Abstract: The present application provides a dynamic partition customization method and apparatus, and a device. The method includes: generating a plurality of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) image files corresponding to requirements of a plurality of different users at compile time; generating a scatter loading file recording OEM image sub-file segments according to a super image file in a super partition; according to change of a requirement of a user among the plurality of different users, downloading an OEM image sub-file segment corresponding to the changed requirement; and generating a super partition customization file according to the scatter loading file and the OEM image sub-file segment corresponding to the changed requirement.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for managing an Information Handling System (IHS) using a workspace orchestration system are described. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may include computer-executable instructions to, communicate with an operating system (OS) of the IHS to register for receiving one or more event messages, and communicate with the workspace to receive one or more event message subscriptions associated with an application configured in the workspace. The instructions are configured to store the one or more event message subscriptions at a specified location such that, when an event message is received from the OS, and when one the received event message comprises one of the event message subscriptions associated with the application, send the event message to the workspace.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for power sharing between discrete processors are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a thermal monitor to monitor temperatures of first and second discrete processors and a balance controller to, in response to a first temperature of the first processor satisfying a temperature threshold, adjust first and second power budgets allocated to the respective first and second processors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a MIMO FIFO buffer circuit that reads out data flits at once as many as an internal pointer increment value. The MIMO FIFO buffer circuit includes a MIMO FIFO storage array including ‘Y’ storage blocks, and an internal pointer generator that generates an internal pointer based on an internal pointer increment value indicating the number of data flits to read out at once from among ‘K×X’ data flits stored in K storage blocks out of the ‘Y’ storage blocks. Each of the ‘Y’ and the ‘K’ is a natural number, and the ‘K’ is equal to or less than the ‘Y’, and each of the ‘K’ storage blocks stores ‘X’ data flits.

Abstract: An example computer-implemented method for mirroring memory in a disaggregated memory clustered environment is provided. The method includes assigning, by a hypervisor, a disaggregated memory to a virtual machine comprising a remote disaggregated memory, the virtual machine being one node of a cluster of the disaggregated memory clustered environment. The method further includes allocating, by a disaggregated memory manager, a mirrored memory for the remote disaggregated memory to mirror the remote disaggregated memory on an alternate node of the cluster of the disaggregated memory clustered environment. The method further includes responsive to a memory access occurring, maintaining, by the disaggregated memory manager, the mirrored memory. The method further includes, responsive to detecting a memory allocation adjustment, modifying, by the disaggregated memory manager, memory usage across the cluster.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing a multi-tiered approach to cache compression are disclosed. A cache includes a cache controller, light compressor, and heavy compressor. The decision on which compressor to use for compressing cache lines is made based on certain resource availability such as cache capacity or memory bandwidth. This allows the cache to opportunistically use complex algorithms for compression while limiting the adverse effects of high decompression latency on system performance. To address the above issue, the proposed design takes advantage of the heavy compressors for effectively reducing memory bandwidth in high bandwidth memory (HBM) interfaces as long as they do not sacrifice system performance. Accordingly, the cache combines light and heavy compressors with a decision-making unit to achieve reduced off-chip memory traffic without sacrificing system performance.

Abstract: Embodiments provide data in-flight (DIF) services to software applications such as virtual machines (VMs) at an application level without requiring modification to established storage protocols. In exemplary embodiments, a storage controller transmits an advertisement of one or more data in-flight (DIF) services supported by a storage container of the storage controller. One or more DIF services communication path is created with attributes corresponding to the DIF services supported by the storage container. The storage controller receives, over the DIF services communication path, tagged data that can include data transmitted by a virtual machine (VM) for storage in the storage container.

Abstract: A method of resizing a block storage volume for a virtual machine includes executing the virtual machine and attaching a virtual storage device to the virtual machine. The virtual storage device exposes the block storage volume on memory hardware to the virtual machine. The block storage volume includes a first storage capacity. The method also includes mounting the block storage volume to the virtual machine and resizing the block storage volume while the virtual machine continues to execute. The block storage volume is resized without attaching an additional virtual storage device to the virtual machine or mounting an additional block storage volume to the virtual machine.

