International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Jeffery Michael Franke

James A O'Connor

Donald Eugene Johnson

David Robert Woodham

Carl A Morrell

Gerhard Nikolaus Buckler

John K Whetzel

Keith Manders Campbell

Gregory William Dake

Tu T Dang

Michael Charles Elles

Alan David Seid

Itzhack Goldberg

Justin Potok Bandholz

Michael DeCesaris

Martin Joseph Crippen

James Edward Hughes

Joseph Edward Bolan

Michael H Nolterieke

David John Jensen

John K Langgood

Franck Excoffier

Phuong Thanh Nguyen

Edward Klodnicki

Jerry Don Ackaret

Wilson Earl Smith

Michael Scott Rollins

Bay Van Nguyen

Derek Robertson

Brooks Johnston

Brian E Bigelow

John M Sheplock

Ofir D Cohen

Torez Smith

Christopher Lee Durham

Kevin M Cash

David L Cowell

A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving configuration information which corresponds to hardware and software configurations of a user computing environment. This configuration information is used to create a test computing environment which emulates the hardware and software configurations of the user computing environment. Moreover, a software update is applied to the test computing environment, and the test computing environment is operated with the software update applied thereto. Results which correspond to performance of the test computing environment during the operation are received, and a determination is made as to whether one or more errors were experienced by the test computing environment during the operation. In response to determining that at least one error was experienced by the test computing environment during the operation, implementation of the software update in the user computing environment is postponed.

Performing software updates using environment emulation

Technical solutions are described for shifting wearout of an array of storage disks in a storage system. In an aspect, a method includes staggering completion of maximum number of writes for each storage disk in the array. The method also includes copying data from a storage disk in the array to a replacement disk and redirecting a request to access the data from the storage disk to the replacement disk. The method also includes, in response to passage of a predetermined duration of time since copying the data from the storage disk to the replacement disk, copying the data from the replacement disk to the storage disk and directing the request to access the data from the storage disk back to the storage disk.

Shifting wearout of storage disks

Technical solutions are described to forestall data loss caused by wearout of storage disks in an array of storage disks in a storage system by monitoring a rate of writes for a first storage disk in the array and determining a mean time to failure of the first storage disk. A start time is determined based on the mean time to failure, a number of storage disks in the array, and a time to replace a storage disk in the array. At the start time, a notification is issued as an alert to replace the first storage disk to forestall data loss caused by wearout of a second storage disk in conjunction with a wearout of the first storage disk.

Technical solutions are described that shift wearout of an array of storage disks in a storage system. In an aspect, a method includes receiving a request to write data to the storage system. The method also includes generating checksum data corresponding to the data and dividing the checksum data into portions of distinct sizes. The method also includes writing each portion of the checksum data onto a respective storage disk in the array.

A method for securing a serial bus shared by a control module and one or more subordinate electronic devices, the serial bus having a protocol specifying that messages on the serial bus have a source address and a destination address. The method comprises examining, by one or more processors of the control module, each message appearing on the serial bus that was not originated by the control module; identifying, by one or more processors of the control module, a suspect message that satisfies one or more suspect message criteria. The method includes updating, by one or more processors of the control module, an event metric, and testing to determine whether a threshold has been exceeded; and in the event the threshold has not been exceeded, initiating, by one or more processors of the control module, a co-transmission sufficient to disrupt consumption of the suspect message by a subordinate device.

Securing a shared serial bus

A method is provided for cabling a plurality of hardware components. A chassis controller establishes a wireless connection to a wireless device. The chassis controller, via a wireless interface, transmits a chassis map to the wireless device over the wireless connection. The chassis controller, via the wireless interface, transmits to the wireless device, an indication of a first port to be cabled over the wireless connection, the first port. The first port is of a first hardware component of the plurality of hardware components. The chassis controller tests the first port to determine whether cabling of the first port has been performed correctly.

Automated cabling process for a complex environment

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to failover to a standby server when a primary server is under broadcast storm or denial-of-service ('DoS') attack. A primary attack sensing module is included to monitor a rate of incoming data from a computer network to a primary server and to determine if the rate of incoming data is above a primary data rate threshold. A standby contact module is included to request a standby data rate status from a standby server in response to the primary attack module determining that the rate of incoming data to the primary server is above the primary data rate threshold. The standby server is connected to the primary server over a private network. The standby data rate status includes a determination by the standby server of whether a rate of data received by the standby server is above a standby data rate threshold. A standby receiver module is included to receive a standby data rate status from the standby server over the private network. A switchover module is included to deactivate the primary server and to send a command to activate the standby server as a primary server in response to the received standby data rate status indicating that the rate of data received by the standby server has not exceeded the standby data rate threshold.

Apparatus, system, and method for server failover to standby server during broadcast storm or denial-of-service attack

A method and circuit for implementing an enhanced availability personality card for a chassis computer system, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The personality card includes a first erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) and a second EPROM, each EPROM storing Vital Product Data (VPD) and a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor sensing temperature. A primary bidirectional bus and a redundant bidirectional bus are respectively connected between the first EPROM and the first temperature sensor and the second EPROM and the second temperature sensor, and a pair of chassis management modules. Each chassis management module includes a switch connected to both the primary bidirectional bus and the redundant bidirectional bus providing redundant paths, enabling continued function with failure of any critical personality card component.

Implementing ultra high availability personality card

Growing community of inventors

Apex, NC, United States of America

Jeffery Michael Franke