Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for implementing a cellular network readiness check between a mobile originator and a mobile terminator for connecting calls and messages. A network communicates push notifications to a device and receives indications of a readiness of that device to participate in a testing scenario. Additionally, within the testing scenario, push notifications are used to communicate expectations of a test communication session to a mobile terminating device and to determine if test outcomes matched expectations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for social graph data analytics to determine the connectivity between nodes within a community are provided. A user may assign user connectivity values to other members of the community, or connectivity values may be automatically harvested or assigned from third parties or based on the frequency of interactions between members of the community. Connectivity values may represent such factors as alignment, reputation, status, and/or influence within a social graph of a network community, or the degree of trust. The paths connecting a first node to a second node may be retrieved, and social graph data analytics may be performed on the retrieved paths. For example, a network connectivity value may be determined from all or a subset of all of the retrieved paths.

Abstract: Provided is a system that includes a circuit to generate an interactive item based on a request received from a first distribution network or a second distribution network. The interactive item is overlaid over a media item present in media content. The circuit then activates the generated interactive item overlaid over the media item of the media content. Further, the circuit receives an event trigger, from a client application engine operational on a user device associated with a user, for a selection of the activated interactive item. A personalized list is generated for the event trigger for the selection of the interactive item. Further, the generated personalized list is transmitted for a display for a defined time duration, to one of the first distribution network, the second distribution network or the client application engine operational on the user device.

Abstract: A network device provides a search key corresponding to a packet to a TCAM. The TCAM determines that the search key matches one or more search patterns stored in the TCAM. The network device selects one search pattern among the one or more search patterns at least by analyzing respective priority information associated with the one or more search patterns. The respective priority information indicates one or more respective priority levels that are independent from one or more physical locations of the one or more search patterns within the TCAM. In connection with selecting the one search pattern, the network device determines one or more actions to be performed on the packet by the network device, the one or more actions corresponding to the selected one search pattern.

Abstract: A fraud detection method includes: determining whether a period of a message repeatedly transmitted in an in-vehicle network is anomalous; detecting whether arbitration occurs when the message is transmitted in the in-vehicle network; and determining that the message is an anomalous message, in the case where the period of the message is anomalous and no arbitration occurs when the message is transmitted in the in-vehicle network.

Abstract: A PLC according to an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The PLC according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a master unit; and a plurality of interface units which access the master unit via a system bus. The master unit includes: a control unit for controlling input/output and processing commands; and a plurality of first RJ45 terminals for input/output of data, wherein a maximum of eight signals are arranged via each pin of each of the first RJ45 terminals. Each of the interface units includes a connection means for connecting a signal between a second RJ45 terminal for connecting a signal line from each of the first RJ45 terminals and an external device, wherein the interface units are configured to be expandable by the number of the first RJ45 terminals.

Abstract: An information processing method, an Ethernet switching chip, and a storage medium are provided. The method includes: receiving, by a master module of an Ethernet switching chip, a message information processing request, and executing, by the master module in response to the message information processing request, a self-learning operation corresponding to the message information processing request, so as to obtain a message information learning result; updating, by the master module according to the message information learning result, a message processing information table of an IP core where the master module is located; and/or, sending, by the master module, the message information learning result to a corresponding slave module, so that the corresponding slave module updates, according to the message information learning result, a message processing information table of an IP core where the slave module is located.

Abstract: Example systems and methods monitor a cloud compute environment. An example method includes: determining, by an agent deployed in a cloud environment and based on a plurality of data packets transmitted over a plurality of network interfaces of the cloud environment, a set of data packets that are associated with a communication between a first container and a second container; determining, by the agent and based on the set of data packets, communication data associated with the communication; and providing, by the agent, the communication data to a data platform, wherein providing the communication data to the data platform uses less network resources than providing the set of data packets to the data platform.

Abstract: A network infrastructure management console configures one or more network switch stacks each comprising a plurality of switches. A monitoring component monitors a current conductor switch of the stack. A user interface (UI) backend component comprises a cache memory and receives a user request to configure the stack. The UI backend component receives from the monitoring component notification of the current conductor and stores in a cache memory segment associated with the current conductor the requested configuration changes. If the current conductor switch of the stack has changed due to a failover event, the configuration changes stored in the cache memory segment associated with the previous current conductor are written to a cache memory segment associated with the new current conductor. A configuration push component receives the configuration changes and transmits the configuration changes to the network switch stack.

