Abstract: A disclosed example method to identify a failure in a logical circuit involves receiving non-requested trap data from a plurality of switches forming a logical circuit. The logical circuit spans first, second, and third logical networks. The example method also involves polling first and second switches of the logical circuit exclusive of others of the plurality of switches of the logical circuit. The first switch forms a first network-to-network interface between the first logical network and the second logical network. The second switch forms a second network-to-network interface between the second logical network and the third logical network. The first and second switches are selected for polling based on the trap data indicating a problem at the first and second switches. The example method also involves identifying a failure of the logical circuit without manual intervention based on the polling.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for using an extended security system, including: configuring one of security processing devices in the extended security system as a primary security processing device and configuring other security processing devices as at least one secondary security processing device connected with the primary security processing device; the method further includes: when the extended security system receives an external packet, selecting, by the primary security processing device, a security processing device to process the received external packet, the selected security processing device being the primary security processing device or the secondary security processing device. The embodiments of the present invention also disclose an extended security system and a primary security processing device and secondary security processing devices.

Abstract: A data center management unit (DCMU, 100) for managing and controlling power distribution to computers in a data center, includes a power inlet (101), a plurality of power outlets (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118) for providing power to respective ones of the computers, a processor (141), at least one wired data port (151, 152, 153, 154) for controlling one or more of the computers, and a network interface (155) enabling a data center administrator to manage the data center management unit (DCMU, 100) remotely via wired network connectivity. In addition the data center management unit (DCMU, 100) contains a redundant meshed wireless network interface (156). The data center management unit (DCMU, 100) is adapted to automatically switch to the redundant meshed wireless network interface as an alternative for the network interface (155) in situations where the wired network connectivity is lost.

Abstract: A method includes executing, in each of a number of nodes of a cluster communication system, a specialized instance of an operating system privileged to control a corresponding hypervisor configured to consolidate one or more VM(s) on a system hardware. The one or more VM(s) is configured to be associated with a non-privileged operating system. The method also includes providing a cluster stack associated with the specialized instance of the operating system on the each of the number of nodes to enable communication between peers thereof in different nodes, and controlling the one or more VM(s) as a cluster resource through the cluster stack.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a controller, a plurality of electric power supply units and a backup electric power supply unit that supply electric power to the controller. The controller detects a malfunction occurring in the plurality of electric power supply units, stops electric power supply from the plurality of electric power supply units, starts electric power supply from the backup electric power supply unit when a malfunction is detected, identifies an electric power supply unit having a malfunction from the plurality of electric power supply units, disconnects the identified electric power supply unit, resumes electric power supply from an electric power supply unit determined to function normally and stops the electric power supply from the backup electric power supply unit when the electric power supply unit having the malfunction is disconnected.

Abstract: A method, system and machine-readable storage medium for providing fault tolerance in a distributed mobile architecture (dMA) system. The method includes receiving a message or failing to receive the message within a predetermined time relating to a first dMA gateway (dMAG) at a second dMAG. It is determined whether the first dMAG is not operational or is otherwise offline based on the received message or the failure to receive the message. One or more dMA nodes associated with the first dMAG are notified in order to request connections to an external system via the second dMAG. The external system is also notified to request connections to one or more dMA nodes associated with the first dMAG via the second dMAG.

Abstract: A key set is registered. The registering the key set includes registering a first shared data resource key. The first shared data resource key includes a first identifier associating a first process with a first shared data resource. The registering the key set further includes registering a second shared data resource key, and the second shared data resource key includes a second identifier associating a second process with a second shared data resource. A failure of a first process is detected, and in response to the detecting the failure of the first process, the first shared data resource key is de-registered. The second shared data resource key remains registered after the de-registering the first shared data resource key.

Abstract: Network survivability is quantified in such a way that failure cases can be compared and ranked against each other in terms of the severity of their impact on the various performance measures associated with the network. The degradation in network performance caused by each failure is quantified based on user-defined sets of thresholds of degradation severity for each performance measure. Each failure is simulated using a model of the network, and a degradation vector is determined for each simulated failure. A comparison function is defined to map the degradation vectors into an ordered set, and this ordered set is used to create an ordered list of network failures, in order of the network degradation caused by each failure.

