1e Limited

Mick Saxton

Sophie Chang

Garth Howell

Peter John Murray

Mark Blackburn

Sumir Karayi

The present disclosure relates to a switch for a network, and specifically the dynamic allocation of buffer memory within the switch. A communication channel is established between the switch and a network device. The switch configures and allocates a portion of memory to a receive socket buffer for the established channel. Upon receipt of a signal from the network device, the switch allocates a second portion of memory to the receive socket buffer.

Dynamic buffer allocation

At least one of a method, a client computing device, and a server computing device for communicating data associated with a virtual machine are described. In one example, a client computing device is communicatively coupled to a network. A first set of data representative of at least a portion of a virtual machine disk image accessible on the network is determined, the first set of data comprising data arranged in a first sequence. From this first set of data, a second set of data is determined for communication to the client computing device over the network, the second set of data comprising at least a portion of the first set of data arranged in a second sequence, the second sequence being different from the first sequence.

Communication of virtual machine data

User data stored on a first computer in a network is backed up to a computer which is one of a plurality of other computers in the network. The user data may be backed-up because a new operating system is to be installed. A request message indicating that the user data needs to be backed up is transmitted from the first computer to the network and is received at the other computers. One of the other computers is selected based on data indicating the extent to which each of the replying computers complies with one or more selection criteria. The first computer then transmits the user date to the selected computer with an identifier identifying the user data. The user data is stored in storage associated with the selected computer. The first and other computers may be in the same sub-network. The selection may be made by the first computer.

Backing-up user data

A systems management computer is provided, and comprises a processor configured to execute a set of stored instructions that implements a method for receiving data from a server over a first network and for distributing the data to a plurality of computers over a different second network. One instruction is for electing a computer from said plurality of computers of the second network to act as an active download master. Another instruction operates if the computer is elected as the active download master computer and initiates downloading of data over the first network to local data storage. A further instruction operates if the computer is elected as the active download master computer and multicasts, by a multicast distribution engine, the downloaded data over the second network to other computers of the second network.

Data distribution apparatus and method

Embodiments of the invention are concerned with data distribution apparatus, for use on each of a plurality of machines in distributing a set of data over a network amongst said machines. The apparatus comprises: In embodiments of the invention, a first machine is elected as download master and multicasts downloaded data, via a group address, to the networked machines. Each machine receiving the multicast data monitors the data blocks received and, if a machine has received an incomplete set, for example because it came online late or as a result of unreliability, it can access a shared cache of another machine having a more complete set. Such a machine then starts a secondary multicast so that other machines can also complete their sets. Only one machine provides a secondary multicast at one time, to prevent high traffic in the network. While the download master is still downloading, the secondary multicast function is cycled around amongst the networked machines to avoid overload of any one machine.

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London, United Kingdom

Mick Saxton