Abstract: A switching circuit comprises a radio frequency (RF) switch, a gate resistor, a voltage source, a transmission gate, and coupling circuitry configured to couple a gate of the RF switch, a first side of the gate resistor, and the transmission gate at a first node and the voltage source, a second side of the gate resistor, and the transmission gate at a second node.

Abstract: A management daemon sorts syscalls received from the management applications into First In First Out (FIFO) queues and, when there is an available array control device, selects a syscall from one of the FIFO queues, and spawns a thread on the available array control device to service the selected syscall. The management system has a syscall scheduler configured to optimize handling of syscalls, by breaking long running syscalls into discrete operations, implementing a portion of the syscall, and then stopping operation of the syscall while saving the state of the partially executed syscall. The partially executed syscall is placed back into a queue for subsequent operation, thus freeing up the array control devise for use in connection with other syscalls. By optimizing syscall scheduling, and incremental processing of long running syscalls, it is possible to reduce the overall syscall processing time for a set of syscalls.

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: A control device, an execution device, a device management method, and a device management system are provided, and are related to the field of network technologies. The control device includes: a network communications interface configured to connect to an execution device through a network, where the execution device is a network communications device; and a processor configured to send a device management protocol packet through the network communications interface, where the device management protocol packet indicates an operation performed on a register in a first chip in the execution device and/or the device management protocol packet indicates that a pin of a second chip in the execution device is set to a status indicated by the device management protocol packet.

Abstract: A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory includes instruction code that causes the processor to generate first and second parser instances and associate the first parser and the second parser with respective first and second search queries. The processor controls the first parser to repeatedly obtain data from the data stream in blocks until the first parser finishes identifying elements in the data stream associated with its search path. The processor controls the second parser to repeatedly obtain blocks from the first parser when the blocks obtained by the first parser have not been searched by the second parser, and controls the second parser to obtain blocks from the data stream when the blocks obtained by the first parser have been searched by the second parser and the first parser has finished searching.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus (TFDC) for operating a software-configured processing unit (SDS) for a device, in particular a field device (TFD), wherein the apparatus, according to a prescribed and/or prescribable architecture, includes at least one processor (CPU) and a number of hardware units, having: a security unit (IOS; MS) configured to cause a change in the arrangement of the data bit sequence of at least one data stream provided and/or routed to the processing unit (SDS) to protect the hardware units from manipulation. The processing unit is trustworthy, i.e., is protected from manipulation and attack from the outside. The data stream arrives at the device. A “number” here and above denotes a number of one or more.

Abstract: A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory includes instruction code that causes the processor to generate first and second parser instances and associate the first parser and the second parser with respective first and second search queries. The processor controls the first parser to repeatedly obtain data from the data stream in blocks until the first parser finishes identifying elements in the data stream associated with its search path. The processor controls the second parser to repeatedly obtain blocks from the first parser when the blocks obtained by the first parser have not been searched by the second parser, and controls the second parser to obtain blocks from the data stream when the blocks obtained by the first parser have been searched by the second parser and the first parser has finished searching.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses associated with data exchanged between a processor and a hardware accelerator are disclosed. In various embodiments, a method comprises receiving, at a first endpoint, a first request to change a current tag frequency used to generate a first authentication tag for one or more transactions of a first transaction window sent over a data link to a second endpoint coupled to a processor core. The method further includes sending a message to the second endpoint that the current tag frequency is to change to a new tag frequency, where a second authentication tag for one or more transactions in a second transaction window is to be generated based on the new tag frequency. The method also includes changing the current tag frequency to the new tag frequency based, at least in part, on receiving an acknowledgement that the second endpoint received the message.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed that provides security for data stored in a non-volatile memory device. The non-volatile memory device may be embedded in a host system. The host system may further have a host controller that is configured to obtain a memory access message from an initiator to access the non-volatile memory. The host controller may be further configured to provide the memory access message to the memory controller. The memory access message may contain an identifier of the initiator, which may be verified by the host controller. The memory controller may be configured to access the identifier of the initiator from the memory access message, and grant or deny non-volatile memory access to the initiator based on whether the initiator has access rights to a region of the non-volatile memory to which the initiator seeks access.

