Abstract: An image input/output apparatus reduces unnecessary fault management processing load and prevents a normal image input/output processing efficiency from decreasing in the way that an administrator selects an intrinsic fault that should be emphasized among individually-occurring detectable faults. To accomplish this, when a history representing a state of control is stored as log information in a first storage, a fault is detected, and an occurrence frequency of the detected fault is stored in a second storage in a way that associates the fault occurrence frequency with the fault. One or more thresholds of the fault occurrence frequency are enabled to be set, and it is judged whether the fault occurrence frequency is equal to or larger than the threshold. Based on a result of the judgment, a log management unit controls storage setting of the log information associated with the fault into the first storage.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for logging metadata modifications in a storage system are provided. According to one method, modifications to storage system metadata are detected and described in a log string data structure. The log strings are collected and periodically committed to a mass storage device in the data storage system. The log strings may be collected in a log buffer data structure that includes the collected log strings and one or more unique, constantly increasing timestamps. The time stamps are written at the end of each sector of the log buffer. The log buffer may be committed to the mass storage device when the log buffer is full, when a predefined period of time has elapsed since the previous commitment of the log strings to disk, or in a manner designed to ensure that one write of the log buffer is always outstanding. A logger module is operative to collect the log strings, build the log buffer, and to commit the log buffer to disk.

Abstract: A method and system for ordering and aggregating log streams. Log streams for events from different sources are received. If different sources have different recording cycles, or time epochs, that lead to different temporal granularities, then all of the log streams are combined into a single time epoch that is equal to the longest time epoch. Log streams from sources having shorter time epochs continue to retain information about their original time epochs, in order to retain information about the order of the events in those log streams. The log streams are reordered, both before and after being integrated into the aggregate log, by acquiring additional data from the different sources, thus permitting the likely cause/effect relationship between events.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for data synchronization. A first identifier for a portion of data on a primary volume is determined, wherein a unique identifier is associated with each portion of data at the primary volume. A second identifier for a portion of corresponding data at a secondary volume is determined, wherein a unique identifier is associated with each portion of data at the secondary volume. The first and second identifiers are compared. When the first and second identifiers do not match, the portion of corresponding data at the secondary volume in a storage device is replaced with the portion of data at the primary volume.

Abstract: A method for resynchronizing a first copy of data on a first storage system from a second copy of the data on a second storage system includes, at a regular checkpoint interval, the first storage system pushing data in its cache that were modified prior to a checkpoint time to its nonvolatile storage and saving the checkpoint time to its nonvolatile storage. The method further includes, at a regular snapshot interval greater than the checkpoint interval, the second storage system taking snapshots of the second copy of the data. When the first storage system has an uncontrolled shutdown, the second storage system determines the snapshot closest in time to the last checkpoint time and sends the difference between the last snapshot and the second copy of the data to the first storage system to recover data lost during the uncontrolled shutdown.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to digitally encoded hierarchical timestamps that are stored in computer readable mediums. The hierarchical timestamps of the present invention include a first field that stores a timestamp value and a second field that stores a processing-level indication that indicates the scope of the timestamp within a hierarchical processing system.

Abstract: An application uses a set of resources, where the set of resources may include a variety of software and hardware resources, such as database management software, file systems, logical volumes, and physical disks. Configuration information, including various attributes of individual resources and dependencies among resources, is used to manage the set of resources. For example, tuning parameters for a database management system and information describing the dependency of the database management software on a set of logical volumes may be maintained as part of the configuration information. A subset of this configuration information is dynamically maintained in volatile storage. Recovery software is configured to retain a previous state of the dynamically maintained configuration information by storing the previous state in persistent storage.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a systems and methods of restarting programs upon failure. In particular, the systems and methods provide for generation of a checkpoint component including program execution status or completion data as well as state. This checkpoint component can then be employed by an execution engine to restart the program at a point in time captured by the checkpoint component. According to one specific aspect of the invention, these systems and methods can be applied to a workflow system to facilitate restarting a workflow package or process described thereby.

