Abstract: An automated plate shaping and verification system allows for the accurate and efficient transformation of a metal plate from a starting shape to a target shape. Using a method for path planning, the system can select heating patterns based on modeling the expected deformation of a particular material type and thickness and identifying candidate heating paths that will sufficiently cause the plate to transform towards the target shape.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a swab and an apparatus for testing dental cold sensitivity. The swab comprises a hollow tube and an absorbent tip fixedly attached to the distal end of the hollow tube. The dispensing apparatus includes a pressurized container and an actuator. The actuator may include a flow control valve to limit the flow of coolant to the absorbent tip or to limit the volume to a metered dose and to prevent the swab from being ejected from the actuator due to excess force.

Abstract: A parameter relating to the video card preferences of a target computer program is determined. In response to the target computer program being started on a computing device having a number of video cards, one of these video cards is selected to run the target computer program on, based on the parameter. The target computer program is then run on the video card selected. The parameter may include the specific identify of one of the video cards on which the target computer program is to be run, as well as other types of parameters that do not specifically identify any of the video cards. The video card preferences of the target computer program may also include video card requirements of the target computer program.

Abstract: A parameter relating to the video card preferences of a target computer program is determined. In response to the target computer program being started on a computing device having a number of video cards, one of these video cards is selected to run the target computer program on, based on the parameter. The target computer program is then run on the video card selected. The parameter may include the specific identify of one of the video cards on which the target computer program is to be run, as well as other types of parameters that do not specifically identify any of the video cards. The video card preferences of the target computer program may also include video card requirements of the target computer program.

Abstract: A computing device includes a number of video cards. The computing device also includes a mechanism to determine one or more parameters relating to video card parameters of a target computer program. The mechanism is to select a video card from the video cards of the computing device based on the parameters, and is to run the target computer program on the video card selected.

Abstract: A parameter relating to the video card preferences of a target computer program is determined. In response to the target computer program being started on a computing device having a number of video cards, one of these video cards is selected to run the target computer program on, based on the parameter. The target computer program is then run on the video card selected. The parameter may include the specific identify of one of the video cards on which the target computer program is to be run, as well as other types of parameters that do not specifically identify any of the video cards. The video card preferences of the target computer program may also include video card requirements of the target computer program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for mediating access to a shared object in a naive computer system having a shared-nothing operating system layered on a shared file system. At least one primary token is utilized as a tool to mediate ownership of one or more shared objects in the naive system. A secondary token is created and utilized to mediate ownership of one or more shared objects. The secondary token created and utilized in limited circumstances, such as when the owner of the primary token ceases communicating with one or more requesters of the primary token.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture are provided for managing a hybrid storage device based upon the properties associated therewith. The storage device includes flash memory and physical storage. Select data is written to the flash memory and is not subject to flushing to the physical storage, and select data is either written directly to the physical storage or written to the flash memory and is subject to flushing to the physical storage.

Abstract: Server discovery, spawning collector threads to collect information from servers, and reporting such information, is disclosed. A method of one embodiment determines a number of servers communicatively coupled to a network. For each server, a collector thread is spawned to collect information regarding the server by sending requests to the server and receiving responses from the server. The collector threads can be spawned by and run on a computing device other than the number of servers, such that no computer-executable code is installed on the servers for collecting the information. Upon completion of the collector thread for each server, the information regarding the server as collected is stored to a database by one or more writer threads.

Abstract: Provided are a computer readable medium and a system for communicating in a computing system. An example of the method includes establishing a local communications interface at a local site. This example also includes writing local site communication information to the local communications interface, which comprises storing the local site communication information on a first site storage device at the local site, and sending the local site communication information from the first site storage device, to a third site storage device at a remote site, wherein the local site communication information is sent using a remote data replication protocol. The remote site communications interface may read the local site communication information from a third site storage device, and may send the local site communication information to a remote application at the remote site. Similarly, the remote application may send information to a local application at the local site.

