Abstract: A unified platform may comprise a combination of independent frameworks that have been integrated and configured to collaboratively operate seamlessly. In some aspects, the unified platform may comprise one or more of an authentication and authorization framework, a dynamic user interface framework, a workflow state management framework, a notification and active data loss and prevention (DLP) engine framework, and an orchestration engine framework. Each of the frameworks included in the unified platform may comprise one or more of the plurality of computing devices executing computer-readable program instructions.

Abstract: An output module for an industrial controller provides electrical isolation between each of the output terminals in the module. The output module receives control signals from the industrial controller indicating a desired output state for each of the output terminals and selectively connects power from the output of the electrical isolation to the output terminal. During normal operation, a switching device connects the power to the output terminal responsive to the control signal. A current sensor monitors the current conducted at the output terminal. If the current exceeds a predefined threshold, a current limit circuit clamps the current being output at the terminal. A control circuit may allow the output terminal to ride through a temporary spike in current or disable the output terminal if a fault condition is detected.

Abstract: An output module for an industrial controller provides electrical isolation between each of the output terminals in the module. The output module receives control signals from the industrial controller indicating a desired output state for each of the output terminals and selectively connects power from the output of the electrical isolation to the output terminal. During normal operation, a switching device connects the power to the output terminal responsive to the control signal. A current sensor monitors the current conducted at the output terminal. If the current exceeds a predefined threshold, a current limit circuit clamps the current being output at the terminal. A control circuit may allow the output terminal to ride through a temporary spike in current or disable the output terminal if a fault condition is detected.

Abstract: An industrial control I/O module for interfacing with industrial control equipment, such as sensors and actuators, can be configured to dynamically provide differing resistances in each channel as may be required for reliably achieving particular modes of operation in the channel. Providing differing resistances in such channels flexibly allows different modes in the channel to provide universal I/O capability. Modes of operation could include, for example, digital output, digital input, analog output, analog input and the like, in the same channel, but at different times. In one aspect, a processor or voltage divider can be used to control an amplifier, with feedback, driving a transistor in a channel to dynamically adjust resistance in the channel by selectively biasing the transistor to achieve a resistance in the channel suitable for the selected mode.

Abstract: An output module for an industrial controller provides electrical isolation between each of the output terminals in the module. The output module receives control signals from the industrial controller indicating a desired output state for each of the output terminals and selectively connects power from the output of the electrical isolation to the output terminal. During normal operation, a switching device connects the power to the output terminal responsive to the control signal. A current sensor monitors the current conducted at the output terminal. If the current exceeds a predefined threshold, a current limit circuit clamps the current being output at the terminal. A control circuit may allow the output terminal to ride through a temporary spike in current or disable the output terminal if a fault condition is detected.

Abstract: An input circuit for detecting low voltage analog signals in an electrically noisy environment receives the analog input signal at an input terminal. The analog input signal is compared to a variable reference signal at a comparator circuit. An active hysteresis circuit provides feedback to the comparator. In a first operating mode, the active hysteresis circuit may be disabled or be configured to output a constant voltage. In a second operating mode, the active hysteresis circuit may be enabled or configured to output a varying level of voltage. The output of the feedback circuit is summed with the variable reference signal and supplied as the input signal to the comparator, such that signal against which the analog input signal is compared is a general constant value in the first operating mode and varies with respect to time in the second operating mode.

Abstract: An input circuit for detecting low voltage analog signals in an electrically noisy environment receives the analog input signal at an input terminal. The analog input signal is compared to a variable reference signal at a comparator circuit. An active hysteresis circuit provides feedback to the comparator. In a first operating mode, the active hysteresis circuit may be disabled or be configured to output a constant voltage. In a second operating mode, the active hysteresis circuit may be enabled or configured to output a varying level of voltage. The output of the feedback circuit is summed with the variable reference signal and supplied as the input signal to the comparator, such that signal against which the analog input signal is compared is a general constant value in the first operating mode and varies with respect to time in the second operating mode.

Abstract: An industrial control I/O module for interfacing with industrial control equipment, such as sensors and actuators, can be configured to dynamically provide differing resistances in each channel as may be required for reliably achieving particular modes of operation in the channel. Providing differing resistances in such channels flexibly allows different modes in the channel to provide universal I/O capability. Modes of operation could include, for example, digital output, digital input, analog output, analog input and the like, in the same channel, but at different times. In one aspect, a processor or voltage divider can be used to control an amplifier, with feedback, driving a transistor in a channel to dynamically adjust resistance in the channel by selectively biasing the transistor to achieve a resistance in the channel suitable for the selected mode.