Abstract: A method and system for processing a transaction request in a distributed data handling architecture. Responsive to receiving a transaction request at a master transaction server, a transaction identifier that identifies a data operation specified by the received transaction request is recorded within a local memory of a replica server. Data operation results are committed master transaction server memory and responsive to committing the data within the master transaction server memory, a post commit signal is sent to the replica server. Data operation results are also committed within local memory of the replica server, and responsive to a failover condition that prevents the master transaction server from sending the post commit signal, the recorded transaction identifier is utilized to synchronize data stored locally within the replica server with data stored within a persistent backend data store shared by the master transaction server and the replica server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a template based parallel checkpoint save for a massively parallel super computer system using a parallel variation of the rsync protocol, and network broadcast. In preferred embodiments, the checkpoint data for each node is compared to a template checkpoint file that resides in the storage and that was previously produced. Embodiments herein greatly decrease the amount of data that must be transmitted and stored for faster checkpointing and increased efficiency of the computer system. Embodiments are directed to a parallel computer system with nodes arranged in a cluster with a high speed interconnect that can perform broadcast communication. The checkpoint contains a set of actual small data blocks with their corresponding checksums from all nodes in the system. The data blocks may be compressed using conventional non-lossy data compression algorithms to further reduce the overall checkpoint size.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and mechanism for accessing recovery log information in a database system. The data stored in the recovery log is presented as a relational database “view,” which can be queried and accessed using relational database statements even though the underlying recovery log data may be stored in a non-relational format. According to an aspect of the invention, the recovery log data is thus encapsulated by the view presented to users of that data.

Abstract: Provided is a computer system including a first storage subsystem and a second storage subsystem. The first storage subsystem has a first storage unit and a first control unit. The second storage subsystem has a second storage unit and a second control unit. The first control unit records journals, and identifies, when data stored in the first storage unit is to be migrated to the second storage unit, which ones of the recorded journals are related to the data that is to be migrated. The first control unit chooses the identified journals one at a time in reverse chronological order, and judges whether or not the chosen journal corresponds to a data update made at some point between a current time and a time that precedes the current time by a length of a journal retention term set for the second storage subsystem.

Abstract: Systems and methods of investigating business processes are described. These systems and methods support real-time monitoring, analysis, management, and optimization of business processes. A graphical user interface enables users to apply data warehousing and data mining techniques to business process execution data and to visualize process execution data along multiple configurable dimensions and at different configurable levels of granularity.

Abstract: A system and program storage device for extracting data of a buffer after a failure of an operating system. An application is registered prior to the failure. The registering includes identifying a buffer in which the data to be extracted is stored prior to the failure. The buffer is reserved to maintain the data residing in the buffer as unchanged from initiation to completion of a fast reboot of the operating system. The fast reboot is responsive to the failure. An in-memory file is generated during the fast reboot, points to the data residing in the buffer, and is stored in volatile memory and not in persistent storage. The data is extracted via an instruction which is executed by the application after completion of the fast reboot, and which operates on the in-memory file.

Abstract: Restoration of data is facilitated in the storage system by combining data snapshots made by the storage system itself with data recovered by application programs or operating system programs. This results in snapshots which can incorporate crash recovery features incorporated in application or operating system software in addition to the usual data image provided by the storage subsystem.

Abstract: The invention concerns the parameterization of a piece of software comprising parameters to be entered in order for the software to be used. The principle consists of subdividing the set of parameters into subsets, and of simultaneously displaying the subsets (SS1, SS2, SS3), the content of at least one selected subset, and the position within the set of each subset selected.

Abstract: A method and system to control data collection and display parameters in two or more data modules in a dynamic system. The method and system provide the ability to collect and display data in a dynamic system having two or more data modules communicatively coupled thereto. As the dynamic system operates, data is generated. At least one controller manages data collection and display behavior of the two or more data modules. Ultimately, the controller controls data collection and display parameters for each of the two or more data modules in a manner that enables synchronization. The controller can be imbedded within the control module system. The method and system provides the user with the ability to better control, manipulate, review, and synchronize the collection of data in a dynamic system, whether physical or virtual, real time, or a simulation.