Abstract: A method of dynamically adjusting workload of a data storage system includes, while processing a first workload, calculating a saturation value of a saturation metric that scales substantially linearly with an I/O per second (IOPS) rate relative to a maximum IOPS rate of the system, determining that the saturation value is one of (1) above a high threshold and (2) below a low threshold, and performing a workload adjustment operation that establishes a second workload by (1) subtracting from the first workload based on the saturation value being above the high threshold, and (2) adding to the first workload based on the saturation value being below the low threshold, then subsequently processing the second workload.

Abstract: A data restoration method and a related device are provided. To avoid a data loss in a cache in a process of restoring an offline RAID system, a security area is configured in a disk, where the security area is used to back up data in the cache of a RAID controller after the RAID system is offline. Therefore, when a first instruction used to indicate that the RAID system is offline is obtained, the data in the cache may be backed up to the security area. In this way, after the RAID system is restored, the RAID system can obtain backup data of the data in the cache from the security area, to avoid problems such as an operating system startup failure or a user data loss caused by the data loss in the cache.

Abstract: For each database subsystem in a plurality of database subsystems running in a logical partition (LPAR), the systems and techniques include collecting data from buffer pools on a periodic interval, monitoring real storage availability on the LPAR, calculating an input/output (I/O) intensity score for each buffer pool for the periodic interval, ranking the buffer pools based on the I/O intensity score, calculating a cumulative I/O intensity score for each buffer pool across a cycle of multiple periodic intervals, ranking the buffer pools based on the cumulative I/O intensity score, and selecting a buffer pool candidate for page fixing. The buffer pool candidate for page fixing is a highest-ranked buffer pool from the plurality of buffer pools during the cycle based on the cumulative I/O intensity score that satisfies the real storage availability on the LPAR.

Abstract: A dynamic loading system of an off-chip non-volatile memory based on virtual mapping includes the off-chip non-volatile memory, an on-chip memory, an on-chip mapping device, a memory access controller, and an off-chip memory. The on-chip mapping device is configured to construct a mapping relationship between a logical partition and a physical partition of the on-chip memory. The memory access controller is configured to parse a memory access of a system into an access to the logical partition, configure a prediction algorithm of data loading, and send a memory loading request to the off-chip memory loading device. The off-chip memory loading device is configured to construct a mapping relationship between a program partition of the off-chip non-volatile memory and the physical partition of the on-chip memory.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, at an information handling device, an indication to backup data resident on an operating system (OS) partition of the information handling device; initiating, responsive to receiving the indication, a reboot of the OS into a pre-OS environment; accessing, in the pre-OS environment, a backup partition that is distinct and separate from the OS partition; and performing, subsequent to the accessing, a backup of the data from the OS partition to the backup partition. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method includes forming at least a portion of a first superblock using a first subset of blocks from at least one memory die of a memory sub-system and forming at least a portion of a second superblock using a second subset of blocks from the at least one memory die of the memory sub-system.

Abstract: A method for managing a shared memory, including: setting a master core, applying, by the master core, to a system for idle hugepage blocks, mapping the idle hugepage blocks to a virtual address space of the master core, and sorting the hugepage blocks in an ascending order of physical address size of the hugepage blocks; dividing, depending on whether the physical addresses are continuous, the hugepage blocks sorted into segments; in response to determining that there are segments satisfying the memory demand of the subsystem, sorting the segments satisfying the memory demand of the subsystem in a descending order of lengths thereof, and remapping the sorted segments to obtain segments having both continuous virtual addresses and continuous real addresses; and in response to determine that there is a segment satisfying the memory demand of the system, releasing hugepage blocks other than the segment satisfying the memory demand of the system.

Abstract: A plurality of computing devices are communicatively coupled to each other via a network, and each of the plurality of computing devices is operably coupled to one or more of a plurality of storage devices. The computing devices may take snapshots to store points in time coherently for a distributed storage system.

Abstract: A system may include a set of compute engines. The compute engines may be configured to perform electronic design automation (EDA) operations on a hierarchical dataset representative of an integrated circuit (IC) design. The system may also include a dynamic resource balancing engine configured to allocate computing resources to the set of compute engines and reallocate a particular computing resource allocated to a first compute engine based on an operation priority of an EDA operation performed by a second compute engine, an idle indicator for the first compute engine, or a combination of both.

