International Business Machines Corporation

Donald Paul Warren, Jr

Michael Allen Kaczmarski

David Maxwell Cannon

Howard Newton Martin

Matthew Joseph Anglin

Mark Alan Haye

Colin Scott Dawson

Avishai Haim Hochberg

Gregory John Tevis

Toby Lyn Marek

Bonnie Jean Vining

Frank David Gallo

Barry Fruchtman

Anthony Steve Pearson

William W Chow

Alan L Stuart

Mark Anthony Sovik

James M Showalter

Robert Guy Vining

Robert Michael Nugent

Lori A Mains

Provided is a method, system and program for storing data for later retrieval and for transfer within a storage hierarchy. A data storage subsystem stores both individual user files and also managed files, each managed file comprising an aggregation of multiple user files. After receiving user files from a client station, the subsystem stores user files in a retrieval storage pool to facilitate file retrieval. Criteria are subsequently applied to the user files stored in the retrieval storage pool to delete low or lower priority files from the retrieval storage pool. In addition, user files are aggregated in managed files for transfer to another location within the storage hierarchy.

System and program for storing data for retrieval and transfer

Method for storing data for retrieval and transfer

A method to copy computer files, where that method includes receiving a computer file, mapping that file to its constituent blocks, generating meta-data describing those constituent blocks, saving that meta-data in a memory device, and copying the file to one or more information storage media, where the mapping step, the generating step, and the saving step, are performed substantially synchronously, and where the copying step is performed at a later time. A data storage and retrieval system comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein to copy computer files on one or more information storage media disposed therein. A computer program product usable with a programmable computer processor having computer readable program code embodied therein for copying computer files.

Apparatus and method to map and copy computer files

A system, apparatus, and process creates a table of contents (TOC), including one or more table of contents (TOC) entries, to manage data in a hierarchical storage management system. Each TOC entry contains metadata describing the contents and attributes of a data object within an image, which is an aggregation of multiple data objects into a single object for storage management purposes. The TOC is stored in a storage hierarchy, such as magnetic disk, for fast access of and efficient operation on the aggregated TOC entries. The system, apparatus, and process also provide for aggregating the TOC entries from one or more TOCs into a TOC set in the storage management server database. The TOC set may be manipulated and queried in order to find a particular data object or image referenced by a TOC entry. The TOC entries, TOCs, and TOC sets may be dynamically managed by the hierarchical data storage management system through implementation of a set of policy management constructs that define appropriate creation, retention, and movement of the objects within the database and storage hierarchy.

Hierarchical storage management using dynamic tables of contents and sets of tables of contents

Provided is a method for managing retention of stored objects, comprising: receiving a modification request with respect to an attribute or archive policy for an object; determining whether an attribute modification protection flag or setting is set in response to the modification request requesting to modify the attribute for the object; allowing the modification of the attribute object in response to determining that the attribute modification protection flag or setting is not set; determining whether a protection retention mechanism or setting is set in response to the modification request requesting to modify the archive policy for the object; and allowing the modification of the archive policy for the object in response to determining that the protection retention mechanism or setting is not set.

Method, system, and program for retention management and protection of stored objects

Method, system, and program for storing data for retrieval and transfer

Provided are a method, system, and program for managing retention of stored objects. A modification request is received with respect to a stored object. A determination is made as to whether a retention protection mechanism is set and a storage policy associated with the stored object is processed to determine whether the stored object has expired according to the storage policy in response to determining that the retention protection mechanism is set. The modification request is allowed to proceed in response to determining that the stored object has expired.

A copy method is disclosed to provide a duplicate copy of source data where the duplicate copy is consistent with the source data as of a designated time. The method includes creating a copy-on-write relationship between specified source data and an original image cache, utilizing an application outboard of the designated host application to copy all items of source data and their associated locations to a secondary data object without regard to whether the items source data have been updated since creating the copy-on-write relationship, and copying a specified amount of contents of the original image cache to the secondary data object. The specified amount includes contents of the original image cache as of completion of the utilizing operation. In addition, the method includes permitting copy-on-write relationship to continue during the utilizing operation and during at least part of the copying operation.