Abstract: A transaction management engine, such as a business process management (BPM) engine, can allow an application to define transaction demarcations in order to ensure that portions of a workflow are processed atomically. In one such system, a JMS message is queued to the workflow as part of an existing transaction. If that transaction commits, the queued JMS message ensures that the workflow will be invoked in a new transaction that allows the workflow to perform the next unit of work in the newly initiated transaction. When the unit of work is completed, the workflow queues another JMS message. If this transaction commits, the transaction ensures the unit of work has executed in a transaction. When the workflow is invoked again due to the second JMS message, the workflow can continue its operation in a different transaction.

Abstract: A storage system stores I/O operations in a journal volume in a chronological order and with assigned sequence numbers. When a predefined command to be logged is received, the storage system transmits a log of the command to an external server with the information of a particular sequence number of the I/O operation that is influenced by the command. When a log entry is identified as necessitating data recovery, such as by being issued maliciously, the I/O operations with sequence numbers larger than the particular sequence number of the identified log entry are discarded. A log analysis module is located separately from the storage system on the external server, and is able to identify the particular sequence number of the I/O operation which is affected by the malicious command so that instructions may be sent to the storage system regarding the sequence numbers of the commands to be discarded.

Abstract: A method and system of method and system of enhanced RAID level 3 is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes allocating three times a physical storage capacity of a data drive to a dedicated parity drive of a ‘n’ physical drives of a redundant array of independent disks, recovering n?1 physical drive failures of the ‘n’ physical drives through a parity-in-parity technique in which certain number of parities generated during an initial write of data may be physically stored and using an XOR function applied to the stored parities to recreate un-stored parities which enable recovery of the n?1 physical drive failures. The method may include creating a superior read/write access capability and/or a superior parity data redundancy through the mirroring. The method may also include recreating the un-stored parities after a time interval that may be specified by a user.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for managing caches in a system with multiple caches that may contain different copies of the same data item. Specifically, techniques are provided for coordinating the write-to-disk operations performed on such data items to ensure that older versions of the data item are not written over newer versions, and to reduce the amount of processing required to recover after a failure. Various approaches are provided in which a master is used to coordinate with the multiple caches to cause a data item to be written to persistent storage. Techniques are also provided for managing checkpoints associated with the caches, where the checkpoints are used to determine the position at which to begin processing recovery logs in the event of a failure.

Abstract: Plural information handling system configuration setting restore points stored in non-volatile memory are selectable by an end user for use in booting an information handling system. For example, the configuration setting restore points include basic default settings having known safe values, factory default settings used at shipment of the system from its manufacturer and last known good settings last used in a successful boot. A configuration settings restore point interface presents the restore points to an end user for selective use in a system boot, such as if corruption is detected in the configuration settings of the CMOS of the information handling system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of supporting the backup and recovery of a computing device. The computing device typically includes both a user computing environment and a supporting environment which enhances the stability and functionality of the user computing environment.

Abstract: There is provided a storage system having a host computer for transmitting and receiving data, and a plurality of storage apparatus provided with volumes for storing the data sent by the host computer including a check point setting unit for setting check points as markers during recovery of each volume of the plurality of storage apparatus, a check point management unit for managing the check points set by the check point setting unit, and a recovery order unit for ordering recovery of the volumes up to the state of the check point for each of the volumes managed by the check point management unit to the plurality of storage apparatus.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for performing recovery of a single-threaded queue are disclosed. The method includes scanning a set of elements of the single-threaded queue to detect a cycle containing a first element, and, in response to detecting the cycle, determining a size of the cycle in terms of a number of elements contained the cycle. A second element of the set of elements of the single-threaded queue is located, which second element is previous to the first element by a number of elements equivalent to the cycle. An element causing the cycle is located by performing a detailed element scan starting at the second element and the single-threaded queue is recovered by storing an end-of-queue value in a forward link of the element causing the cycle.