Abstract: A method and system for providing information management of data from hosted services receives information management policies for a hosted account of a hosted service, requests data associated with the hosted account from the hosted service, receives data associated with the hosted account from the hosted service, and provides a preview version of the received data to a computing device. In some examples, the system indexes the received data to associate the received data with a user of an information management system, and/or provides index information related to the received data to the computing device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for controlling, by an on-chip memory controller, a plurality of hardware components that are configured to perform computations to access a shared memory. One of the on-chip memory controller includes at least one backside arbitration controller communicatively coupled with a memory bank group and a first hardware component, wherein the at least one backside arbitration controller is configured to perform bus arbitrations to determine whether the first hardware component can access the memory bank group using a first memory access protocol; and a frontside arbitration controller communicatively coupled with the memory bank group and a second hardware component, wherein the frontside arbitration controller is configured to perform bus arbitrations to determine whether the second hardware component can access the memory bank group using a second memory access protocol different from the first memory access protocol.

Abstract: A memory controller that controls a memory device may include a model manager configured to obtain log information on use of the memory device for a predetermined period, and generate a regression model that predicts a lifespan of the memory device based on the log information, and a performance manager configured to determine a deterioration section in which performance of the memory device is deteriorated based on the regression model, and adjust a parameter value related to an operation of the memory device in the deterioration section.

Abstract: A memory device includes; a first memory of first type, a second memory of second type different from the first type, and a memory controller. The memory controller receives an access request and workload information related to work of an external processor, processes the access request using the workload information, and accesses at least one of the first memory and the second memory in response to the access request.

Abstract: Read Fused Groups with uniform resource allocation. In one example, a data storage device including an electronic processor that, when executing the Uniform Read Fused Group scheme, is configured to receive information indicating each zone of a plurality of Zone Namespace (ZNS) zones is assigned to one of a plurality of Read Fused Groups (RFGs), assign a portion of a plurality of resources of a memory to the plurality of ZNS zones, control all of the plurality of concurrency units to process a first resource of the plurality of resources assigned to a first Read Fused Group (RFG) of the plurality of RFGs. The first resource is assigned to a first zone of the plurality of ZNS zones, the first zone is assigned to the first RFG, and the electronic processor is one of the plurality concurrency units.

Abstract: Disclosed is an operating method of a storage controller communicating with a host and memory regions, which includes receiving a write request for a first memory region of the memory regions from the host, determining the first memory region as unavailable, based on a status information set, generating redirection information indicating that a second memory region of the memory regions is selected instead of the first memory region, performing a write operation in the second memory region based on the redirection information, updating status information of the second memory region in the status information set based on the write operation, outputting redirection result information indicating that write data of the write request are processed in the second memory region, to the host, and receiving a read request corresponding to the write data and including information of the second memory region from the host.

Abstract: A computer implemented method manages virtual disks. A number of processor units detects attachment of a storage to a host operating system. The number of processor units mounts the storage to a set of mount points. The number of processor units creates a set of virtual disks and assigning, by the number of processor units, the set of virtual disks to a guest in operation in which instructions for the operation are performed without interruption. According to other illustrative embodiments, a computer system and a computer program product for managing virtual disks are provided.

Abstract: Read Fused Groups with uniform resource allocation. In one example, a data storage device including an electronic processor that, when executing the Uniform Read Fused Group scheme, is configured to receive information indicating each zone of a plurality of Zone Namespace (ZNS) zones is assigned to one of a plurality of Read Fused Groups (RFGs), assign a portion of a plurality of resources of a memory to the plurality of ZNS zones, control all of the plurality of concurrency units to process a first resource of the plurality of resources assigned to a first Read Fused Group (RFG) of the plurality of RFGs. The first resource is assigned to a first zone of the plurality of ZNS zones, the first zone is assigned to the first RFG, and the electronic processor is one of the plurality concurrency units.