Abstract: A domain name system query method in which: a first network element receives a DNS query request including a first domain name from a terminal apparatus; the first network element sends first request information which comprises location information of the terminal apparatus and the first domain name to a second network element; the second network element determines, based on the first request information, an IP address and feeds back the IP address to the first network element; and the first network element sends the IP address to the terminal apparatus. When a terminal apparatus performs domain name query, a core network element determines an IP address of an application server based on location information of the terminal apparatus and a queried domain name. In this way, the terminal apparatus obtains an IP address of an application server close to the terminal apparatus, thereby improving service access efficiency of the terminal apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods include creating a graph of a network having i) vertices representing ports, and ii) edges representing possible connections between vertices; receiving a request for one or more paths in the network; traversing the graph to determine the one or more paths; responsive to encountering a non-local constraint in the graph, adding a traversal state based thereon; and responsive to satisfying the non-local constraint in the graph, removing the traversal state based thereon.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for customized programming through “virtual zoning”, not based on network architecture or geographic region, via a modified electronic programming guide (EPG) provided to devices assigned to virtual zones. Broadcasters may thus provide virtual zone-based “localized” programming to devices regardless of location. The virtual zone-based EPG may be functionally identical to conventional EPGs, and thus fully compatible with existing recipient devices, without requiring custom programming or manufacturer resources. Content may be broadcast to virtual zones via multicast IP streams, with primary content provided to a plurality of virtual zones and custom content provided on a stream-by-stream basis.

Abstract: A method of communicating between nodes in a network where a node receives a sequence of symbols that will form a packet on a first communications channel and has a planned packet that it would send on a second communications channel. A destination is encoded into an arbitration portion of a header sequence of the packet, the header sequence comprising a sequence of symbols. The transmission on the second communications channel is as per the planned packet, for as long as the symbols of the planned packet match the symbols being received on the first channel. An arbitration decision is made when the symbols do not match, with the node either continuing to send the rest of the planned packet, or the rest of the packet being received on the first communications channel.

Abstract: Significantly optimized multi-stage networks including scheduling methods for faster scheduling of connections, useful in wide target applications, with VLSI layouts using only horizontal wires and vertical wires to route large scale partial multi-stage hierarchical networks having inlet and outlet links, and laid out in an integrated circuit device in a two-dimensional grid arrangement of blocks are disclosed. The optimized multi-stage networks in each block employ one or more slices of rings of stages of switches with inlet and outlet links of partial multi-stage hierarchical networks connecting to rings from either left-hand side or right-hand side; and employ hop wires or multi-drop hop wires wherein hop wires or multi-drop wires are connected from switches of stages of rings of slices of a first partial multi-stage hierarchical network to switches of stages of rings of slices of the first or a second partial multi-stage hierarchical network.

Abstract: A method including storing, by a first device in a mesh network, stored connection state information associated with an outgoing communication transmitted by the first device; determining, by the first device, observed connection state information based at least in part on receiving an incoming communication from a second device in the mesh network; comparing, by the first device, the observed connection state information with the stored connection state information; and selectively processing, by the first device, the incoming communication based at least in part on a result of the comparing. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a plurality of files where each file represents an object. The method further combines selected files of the plurality of files into an aggregation file and stores the aggregation file on low-latency storage media, such as disk storage media. The method represents the aggregation file with a single inode that is stored on the low-latency storage media. The method migrates the aggregate file to high-latency storage media, such as tape storage media, while leaving the single inode representing the aggregation file on the low-latency storage media. By collecting files into larger aggregation files, the number of files archived is significantly reduced and the files archived are of larger size. The reduced number of files and increased size of the files improves archival and retrieval performance due to reduced metadata operation overhead. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some implementations, a device may receive file location information identifying a file to be transferred to a user device associated with the first network provider, wherein the file location information identifies a domain name associated with a second network provider. The device may provide, based on the file location information, a request to obtain one or more records associated with the domain name. The device may receive the one or more records based on the request. The device may selectively obtain, based on the one or more records, the file from a first content device associated with the second network provider or from a second content device associated with a third-party provider. The device may provide the file to the user device.