Abstract: A distributed system is adapted to manage the performance of distributed processes. In one aspect, multiple stripes associated with a data item are stored in a distributed storage. The stored stripes include one or more stripes of redundancy information for the data item. A distributed process including at least one task is performed. During performance of the distributed process, a determination is made as to whether to perform an accelerated data retrieval operation. Responsive to a determination to perform an accelerated data retrieval operation, at least one of the one or more stripes of redundancy information for the data item is requested from the distributed storage. Other stripes associated with the data item may also be requested from the distributed storage. After a sufficient subset of stripes associated with the data item is received, the data item is reconstructed using the subset.

Abstract: A system and a method for locating populations of content-specific data portions. The method includes determining a current population of data portions to be searched based on at least one prioritization criterion; accessing the current population of data portions; examining at least one data portion of the current population of data portions and extracting content-specific data; comparing the content-specific data to at least one suspect criterion; determining whether the current population meets at least one population criterion by analyzing the content-specific data; determining at least one next population of data portions to be searched based on proximity to the current population; and determining the at least one next population of data portions to be searched based on the at least one prioritization criterion.

Abstract: According to a storage system, method, and apparatus for processing an operation request provided by embodiments of the present invention, a controller directly encapsulates a SCSI protocol operation request into an Ethernet operation request packet at the MAC layer instead of using the TCP/IP protocol layer and a disk enclosure decapsulates the Ethernet operation request to obtain the SCSI protocol operation request and sends the SCSI protocol operation request to a target disk, thereby reducing layers of encapsulation, reducing a processing delay of the storage system, and improving performance of the storage system.

Abstract: A method for managing a storage system and an associated apparatus are provided. The method includes: providing at least one heartbeat monitoring path between a set of expander control circuits within an expansion module in the storage system, for transmitting at least one of a plurality of heartbeat monitoring signals for a set of management modules in the storage system, wherein the expansion module is utilized for installing a set of shared storage devices, and each shared storage device within the set of shared storage devices is coupled to the set of expander control circuits, to allow the set of management modules to control the set of shared storage devices through the set of expander control circuits, respectively; and performing heartbeat monitoring according to the plurality of heartbeat monitoring signals, for at least one of the set of management modules to perform high availability management on shared storage devices.

Abstract: A device may collect environmental information surrounding the device. Based on the collected environmental information, the device may automatically identify a potentially secured location that has lower security risk. When a potentially secured location is identified, the device may prompt the user to setup a security profile having reduced security requirement for the secured location. The device may store and associate the security profile with the secured location. The device may activate the security profile with reduced security requirement when the device is in the secured area. Further, the security profile may require that certain features of the device be disabled when the device is in the secured location.

Abstract: A method and associated systems for a transparent tunneling architecture for a secured database. A tunneling driver captures a user's database-access request before it can be blocked by a security gateway. The driver translates the request into a Web-service request, where the requested Web service is implemented by means of classes or objects that correspond to database operations. The request is formatted into a standard database-independent form that the security gateway allows to pass to the database server intact. A Web-service runtime environment interprets the requested Web service, thereby instructing the server-side database-management application to respond to the user's access request. In a reverse procedure, the database's response is translated into a Web-service response to the requested Web service that may similarly tunnel through the security gateway, and that is then translated back into a form that may be properly interpreted by the requesting user's client application.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for adding user-configurable data fields to an existing database table is provided. The method is implemented using a computing device including a processor communicatively coupled to a database. The method includes receiving, from a user, a data structure definition defining a custom data type. The method also includes storing the data structure definition as a custom data type record in a custom data types table within the database. The method further includes creating a first values record in a custom values table within the database. The values record includes a first field that includes a series of bytes formatted using at least the custom data type. The method also includes linking the values record to the custom data type record. The method further includes identifying a target record in the existing database table and linking the target record to the first values record through a reference field.