Abstract: A system for logging events of network devices includes an event management module (110), an event forwarding module (120), a plurality of service modules (130), an event storing module (150), and a user interface (160). The event management module includes an event buffer (111). The service modules generate various events and classify them. Based on a callback function, the event forwarding module collects classified events and sends them to the event management module. The event management module stores events in the event storing module, and provides the events to the user interface for display according to a predefined filtering mechanism. A method for logging events of network devices is also disclosed.

Abstract: A network device includes an initial data source to store configuration data for the network device, and a management module to generate a configuration patch that lists any differences between a working copy of the initial data source and the initial data source. The management module modifies the working copy based on configuration commands received from a client, and updates the initial data source in accordance with the differences defined by the configuration patch. During the update process, the management module verifies that any conditions specified by the patch are satisfied. The management module may generate the configuration patch in response to a first command from a client, and apply the patch in response to a second command from the client. The configuration patch may be communicated to other network devices for configuring the devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for restoring data is provided for easily restoring a file that is carelessly deleted from a hard disk. A microcomputer 1 is constructed as follows. An original file and a file for restoration whose extension is different from that of the original file are stored in a HDD unit 3. When it is determined that the original file is not capable of being reproduced, the filename or the extension of the file for restoration may be renamed, thereby restoring the original file. Even when the original file is carelessly deleted or not capable of being reproduced due to its corruption, the original file can be automatically restored using the file for restoration.

Abstract: A method for efficient backup and restore using metadata mapping comprises maintaining a first backup aggregation associated with a primary data object of a primary host at a secondary host, wherein the first backup aggregation includes a first backup version of the primary data object stored within a secondary data object at the secondary host. The method further comprises generating a second backup aggregation, wherein the second backup aggregation includes a second backup version of the primary data object and a backup metadata object corresponding to the secondary data object. The backup metadata object includes a pointer to the second backup version. The method may further comprise restoring the secondary data object, wherein said restoring comprises using the pointer to access the second backup version of the primary data object to restore at least a portion of the secondary data object.

Abstract: Providing redundancy between an active component and a standby component in a network router comprises maintaining a first route input information base associated with the active component, synchronizing with the first route information base a second route input information base associated with the standby component, generating a route output information base using the second route input information base, and comparing the generated route output information base, in the event of switchover of the standby component to an active mode, to a synchronized route output information base associated with the standby component which synchronized route output information base reflects routes known to have been shared with one or more peers by the active component prior to the switchover, and sharing and/or withdrawing routes as necessary to reflect any differences between the generated route output information base and the synchronized route output information base.

Abstract: Disclosed are a network device management system and method of controlling the same for simplifying the operation of a client application and making it possible to reduce traffic in process-to-process communication. By way of inter-process communication, a client apparatus requests a server apparatus for log information relating to a device connected on a network. Using a prescribed protocol, the server apparatus acquires the device-related log information and transmits this information to the client apparatus by inter-process communication. The client apparatus stores the device-related log information acquired from the server apparatus and, based upon newly acquired log information, changes a display of device-related log information and print job status information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus and method for continuously calibrating the frequency of a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit. The apparatus includes a delay arrangement that generates a gating signal, and a gated voltage-controlled oscillator that is enabled by the gating signal. The gated voltage-controlled oscillator generates a recovered clock signal that is based on the data signal input to the CDR circuit. The apparatus also includes a frequency control loop that continuously calibrates the gated voltage-controlled oscillator in such a way that the frequency of the clock signal generated by the gated voltage-controlled oscillator continues to be one half of the period of the data bits in the input data signal and the clock signal remains synchronized to the center of the data state transitions of the input data signal. Alternatively, a secondary frequency control loop adjusts the amount of delay in the frequency control loop.

