Abstract: Embodiments of sampling techniques for server farms are described herein. In an implementation, the sampling techniques may be performed to find a range of values, in which, a quality of service measurement belongs. Each range is thought of as a “bucket” and may include a corresponding counter that is incremented for each quality of service measurement that falls within the bucket. The countes may then be converted into measurement curves which are published at periodic intervals for examination.

Abstract: A delivery confirmation is provided to the sender of an e-mail message. When the e-mail message is composed, a link, such as a hyperlink, is inserted into the e-mail message, such as in the body or header. The link can include information such as a message identifier and identifiers of the sender and the recipient, which are provided as a query string of the link, while a host field of the link includes the address of an e-mail/web server. When the recipient receives the e-mail message and opens it, the link is displayed along with text that instructs the user to use the link to confirm delivery. The confirmation can include displaying indicia for the e-mail message in a folder view on an interface of the sender, or sending a confirmation e-mail message to the sender, for instance. Voting by e-mail can also be provided.

Abstract: A searchable storage system indexes data, such as a blob (binary large object) as it is stored. The indexes are stored simultaneously with the data by the same storage mechanism. Data cannot be stored without indexing it. Any indexing technique may be used. The indexes are then used to access the data. This ensures that any inconsistencies can handled at the local level, and are not visible to clients of the system. Data can be put in to, or taken out from, the searchable storage system. Additionally, a query on the data in the searchable storage system may be performed.

Abstract: An email having a header and a message is processed by an email service to store the header in a plurality of attached storage devices that are each in communication with one of a respective plurality of header host computing devices. The email service stores the message in a separate file in a plurality of attached storage devices that are each in communication with one of a respective plurality of message host computing devices.

Abstract: A global state management service manages replication in a distributed system. A distributed system can have several replica groups. The global state management service manages state associated with each replica group. Data replication is implemented without implementing an instance of a state machine on each device in a replica group. A replica group comprises a primary device and at least one secondary device. Each device in a replica group contains a replica of data of interest. The global state management service manages the allocation of primary and secondary devices. In the absence of a failure in either a primary device or a secondary device, read and write operations are performed without consulting the global state management service. When a failure is detected, the global state management service manages failover.

Abstract: A global state management service manages replication in a distributed system. A distributed system can have several replica groups. The global state management service manages state associated with each replica group. Data replication is implemented without implementing an instance of a state machine on each device in a replica group. A replica group comprises a primary device and at least one secondary device. Each device in a replica group contains a replica of data of interest. The global state management service manages the allocation of primary and secondary devices. In the absence of a failure in either a primary device or a secondary device, read and write operations are performed without consulting the global state management service. When a failure is detected, the global state management service manages failover.

Abstract: A searchable storage system indexes data, such as a blob (binary large object) as it is stored. The indexes are stored simultaneously with the data by the same storage mechanism. Data cannot be stored without indexing it. Any indexing technique may be used. The indexes are then used to access the data. This ensures that any inconsistencies can handled at the local level, and are not visible to clients of the system. Data can be put in to, or taken out from, the searchable storage system. Additionally, a query on the data in the searchable storage system may be performed.

Abstract: An email having a header and a message is processed by an email service to store the header in a plurality of attached storage devices that are each in communication with one of a respective plurality of header host computing devices. The email service stores the message in a separate file in a plurality of attached storage devices that are each in communication with one of a respective plurality of message host computing devices.

Abstract: The header and message of an email are respectively stored in header and message hosts. The stored header includes a recipient identifier, a globally message identifier, an incomplete status, and a timestamp. When the message is stored at each message host, the stored header is changed to a complete status and the timestamp is updated. If the message can't be stored at message host, a diagnostic can be output and the stored header is deleted from the header hosts. When the message is stored in at least one of message hosts, the status indicator in the stored header is changed to reflect a complete status. When the message is stored in only some of the message hosts, a partially complete status is set for each message host at which the failures occurred. The message can be replicated in each message host having a corresponding partially complete status indicator.

Abstract: A schema-based inbox service that provides Internet access to per-user inbox data, (e.g., name, address, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses), wherein access to the inbox data is based on each user's identity. The inbox service includes a schema that defines rules and a structure for each user's data, and also includes methods that provide access to the data in a defined way. The inbox schema thus corresponds to a logical document containing the data for each user. The user manipulates (e.g., reads or writes) data in the logical document by data access requests through defined methods. In one implementation, the inbox schemas are arranged as XML documents, and the services provide methods that control access to the data based on the requesting user's identification, defined role and scope for that role. In this way, data can be accessed by its owner, and shared to an extent determined by the owner.