Abstract: An industrial control I/O module for interfacing with industrial control equipment, such as sensors and actuators, can be configured to dynamically provide differing resistances in each channel as may be required for reliably achieving particular modes of operation in the channel. Providing differing resistances in such channels flexibly allows different modes in the channel to provide universal I/O capability. Modes of operation could include, for example, digital output, digital input, analog output, analog input and the like, in the same channel, but at different times. In one aspect, a processor or voltage divider can be used to control an amplifier, with feedback, driving a transistor in a channel to dynamically adjust resistance in the channel by selectively biasing the transistor to achieve a resistance in the channel suitable for the selected mode.

Abstract: An industrial control I/O module for interfacing with industrial control equipment, such as sensors and actuators, can be configured to dynamically provide differing resistances in each channel as may be required for reliably achieving particular modes of operation in the channel. Providing differing resistances in such channels flexibly allows different modes in the channel to provide universal I/O capability. Modes of operation could include, for example, digital output, digital input, analog output, analog input and the like, in the same channel, but at different times. In one aspect, a processor or voltage divider can be used to control an amplifier, with feedback, driving a transistor in a channel to dynamically adjust resistance in the channel by selectively biasing the transistor to achieve a resistance in the channel suitable for the selected mode.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided at a host system to allow multiple entities (clients) to send and receive messages of a particular class of management services in a switched fabric for scalable solutions.

Abstract: A host is coupled to a cluster interconnection fabric which includes a fabric-attached I/O controller. The host includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor and an operating system. The operating system includes a kernel and a fabric bus driver to provide an I/O bus abstraction to the kernel for the cluster interconnection fabric. The fabric bus driver presents the cluster interconnection fabric to the kernel as a local I/O bus, and presents the fabric-attached I/O controller to the kernel as a local I/O controller attached to a local I/O bus.

Abstract: A cluster having a host connected thereto via a cluster interconnection fabric where a determination is made as to whether an error condition exists in an I/O controller connected to the host via the cluster interconnection fabric. This is achieved by attempting to communicate with the I/O controller a first predetermined time period after an inquiry by an operating system as to whether or not an I/O controller driver stack should be unloaded. Also, the operating system is commanded to unload the I/O controller driver stack upon a determination that the error condition still exists.

Abstract: A host is coupled to a cluster fabric which includes a fabric-attached I/O controller. The host includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor and an operating system. The operating system includes a kernel and a fabric bus driver to provide an I/O bus abstraction to the kernel for the cluster fabric to report multiple paths to a target fabric-attached I/O controller.

Abstract: A parent driver desiring to access a service of a child driver in a driver stack creates a virtual device object. The virtual device object is inserted into the driver stack below the child driver. When a query to dynamically remove the driver stack arrives at the virtual device object, the virtual device object notifies the parent driver. The parent driver stops accessing the child driver before directly receiving and processing the remove query, allowing the driver stack to be removed after all drivers in the driver stack process the remove query.

Abstract: A dynamic workload feedback mechanism is provided at a service provider to notify a client a current workload of the service provider in a switched fabric in order to prevent unnecessary timeouts and retries of duplicate service requests.

Abstract: A cluster includes hosts, a fabric including switches with forwarding tables, and I/O enclosures. I/O controllers that are within the I/O enclosures are assigned to the hosts by a subnet manager. A fabric control driver within each host determines a list of drivers which correspond to the I/O controllers assigned to the host and that need to be loaded into the host. Before loading the drivers into the host, the fabric control driver sends a verification message for each driver to the I/O enclosure containing the I/O controller that corresponds to the driver. As responses to the verification messages are received, the fabric control driver loads drivers and modifies the list of drivers accordingly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for accessing service agents on non-subnet manager hosts in an Infiniband subnet. A service agent at a first host registers with a first General Service Agent (GSA) at the first host. The registration is sent to a second GSA at a second host if the first host is not a subnet manager. The second host is a subnet manager. The second host sends a request for access/identification information to the service agent. The requested access/identification information is received at the second host. A service request is received at the second host for the service agent at the first host. The service request is from a client on the Infiniband subnet. The client is redirected to the first host by the second host sending the client a message. The service request for the service agent is sent to the first host by the client. The first host, second host, and client are part of an Infiniband subnet.

Abstract: A technique is provided for assigning an I/O controller to a host in a cluster. The cluster includes one or more hosts and one or more I/O controllers connected by a cluster interconnection fabric. In an example embodiment, an I/O controller is connected to the cluster interconnection fabric. The I/O controller connected to the fabric is detected and a network address is assigned to the I/O controller. An administrative agent is used to assign the I/O controller to a host that is connected to the cluster interconnection fabric. A message is sent to the host informing the host that the I/O controller is assigned to the host and providing the network address of the I/O controller.

Abstract: A method for causing a host channel adaptor which is involved with a clustered arrangement to hibernate. Before the HCA can hibernate, it is necessary for its clients to hibernate first. Once this is accomplished, all data is stored in memory and the HCA goes into hibernation. It resumes operation when a request is received. The HCA is checked to see if it has been changed and various parameters are examined to determine if an error has occurred which is unrecoverable. If not, the operation of the device is resumed.