Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to block layout and block allocation in a file system to support transparency of application processing. At least one copy of an application is replicated in a write affinity region of a secondary server, and at least one copy of the application is replicated in a wide striping region across a cluster file system. When the application is subject to failure, application processing is transferred from the failure location to the write affinity copy. At the same time, the failed application is rebuilt using the wide striping replication of the application. Once the application is rebuilt, processing may return to the failed location employing the rebuilt application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to streaming virtual machine boot services over a network. An aspect of the invention includes booting a first virtual machine and recording data and metadata from a virtual machine boot image into a virtual machine boot file. The data and metadata are accessed in the process of booting the first virtual machine. The virtual machine boot image has setup information of the virtual machine type of the first virtual machine. The virtual machine boot file is configured for the virtual machine type of the first virtual machine. A descriptor is added to metadata of the virtual machine boot image, which references a location of the virtual machine boot file for the virtual machine type of the first virtual machine.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to block layout and block allocation in a file system to support transparency of application processing. At least one copy of an application is replicated in a write affinity region of a secondary server, and at least one copy of the application is replicated in a wide striping region across a cluster file system. When the application is subject to failure, application processing is transferred from the failure location to the write affinity copy. At the same time, the failed application is rebuilt using the wide striping replication of the application. Once the application is rebuilt, processing may return to the failed location employing the rebuilt application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to block layout and block allocation in a file system to support write transactions. Regions in a cluster file system are defined to support a block allocation, include both write affinity and wide striping region. An allocation map is maintained to define and support the block allocation regions. For each write transaction, a copy of data is written to both regions, and in the event there is a shortage of blocks in one of the regions, at least one block in the other region is dynamically converted to support the write transaction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to block layout and block allocation in a file system to support transparency of application processing. At least one copy of an application is replicated in a write affinity region of a secondary server, and at least one copy of the application is replicated in a wide striping region across a cluster file system. When the application is subject to failure, application processing is transferred from the failure location to the write affinity copy. At the same time, the failed application is rebuilt using the wide striping replication of the application. Once the application is rebuilt, processing may return to the failed location employing the rebuilt application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to block layout and block allocation in a file system to support transparency of application processing. At least one copy of an application is replicated in a write affinity region of a secondary server, and at least one copy of the application is replicated in a wide striping region across a cluster file system. When the application is subject to failure, application processing is transferred from the failure location to the write affinity copy. At the same time, the failed application is rebuilt using the wide striping replication of the application. Once the application is rebuilt, processing may return to the failed location employing the rebuilt application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to block layout and block allocation in a file system to support write transactions. Regions in a cluster file system are defined to support a block allocation, include both write affinity and wide striping region. An allocation map is maintained to define and support the block allocation regions. For each write transaction, a copy of data is written to both regions, and in the event there is a shortage of blocks in one of the regions, at least one block in the other region is dynamically converted to support the write transaction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to handling failures in a cluster of computer resources. The resources are represented as nodes in a dependency graph in which some nodes are articulation points and the removal of any articulation point due to a resource failure results in a disconnected graph. The embodiments perform a failover when a resource corresponding to an articulation point fails. The failover is to a local resource if the failed resource does not affect all local resources. The failover is to a remote resource if no local resource can meet all resource requirements of the failed resource, and to a remote resource running in a degraded mode if the remote resource cannot meet all of the requirements.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for migrating virtual machines across network (e.g., WAN) separated data centers (e.g., storage clouds). Specifically, under embodiments of the present invention, a first storage system associated with a first data center is synchronized with a second storage system associated with a second data center via a storage system link. Then, a minimal state of a virtual machine is migrated from a first computer in the first data center to a second computer in the second data center via a WAN link. Using the minimal state, the virtual machine is stored in the second computer. Thereafter, the storage system link is terminated. In addition, as updated pages are received in memory of the first computer, they are migrated to the second computer via the WAN link. Once this migration is complete, the WAN link can be terminated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to streaming virtual machine boot services over a network. An aspect of the invention includes booting a first virtual machine and recording data and metadata from a virtual machine boot image into a virtual machine boot file. The data and metadata are accessed in the process of booting the first virtual machine. The virtual machine boot image has setup information of the virtual machine type of the first virtual machine. The virtual machine boot file is configured for the virtual machine type of the first virtual machine. A descriptor is added to metadata of the virtual machine boot image, which references a location of the virtual machine boot file for the virtual machine type of the first virtual machine.