Abstract: A service provider may select one or more physical locations of existing data centers for the user for deployment of the user's computing resources. In various embodiments, the service provider may collect parameters from the user to create a custom selection of physical locations for computing services to be deployed for the user, which may be a strategically selected subset of all of the existing data centers available. Some parameters for selection may include expected location of end-users, cost tolerance, latency tolerance, and fault risk diversity. In some situations, cost may have an inverse relationship with latency, such that as cost increases, latency decreases (and vice versa). The rule sets may be created using the parameters, possibly with weights assigned to different parameters based on information received via the user interface. The rule sets may be formed and used to select physical locations for deployment of computing resources.

Abstract: A database management system may be configured to receive requests related to storing and retrieving network address information. Requests may be represented in a query language as a native data type. Network address information may be stored using a data format indicative of ranges of network addresses, including bit fields indexed by a hash function and range trees. Network addresses may be located based on traversing rows in a table and traversing network address ranges stored in rows. A network address may be validated by locating the stored address and examining properties associated with the address.

Abstract: A method for data aggregation of declassified sensitive data may include obtaining a policy associated with an isolated region of a service provider. The policy may identify a plurality of rules for declassifying sensitive data accessible within the isolated region. At least a portion of the plurality of rules identified by the policy may be obtained. A file with the sensitive data may be identified, the file being generated within the isolated region. An output file may be generated based on applying the obtained rules to the file. At least a portion of the sensitive data may be filtered out using the obtained rules. The generated output file may be provided for access outside of the isolated region. The sensitive data may be inaccessible by at least another region of the service provider.

Abstract: Storing data in a distributed database management system. The distributed database management system includes a first set of database tables, wherein data of a logical database table is distributed among the first set of database tables according to a first distribution key. A second set of database tables is maintained using a second distribution key that is different from the first distribution key. Furthermore, at least one performance metric value for the stored query when executing a query is maintained, and the second distribution key is determined based on the at least one performance metric value.

Abstract: A distributed system includes a client and a server. The client may comprise a serialization module for serializing data into a first communication format to communicate the data to a server. The server may include a communication format parser for de-serializing the data received into a server-internal communication format. The serialization module may also be adapted for transforming the data into the server-internal communication format for a communication to the server. The client may also be adapted for indicating to the server that the client is capable of sending data in the server-internal communication format, and the server may be able to indicate its readiness to receive such data. The data may be sent either in the first or, alternatively, in the server-internal format.

Abstract: A fleet rebuild service examines hosts in a fleet to determine whether any of the hosts in the fleet are to be rebuilt. If a host is to be rebuilt, the fleet rebuild service moves the host to a vetting pool. The fleet rebuild service, or another service, may cause automated testing to be performed on the hardware and/or software of hosts in the vetting pool. If a host passes the automated testing, the fleet rebuild service may move the host from the vetting pool to a provisioning pool. If a host does not pass the automated testing, the host may be moved from the vetting pool to a diagnostics pool for further testing. The fleet rebuild service may select hosts from the provisioning pool for automated configuration and deployment to the fleet.

Abstract: A distributed system includes a client and a server. The client may comprise a serialization module for serializing data into a first communication format to communicate the data to a server. The server may include a communication format parser for de-serializing the data received into a server-internal communication format. The serialization module may also be adapted for transforming the data into the server-internal communication format for a communication to the server. The client may also be adapted for indicating to the server that the client is capable of sending data in the server-internal communication format, and the server may be able to indicate its readiness to receive such data. The data may be sent either in the first or, alternatively, in the server-internal format.

Abstract: A distributed system includes a client and a server. The client may comprise a serialization module for serializing data into a first communication format to communicate the data to a server. The server may include a communication format parser for de-serializing the data received into a server-internal communication format. The serialization module may also be adapted for transforming the data into the server-internal communication format for a communication to the server. The client may also be adapted for indicating to the server that the client is capable of sending data in the server-internal communication format, and the server may be able to indicate its readiness to receive such data. The data may be sent either in the first or, alternatively, in the server-internal format.

Abstract: A method of dataset replica migration is described. An application session may start on a first compute node. A first replica of the dataset to be accessed by the application session may be located on a second compute node. A second replica of the dataset is created to be co-located with the first compute node. A first data block of the dataset may be requested by the application session. The first data block of the first replica of the dataset may be read from the second compute node, when the second replica does not have a copy of the first data block stored in the second replica. The retrieved first data block may be copied to the second replica. The first data block may be read from the second replica, when the first data block is requested by the application session and is contained in the second replica.

Abstract: A method of dataset replica migration is described. An application session may start on a first compute node. A first replica of the dataset to be accessed by the application session may be located on a second compute node. A second replica of the dataset is created to be co-located with the first compute node. A first data block of the dataset may be requested by the application session. The first data block of the first replica of the dataset may be read from the second compute node, when the second replica does not have a copy of the first data block stored in the second replica. The retrieved first data block may be copied to the second replica. The first data block may be read from the second replica, when the first data block is requested by the application session and is contained in the second replica.

