Abstract: A method, system and program product manage files to be offloaded by multiple users into a common storage repository. A request is received from a user to offload a file from a computer. A determination is made whether the file is currently stored in the common storage repository. If the file is not currently stored in the common storage repository, the file is offloaded to the common storage repository. If the file is currently stored in the common storage repository, a link is established for the user to the file in the common storage repository. If the requested file is in-transit, the link is established when the transfer is complete.

Abstract: A customizable cache discard policy is provided which reduces adverse consequences of conventional discard policies. In a data processing system, a cache controller invokes a cache data discard policy as the cache approaches its capacity. Using one possible policy, data having the shortest retrieval (fetch) time is discarded before data having longer retrieval times. In an alternative policy, data may be discarded based upon its source. Weightings may be applied based upon the distance from each source to the cache, may be based upon priorities assigned to each source, or may be based upon the type of each source.

Abstract: A method to update code in an information storage and retrieval system comprising one or more processors, and existing code, where that existing code includes a Concurrent Code Load having (N) phases, where that Concurrent Code Load invokes an as yet unwritten Temporal Coupling File. The method provides a code update image comprising that Temporal Coupling File. If the (i)th phase of the Concurrent Code Load invokes the Temporal Coupling File, then the method reads instructions for that (i)th phase of the Concurrent Code Load from the Temporal Coupling File, and executes those instructions. The method completes each phase of the Concurrent Code Load, and then operates the system using the code update.