Abstract: A timing network is provided that includes a plurality of servers. The servers of the network obtain information used to maintain the servers in time synchronization, thus ensuring the integrity of the servers.

Abstract: Server time protocol (STP) messages and methods of exchange thereof are provided for facilitating synchronization of processing units of a timing network. The STP messages include exchange time parameters (XTP) commands and responses, and STP control (STC) commands and responses. XTP message exchange processing includes: generating an XTP message command at a first processing unit including a command transmit timestamp field set by the first processing unit and a command receive timestamp field which is unset by the first processing unit; transmitting the XTP message command to a second processing unit; setting the command receive timestamp field in the XTP command with the time the XTP command is received at the second processing unit; and generating an XTP message response at the second processing unit, the message response including the command transmit timestamp set by the first processing unit and the command receive timestamp set by the second processing unit.

Abstract: Recovery is provided in a timing network. A configuration is defined for that network, and in that configuration, an active primary server is identified that provides a clock source for the network. Additionally, an alternate server is identified that can perform the role of the active primary server, should the active primary server fail. In response to a failure of the primary server, the alternate server detects the failure and performs takeover of the primary server.

Abstract: Information usable in determining the quality of time produced by a clock of a processing environment is obtained. The information is obtained directly by an application program absent use of a supervisor service, such as an operating system or operating system service. The application program invokes an instruction that returns a parameter block that includes the information.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for steering a time-of-day (TOD) clock for a computer system having a physical clock providing a time base for executing operations that is stepped to a common oscillator. The method includes computing a TOD-clock offset value (d) to be added to a physical-clock value (Tr) value to obtain a logical TOD-clock value (Tb), where the logical TOD-clock value is adjustable without adjusting a stepping rate of the oscillator.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for computing a message authentication code for data in storage of a computing environment. An instruction specifies a unit of storage for which an authentication code is to be computed. An computing operation computes an authentication code for the unit of storage. A register is used for providing a cryptographic key for use in the computing to the authentication code. Further, the register may be used in a chaining operation.

Abstract: A time synchronization apparatus, method and system are provided.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for synchronizing adjustment of a time of day (TOD) clock for a computer system having multiple CPUs, each CPU having an associated physical clock providing a time base for executing operations that is stepping to a common oscillator, and an associated logical TOD clock. The method includes detecting propagation of a carry at a pre-determined bit position of the physical clock associated with a CPU in the computer system; and, updating, in response to the detecting of the pre-determined bit position carry, a TOD-clock offset value (d) to be added to a physical clock value (Tr) value to obtain a logical TOD clock value (Tb) for use by a CPU in the system. In this manner, each CPU computes a new logical TOD clock value in synchronization—the new logical TOD clock value taking effect simultaneously for the multiple CPUs.

Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining time-of-day (“TOD”) clock records on an information processing system. In accordance with such method, a first instruction is issued for recording a TOD clock value. In response to issuing the first instruction, a truncated version of a first current TOD clock value is obtained and recorded as a first TOD clock record, the first TOD clock value being a first current TOD clock value produced by a TOD clock running continuously on the information processing system. Thereafter, a second instruction is issued. In response to issuing the second instruction, a truncated version of a second current TOD clock value is obtained and recorded as a second TOD clock record, the second current TOD clock value being produced by the TOD clock, and the second TOD clock record being permitted to have the same value as the first TOD clock record.

Abstract: The management of data access is facilitated. A loop only if changed locking facility is provided, in which reads and updates of the data being managed are permitted, unless an update to the data completes during the execution of the read or update routine. As long as an update to the data has not completed during a processor's execution of the read or update routine, access is permitted.

Abstract: In a networked data processing system, the updating of timing parameters is carried out via a process in which the detection of the loss of communications with the network is not immediately employed as an indication of parameter invalidity but rather the process employs a system specific delay which permits actions such as server or link recovery to occur without necessitating the declaration of timing parameter invalidity.

Abstract: Information usable in determining the quality of time produced by a clock of a processing environment is obtained. The information is obtained directly by an application program absent use of a supervisor service, such as an operating system or operating system service. The application program invokes an instruction that returns a parameter block that includes the information.

Abstract: A method and a system for delivering a notice over a network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a mechanism creates a user profile database. After new information is obtained, a user profile from the user profile database is identified in response to the new information. Next, the method identifies a delivery mechanism in response to the user profile. A notice is delivered in response to the user profile.

Abstract: A sensor assembly suitable for a vehicle fuel module assembly includes a plastic body defining a bore therethrough and having a barrier with a continuous peripheral edge encapsulated in the body. An aperture extends through the plate. A sensor chip is bonded to the plate over the aperture.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for enciphering or deciphering storage of a computing environment by specifying, via an instruction, a unit of storage to be enciphered or deciphered. The unit of storage to be enciphered or deciphered includes a plurality of pages which may be operated on in a chaining operation.

Abstract: A new zSeries floating-point unit has a fused multiply-add dataflow capable of supporting two architectures and fused MULTIPLY and ADD and Multiply and SUBTRACT in both RRF and RXF formats for the fused functions. Both binary and hexadecimal floating-point instructions are supported for a total of 6 formats. The floating-point unit is capable of performing a multiply-add instruction for hexadecimal or binary every cycle with a latency of 5 cycles. This supports two architectures with two internal formats with their own biases. This has eliminated format conversion cycles and has optimized the width of the dataflow. The unit is optimized for both hexadecimal and binary floating-point architecture supporting a multiply-add/subtract per cycle.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for digesting data in storage of a computing environment. The digesting computes a condensed representation of a message or data stored in the computer storage. A COMPUTE INTERMEDIATE MESSAGE DIGEST (KIMD) and a COMPUTE LAST MESSAGE DIGEST (KLMD) instruction are disclosed which specify a unit of storage to be digested by a secure hashing algorithm.

Abstract: A method for providing a message-time-ordering facility is disclosed. The method comprises initiating the message-timer ordering facility for a message at a sender system. Initiating includes setting a delay variable to zero. The message is sent to a receiver system in response to initiating the message-time-ordering facility. Sending the message includes marking the message with a first departure time-stamp responsive to a sender system clock and transmitting the message to the receiver system. The message is received at the at the receiver system, receiving includes delaying the processing of the message until the time on a receiver system clock is greater than the first departure time-stamp and recording a time associated with the delaying the processing of the message in the delay variable. A response to the message is sent to the sender system in response to receiving the message.

Abstract: Public key security control (PKSC) is provided for a cryptographic module by means of digitally signed communications between the module and one or more authorities with whom it interacts. Authorities interact with the crypto module by means of unsigned queries seeking nonsecret information or signed commands for performing specified operations. Each command signed by an authority also contains a transaction sequence number (TSN), which must match a corresponding number stored by the crypto module for the authority. The TSN for each authority is initially generated randomly and is incremented for each command accepted from that authority. A signature requirement array (SRA) controls the number of signatures required to validate each command type. Upon receiving a signed command from one or more authorities, the SRA is examined to determine whether a required number of authorities permitted to sign the command have signed the command for each signature requirement specification defined for that command type.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for computing a message authentication code for data in storage of a computing environment. An instruction specifies a unit of storage for which an authentication code is to be computed. An computing operation computes an authentication code for the unit of storage. A register is used for providing a cryptographic key for use in the computing to the authentication code. Further, the register may be used in a chaining operation.