Abstract: A method for controlling a peripheral hardware device connected to a computer system is disclosed, the computer system includes a first operating system, acting as the host operating system, running on a first processor platform, and a generic device driver operating on the combination of the first operating system and first processor platform. The method includes delivering the peripheral hardware device with an original peripheral hardware device driver file written for a second operating system or a second processor platform, handling, by the generic device driver, interfaces between the first operating system, the peripheral hardware device and a software application, all configured to interact with the original peripheral device driver file, and emulating, by the generic device driver, at least a part of the second operating system and the second processor that are required for the peripheral hardware device to operate on the first operating system and the first processor.

Abstract: This disclosure uses both an administrative thread and multiple worker threads (N) to process the LUN on-lining work in parallel at both the volume level and the LUN level. When the administrative thread receives the message to start the initialization, the administrative thread assigns the work for reading the VTOC information for the LUNs in a volume to one or more worker threads and moves on to perform additional initialization tasks. N worker threads work on N volumes in parallel. These worker threads then independently send messages (e.g., asynchronous messages) to the file system layer, and once the file system layer is done loading the required buffers, the file system layer sends replies back to the administrative thread. The administrative thread then again assigns work to the worker threads to finally bring the LUNs on-line.

Abstract: An information processing device, configured to be connected with a plurality of devices, includes a device extracting unit configured to extract, from the plurality of devices connected with the information processing device, a plurality of first devices of which respective drivers for controlling the plurality of first devices are to be installed into the information processing device, and an installation executing unit configured to consecutively install, into the information processing device, the respective drivers of the plurality of first devices extracted by the device extracting unit, in a single installation.

Abstract: Virtualization of a PCI Endpoint via the Internet and LANs. The invention is a solution that allows the use of low-complexity, low-cost PCI Express Endpoint Type 0 cores or custom logic for relatively simple virtualization applications. The invention combines two physically separate assemblies in such a way that they appear to the host system as one local multifunctional PCI Express Endpoint device.

Abstract: Methods and structure for reduced layout congestion in a switching device integrated circuit. A switching device such as a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) expander comprises a switching circuit to couple any of a plurality (“N”) of physical links of the switching device with any other physical link of the switching device. The switching circuit comprises a first stage circuit adapted to couple any of the N physical links with a selected one of N/2 communication paths of the switching circuit and comprises a second stage circuit adapted to couple any of the N/2 communication paths with any of the N physical links. Since only N/2 communication paths may be active at any time in such a switching device, a control unit of the switching device tracks which of the N/2 communication paths are presently in use or unused so that an unused path may be selected for a new connection.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to booting to a network storage target. In general, in one implementation, a bus-to-network device driver is loaded during a machine boot, where the bus-to-network device driver is capable of sending machine bus commands over a network, providing access to the network for a network device driver, and distinguishing between received responses to the machine bus commands and other network traffic corresponding to the network device driver. Loading of the bus-to-network device driver can occur in response to an operating system load of bus drivers. For example, the bus-to-network device driver can be an iSCSI driver, and the operating system load of bus drivers can be the operating system load of SCSI drivers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a multipathing connection to a storage volume, where in one embodiment, the invention prohibits the disk driver from reading the storage parameter information (e.g., table of contents) upon initialization. The method commences with a multipathing disk driver determining at least on active port and at least on passive port for the storage volume. The disk driver then sends a request via the active port to the storage volume for the storage parameter information that is contained in the disk array. After the host computer's operating system disk driver receives the storage parameter information, it copies the information and distributes the information to the port definitions for the passive ports. Consequently, the ports are defined without causing a failover within the storage volume.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for relaying events from a storage controller to a host server. Responsive to identifying an event occurring within a storage device, a notification is sent to a device server in the host server with which the event is associated. A server virtual disk is identified using a unique identification of the server virtual disk. Responsive to identifying the server virtual disk, at least one device executing an application on the host server is notified of an impending degradation in a mode of operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to booting to a network storage target. In general, in one implementation, a bus-to-network device driver is loaded during a machine boot, where the bus-to-network device driver is capable of sending machine bus commands over a network, providing access to the network for a network device driver, and distinguishing between received responses to the machine bus commands and other network traffic corresponding to the network device driver. Loading of the bus-to-network device driver can occur in response to an operating system load of bus drivers. For example, the bus-to-network device driver can be an iSCSI driver, and the operating system load of bus drivers can be the operating system load of SCSI drivers.