Abstract: In a provider network, attributes of one of a plurality of storage devices of the provider network are identified for failure monitoring. Based on a failure prediction model, a predicted probability of failure of the selected storage device is determined. The failure prediction model is based on historical and current data associated with failures of the storage devices of the provider network that have common attributes. The selected storage device is deactivated in response to determining that the predicted probability of failure of the selected storage device meets a criterion.

Abstract: A computer installs an operating system. The computer receives, in a logical partition (LPAR) via a management network, a deploy program configured to download a disk image from an image repository and to write the disk image to a first direct access storage device (DASD) of the LPAR. The disk image includes an operating system, applications, and management components including an upgrade program. The computer receives, in the LPAR via a data network, the disk image, and writes, to the first DASD of the LPAR, the disk image. The computer boots the LPAR into the operating system of the disk image written to the first DASD, and determines whether the installed operating system is a deployment or an upgrade.

Abstract: Storing data in a distributed database management system. The distributed database management system includes a first set of database tables, wherein data of a logical database table is distributed among the first set of database tables according to a first distribution key. A second set of database tables is maintained using a second distribution key that is different from the first distribution key. Furthermore, at least one performance metric value for the stored query when executing a query is maintained, and the second distribution key is determined based on the at least one performance metric value.

Abstract: Entities such as resource and service providers can utilize a ticketing system to define operational actions as primitives that can be stored, combined into more complex workflows, and executed in a restricted zone wherein a portion of the resources or services are not directly accessible to those providers. These primitives can be stored in the provider environment and shared with the restricted zone, in order to provide a structured approach to the sharing of operational knowledge. When a primitive is first received to the restricted zone, a person vetted by the customer associated with the restricted zone can review and approve the primitive, and can cause the primitive to be executed in the restricted zone. When that same primitive is subsequently received to the restricted zone, a lookup can be performed to determine that an approval exists, whereby the primitive can be executed in the restricted zone without another review.

Abstract: A method of dataset replica migration is described. An application session may start on a first compute node. A first replica of the dataset to be accessed by the application session may be located on a second compute node. A second replica of the dataset is created to be co-located with the first compute node. A first data block of the dataset may be requested by the application session. The first data block of the first replica of the dataset may be read from the second compute node, when the second replica does not have a copy of the first data block stored in the second replica. The retrieved first data block may be copied to the second replica. The first data block may be read from the second replica, when the first data block is requested by the application session and is contained in the second replica.

Abstract: A method of dataset replica migration is described. An application session may start on a first compute node. A first replica of the dataset to be accessed by the application session may be located on a second compute node. A second replica of the dataset is created to be co-located with the first compute node. A first data block of the dataset may be requested by the application session. The first data block of the first replica of the dataset may be read from the second compute node, when the second replica does not have a copy of the first data block stored in the second replica. The retrieved first data block may be copied to the second replica. The first data block may be read from the second replica, when the first data block is requested by the application session and is contained in the second replica.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes recording one or more actions being performed by an agent using at least one resource of a resource provider environment, the at least one resource being associated with a non-restricted zone in the resource provider environment. The method includes creating a primitive that describes the one or more actions. The primitive is able to be executed on at least one different resource in a restricted zone in the resource provider environment to perform the one or more actions using the different resource. The restricted zone includes resources associated with a customer that are directly accessible only to at least one authorized entity. The method includes submitting the primitive to the restricted zone in the resource provider environment. The primitive is able to be executed by the at least one authorized entity on the at least one different resource in the restricted zone.

Abstract: A simulation environment verifies processor-sparing functions in a simulated processor core. The simulation environment executes a first simulation for a simulated processor core. During the simulation, the simulation environment creates a simulation model dump file. At a later point in time, the simulation environment executes a second simulation for the simulated processor core. The simulation environment saves the state of the simulated processor core. The simulation environment then replaces the state of the simulated processor core by loading the previously created simulation model dump file. The simulation environment then sets the state of the simulated processor core to execute processor-sparing code and resumes the second simulation.

Abstract: A simulation environment verifies processor-sparing functions in a simulated processor core. The simulation environment executes a first simulation for a simulated processor core. During the simulation, the simulation environment creates a simulation model dump file. At a later point in time, the simulation environment executes a second simulation for the simulated processor core. The simulation environment saves the state of the simulated processor core. The simulation environment then replaces the state of the simulated processor core by loading the previously created simulation model dump file. The simulation environment then sets the state of the simulated processor core to execute processor-sparing code and resumes the second simulation.

Abstract: A method is provided for restoring data from a backup storage volume onto a source storage volume. A content of a memory unit of the backup storage volume and a content of the corresponding memory unit of the source storage volume are loaded into a computer memory, and are compared in the computer memory for identity. The content of the memory unit of the backup storage volume is written to the corresponding memory unit of the source storage volume if the comparison indicates that the content of the compared memory units is not identical. The invention further relates to a system for restoring data from a backup storage volume onto a source storage volume comprising a restore software running on a data processing device, which is connected to the backup storage volume and the source storage volume, whereby the restore software performs the above method.