Abstract: Virtual machines, virtualization servers, and other physical resources in a cloud computing environment may be dynamically configured based on the resource usage data for the virtual machines and resource capacity data for the physical resources in the cloud system. Based on an analysis of the virtual machine resource usage data and the resource capacity data of the virtualization servers and other physical resources in the cloud computing environment, each virtual machine may be matched to one of a plurality of virtualization servers, and the resources of the virtualization servers and other physical resources in the cloud may be reallocated and reconfigured to provide additional usage capacity to the virtual machines.

Abstract: A first event occurs at a first computer at a first time, as measured by a local clock. A second event is initiated at a second computer by sending a message that includes the first time. The second event occurs at a second time, as measured by a local clock. Because of clock error, the first time is later than the second time. Based on the first time being later than the second time, an alternate second time, that is based on the first time, is used as the time of the second event. When a third system determines the order of the two events, the first time is obtained from the first computer, and the alternate second time is obtained from the second computer, and the order of the events is determined based on a comparison of the two times.

Abstract: Replication of a filesystem or a mount point or share may replicate all data that it consists of irrespective of where the data is stored. Replication protects data irrespective of location. One method is to replicate the filesystem namespace as is while skipping the data outside of the appliance/machine so that replication cost and time are reasonable. The data outside of the machine, like cloud/tape data is protected differently. One example method includes a data protection operation configured to replication a namespace associated with multiple data tiers. During replication, data from one of the tiers is skipped while all of the namespace metadata is replicated. The recovery restores the namespace metadata and the data that was replicated from the other tier. This may be performed in connection with cyber security, for example when replicating multi-tier data to a vault.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling unmanned systems (UMSs), such as unmanned aircraft, are provided. A UMS can be provided that includes a physical computer, one or more auxiliary systems for the UMS, and a payload. The physical computer can execute software to cause the physical computer at least to instantiate a plurality of virtual computers that include a mission virtual computer and a payload virtual computer for: controlling the one or more auxiliary systems for the UMS using the mission virtual computer, communicating with the payload using the payload virtual computer, determining whether a software fault has occurred on one virtual computer of the plurality of virtual computers, and after determining that a software fault has occurred on one virtual computer of the plurality of virtual computers, preventing the software fault from causing a fault on a different virtual computer of the plurality of virtual computers.

Abstract: A memory device includes a page cache comprising a cache register, a memory array configured with a plurality of memory planes, and control logic, operatively coupled with the memory array. The control logic receives, from a requestor, a cache release command indicating that data associated with a first subset of the plurality of memory planes and pertaining to a previous read command was received by the requestor. Responsive to the cache release command, the control logic returns to the requestor, data from the cache register and associated with a second subset of the plurality of memory planes and pertaining to the previous read command, while concurrently copying data associated with the first subset of the plurality of memory planes and pertaining to a subsequent read command into the cache register.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for managing performance optimization of a target application executed by an Information Handling System (IHS) are described. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may includes executable code to measure a performance of a target application at each of multiple configuration clusters that are applied to an IHS in which each configuration cluster includes multiple configuration settings of one or more resources that are used to execute the target application on the IHS. Using the measured performance values, the instructions may then select one of the configuration clusters that causes the target application to operate at an optimum performance level, and modify the IHS to operate with the one selected configuration cluster.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of providing distributed storage services to a host computer from a network interface card (NIC) of the host computer. At the NIC, the method accesses a set of one or more external storages operating outside of the host computer through a shared port of the NIC that is not only used to access the set of external storages but also for forwarding packets not related to an external storage. In some embodiments, the method accesses the external storage set by using a network fabric storage driver that employs a network fabric storage protocol to access the external storage set. The method presents the external storage as a local storage of the host computer to a set of programs executing on the host computer. In some embodiments, the method presents the local storage by using a storage emulation layer on the NIC to create a local storage construct that presents the set of external storages as a local storage of the host computer.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for a scalable metadata index for a time-series database are disclosed. A time-series database receives a query comprising spatial and temporal boundaries of requested time-series data in a table. Using traversal of a metadata index, the time-series database determines one or more storage locations in the one or more data sources corresponding to the spatial and temporal boundaries. The metadata index includes a root node representing spatial and temporal boundaries of the table. The metadata index includes one or more leaf nodes representing the spatial and temporal boundaries of the requested time-series data. The one or more leaf nodes indicate the one or more storage locations in the one or more data sources. The time-series database obtains one or more elements of the requested time-series data from the one or more storage locations in the one or more data sources.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for optimized compute resource addition and removal in a distributed storage platform. In a case of a newly added compute resource being connected to a storage subsystem shared by compute resources in the distributed storage platform, the distributed storage platform formulates a redistribution plan to redistribute a subset of a global address space of the storage subsystem to a newly added logical volume in the storage subsystem. In a case of a removed compute resource being disconnected from the storage subsystem, the distributed storage platform formulates a redistribution plan to redistribute respective logical blocks in a logical volume for the removed compute resource to respective remaining logical volumes for respective remaining compute resources in the distributed storage platform. The distributed storage platform executes the redistribution plan to reassign data block ownerships on one or more physical memory devices in the storage subsystem.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for migrating data from a first database to a second database. The method uses a data segmentation process to dynamically determine a set of segmentation criteria for a particular portion of the first database. The method uses the set of segmentation criteria to divide the particular portion of the first database into multiple data segments. The method incrementally transfers the multiple data segments from the first database to the second database.