Abstract: A bladed storage servicing system comprising a RAID layout facilitates the removal of one or more functional storage devices in a tray of the bladed storage subsystem in order to service a failed storage device. Upon removal of the tray from the bladed storage subsystem, the system designates the functional storage devices on the tray as temporarily removed. The system logs writes to the removed functional storage devices so that the functional storage devices can be returned to consistency when replaced in the bladed storage subsystem. The system manages reads to the removed functional storage devices through reconstruction from active storage devices in the bladed storage subsystem. Upon reinsertion of the tray in the bladed storage subsystem, the system verifies the identities of the functional storage devices and resynchronizes the functional storage devices to ensure data consistency.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method quickly backs up data in an emergency situation and reduces battery backup dependence. The apparatus may include a backup module and a dedicated computer readable storage device. The backup module interfaces with system memory and selectively transmits modified data to the storage device in response to a detected system failure. The dedicated storage device stores the modified data around the outer edge of a hard disk in order to increase write performance. The system may include the backup module, the storage device, a plurality of client devices, and a plurality of storage devices. The method includes storing modified and unmodified data, detecting a system failure, and transmitting modified data stored in a memory module to a dedicated computer readable backup device. Upon rebooting the device, the method may include restoring the modified data to the system memory and destaging the modified data to the plurality of storage devices.

Abstract: A user command communicating at least one log record search key is received from a user. A first set of one or more log records matching the log record search key is retrieved. Utilizing one or more fields from these log records, additional search criteria is dynamically composed. A second set of one or more log records matching the additional search criteria is retrieved from the DBMS log file wherein this second set of log records is logically related to the first set of log records and wherein the second set of log records is void of the log record search key. A log retrieval routine or tool deploying the above method is hereinafter referred to as a “self-learning log retrieval tool”.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for maintaining information related to a write operation is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a write journal is provided that contains a list of entries that store information related to active write operations so that a particular write may be restarted in order to correct an inconsistency. The journal may have a battery backed cache, in which data is stored prior to writing to a disk, which is provided power in the case of a power failure. The journal may be located in memory positioned at various locations within a system including on a controller card for a disk array system or on a motherboard of a host system.

Abstract: A recovery of a secondary DB is executed by a log including a update difference of a primary DB, and a command is executed by adding the command to the log and analyzing the log by a secondary site. An operation command execution in the secondary site is applied to the DB having the consistency in the transaction at the same timing as a primary site or an intended timing, by transferring and executing the operation command via the log. In the case that the command is constituted by a snap shot generating instruction, a plurality of volumes of a mirror set forming a secondary storage apparatus are set to a pair state and the secondary DB is written in each of the volumes and synchronized, and the mirror set is set to a split state after the synchronization is finished, whereby a secondary DB is stored.

Abstract: The invention relates to taking a back-up of original data and deciding whether the original data has been altered. A back-up of the original data is taken by copying the original data from one storing unit to other storing unit as back-up data. Once the copying is over, it is decided whether the original data has been altered based on a comparison between the original data and the back-up data. All the requests for access to the original data received while the original data is being copied are denied but request received while alteration of the original data is being decided are allowed.

Abstract: A primary server transmits a write transaction to N backup devices. Each backup device records the write transaction to a local redo log stored at a high-performance storage and then transmits a notification to the primary device. When the primary device receives notifications from M of the N backup devices, it commits the write transaction, recording it to a low-performance storage. Once the write transaction has been recorded to the low-performance storage, the primary device requests that the backup devices delete their logs. If the primary device incurs a fault, one of the backup devices becomes the new primary device and determines which backup device has the newest local redo log. The backup device having the newest log sends it to the other backup devices, which update their local redo logs to the same state as the newest log. Thereafter, the new primary device is ready to resume transaction processing.

Abstract: A system and method for replaying a log file without performing a total cache flush. The log replay is performed in three phases, a pre-processing phase that determines which portions of the log file are to be replayed, a redo phase where certain transactions are redone and an undo phase where certain transactions are rolled back. After performing the log replay only the data dirtied during the undo phase is flushed from the cache, thereby decreasing the amount of time required for the log replay operation.

Abstract: A method and system for copying operating system information to said at least two storage devices, selectively hiding at least one, but not all, of the storage devices from being accessed by the operating system, and selectively revealing one or more of said hidden storage devices as needed to permit access to the information stored therein.