Abstract: The representation of storage devices on computers (e.g., as logical volumes) may be complicated by the pooling of multiple storage devices in order to apply redundancy plans such as mirroring and checksumming. Presented herein is a storage device driver configured to operate as a storage device interface generating representations of the storage regions of the storage devices; to claim those regions as a storage controller; and to expose pooled storage regions as logical disks. Additionally, the storage device driver may support the inclusion of storage devices in a cluster, comprising nodes that may be appointed as managers of the storage pool configuration; as managers of the storage devices; as owners having exclusive read/write access to the storage pool or cluster resources; and as cluster resource writers having exclusive write access to a cluster resource. The nodes of the cluster may interoperate to share the storage devices while avoiding write conflicts.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling FCS and zoning operations in an enhanced SAS expander. Features and aspects hereof provide for enhanced logic within a SAS expander to detect receipt of an SAF in a zoning capable SAS expander and to modify the SAF to correct the zone group identifier and associated CRC to enable switching among a plurality of established connection (as provided by FCS enhancement) while maintaining accurate zoning information.

Abstract: A system may include information handling system devices connected together to form a computing cluster utilizing a SCSI interface. Each one of the information handling system devices may include an operating system kernel having a SCSI networking module for encapsulating Internet Protocol (IP) packets for transmitting between the information handling system devices. The system may also include SCSI hardware for connecting the information handling system devices together. The SCSI hardware may be configured to transmit the encapsulated IP packets between the information handling system devices.

Abstract: An example disclosed is directed to a switch. The switch includes a communication interface and a discovery module. The discovery module is to receive a registration request for bulk discovery from an initiator device via the communication interface. The discovery module is further to receive a change indication specifying that a change has occurred in a fabric associated with the switch, and update a data model based on the received change indication to generate an updated data model. The discovery module then filters the updated data model to generate a filtered data model, and sends the filtered data model to the initiator device via the communication interface.

Abstract: Method and System for processing network information is provided. The system includes a computing system having a processor for executing instructions for an application module that generates an input/output (“I/O”) request for transmitting and receiving network information to and from the network device; a storage driver for receiving the I/O request from the application module; a network protocol stack for executing a network protocol layer for processing network related information; and an accelerator module that interfaces with the storage driver and the network protocol stack for accelerating processing of Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) protocol data units (PDUs).

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods for a simplified multi-client initiator/target within a SAS device. Features and aspects hereof provide a simplified initiator/target component to enable cost reduction and simplification of SAS devices requiring only limited initiator/target functionality. In one embodiment, a SAS expander may incorporate simplified SSP/STP/SMP initiator/target features and aspects hereof to permit simple management of devices coupled to the expander or coupled downstream through other expanders. The simplified multi-client initiator/target suffices for simple management functions while reducing cost and complexity of the SAS expander. Features and aspects hereof may be implemented with shared circuits for each of multiple client protocols coupled with firmware operable in a general or special purpose processor embedded in the SAS device.

Abstract: A storage system comprising: a SCSI initiator being configured for receiving a data request and providing a SMP request corresponding to the data request, the SCSI initiator being further configured for encapsulating the SMP request into a first SCSI command; a SCSI target being configured for receiving the first SCSI command, the SCSI target being further configured for recognizing encapsulation of the SMP request and obtaining the SMP request from the first SCSI command; and an SMP target being configured for processing the SMP request and providing an SMP response to the SCSI target. The SCSI target being further configured for acknowledging the SCSI initiator upon reception of the SMP response; and the SCSI initiator being further configured for sending a second SCSI command to the SCSI target to retrieve the SMP response.

