Abstract: A system for managing data transfer using an operating system address space, the address space comprising a user space and a kernel space, the system comprising a data buffer in the kernel space and a control module for the data buffer in the user space, the system further comprising a network protocol handling module that receives an I/O request in the kernel space for performing an I/O operation on the data buffer. The network protocol handling module notifies the control module of the I/O request via an upper level protocol handling module. The control module maintains address pointers in the data buffer and informs the network protocol handling module of the buffer address at which the I/O operation is to be performed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a storage apparatus comprising a data store; a data input; and a data processor arranged to: receive from the data input a block of data to be stored at an append point after sequential data comprising one or more stored blocks of data; retrieve an integrity measure, of one or more stored integrity measures that are associated with one or more respective points in the sequential data, said retrieved integrity measure being associated with a point at or preceding the append point; calculate a new integrity measure using the received block of data and the retrieved integrity measure; and store the received block of data and the new integrity measure in the data store, in addition to at least one stored integrity measure that is associated with a point in the data at or preceding the append point.

Abstract: A virtual tape library including a module which is operable to issue input and output commands to a tape drive connected to the virtual tape library, wherein an input command is a command to write data to a tape connected to the tape drive and an output command is a command to read data from a tape connected to the tape drive.

Abstract: A data storage system comprising a server computer and a data storage medium. The server computer includes an interface, such as an iSCSI interface, for communicating with a host computer. In response to receiving data from the host computer, the server computer determines whether or not the host computer has access to a virtual data storage device. If the host computer does not have access to a virtual data storage device, the server computer provides a virtual data storage device for access by the host computer, the virtual data storage device employing at least a portion of the data storage medium such that data stored to the virtual data storage device are stored to the portion of the data storage medium.

Abstract: A robotic milking system suitable for use with conventional milking clusters. Clusters are withdrawn to a generally known position upon release from a cow with the cups hanging down below the bowl. The cups are then located in a confined region from where they are picked up by a robotic arm and attached to teats of a cow. The cups may be located into recesses or slots or be drawn through a guide. The arrangement allows a single robotic arm to service multiple bales of a rotary milking parlour. The application of a vacuum to milking cups may be controlled by applying sufficient pressure to the pulsation line of a cup to collapse the cup liner when that cup is not attached to a teat or by bending a feed line to a cup to close the flow path.

Abstract: A controller, system, method and computer program for emulating one or more tape-based storage devices using non-tape based physical data storage media. The controller is adapted to generate a data set for indicating an available capacity of the one or more emulated tape-based storage devices, the data set includes capacity data for indicating a respective available capacity of the one or more emulated tape-based storage devices based on an available capacity of the non-tape-based physical data storage media. The controller is also adapted to provide access to data stored on the non-tape based physical data storage medium using tape-based media command and the data set, and to dynamically update the capacity data of the data set in response to a change in the available capacity of the non-tape-based physical data storage media.

Abstract: Disclosed is a storage apparatus comprising a data store; a data input; and a data processor arranged to: receive from the data input a block of data to be stored at an append point after sequential data comprising one or more stored blocks of data; retrieve an integrity measure, of one or more stored integrity measures that are associated with one or more respective points in the sequential data, said retrieved integrity measure being associated with a point at or preceding the append point; calculate a new integrity measure using the received block of data and the retrieved integrity measure; and store the received block of data and the new integrity measure in the data store, in addition to at least one stored integrity measure that is associated with a point in the data at or preceding the append point.

Abstract: A virtual tape library including a module which is operable to issue input and output commands to a tape drive connected to the virtual tape library, wherein an input command is a command to write data to a tape connected to the tape drive and an output command is a command to read data from a tape connected to the tape drive.

Abstract: A controller, system, method and computer program for emulating one or more tape-based storage devices using non-tape based physical data storage media. The controller is adapted to generate a data set for indicating an available capacity of the one or more emulated tape-based storage devices, the data set includes capacity data for indicating a respective available capacity of the one or more emulated tape-based storage devices based on an available capacity of the non-tape-based physical data storage media. The controller is also adapted to provide access to data stored on the non-tape based physical data storage medium using tape-based media command and the data set, and to dynamically update the capacity data of the data set in response to a change in the available capacity of the non-tape-based physical data storage media.

Abstract: A system for managing data transfer using an operating system address space, the address space comprising a user space and a kernel space, the system comprising a data buffer in the kernel space and a control module for the data buffer in the user space, the system further comprising a network protocol handling module that receives an I/O request in the kernel space for performing an I/O operation on the data buffer. The network protocol handling module notifies the control module of the I/O request via an upper level protocol handling module. The control module maintains address pointers in the data buffer and informs the network protocol handling module of the buffer address at which the I/O operation is to be performed.