Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying one or more errors and/or one or more stranded resources in a connection-oriented or circuit-switched network. By way of example, a technique for identifying at least one of an error and a stranded resource in at least a portion of a connection-oriented or circuit-switched network comprises the following steps/operations. Field data is obtained directly from one or more elements of the network. At least a portion of the obtained field data is examined to determine an existence of at least one of an error and a stranded resource with respect to one or more element-level constructs. Data synthesized from at least a portion of the obtained field data is analyzed to determine an existence of at least one of an error and a stranded resource with respect to one or more network-level constructs.

Abstract: An RF antenna grid design in which the antenna array is installed on a patch panel cover allows for the retrofitting of an RF antenna grid on existing patch panel based systems without disrupting network operation. An apparatus for determining connectivity between device ports on a patch panel and cable ends having corresponding RFID tags attached thereto comprises a patch panel having a plurality of device ports and a patch panel cover comprising a plurality of RFID antennas, where each of the RFID antennas comprises one or more protruding portions thereof, each of the protruding portions of the RFID antennas being in close physical proximity to one or more of the plurality of device ports when the patch panel cover is positioned in a fixed positional relationship to the patch panel (e.g., when the patch panel cover is “attached” to the patch panel).

Abstract: A data replication system is disclosed in which replication functionalities between a host computer, an interconnecting computer network, and a plurality of storage devices are separated into host elements and a plurality of storage elements. The host computer is connected to one or more host elements. The host element is responsible for replicating data between the storage devices, which are each connected to an associated storage element, and for maintaining data consistency. Further, the host element instructs a storage element whose associated storage device does not contain up-to-date data to recover from another one of the plurality of storage elements and its associated storage device. The storage elements and their associated storage devices may be located in any combination of diverse or same geographical sites in a manner to ensure sufficient replication in the event of a site or equipment failure.

Abstract: A data replication system is disclosed in which replication functionalities between a host computer, an interconnecting computer network, and a plurality of storage devices are separated into host elements and a plurality of storage elements. The host computer is connected to one or more host elements. The host element is responsible for replicating data between the storage devices, which are each connected to an associated storage element, and for maintaining data consistency. Further, the host element instructs a storage element whose associated storage device does not contain up-to-date data to recover from another one of the plurality of storage elements and its associated storage device. The storage elements and their associated storage devices may be located in any combination of diverse or same geographical sites in a manner to ensure sufficient replication in the event of a site or equipment failure.