Abstract: An end-to-end path can be set without providing a hierarchy in a control device of a multi-domain network. A path setting system (10) includes an orchestrator 200 and a control device (100). The orchestrator (200) generates path candidates corresponding to a line of domains through which paths that are candidates for a path pass and transmits the path candidates to control devices (100) of domains through which the path candidates pass to request setting of the path. The control device (100) acquires, from the control devices (100) of other domains through which path candidates pass, metrics of the path candidates in the domains, calculates total metrics, selects an optimum path, and sets the optimum path.

Abstract: A method including receiving, by a device in communication with a first endpoint and a second endpoint in a mesh network, a first communication from the first endpoint and a second communication from the second endpoint; selectively comparing, by the device, first observed connection state information associated with the first communication with the stored connection state information associated with outgoing communications transmitted by the device, and second observed connection state information associated with the second communication with the stored connection state information; and selectively processing, by the device, the first communication based at least in part on a result of selectively comparing the first observed connection state information with the stored connection state information, and the second communication based at least in part on a result of selectively comparing the second observed connection state information with the stored connection state information.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, an asset inventory service executed by one or more devices receives telemetry data collected passively by a sensor application regarding a node in a network. The asset inventory service requests, after receiving the telemetry data, that the sensor application perform active discovery of nodes in the network. The asset inventory service receives active discovery data collected by the sensor application via active discovery of nodes in the network. The asset inventory service generates, based on the telemetry data and the active discovery data, an identity profile for the node.

Abstract: The method for a virtual machine to use a port and loopback IP addresses allocation scheme for full-mesh communications with transparent transport layer security tunnels is presented. In an embodiment, the method comprises detecting, at a redirect agent implemented in a first machine, a packet that is sent from a client application executing on the first machine toward a server application executing on a second machine; and determining, by the redirect agent, whether a first redirect rule matches the packet. In response to determining that the first redirect rule matches the packet, the redirect agent applies the first redirect rule to the packet to translate the packet into a translated packet, and provides the translated packet to a client agent implemented in the first machine to cause the client agent to transmit the translated packet to a server agent implemented in the second machine.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprises a first communication interface for performing wireless communication via a network provided by an external access point; a second communication interface for performing wired communication; a unit for setting, in a case where a user operation to set a first communication function for connecting to the external access point via the first communication interface to perform wireless communication has been accepted, a setting indicating that a second communication function for performing wired communication will not be used, and unit for setting, in case where a user operation to cancel the setting of the first communication function has been accepted before the information processing apparatus belongs to the network provided by the external access point, a setting indicating that the second communication function will be used.

Abstract: Rapid failure detection and recovery in wireless communication networks is needed in order to meet, among other things, carrier class Ethernet transport channel standards. Thus, resilient wireless packet communications is provided using a hardware-assisted rapid transport channel failure detection algorithm and a Gigabit Ethernet data access card with an engine configured accordingly. In networks with various topologies, this is provided in combination with their existing protocols, such as rapid spanning tree and link aggregation protocols, respectively.

Abstract: An example operation may include one or more of transmitting, via a virtual network, a message to a home network informing the home network that a home network subscriber device is roaming on the virtual network, activating, via the virtual network, a mobile subscription for the home network subscriber device on the virtual network, receiving, via the virtual network, a call for the home network subscriber device that is routed from the home network, routing the call from the virtual network to the home network subscriber device with the activated mobile subscription, wherein the routing further comprises executing, via the virtual network, value added services while routing the call from the virtual network to the home network subscriber device, generating, via the virtual network, a record of the executed value added services, and submitting, via the virtual network, the generated record to the home network.