Abstract: A computer readable medium and system for remotely monitoring activity includes generating first server heartbeat information at a first server at a local site, and storing the first server heartbeat information in a first primary site disk at the local site. The method also includes sending the first server heartbeat information from the first primary site disk, to a first secondary site disk at a remote site. The method further includes receiving information from a 10 second secondary site disk at the local site, and determining if the information received from the second secondary site disk includes updated heartbeat information.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture are provided for managing a hybrid storage device based upon the properties associated therewith. The storage device includes flash memory and physical storage. Select data is written to the flash memory and is not subject to flushing to the physical storage, and select data is either written directly to the physical storage or written to the flash memory and is subject to flushing to the physical storage.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for communicating in a computing system. An example of the method includes establishing a local communications interface at a local site. This example also includes writing local site communication information to the local communications interface, which comprises storing the local site communication information on a first site storage device at the local site, and sending the local site communication information from the first site storage device, to a third site storage device at a remote site, wherein the local site communication information is sent using a remote data replication protocol. The remote site communications interface may read the local site communication information from a third site storage device, and may send the local site communication information to a remote application at the remote site. Similarly, the remote application may send information to a local application at the local site.

Abstract: Provided are a computer readable medium and a system for communicating in a computing system. An example of the method includes establishing a local communications interface at a local site. This example also includes writing local site communication information to the local communications interface, which comprises storing the local site communication information on a first site storage device at the local site, and sending the local site communication information from the first site storage device, to a third site storage device at a remote site, wherein the local site communication information is sent using a remote data replication protocol. The remote site communications interface may read the local site communication information from a third site storage device, and may send the local site communication information to a remote application at the remote site. Similarly, the remote application may send information to a local application at the local site.

Abstract: A computer readable medium and system for remotely monitoring activity includes generating first server heartbeat information at a first server at a local site, and storing the first server heartbeat information in a first primary site disk at the local site. The method also includes sending the first server heartbeat information from the first primary site disk, to a first secondary site disk at a remote site. The method further includes receiving information from a 10 second secondary site disk at the local site, and determining if the information received from the second secondary site disk includes updated heartbeat information.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for discovering servers, spawning collector threads to collect information from servers, and reporting such information. The method may determine a number of servers communicatively coupled to a network. For each server, a collector thread may be spawned to collect information regarding the server by sending requests to the server and receiving responses from the server. The collector threads may be spawned by and run on a computing device other than the number of servers, such that no computer-executable code is installed on the servers for collecting the information. Upon completion of the collector thread for each server, the information regarding the server as collected may be stored to a database by one or more writer threads.

Abstract: A method for remotely monitoring activity includes generating first server heartbeat information at a first server at a local site, and storing the first server heartbeat information in a first primary site disk at the local site. The method also includes sending the first server heartbeat information from the first primary site disk, to a first secondary site disk at a remote site. The method further includes receiving information from a second secondary site disk at the local site, and determining if the information received from the second secondary site disk includes updated heartbeat information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for mediating access to a shared object in a naive computer system having a shared-nothing operating system layered on a shared file system. At least one primary token is utilized as a tool to mediate ownership of one or more shared objects in the naive system. A secondary token is created and utilized to mediate ownership of one or more shared objects. The secondary token created and utilized in limited circumstances, such as when the owner of the primary token ceases communicating with one or more requesters of the primary token.

Abstract: A parameter relating to the video card preferences of a target computer program is determined. In response to the target computer program being started on a computing device having a number of video cards, one of these video cards is selected to run the target computer program on, based on the parameter. The target computer program is then run on the video card selected. The parameter may include the specific identify of one of the video cards on which the target computer program is to be run, as well as other types of parameters that do not specifically identify any of the video cards. The video card preferences of the target computer program may also include video card requirements of the target computer program.

Abstract: A computing device includes a number of video cards. The computing device also includes a mechanism to determine one or more parameters relating to video card parameters of a target computer program. The mechanism is to select a video card from the video cards of the computing device based on the parameters, and is to run the target computer program on the video card selected.