Abstract: A software layer for boosting the throughput of a computer file server by reducing the number of required mechanical accesses to the physical storage is provided. The throughput boost is achieved through the combination of extending the data requests along the file path and inserting double-buffered paths in front of each file accessed. The software layer resides on top of the file system, where it can extend requests along the file path, work with network requests arriving over any network using any protocol, and work with any storage system attached to the server. The software layer can also be used in a server to accelerate requests made by local applications in the server or it may be used in any other computer to accelerate requests made by local applications that require data from local storage.

Abstract: A software layer for boosting the throughput of a computer file server by reducing the number of required mechanical accesses to the physical storage is provided. The throughput boost is achieved through the combination of extending the data requests along the file path and inserting double-buffered paths in front of each file accessed. The software layer resides on top of the file system, where it can extend requests along the file path, work with network requests arriving over any network using any protocol, and work with any storage system attached to the server. The software layer can also be used in a server to accelerate requests made by local applications in the server or it may be used in any other computer to accelerate requests made by local applications that require data from local storage.

Abstract: The invention blends Fiber Channel (“FC”) hardware with networking software to produce a network that allows network data to be transferred via direct memory access (“DMA”) between two application buffers in computers separated by a network. During boot up, the FC network interface card (“NIC”) drivers specify MTUs greater or equal to the segment size to the operating system so that data are not segmented into smaller datagrams during a network data write. During the network write, a first FC NIC sets up the send end of the DMA and sends the network headers of the data to a second FC NIC. The second FC NIC passes the network headers up through the protocol stack. The protocol stack locates and passes the application buffer address to the second FC NIC. The second FC NIC sets up the receive end of the DMA and sends a signal to the first FC NIC to start a buffer-to-buffer DMA transfer of the data.

Abstract: A packaging strap or tether for a driver side air bag cushion is integral with the material of the air bag and attached at opposite ends to a studded ring to retain the air bag in its folded condition during initial assembly and subsequent servicing of the air bag module. Made of a material similar to that of the air bag, the tether must be wide enough to control the folded cushion, but notched at a point along its length to reduce its tensile strength to such an extent that it will break on module deployment without adversely affecting module performance.