Abstract: There is disclosed an information processing method including: a step of displaying a setting window, which includes customizable items, of a device driver; a step of registering items set using the setting window as customized items; a step of writing the customized items in user interface-related data of the device driver; and a user interface display step of displaying a user interface of the device driver with reference to the user interface-related data upon launching the device driver.

Abstract: Data processing and an accelerator system therefore are described. An embodiment relates generally to a data processing system. In such an embodiment, a bus and an accelerator are coupled to one another. The accelerator has an application function block. The application function block is to process data to provide processed data to storage. A network interface is coupled to obtain the processed data from the storage for transmission.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to booting to a network storage target. In general, in one implementation, a bus-to-network device driver is loaded during a machine boot, where the bus-to-network device driver is capable of sending machine bus commands over a network, providing access to the network for a network device driver, and distinguishing between received responses to the machine bus commands and other network traffic corresponding to the network device driver. Loading of the bus-to-network device driver can occur in response to an operating system load of bus drivers. For example, the bus-to-network device driver can be an iSCSI driver, and the operating system load of bus drivers can be the operating system load of SCSI drivers.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for securing access to kernel devices may include (1) identifying a context proxy privileged to access a secure device interface for a device, (2) receiving a request from the context proxy to allow a user-mode process to access a non-secure device interface for the device, (3) receiving a request from the user-mode process to access the non-secure device interface, and then (4) allowing the user-mode process to access the non-secure device interface directly based on the request from the context proxy. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a memory system is disclosed to include at least one initiator, a SATA device, and an improved bridge device configured to facilitate communication between the at least one initiator and the SATA device and having at least one input port and operative to receive information through the input port(s) from the initiators, the improved bridge device for processing a notification event wherein notification is sent to the at least one initiators during a notification event, and for performing an action, based on a an event, thereby facilitating ease of communication between the initiator and the SATA device.

Abstract: A SAS expander that includes a virtual device manager and a communications manager. The virtual device manager is to generate a virtual device table comprising virtual device PHYs associated with virtual device drivers for host device drivers to allow communication between the host device drivers. The communications manager is to receive a request from a first host device driver of a first host to communicate with a second host device driver of a second host, and in response to receipt of the request, establish communication between the first host device driver and a virtual device PHY associated with a virtual device driver of the second host device driver.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for relaying events from a storage controller to a host server. Responsive to identifying an event occurring within a storage device, a notification is sent to a device server in the host server with which the event is associated. A server virtual disk is identified using a unique identification of the server virtual disk. Responsive to identifying the server virtual disk, at least one device executing an application on the host server is notified of an impending degradation in a mode of operation.

Abstract: Method and system for transferring information from a host system is provided. The method includes sending a SCSI read command and a scatter/gather (“S/G”) list from an application executed by a processor for the host system to a iSCSI software layer executed by the processor for the host system; generating an iSCSI protocol data unit (“PDU”) header for a iSCSI PDU for the SCSI read command; sending the iSCSI PDU to a data mover layer executed by the processor for the host system; and sending the iSCSI PDU to an iSCSI offload module in a network adapter operationally coupled to the host system; wherein the iSCSI offload module appends a PDU header digest to the iSCSI PDU header; and transmits the PDU to a PDU destination.

Abstract: A serial attached small computer system interface (SAS) expander for providing a virtual tape drive. The expander includes a virtual tape manager to generate a virtual tape virtual PHY capable of being part of a zone group wherein the virtual tape virtual PHY comprises drive bays which support disk drives for emulation of tape drives.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to booting to a network storage target. In general, in one implementation, a bus-to-network device driver is loaded during a machine boot, where the bus-to-network device driver is capable of sending machine bus commands over a network, providing access to the network for a network device driver, and distinguishing between received responses to the machine bus commands and other network traffic corresponding to the network device driver. Loading of the bus-to-network device driver can occur in response to an operating system load of bus drivers. For example, the bus-to-network device driver can be an iSCSI driver, and the operating system load of bus drivers can be the operating system load of SCSI drivers.

