as that portion of the RIF immediately following its matching RD.

Abstract: Computerized system and method are provided which have particular utility in the field of automated testing. In one embodiment of the method of the present invention, an array is stored in computer-readable memory. The array has a plurality of tuples, each of which includes a respective action field, a respective expected result field, a respective success field, and a respective failure field. The respective action field is for specifying at least one respective action whose performance by the system-under-test is to be commanded. The respective reaction field is for specifying at least one respective expected result to be achieved by performance of the respective action. The respective success and failures fields are for specifying further appropriate actions to be executed if the respective expected result is achieved (i.e., if a success condition occurs), or if the respective expected result is not achieved (i.e., if a failure condition occurs).

Abstract: Backup peers in an asymmetrically organized computer network are organized into a "pool" of available devices that are activated as necessary. The network comprises a set of remote peers and a set of local peers directly associated with a central computational facility, the local peers facilitating connection between the remote peers and the central facility. During the capabilities exchange, the "primary" local peer to which the remote peer connects provides a list of backup peer devices to the remote peer. If the primary peer fails (or if the rate of message exchange falls below some predetermined threshold), the remote peer can use the backup information to access a backup peer from the pool. The invention allows each backup peer to be assigned to multiple remote peers, with the total number of backup peers determined by aggregate backup utilization (rather than simply assigning an individual backup peer to each primary peer regardless of whether such a high level of redundancy is justified).

Abstract: The topology of a computer network is represented, for each routing device in the network, as a tree structure with the root of the tree designating the particular routing device. Tree nodes represent LANs, while arcs connecting the nodes represent other routing devices. Thus, the number of first-level links to children off the root is equal to the number of LANs connected to the source routing device, and those first-level links point to nodes representing the LANs (or LAN segments) directly connected to the source routing device. As a result of this representation, each routing device can store a representation of the entire network adequate to facilitate routing, but with much less memory utilization than a list of addresses. Furthermore, because the network is represented at a more general level than that of individual station addresses, changes to the topology of the network can be readily introduced without the need for extensive (e.g., address by address) reconfiguration.