Abstract: A method for locating a network device in a mesh network includes the steps of: generating a message from a network device; storing a step value and an initial step value in the message; initializing the step value with the initial step value; sending the message to the mesh network; receiving the message is received at a further network device; and determining whether the message is classified as received for the first time. If the message is classified by the further network device as being received for the first time, the following additional steps are performed: adding a delta step value to the step value; determining a distance of the further network device from the network device from the step value changed in this way and the initial step value; and indicating the distance for locating the network device for a user at the further network device.

Abstract: This application discloses an automatic switching system and method for a front end processor (FEP). The system includes: at least one external device and a FEP assembly. The FEP assembly is connected to the at least one external device. The FEP assembly provides services upward by using a primary memory, a primary TO manager, a secondary memory, and a secondary TO manager, and is connected downward to the at least one external device by using at least one primary driver and at least one secondary driver. The FEP assembly is configured to use the at least one secondary driver as a new primary driver when there is a fault in a communication link between the at least one primary driver and the at least one external device, to transmit a control instruction to the at least one external device and acquire data from the at least one external device.

Abstract: A network function optimization method, system, and computer program product include optimizing network function chain components of a software by modifying a structure of the network function chain components by removing a function of the network function chain components.

Abstract: A request to send a file is received. A file type for the file is identified. For example, the file type may a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) file or a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. In response to receiving the request to send the file and identifying the file type for the file, a format of the file is reordered. Reordering the format of the file is based on an application and/or an application type that will be receiving the file. For example, the application may be an Adobe Acrobat® reader that is receiving a PDF file that has been reordered for more efficient reading.

Abstract: A communication method and a communications apparatus, where the method includes: sending, by a terminal device, a request message to a first core network element using a first access technology, where the request message requests to newly add or update a service flow; receiving, by the terminal device using the first access technology or a second access technology, a response message from the first core network element; and transmitting, by the terminal device, the service flow based on the response message using the second access technology or both the first access technology and the second access technology.

Abstract: The present application relates to a scheduling device and method of a mobile communication system. In the packet scheduling method, a base station performs packet scheduling for a terminal station in a mobile communication system, and a transport channel comprising an uplink shared channel (UL-SCH) and a physical channel comprising an uplink grant channel (UL-GCH) between the terminal and the base station are classified into a plurality of channels. In addition, in the packet scheduling method: a) the base station receives scheduling information from the terminal; b) the base station allocates an uplink resource for uplink traffic transmission for terminal based on the received scheduling information; and c) information for the allocated uplink resource is transmitted to the terminal through the UL-GCH of the physical channel.

Abstract: A first router transmits a first message including information identifying a first set of transport layer protocols supported by the first router. The first router receives a second message including information identifying a second set of transport layer protocols supported by a second router. A common transport layer protocol is selected from a subset of transport layer protocols that are common to the first and second sets of transport layer protocols. The first router then establishes a border gateway protocol (BGP) session with the second router over the common transport layer protocol. The first message is unicast to the second router or broadcast/multicast over a plurality of links to a plurality of routers that includes the second router. In some cases, the common transport layer protocol is selected by the router having a higher priority, based on preferences, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method used in a stacking/stackable switch unit includes: providing a plurality of signal ports of the stacking/stackable switch unit, the signal ports having at least one master/slave control port corresponding to at least one operation function of the stacking/stackable switch unit; during a boot-up procedure, automatically determining whether the stacking/stackable switch unit is a master or a slave according to at least one signal level of the at least one master/slave control port and/or content of at least one bit obtained from the at least one master/slave control port.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe distributed fiber optic sensor systems, methods, and structures that advantageously enable/provide for the proper placement/assignment of sensors in the DFOS network to provide for high reliability, fault tolerant operation that survives fiber failures.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method includes determining that incoming media item requests are to be skewed from a random distribution among server nodes, using a random distribution algorithm, to a directed distribution among the server nodes. The method then includes identifying, in a loading assignment, which media items are to be loaded onto specific server nodes to produce the directed distribution of media item requests. The method next includes preloading the identified media items onto the server nodes according to the loading assignment and receiving media item requests for the preloaded media items. The method then includes routing the received media item requests to the server nodes using the random distribution algorithm, where the random distribution algorithm is skewed to the directed distribution based on the preloading of the media items according to the identified loading assignment. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmitting a target data frame (fA) on a path comprising at least one router (R) that has input ports (P1, P2, P3), at least one output port (PS) and an arbitration unit (UA) configured so as to select a data frame from a plurality of data frames each coming from a different input port and competing for transmission by one and the same output port. The method comprises specifying, for each of the access ports of the router, data frames (fB, fC) competing with the target data frame for transmission by a target output port of the router. An end-to-end transmission time of the target data frame on the path is then measured while the arbitration unit selects the competing data frame (fB) before the target data frame (fA) for transmission by the target output port (PS).