Copy method supplementing outboard data copy with previously instituted copy-on-write logical snapshot to create duplicate consistent with source data as of designated time

Any node in a multi-node processing system may be employed to route commands to a selected group of one or more nodes, and initiate local command execution if permitted by local security provisions. The system includes multiple application nodes interconnected by a network, and one or more administrator nodes each coupled to at least one application node. Each administrator node has assigned security credentials. The process starts when the administrator node transmits input to one of the application nodes (an &ldquo;entry&rdquo; node). The input includes a command and routing information specifying a list of desired application nodes (&ldquo;destination&rdquo; nodes) to execute the command. In response to this input, the entry node transmits messages to all destination nodes to (1) log-in to the destination nodes as the originating administrator node, and (2) request the destination nodes to execute the command. Consulting locally stored security information, each destination node determines whether the entry node's log-in should succeed. If so, the destination node consults locally stored authority information to determine whether the initiating administrator node has authority to execute the requested command. If so, the destination node executes the command. The destination node sends the entry node a response representing the outcome of command execution. The entry node organizes such responses and provides a representative output.

System and method for command routing and execution in a multiprocessing system

Disclosed is a server having a plurality of clients coupled to the server at client nodes, and coupled to a plurality of receivers. Events, which may range from a successful completion message to a major error alert, may be generated relating to the server or to the client nodes. A method is disclosed for dynamically selectively distributing the events to particular ones of the receivers, in response to a selective enabling/disabling of the events to each receiver. The method with respect to client nodes comprises: upon opening a session of a client node, the selectively enabled events/receivers relating to the client node are determined. Upon the selective enabling/disabling occurring during the session of the client node, the determined selectively enabled events/receivers relating to the client node are dynamically updated. Then, upon occurrence of an event relating to a client node, the event is distributed to ones of the receivers having been selectively enabled for the event in the determining and the dynamically updating steps. Additionally, classes of events or wild card groups of client nodes may be enabled.

Dynamic selective distribution of events to server receivers

Disclosed is a method, embodiable in computer readable program code in a network resource, for dynamically changing a network protocol management information base (MIB) module, the protocol requiring predetermined fixed fields in the MIB module. The method comprises inserting a variable in one of the predetermined fixed fields in the MIB module, and providing a first path for dynamically setting a reference to a script which substitutes for the variable, the referenced script defining a user option for operating the network resource. The referenced script operation may sense a value related to the network resource. A second path is provided to the script reference, whereby a query on the second path activates the script operation to provide the value at the MIB, and the provided value is delivered on the second path. The referenced script operation may additionally comprise conducting an operation of the network resource, and the value relates to the operation of the network resource. The second path provided to the script reference allows a query on the second path to activate the script operation and to provide the value at the MIB.

Dynamic network protocol management information base options

Disclosed are a method, embodiable in computer readable program code, and a system for providing server-to-server event logging. A server-to-server event message is generated including 1) an event identifier, 2) any text insert pertinent to the event message, and 3) a source trail indicating the origin and history of the event, the source trail comprising an identifier of any server forwarding the event, each identifier separated by a special character, so that the origin and any subsequently transmitting servers may be known. Further, the source trail of a received server-to-server event message is parsed to determine each identifier in the source trail, and the event message transmitted to a receiving server only if the receiving server identifier is absent from the parsed source trail, thus preventing any loops which might cause the event to be repeated. Additionally, a receiving server has a listing of events by event identifier with corresponding text messages in the text language of the receiving server. The received event identifier is found in the listing, and the receiving server logs the event, using the identified text message in the listing in the text language of the receiving server, and employing the text inserts.

Server-to-server event logging

A data processing system using a client-server configuration provides a method and apparatus for generating and managing multiple copies of client data files. A server coupled to a plurality of client systems organizes sets of storage volumes into storage pools. Primary copies of the client data files are stored in primary storage pools while additional back-up copies of the client data files are copied to secondary storage pools, called copy storage pools. A server database maintains directory information about the original client data file and reference information about the location of the multiple file copies within the server. A storage manager provides a control center within the server, directing and coordinating the transfer of files between the various storage pools, and updating the server database with directory and reference location information.

Availability and recovery of files using copy storage pools

A system and method for demand-based data recovery operating in a computerized data processing system that includes a computer platform operable under the control of system data, including system programs, catalogs, directories, inventories and the like, and one or more user applications operable in conjunction with user data. The data processing system includes a data backup and recovery system for periodically transferring data between one or more primary data storage resources and one or more secondary data storage resources. The demand-based system and method operate to recover data from the secondary data storage resources to the primary data storage resources following a disaster event resulting in the loss of all or a portion of the data on the primary data storage resources. In accordance therewith, the system data is first recovered from the secondary data storage resources to the primary data storage resources. Execution of the one or more user applications is next commenced but the user data is not immediately recovered. Only if the application requests non-recovered user data will the requested data be recovered from the secondary data storage resources to the primary data storage resources. The demand-based system and method can be adapted to recover entire data sets (e.g. files) from a previous full backup or it can recover data subsets (e.g. records) in either a full backup mode or a change-data-only mode.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Donald Paul Warren, Jr