Abstract: A priority for each operating requirement of a set of operating requirements of a memory sub-system can be determined. A programming operation setting for a programming operation to be performed at the memory sub-system can be determined based on the priority for each operating requirement. A request to perform the programming operation at the memory sub-system can be received. Responsive to receiving the request to perform the programming operation, the programming operation can be performed at the memory sub-system based on the programming operation setting.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for installation optimization process are described. In one embodiment, for example, an computing device may include at least one memory; at least one storage device; and logic coupled to the at least one memory to perform an installation process, the logic to: determine installation requirements for an analytical platform, the installation platform comprising at least one of an analytical application, a database application, and a fast recovery area (FRA), perform at least one prerequisite test based on a hardware configuration of the computing device and the installation requirements, and perform a drive optimization process to determine at least one optimal drive configuration for installation of the installation platform based on remaining free space (RFS) on the at least one storage device and at least one storage device installation rule. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A system for managing storage of data in a information handling systems includes a first information handling system, and a specialized information handling system comprising an enhanced networking interface, wherein the enhanced networking interface is programmed to: obtain data to be processed by the system, perform a data sharding analysis using telemetry data to identify the first information handling system, and transmit the data to the first information handling system based on the identifying.

Abstract: A distributed database system maintains data for a logical table by storing, on a plurality of storage nodes, a collection of key-item pairs. The distributed database system receives a query of the logical table, and identifies one or more portions of a key specified by the query. Based on the one or more portions of the key, the distributed database causes at least one of a get, range query, or scan operation to be performed by one or more of the storage nodes. Results for the query are generated based on one or more items obtained by performance of the operation.

Abstract: A system for managing abort events of Hardware Transactional Memory (HTM) transactions to an in-memory database, comprising a processor adapted to control a plurality of abort events of a plurality of database transactions held concurrently to a shared in-memory database and a method for managing abort events comprising analyzing a metadata record associated with each potential abort event, where the metadata record comprises a row ID value and a row version value of a certain one of a plurality of rows of a database that is concurrently accessed by an aborting HTM transaction and another HTM transaction, comparing the row ID value and the row version value to a local ID value and a local version value of the aborting HTM transaction and determining a contention condition between the aborting HTM transaction and the other HTM transaction.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to generating an update package for updating software on an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in a vehicle. Operations may include accessing a plurality of attributes of a software update to be stored on the ECU in the vehicle; accessing a corresponding plurality of attributes of current software stored on the ECU in the vehicle; comparing the plurality of attributes with the corresponding plurality of attributes; generating a delta file representing differences between the plurality of attributes and the corresponding plurality of attributes determined in the comparison; and providing the delta file to the ECU, wherein the delta file is configured to be processed by startup code in the ECU that enables the delta file to execute in the ECU in the vehicle.