Abstract: A data transmission method, electronic device and computer readable storage medium are provided. The method includes: acquiring a first data packet to be sent; determining a first data stream to which the first data packet belongs; detecting a link state of the first data stream; when the link state of the first data stream is an establishing state, and the first data packet is sent for the first time, selecting a first wireless communication link from the plurality of wireless communication links for the first data packet, and marking the first data packet according to a first link identifier of the first wireless communication link; and sending the first data packet through a network interface of the first wireless communication link according to the first link identifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for filtering management application instances intended to manage hardware in a system, such as configuring a computing component. Filtering of the management application instances can be performed by a filtering proxy application configured to operatively sit between each management application instance and a management interface of the hardware. Filtering the management application instances may include substituting values or attributes in/transforming requests, responses, state information, event information, so that it appears to the computing component and each of the management application instances as if each of the management application instances has exclusive control of the computing component.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for multi-level classification of data traffic flows based on information in a first packet for a data traffic flow. In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a key can be generated from intercepted DNS data to track data traffic flows by application names and destination IP addresses. Based on these keys, patterns can be discerned to infer data traffic information based on only the information in a first packet, such as destination IP address. The determined patterns can be used to predict classifications of future traffic flows with similar key information. In this way, data traffic flows can be classified and steered in a network based on limited information available in a first packet.

Abstract: An information handling system may include at least one processor; and a non-transitory memory coupled to the at least one processor. The information handling system may be configured to: receive a command associated with an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) protocol; package the command for transmission according to a Redfish protocol; and transmit the packaged command to a Redfish interface of a management controller, wherein the management controller is configured to unpackage and execute the command.

Abstract: Techniques for utilizing Software-Defined Networking (SDN) controllers and network border leaf nodes of respective cloud computing networks to configure a data transmission route for a multicast group. Each border leaf node may maintain a respective external sources database, including a number of records indicating associations between a multicast data source, one or more respective border leaf nodes disposed in the same network as the multicast data source, and network capability information. A border leaf node, disposed in the same network as a multicast data source, may broadcast a local source discovery message to all border leaf nodes in remote networks to which it is communicatively coupled. A border leaf node may also communicate network capability information associated with one or more remote networks to a local SDN controller. The SDN controller may utilize the network capability information to configure a data transmission route to one or more destination nodes.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to methods and apparatus used to for preventing malicious content from reaching a destination via a dynamic analysis engine may operate in real-time when packetized data is received. Data packets sent from a source computer may be received and be forwarded to an analysis computer that may monitor actions performed by executable program code included within the set of data packets when making determinations regarding whether the data packet set should be classified as malware. In certain instances all but a last data packet of the data packet set may also be sent to the destination computer while the analysis computer executes and monitors the program code included in the data packet set. In instances when the analysis computer identifies that the data packet set does include malware, the malware may be blocked from reaching the destination computer by not sending the last data packet to the destination computer.

Abstract: From among a U-plane and a C-plane, the U-plane is installed in a first user site which has a base station, and the C-plane is installed in a C-plane site (any site that is not a user site). A system sets a U-plane inter-site path which is an inter-site communication path that connects a first user site with a second user site via a wide area network, and a C-plane inter-site path which is an inter-site communication path that connects a C-plane site with the first user site via the wide area network. In addition, the system sets an in-site communication path which is a communication path within the first user site and which connects to an inter-site communication path. A U-plane inter-site path is an inter-site communication path via which data is transmitted or received by a U-plane. A C-plane inter-site path is an inter-site communication path via which a signal is transmitted or received by a C-plane.