Abstract: The reliability is improved at a low cost even in a virtualized server environment. The number of spare servers is reduced for improving the reliability and for saving a licensing fee for software on the spare servers. A server system comprises a plurality of physical servers on which a plurality of virtual servers run, a single standby server, a module for detecting an active virtual server, and a module for switching the correspondence of boot disks of virtualization modules for controlling virtual servers to the physical servers. When a physical server fails, the boot disk of the associated virtualization module is connected to a spare server to automatically activate on the spare server those virtual servers which have been active upon occurrence of the failure.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the present invention provide a DR solution for a networked computing environment such as a cloud computing environment. Specifically, a customer or the like can select a disaster recovery provider from a pool (at least one) of disaster recovery providers using a customer interface to a DR portal. Similarly, using the interface and DR portal, the customer can then submit a request for DR to be performed for a set (at least one) of applications. The customer will then also submit (via the interface and DR portal) DR information. This information can include, among other things, a set of application images, a set of application files, a set of recovery requirements, a designation of one or more specific (e.g., application) components for which DR is desired, dump file(s), database file(s), etc. Using the DR information, the DR provider will then generate and conduct a set of DR tests and provide the results to the customer via the DR portal and interface.

Abstract: A primary server and a standby server operating according as a redundant server pair are connected to a common network, and the operational state of each is monitored by a first and a second client function each of which run on a device connected to the common network. Each of the client functions operate to notify the standby server in the event that the primary server ceases to be operational. The standby server determining whether the primary server is operational based upon notification received from both of the first and second client functions.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for providing continuous operations of a user e-mail application at a user computing device. At least two application servers, such as e-mail servers, are provided with each application server running the user e-mail application concurrently and independently. Each application server may have a persistent storage device associated with it for storing data. In response to a user request for data processing within the user application, the user request is transmitted to the at least two application servers for processing therein. A return result—responsive to the user request as processed by the one of the at least two application servers—is passed to the user computing device from one of the at least two application servers. In this manner, if one of the application servers fails or becomes unavailable due to a disaster or otherwise, the user e-mail requests can be continuously processed by at least the other application server without any delays.

Abstract: Accurate recovery of a primary server at a recovery server is accomplished with reduced network overhead by maintaining at the recovery server checkpoints taken over time of the primary server and an intention log of logical transactions pending and complete by the primary server. The recovery server is brought to the operational state of the primary server as of failure at the primary server by recovering the most recent checkpoint and then executing the transactions indicated by the intention log as received but not complete as of the time that the checkpoint was taken.

Abstract: In a method, system, and computer-readable medium having instructions for performing asynchronous testing of an application that is occasionally connected to an online services system, metadata describing at least a portion of an online services database is retrieved and the at least a portion of the online services database is authorized for replication at a software application, information is determined for an entity for an application database from the metadata, a request is sent for a database using the software application interface and the request has an asynchronous operation call to the database for the entity, an execution of the asynchronous operation call is recorded within a callback function, a response is received for the asynchronous operation call, and a result is determined for the software application performance.

Abstract: The centralized reporting of a service outage, where the service is offered over a network such as, for example, the Internet. Upon detecting a service outage, computing system automatically identifies characteristic(s) of the outage. Then, the computing system selects a way of reporting the outage that depends on the characteristic(s) of the outage. For instance, depending on the outage characteristic(s), the computing system might cause a particular communication channel or channels to be selected for reporting the outage. Alternatively or in addition, the content or structure of the report may differ depending on the characteristic(s) of the outage. The reporting mechanism may be centralized and service a number of other services, and even report regarding errors in the framework that supports the service.

Abstract: In a network apparatus for receiving a processing request transmitted from an external apparatus connected thereto via a network, it is detected that processing corresponding to the transmitted processing request has not been performed. If it is detected that the processing corresponding to the transmitted processing request has not been performed, a port number of a request destination of the transmitted processing request is recognized and an application corresponding to the recognized port number is specified as an application of a request destination of the transmitted processing request. Furthermore, it is determined whether the specified application is in an ON or OFF state. If it is detected that the processing corresponding to the transmitted processing request has not been performed and the specified application is in the OFF state, error information including information indicating the specified application is output.