Abstract: A computer system including a first storage system connected to a first host computer, a second storage system connected to a second host computer and a third storage system connected to the first and second storage systems. The second storage system sets transfer setting before an occurrence of a failure, the transfer setting being provided with a dedicated storage area to be used for transferring data to the third storage system by asynchronous copy in response to a failure at the first host computer. Before the start of data transfer between the second storage system and third storage system to be executed after an occurrence of the failure, the second storage system checks the dedicated storage area, data transfer line and transfer setting information, and if an abnormal state is detected, this abnormal state is reported to the host computer as information attached to the transfer setting.

Abstract: A method for extracting data of a buffer after a failure of an operating system. An application is registered prior to the failure. The registering includes identifying a buffer in which the data to be extracted is stored prior to the failure. The buffer is reserved to maintain the data residing in the buffer as unchanged from initiation to completion of a fast reboot of the operating system. The fast reboot is responsive to the failure. An in-memory file is generated during the fast reboot, points to the data residing in the buffer, and is stored in volatile memory and not in persistent storage. The data is extracted via an instruction which is executed by the application after completion of the fast reboot, and which operates on the in-memory file.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for setting and implementing a policy to compress the history of data on a temporal volume is described.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing objects among members of a replica set. An interval vector is maintained on each member. The interval vector includes one or more intervals each of which has an upper and lower bound. During synchronization, the member sends the interval vector to the member with which it is synchronizing. The other member examines the interval vector and finds resources with versions that are not included in any of the intervals of the interval vector. The other member then transmits these resources to the first member which uses them to update its store. The first member also updates its interval vector to account for the received resources.

Abstract: A log collecting system includes a computer apparatus and at least one peripheral apparatus connected to the computer apparatus, the computer apparatus collecting a log that records operation of the at least one peripheral apparatus. The peripheral apparatus includes, a first log memory controlling section that stores a first log relating to all operation of the at least one peripheral apparatus in a first log memory region, and a second log memory controlling section that stores, in a second log memory region, a second log indicative of any influence on the operation of the at least one peripheral apparatus among the first logs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a template based parallel checkpoint save for a massively parallel super computer system using a parallel variation of the rsync protocol, and network broadcast. In preferred embodiments, the checkpoint data for each node is compared to a template checkpoint file that resides in the storage and that was previously produced. Embodiments herein greatly decrease the amount of data that must be transmitted and stored for faster checkpointing and increased efficiency of the computer system. Embodiments are directed to a parallel computer system with nodes arranged in a cluster with a high speed interconnect that can perform broadcast communication. The checkpoint contains a set of actual small data blocks with their corresponding checksums from all nodes in the system. The data blocks may be compressed using conventional non-lossy data compression algorithms to further reduce the overall checkpoint size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a template based parallel checkpoint save for a massively parallel super computer system using a parallel variation of the rsync protocol, and network broadcast. In preferred embodiments, the checkpoint data for each node is compared to a template checkpoint file that resides in the storage and that was previously produced. Embodiments herein greatly decrease the amount of data that must be transmitted and stored for faster checkpointing and increased efficiency of the computer system. Embodiments are directed to a parallel computer system with nodes arranged in a cluster with a high speed interconnect that can perform broadcast communication. The checkpoint contains a set of actual small data blocks with their corresponding checksums from all nodes in the system. The data blocks may be compressed using conventional non-lossy data compression algorithms to further reduce the overall checkpoint size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for debugging an application in case of an exception. A cyclic buffer is allocated to the application. Log messages are stored in the cyclic buffer and can be later used to debug the application in case of an exception.

Abstract: A log acquisition method which can easily acquire processing logs of software, and can reduce the number of processes required to analyze bugs is provided. More specifically, a log acquisition method for a program having functions, includes a step of identifying a designated one of functions in an OS which are called upon execution of the program, and a step of rewriting the address of the loaded functions that execute predetermined processes and the address of the designated function in the OS to that of a function for log acquisition. The function for log acquisition includes a step of calling the functions that execute predetermined processes and the designated function in the OS and passing the execution result of the called functions to the program, and a step of recording predetermined information upon calling the functions that execute predetermined processes and the designated function in the OS, and predetermined information upon receiving the result.