Abstract: A stateful packet processing system includes: a first stateful stage including a first state table and a first finite state machine (“FSM”) table; and a second stateful stage including a second state table and a second FSM table. The system performs a distribution operation defining when a flow is processed by the first and/or the second stateful stage. The first and/or second FSM table is extended with states and transitions that support the distribution operation. The first and/or second stateful stage executes an evaluation operation that executes the distribution operation. The evaluation operation provides a criterion for moving a particular flow from one of the first or second stateful stage to the other stateful stage. The first and second stateful stages are included in a software-defined networking (“SDN”) switch. The distribution operation operates within defined capabilities of a software and/or hardware pipeline of the SDN switch.

Abstract: Systems and methods to automatically or manually generate various multi-stage pyramid network based fabrics, either partially connected or fully connected, are disclosed by changing different parameters of multi-stage pyramid network including such as number of slices, number of rings, number of stages, number of switches, number of multiplexers, the size of the multiplexers in any switch, connections between stages of rings either between the same numbered stages (same level stages) or different numbered stages, single or multi-drop hop wires, hop wires of different hop lengths, hop wires outgoing to different directions, hop wires incoming from different directions, number of hop wires based on the number and type of inlet and outlet links of large scale sub-integrated circuit blocks. One or more parameters are changed in each iteration so that optimized fabrics are generated, at the end of iterations, to route a given set of benchmarks or designs having a specific connection requirements.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for signaling between an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) and a non-AP MLD that support multi-link communication in a wireless local area network (WLAN). In some implementations, a multi-link association may include a first link (referred to as an anchor link) and one or more other links (referred to as auxiliary links). The signaling may include control information to activate or deactivate auxiliary links dynamically based on communication load, throughput requirements, or quality of service (QoS). The signaling also may include requests, acknowledgments, or negotiation regarding multi-link connections. Furthermore, signaling and timing information may be used to coordinate when auxiliary links are used for communication or when to promote an auxiliary link to an anchor link.

Abstract: A method including receiving, by a first device in communication with a second device in a mesh network, an incoming packet from the second device; determining, by the first device, that the incoming packet is an initiation packet requesting information or a response from the first device or a response packet providing a response to an outgoing packet transmitted by the first device; and processing, by the first device, the incoming packet based at least in part on determining that the incoming packet is the initiation packet or the response packet. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A system and method for operating and testing real-time communications between web browsers and contact centers, comprising an operator network, cloud contact center, cloud contact center agent application, and a synthetic software agent comprised of agent automation software, injected API shim code, virtual audio devices, audio processing applications, and media servers, capable of performing automated and to end communication testing. In order to provide end to end testing, especially with respect to voice quality, the synthetic agent software may control and monitor the audio channels (both send and receive) of the browser communication session.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data transmission method. The method includes: sending, instruction information of data transmission to a slave node in a preset first cycle; judging, by the slave node, whether data should be sent according to the instruction information of data transmission; sending the data to the a master node if the slave node judges that the data needs to be sent; and sending, by other slave nodes, the data sequentially to the master node according to a preset slave node priority, an electric potential condition and a data state of the other slave nodes in a preset second cycle. In a preset first cycle, data is actively requested from a slave node, and in a preset second cycle, other slave nodes can actively send the data to a master node according to a preset slave node priority, an electric potential condition and a data state of the other slave nodes.

Abstract: A communication method and a communications apparatus include sending, by a terminal device, a request message to a first core network element using a first access technology, where the request message requests to newly add or update a service flow, receiving, by the terminal device using the first access technology or a second access technology, a response message from the first core network element, and transmitting, by the terminal device, the service flow based on the response message using the second access technology or both the first access technology and the second access technology.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a plurality of files where each file represents an object. The method further combines selected files of the plurality of files into an aggregation file and stores the aggregation file on low-latency storage media, such as disk storage media. The method represents the aggregation file with a single inode that is stored on the low-latency storage media. The method migrates the aggregate file to high-latency storage media, such as tape storage media. By collecting files into larger aggregation files, the number of files archived is significantly reduced and the files archived are of larger size. The reduced number of files and increased size of the files improves archival and retrieval performance due to reduced metadata operation overhead. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.