Abstract: An I/O hint framework is provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can receive an I/O command originating from a virtual machine (VM), where the I/O command identifies a data block of a virtual disk. The computer system can further extract hint metadata from the I/O command, where the hint metadata includes one or more characteristics of the data block that are relevant for determining how to cache the data block in a flash storage-based cache. The computer system can then make the hint metadata available to a caching module configured to manage the flash storage-based cache.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing perceived read latency. Upon receiving a read request with a scatter-gather array from a guest operating system running on a virtual machine (VM), an early read return virtualization (ERRV) component of a virtual machine monitor fills the scatter-gather array with data from a cache and data retrieved via input-output requests (IOs) to media. The ERRV component is configured to return the read request before all IOs have completed based on a predefined policy. Prior to returning the read, the ERRV component may unmap unfilled pages of the scatter-gather array until data for the unmapped pages becomes available when IOs to the external media complete. Later accesses to unmapped pages will generate page faults, which are handled by stunning the VMs from which the access requests originated until, e.g., all elements of the SG array are filled and all pages of the SG array are mapped.

Abstract: Techniques for surfacing host-side flash storage capacity to a plurality of VMs running on a host system are provided. In one embodiment, the host system creates, for each VM in the plurality of VMs, a flash storage space allocation in a flash storage device that is locally attached to the host system. The host system then causes the flash storage space allocation to be readable and writable by the VM as a virtual flash memory device.

Abstract: Techniques for achieving crash consistency when performing write-behind caching using a flash storage-based cache are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system receives from a virtual machine a write request that includes data to be written to a virtual disk and caches the data in a flash storage-based cache. The computer system further logs a transaction entry for the write request in the flash storage-based cache, where the transaction entry includes information usable for flushing the data from the flash storage-based cache to a storage device storing the virtual disk. The computer system then communicates an acknowledgment to the VM indicating that the write request has been successfully processed.

Abstract: Techniques for using a host-side cache to accelerate virtual machine (VM) I/O are provided. In one embodiment, the hypervisor of a host system can intercept an I/O request from a VM running on the host system, where the I/O request is directed to a virtual disk residing on a shared storage device. The hypervisor can then process the I/O request by accessing a host-side cache that resides one or more cache devices distinct from the shared storage device, where the accessing of the host-side cache is transparent to the VM.

Abstract: Embodiments present a virtual disk image to applications such as virtual machines (VMs) executing on a computing device. The virtual disk image corresponds to one or more subparts of binary large objects (blobs) of data stored by a cloud service, and is implemented in a log structured format. Grains of the virtual disk image are cached by the computing device. The computing device caches only a subset of the grains and performs write operations without blocking the applications to reduce storage latency perceived by the applications. Some embodiments enable the applications that lack enterprise class storage to benefit from enterprise class cloud storage services.

Abstract: A cache is maintained with write order numbers that indicate orders of writes into the cache, so that periodic partial flushes of the cache can be executed while maintaining write order consistency. A method of storing data into the cache includes receiving a request to write data into the cache, identifying lines in the cache for storing the data, writing the data into the lines of the cache, storing a write order number, and associating the write order number with the lines of the cache. A method of flushing a cache having cache lines associated with write order numbers includes the steps of identifying lines in the cache that are associated with either a selected write order number or a write order number that is less than the selected write order number, and flushing data stored in the identified lines to a persistent storage.

Abstract: A float structure for a WEC is designed to have a tapered underside to reduce the impact due to wave slam and bending moments while providing little reduction in the surface area responding to the wave surface in order to maintain the beneficial power generating capability of a “flat” float. The underside of the float presents an inverted wedge section to decrease loads associated with wave slamming. The float may have a generally toroidal or elliptical configuration at and about the “still” water line with the generally submerged underside of the float having a cross section shaped to have one or more inverted triangular sections extending between the outer perimeter of the float and its center to reduce impact loading due to wave slamming while maintaining power producing capability.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for enabling a computer system to run multiple multipathing software modules which includes: (a) scanning for physical devices; (b) scanning for paths to each of the physical devices; (c) presenting the paths to one or more multipathing software modules of a plurality of multipathing software modules operating within the computer system; (d) the multipathing software modules claiming or rejecting one or more of the one or more paths; and (e) creating and exposing one or more logical devices, wherein each logical device is associated with a multipathing software module.

Abstract: A float structure for a WEC is designed to have a tapered underside to reduce the impact due to wave slam and bending moments while providing little reduction in the surface area responding to the wave surface in order to maintain the beneficial power generating capability of a “flat” float. The underside of the float presents an inverted wedge section to decrease loads associated with wave slamming. The float may have a generally toroidal or elliptical configuration at and about the “still” water line with the generally submerged underside of the float having a cross section shaped to have one or more inverted triangular sections extending between the outer perimeter of the float and its center to reduce impact loading due to wave slamming while maintaining power producing capability.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for enabling a computer system to run multiple multipathing software modules which includes: (a) scanning for physical devices; (b) scanning for paths to each of the physical devices; (c) presenting the paths to one or more multipathing software modules of a plurality of multipathing software modules operating within the computer system; (d) the multipathing software modules claiming or rejecting one or more of the one or more paths; and (e) creating and exposing one or more logical devices, wherein each logical device is associated with a multipathing software module.

Abstract: The present method invention provides a portable method useful for identifying the effect pigments used in developing a color matched formula for a vehicle repair paint. The method comprises observation of effect pigment properties of the coating of a vehicle to be matched, in a field location with a portable magnification apparatus, and comparison of the effect pigment properties with reference sample(s) properties of available effect pigments, thus enabling precise selection of effect pigment(s). The method may also utilize features derived from images of physical reference samples of available effect pigments, for comparison purposes.

Abstract: A security bollard comprising: an outer sleeve arranged to be set in the ground in a generally vertical orientation; a post telescopically or otherwise slidably received within the outer sleeve for movement between respective retracted and extended positions with respect to the sleeve; and locking means which is arranged to lock the post in its extended condition with respect to the sleeve and which is frangible or readily accessible exteriorly of the post, to allow the post to be moved from its extended to its retracted condition with respect to the outer sleeve.

Abstract: A system to isolate a fault to a particular port from among multiple ports in a network. The network typically has a plurality of devices including hosts, storage units, and switch groups that intercommunicate via transceivers. A fault indication is received from one or more of the devices in the network. The fault indication is then processed with a chain of fault indication rules that have been linked together into a binary decision path based on a set of device rules and a data flow model for the network. This permits determining the particular port responsible for the fault, and reporting that port to a user of the network.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program storage device for providing control of statistical processing of error data over a multitude of sources using a dynamically modifiable DFT rule set is disclosed. The dispersion frame technique is extended in the present invention to provide dispersion frame rules with user-defined parameters thereby creating a dynamically modifiable rule set.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tethered ball pitching device wherein a planar base member is provided with a plurality of ground penetrating planar teeth members and a central aperture, a vertically extending support member having a pointed end extending through the aperture for penetration into the ground, a davit shaped member having a vertical extending support member and a horizontal portion having an aperture through its outer end, a ring extending through the aperture, and an elastic cord having one of its ends attached to the ring, the other end of the elastic cord is attached to a ball.

Abstract: The invention relates to tethered ball pitching device wherein a planar base member is provided with a plurality of ground penetrating planar teeth members and a central aperture. A vertically extending support member having a pointed end extending through the aperture and penetrating the ground. A davit shaped member having a vertical seating extending into the vertical support member and a horizontal portion having an aperture through its outer end. A ring extends through the aperture and an elastic cord has one of its ends attached to the ring. The other end of the elastic cord is attached to a ball.