Abstract: Efficiency is improved for device drivers. A first library is input that includes a first version of the device drivers. First metadata is input that specifies the devices of the computing arrangement and associates each device with the first version of a corresponding device driver. The first version of the corresponding device driver for each device is transformed into a second version of the corresponding device driver. The first version of the corresponding device driver indirectly accesses the device and the second version of the corresponding device driver directly accesses the device. A second library is output including the second version of the corresponding device driver for each device.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are provided for isolating a storage application from a network interface driver. The apparatus includes a definition module, an application interface, a translation module, and a data buffer. The definition module defines a set of storage application functions. The translation module translates each storage application function to one or more network interface driver functions. The data buffer transfers data blocks between the storage application and the network interface driver.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for providing multi-pathing via Small Computer System Interface Input/Output (SCSI I/O) referral between an initiator and a storage cluster which are communicatively coupled via a network, the storage cluster including at least a first target device and a second target device. The method includes receiving an input/output (I/O) at the first target device from the initiator via the network. The I/O includes a data request. The method further includes transmitting a SCSI I/O referral list to the initiator when data included in the data request is not stored on the first target device, but is stored on the second target device. The referral list includes first and second port identifiers for identifying first and second ports of the second target device respectively. The first and second ports of the target device are identified as access ports for accessing the data requested in the data request.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to booting to a network storage target. In general, in one implementation, a bus-to-network device driver is loaded during a machine boot, where the bus-to-network device driver is capable of sending machine bus commands over a network, providing access to the network for a network device driver, and distinguishing between received responses to the machine bus commands and other network traffic corresponding to the network device driver. Loading of the bus-to-network device driver can occur in response to an operating system load of bus drivers. For example, the bus-to-network device driver can be an iSCSI driver, and the operating system load of bus drivers can be the operating system load of SCSI drivers.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing unwanted communications. A communication is received from a sending party. Input indicating the communication is to be filtered is received. Filtering information is extracted from the communication. The filtering information is distributed to multiple telecommunications platforms. The communication and future communications are blocked across the multiple telecommunications platforms utilizing the filtering information.

Abstract: A storage system comprising: a SCSI initiator being configured for receiving a data request and providing a SMP request corresponding to the data request, the SCSI initiator being further configured for encapsulating the SMP request into a first SCSI command; a SCSI target being configured for receiving the first SCSI command, the SCSI target being further configured for recognizing encapsulation of the SMP request and obtaining the SMP request from the first SCSI command; and an SMP target being configured for processing the SMP request and providing an SMP response to the SCSI target. The SCSI target being further configured for acknowledging the SCSI initiator upon reception of the SMP response; and the SCSI initiator being further configured for sending a second SCSI command to the SCSI target to retrieve the SMP response.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a SAS controller device that abstract access from one or more virtual machines operating on a host system to SAS physical devices connected to the SAS controller without a routing table for port-to-port messaging on the SAS controller. An embodiment may create a virtual expander for each physical port of the SAS controller and further create virtual ports within the virtual expanders to provide abstracted access to SAS physical devices for the virtual machines. The SAS physical devices may be replicated/cloned within the virtual ports. Each replicated/cloned SAS physical device may be assigned a unique SAS address for the SAS controller (i.e., unique for the SAS controller such that other replicates/clones on other virtual ports have a different SAS address).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a storage virtualization system with distributed event processing. In an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises receiving an event by an intelligent switch in a storage virtualization system in which the intelligent switch is coupled to a control path cluster, identifying a type of the event to determine whether the event can be processed by the intelligent switch, processing the event by the intelligent switch where the event type is of a type that can be processed by the intelligent switch, wherein the intelligent switch continues to run in the absence of the control path cluster without direct communication between data path controllers, and processing the event at a control path cluster if the event type cannot be processed by the intelligent switch.