Abstract: In a method for adjusting modulation on a network, a modulation profile of a network node on the network is set a specified density. A plurality of messages that are received at the network node are monitored on an ongoing basis. The modulation profile of the network node is updated continually based on the monitored messages. A determination is made that a predetermined class of messages is received incorrectly at the network node. The network node is disconnected from the network based on the incorrectly received predetermined class of messages and is reconnected to the network to initiate the network node on the network.

Abstract: In a method for managing resources in a virtualized computing environment, a command to initiate execution of an operating system image dump process for a logical partition of the virtualized computing environment is received while the logical partition is in a process of terminating. One or more resources that are allocated to the logical partition that will not be utilized by the logical partition during execution of the operating system image dump process are determined. A notification to a hypervisor program in the virtualized computing environment is sent. The notification identifies the one or more resources. One of the one or more resources is reallocated. The operating system image dump process is executed.

Abstract: A computing system method for high-availability operation is disclosed. Implementations of the system include a plurality of host computers connected together in a network, each host computer running an HA process to monitor activity on the host computer. The system further includes a master HA process, designated from all other HA processes running on the plurality of host computers. The master HA process includes a heartbeat monitor to monitor activity of the network to detect a failed host computer, and a failover handler to transfer at least one of the one or more tasks from the failed host computer to an active host computer. All other HA processes other than the master HA process are used as cache for read requests to topology data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing failover operation for a connection between a first PCIE bridge and a first input/output (IO) device are provided. A first set of bussed bits is exchanged between the first PCIE bridge and the first IO device over a first link using a first set of lanes of the first PCIE bridge. In response to detecting a failure in the first link, at a PCIE bridge end, the first set of lanes is swapped with a second set of lanes of the first PCIE bridge for exchanging a second set of bussed bits between the first PCIE bridge and the first IO device over a second link using the second set of lanes, the second link connecting a second PCIE bridge with a second IO device. In response to detecting the failure in the first link, at an IO device end, the first set of lanes is switched with the second set of lanes for exchanging the second set of bussed bits between the first PCIE bridge and the first IO device over the second link using the second set of lanes.

Abstract: A method for handling failures in the execution flow of provisioning operations is disclosed. The method may comprise receiving, by a cloud infrastructure system, an error from the execution flow of provisioning a service from a plurality of service provided by the cloud infrastructure system, the cloud infrastructure system comprising one or more computing devices. Additionally, the method may further comprise determining, by a computing device from the one or more computing devices, a specific service associated with the error and determining an error classification type associated with the error based on the specific service. Subsequently, the method may further comprise performing, by the computing device, a corrective action based on the specific service and the error type.

Abstract: A computer which takes over a task managed by a server apparatus from another computer which occupies the task, the computer including, a processor to detect an error of the other computer, to transmit, when an error of the another computer is detected, a task relaying request for taking over the task to the server apparatus, and to allow when a permission of the takeover of the task is received from the server apparatus processes of application programs in standby states in the computer to occupy the task.

Abstract: A messaging system may operate on multiple processor partitions in several configurations to provide queuing and topic subscription services on a large scale. A queue service may receive messages from a multiple transmitting services and distribute the messages to a single service. A topic subscription service may receive messages from multiple transmitting services, but distribute the messages to multiple recipients, often with a filter applied to each recipient where the filter defines which messages may be transmitted by the recipient. Large queues or topic subscriptions may be divided across multiple processor partitions with separate sets of recipients for each partition in some cases, or with duplicate sets of recipients in other cases.

Abstract: Embodiments include a recovery system, a computer-readable storage medium, and a method of recreating a state of a datacenter. The embodiments include a plurality of program modules that is executable by a processor to gather metadata from a first datacenter that includes at least one virtual machine (VM), wherein the metadata includes data representative of a virtual infrastructure of the first datacenter. The program modules are also executable by the processor to recreate a state of the first datacenter within a second datacenter using the metadata upon a determination that a failure occurred within the first datacenter, and to recreate the VM within the second datacenter.

