Abstract: A transparent substrate that encodes data therein having optically readable identification indicia corresponding to identifying information regarding the substrate. The optically readable identification indicia may be readable from the transparent substrate by altering the reflectivity of the transparent substrate in indicia portions that may be read by a scanner or reader (e.g., a barcode reader). The optically readable identification indicia may be provided on a common surface with a data zone in which data is encoded in the transparent substrate. Alternatively or additionally, the optically readable identification indicia may be provided on another, different surface than the surface on which the data is encoded in a data zone.

Abstract: A transparent substrate that encodes data therein having optically readable identification indicia corresponding to identifying information regarding the substrate. The optically readable identification indicia may be readable from the transparent substrate by altering the reflectivity of the transparent substrate in indicia portions that may be read by a scanner or reader (e.g., a barcode reader). The optically readable identification indicia may be provided on a common surface with a data zone in which data is encoded in the transparent substrate. Alternatively or additionally, the optically readable identification indicia may be provided on another, different surface than the surface on which the data is encoded in a data zone.

Abstract: A server system comprising storage devices, processing devices and a storage fabric all operating according to a storage fabric protocol. The storage fabric comprises a plurality of individual switches having a modular design from which an overall switch is built, and the individual switches have individual respective configuration settings which determine which processing devices are allocated to use which of the storage devices. The system comprises an API enabling a software control function to configure the overall switch. The API is operable to receive from the control function an overall mapping of the storage devices to the processing devices instead of requiring the individual configuration settings of each of the individual switches to be specified by the control function, the API being configured to convert the overall mapping into the individual configuration settings of the individual switches to produce the overall mapping.

Abstract: A transparent substrate that encodes data therein having optically readable identification indicia corresponding to identifying information regarding the substrate. The optically readable identification indicia may be readable from the transparent substrate by altering the reflectivity of the transparent substrate in indicia portions that may be read by a scanner or reader (e.g., a barcode reader). The optically readable identification indicia may be provided on a common surface with a data zone in which data is encoded in the transparent substrate. Alternatively or additionally, the optically readable identification indicia may be provided on another, different surface than the surface on which the data is encoded in a data zone.

Abstract: A server system comprising storage devices, processing devices and a storage fabric all operating according to a storage fabric protocol. The storage fabric comprises a plurality of individual switches having a modular design from which an overall switch is built, and the individual switches have individual respective configuration settings which determine which processing devices are allocated to use which of the storage devices. The system comprises an API enabling a software control function to configure the overall switch. The API is operable to receive from the control function an overall mapping of the storage devices to the processing devices instead of requiring the individual configuration settings of each of the individual switches to be specified by the control function, the API being configured to convert the overall mapping into the individual configuration settings of the individual switches to produce the overall mapping.

Abstract: A server system comprising storage devices, processing devices and a storage fabric all operating according to a storage fabric protocol. The storage fabric comprises a plurality of individual switches having a modular design from which an overall switch is built, and the individual switches have individual respective configuration settings which determine which processing devices are allocated to use which of the storage devices. The system comprises an API enabling a software control function to configure the overall switch. The API is operable to receive from the control function an overall mapping of the storage devices to the processing devices instead of requiring the individual configuration settings of each of the individual switches to be specified by the control function, the API being configured to convert the overall mapping into the individual configuration settings of the individual switches to produce the overall mapping.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A server system comprising storage devices, processing devices and a storage fabric all operating according to a storage fabric protocol. The storage fabric comprises a plurality of individual switches having a modular design from which an overall switch is built, and the individual switches have individual respective configuration settings which determine which processing devices are allocated to use which of the storage devices. The system comprises an API enabling a software control function to configure the overall switch. The API is operable to receive from the control function an overall mapping of the storage devices to the processing devices instead of requiring the individual configuration settings of each of the individual switches to be specified by the control function, the API being configured to convert the overall mapping into the individual configuration settings of the individual switches to produce the overall mapping.

Abstract: A server system comprising processing devices, disks and a storage fabric, all arranged to operate according to a storage fabric protocol in order to communicate between the processing devices and the storage devices over the storage fabric, wherein the storage fabric is settable with a mapping determining which of the processing devices are allocated to use which of the storage devices in providing said services to the client systems. The system comprises a control function arranged to dynamically adapt the mapping in response to either: (i) failure or other downtime of one of the processing devices, storage devices, a component of the storage fabric or a connection in the storage fabric; or (ii) a current demand for the services from the client systems.