Abstract: Storing documents in an object store in the cloud by creating a container for the documents, defining a document record including unique document ID and an index. A backup record for every backup includes a timestamp for each backup, and a bitmask for each document in the container has a single bit position for each document to indicate the corresponding document as unchanged or that it has been changed/deleted. Each bit location in the bitmask is referenced by the index in the document record. Large documents have a multi-part record identifying the containers. During point-in-time recovery, containers that match a given timestamp are found, and documents where the bitmask bit is set are restored.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of importing data from a data source to a target storage system is disclosed. The method involves executing an automated data import process to retrieve data from the data source and update the target storage system based on the retrieved data. The automated data import process operates in dependence on a source data schema of the data source. The method involves detecting a change in the source data schema, and, in response to detecting the change in the source data schema, modifying the automated data import process. The modified automated data import process can subsequently be used to retrieve further data from the data source and update the target storage system based on the further retrieved data.

Abstract: Partitions of drives are used to form a volume of a drive array. Each partition is associated with a trusted computing group (TCG) band. Each drive encrypts data stored on the partition with a key unique to the TCG band. The volume is formed using the partitions of the drives. In response to a band-based erasure being invoked on the volume, each drive of the plurality of drives overwrites the key of the TCG band associated with the partition and provides an erasure certificate attesting to the overwriting of the key. The erasure certifications from the drives are compiled into a consolidated erasure certification that attests to the erasure of the volume.

Abstract: Replication of a filesystem or a mount point or share may replicate all data that it consists of irrespective of where the data is stored. Replication protects data irrespective of location. One method is to replicate the filesystem namespace as is while skipping the data outside of the appliance/machine so that replication cost and time are reasonable. The data outside of the machine, like cloud/tape data is protected differently. One example method includes a data protection operation configured to replication a namespace associated with multiple data tiers. During replication, data from one of the tiers is skipped while all of the namespace metadata is replicated. The recovery restores the namespace metadata and the data that was replicated from the other tier. This may be performed in connection with cyber security, for example when replicating multi-tier data to a vault.

Abstract: A method for sharing secret data between multiple containers. In response to the initial booting of an operating system instance in a container, a unique operating system identifier is generated for the operating system instance. A grant authority stores the unique operating system identifier in a reserved area of a secure storage device. In response to a request from the operating system instance to access secret data in the secure storage device, the grant authority determines whether the unique operating system identifier is stored in the secure storage device. The operating system instance may be granted access to secret data in the non-reserved area of the secure storage device.

Abstract: A method to deploy a plurality of event-driven application components of an event-driven application in a distributed computing environment is described. The method includes automatically analyzing application source code of the event-driven application, using one or more processors, to identify relationships between the plurality of event-driven application components. Thereafter, a set of rules are applied to, based on the automatic analysis, generate assignment data recording assignments of event-driven application components to a plurality of computational nodes in the distributed computing environment. The set of rules is also applied to determine component requirements for each of the plurality of event-driven application components required to support execution at an assigned computational node in the distributed computing environment.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for optimizing storage of application data in memory are disclosed. According to one method for optimizing storage of application data in memory, the method includes receiving application data associated with an application. The method also includes generating, using information about the application, information about a processor, and information about a memory, a memory map indicating one or more memory locations in the memory for storing the application data. The method further includes storing, using the memory map, the application data in the one or more memory locations. The method also includes executing, using the processor, the application that uses the application data.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for resource isolation and consumption in an application server environment. The system can provide, at one or more computers, including an application server environment executing thereon, a plurality of resources which can be used within the application server environment, and one or more partitions, wherein each partition provides an administrative and runtime subdivision of a domain. The system can also configure a resource consumption management module to monitor each partition's usage of the plurality of resources. The resource consumption management module can comprise at least one member of the group consisting of resource reservations, resource constraints, and resource notifications.

Abstract: A first event occurs at a first computer at a first time, as measured by a local clock. A second event is initiated at a second computer by sending a message that includes the first time. The second event occurs at a second time, as measured by a local clock. Because of clock error, the first time is later than the second time. Based on the first time being later than the second time, an alternate second time, that is based on the first time, is used as the time of the second event. When a third system determines the order of the two events, the first time is obtained from the first computer, and the alternate second time is obtained from the second computer, and the order of the events is determined based on a comparison of the two times.