Abstract: Server management data describes observed operating condition of a pool of spare servers. Based on a demand forecast of a specific target system, a dynamic allocation period is determined as a period during which the target system needs additional server resources to handle an expected demand. Based on the dynamic allocation period and server management data, a set of allocation candidates are nominated from the spare server pool, by eliminating therefrom spare servers which are likely to fail during the dynamic allocation period. An appropriate allocation candidate is then selected for allocation to the target system, such that the selected candidate will satisfy a specified requirement during its allocation period.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a computer for transmitting data in a network. The computer includes at least one data transmission port configured to be connected to at least one storage device via a plurality of paths of a network. The computer further includes a processor configured to detect recurring intermittent errors in one or more paths of the plurality of paths and to disable access to the one or more paths based on detecting the recurring intermittent errors.

Abstract: Provided are a communication system and a method of restoring the communication system. The communication system includes a master device for transmitting a reference clock through a clock line, transmitting and receiving data through a data line, and requesting and receiving input data and error detection data, and a slave device for detecting human touch input data, transmitting and receiving the data in synchronization with the reference clock or generating and transmitting the input data, and transmitting the error detection data in response to the request for error detection data. Here, the master device compares stored error detection data with the received error detection data and initializes the slave device when the stored error detection data is not the same as the received error detection data.

Abstract: Fault tolerant operation is disclosed for a primary match server of a financial exchange using an active copy-cat instance, a.k.a. backup match server, that mirrors operations in the primary match server, but only after those operations have successfully completed in the primary match server. Fault tolerant logic monitors inputs and outputs of the primary match server and gates those inputs to the backup match server once a given input has been processed. The outputs of the backup match server are then compared with the outputs of the primary match server to ensure correct operation. The disclosed embodiments further relate to fault tolerant failover mechanism allowing the backup match server to take over for the primary match server in a fault situation wherein the primary and backup match servers are loosely coupled, i.e. they need not be aware that they are operating in a fault tolerant environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including determining address using an access point address and a multicast group address, transmitting a recovery request message to a recovery server to request recovery data using the address and receiving the recovery data from the recovery server. Also described are a method and apparatus including receiving a registration message, transmitting a reply to the registration message, receiving a recovery request message, transmitting recovery data responsive to the recovery request message and transmitting a message to a recovery multicast group to determine status of the recovery multicast group.

Abstract: A system for proactively troubleshooting set top box issues may include a media distribution network with a remote requesting device and a programming guide server. The programming guide server may be configured to identify a guide data retrieval profile of the requesting device, compare the guide data retrieval profile to an expected profile, and flag the requesting device for troubleshooting based on a lack of correspondence between the retrieval profile and the expected profile. Additionally methods for discovering related devices, predicting that the related devices also require troubleshooting, and limiting restorative measures to only those devices that have been confirmed to be affected by a service issue may also be implemented by the system.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein include at least one of systems, methods, and software to detect and reduce messages from network entity management clients that are not utilized by a network management system. Once identified, the network management system may send a command to the network entity management clients to no longer send particular message types to the network management system. The network management system may also, or alternatively, be configured to take no action when such messages are subsequently received.

Abstract: A first unit and a second unit manage a plurality of devices (a first device), respectively. In addition, the first and second units, repeat to transmit a keep-alive packet and to confirm a response each other, and thus detect each other's malfunction. When the second unit malfunctions, the first unit detects the malfunction of the second unit and transmits a connection command to the connection unit. The connection unit connects a lower net Nia and a lower net Nib when receiving the connection command. Then, the first unit communicates with the first device as heretofore, and further communicates with a second device via the connection unit. Thus, even if a master unit malfunctions, the device management system can maintain to manage without stopping a management of a slave unit which had been managed by the master unit until then.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium, is described that enables a registry recovery service to retrieve zone files from a target registry, archive the zone files, publish the zone files to a managed DNS server, reconcile ownership of the zone files, and publish the zone files to a provisioning DNS server. The registry recovery service may also implement a WHOIS server for the zone and ownership information and may also implement zone specific features particular to the target registry's TLD. The registry recovery service may also enable DNSSEC extensions on the recovered registry DNS services.

Abstract: A distributed resource managing system has one or more resource managing processes corresponding to each of predefined events that change the states of resources, on a communication network where each of a plurality of tasks can use a plurality of resources. Each of the one or more resource managing processes includes an assignor which, when it receives a request to protect any specific task against the event that changes states of resources to which its own process corresponds, assigns backup resources including a resource already selected by another resource managing process to the task in such a way that all tasks requested to be protected which use the resource can be protected from the event that changes the states of the resources, and an indicator which indicates information of the assigned backup resources to one or more recovery execution processes.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for handling network partitions in a cluster of nodes are disclosed. The system and method may use a set of arbitration servers that are ordered in a particular order. Client nodes in different partitions may send requests to the arbitration servers to attempt to win control of them. The client node that wins a majority of the arbitration servers may remain in the cluster, and the client nodes in the other partitions may exit the cluster. The first arbitration server may award control to whichever client node whose request for control is received first. The remaining arbitration servers may be configured to give preference to the winner of one or more of the previous arbitration servers to attempt to ensure that one of the client nodes wins a majority.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reading and writing a set of data using a journaling service are provided. The journaling service may be used to identify and record data storage operations associated with one or more shares of data stored in one or more share locations. The journaling service may use logs to record each of the read and write requests to the share locations. In some embodiments, the log may be a queue data structure that stores information associated with failed data storage operations. In some embodiments, the journaling service may leverage both memory and disk storage in order to maintain the journaling queue. In some embodiments, the journaling queue may maintain information associated with the state of each share location. In some embodiments, this information may be used by the journaling service to determine when to monitor and record information regarding data storage operations associated with the share locations.

Abstract: Methods for managing a communication session in a communication network are disclosed. For example, a method includes detecting, by a first endpoint comprising at least one processor, an error condition associated with the communication session, sending, by the first endpoint, a notification of the error condition to a second endpoint that is using a transport layer session and receiving, by the first endpoint, a communication from the second endpoint, proposing a response to the error condition. Another method includes receiving, by a first endpoint comprising at least one processor, a notification of an error condition associated with the communication session, selecting, by the first endpoint, a response to the error condition, and sending, by the first endpoint, a communication to a second endpoint that is using a transport layer session, proposing a response to the error condition.

Abstract: A method for transmitting messages in a redundantly operable communication network includes a first subnetwork with a tree topology and a second subnetwork, wherein messages are transmitted in the first subnetwork in accordance with a spanning tree protocol, communication devices associated with network nodes of the first subnetwork interchange messages containing topology information with one another in order to form a tree topology, messages are transmitted in the second subnetwork in accordance with a parallel or ring redundancy protocol, and a virtual network node which is connected to all network nodes of the second subnetwork via a respective virtual connection which is uninterruptable by an error is configured as the root network node of the first subnetwork.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a message broker subsystem 1) attempting to deliver one or more messages intended for a recipient software application to the recipient software application, 2) determining that the recipient software application is in a fault state after failing to deliver the one or more messages to the recipient software application, 3) automatically performing a fail-over process on one or more other messages intended for the recipient software application in response to the determination that the recipient software application is in the fault state, and 4) continuing to attempt to deliver a message selected from the one or more messages to the recipient software application while automatically performing the fail-over process on the one or more other messages. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a system and method for communicating data in a locomotive consist or other vehicle consist (comprising at least first and second linked vehicles), a first electronic component in the first vehicle of the vehicle consist is monitored to determine if the component is in (or enters) a failure state. In the failure state, the first electronic component is unable to perform a designated function. Upon determining the failure state, data is transmitted from the first vehicle to a second electronic component on the second vehicle, over a communication channel linking the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The second electronic component is operated based on the transmitted data, with the second electronic component performing the designated function that the first electronic component is unable to perform.

Abstract: A cluster of computer system nodes share direct read/write access to storage devices via a storage area network using a cluster filesystem. At least one trusted metadata server assigns a mandatory access control label as an extended attribute of each filesystem object regardless of whether required by a client node accessing the filesystem object. The mandatory access control label indicates the sensitivity and integrity of the filesystem object and is used by the trusted metadata server(s) to control access to the filesystem object by all client nodes.

Abstract: A message queue (MQ) failover handler receives a message and a configuration file from a client application. The configuration file provides an indication of which of a number of queue managers (QMs) is the first choice for receipt and delivery of the message to a server application. The configuration file also provides an indication of which of the QMs is the second choice for receipt and delivery of the message to the server application, should the first choice of the QMs be unavailable.

Abstract: Information Technology (IT) system configuration is managed using a set of defined flows with atomic execution properties. The instructions to execute a change to one or more infrastructure elements (a “ forward transaction”) are maintained with instructions and/or information needed to execute a corresponding “reverse” transaction that is responsible for returning the element(s) to a pre-transaction action state in the event of a configuration failure or other request originating at a high level flow.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for group policy backup management in a network having a plurality of domains including components and modules for steps of retrieving a list of group policy objects for a domain, generating a configuration initialization file including a domains section identifying a plurality of domains that are to be backed up and a setup section specifying a plurality of values that control the backup of each policy object in each domain, determining a digital signature for each policy object on a list of policies for the domain, comparing the digital signature for each policy object with a corresponding previous digital signature for each policy, determining if a current digital signature for each policy object matches the corresponding previous digital signature for a policy, and backing up a policy object having a current digital signature that does not match the corresponding previous digital signature.

Abstract: In one example, a backup intrusion detection and prevention (IDP) device includes one or more network interfaces to receive a state update message from a primary IDP device, wherein the state update message indicates a network session being inspected by the primary IDP device and an identified application-layer protocol for the device, to receive an indication that the primary device has switched over or failed over to the backup device, and to receive a plurality of packets of the network session after receiving the indication, each of the plurality of packets comprising a respective payload including application-layer data, a protocol decoder to detect a beginning of a new transaction from the application-layer data of one of the plurality of packets, and a control unit to statefully process only the application-layer data of the network session that include and follow the beginning of the new transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for classifying a possible failure in a power network are provided. In one embodiment, a method may include receiving network device status information for multiple network devices in communication with a communications network and capable of receiving primary power from a power network; and determining that a possible power network failure exists based on a first portion of the network devices associated with an inactive status and a second portion of the network devices associated with an active status, wherein the first portion comprises network devices without battery back-up capabilities and the second portion comprises network devices with battery back-up capabilities.

Abstract: A system executes a method that includes monitoring the systems that provide the provisioning of computing infrastructure resources to provide services for services executing on the resources, to monitor provisioning changes on the infrastructure resources. It further uses the information gathered by the monitoring of the provisioning resource(s) to provide a tag, which denotes the current assignment of each resource with a service name and an instance of the service associated with the resource identifier and a time stamp, and storing this a relational database, as a part of the record of the state, or performance data for that resource during that time interval.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an initiator circuit and a target circuit. The initiator circuit may be configured to (i) communicate with a network through a first interface and (ii) generate testing sequences to be sent to the network. The target circuit may be configured to (i) receive the testing sequences from the network through a second network interface and (ii) respond to the testing sequences.

Abstract: Techniques for improving application server performance and availability are provided. In one aspect, a method of monitoring the health of one or more application servers comprises the following steps. One or more health classes are specified, each of the one or more health classes defining one or more health policies for the one or more application servers. At least one of the one or more health policies is monitored. Violations, if any, of the one or more health policies are detected.

Abstract: Architectures and techniques for uploading virtual machine (VM) images to a network-accessible computing platform from a client device while simultaneously performing error detection of the VM images at the client device. One technique can include transmitting a request from the client device to upload VM images. The technique can further include receiving an application from the computing platform and using the application to reconstitute the VM images from a first stream at the client device while performing error detection. The technique also includes using the application to upload the VM images from a second stream at the client device to the computing platform while performing the error detection.