International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.v.

Robert George Emberty

Craig Anthony Klein

Daniel James Winarski

Donald Eugene Denning

Jonathan Wade Ain

Gregory Allen Williams

Kamal Emile Dimitri

Edward Joseph Pawlowski

Lee Curtis Randall

David Adam Sinclair

Steven J Buller

Eric Y K Hew

David Dale McBride

Nils Haustein

Louie Arthur Dickens

James Mitchell Karp

Peter Connley Lancaster

Daniel James Winarksi

Blanca Rodriguez

Craig Alan Garrett

Michael Dana Bowers

Kenneth Glenn Day

Felix J Misewich

Samuel Irwin Lewis

Felix Joseph Misewich

Tina L Hernandez

Donald Jay Albin, Jr

A power supply module removably disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system. An automated data storage and retrieval system which includes one or more power supply modules removably disposed therein. An accessor movably disposed with an automated data storage and retrieval system comprising a gripper mechanism which can be releasably attached to a power supply module. A method to supply power to an automated data storage and retrieval system. A method to monitor the operation of a power supply module removably disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system.

Power supply apparatus and method using same

A method and apparatus for locating an un-located asset in a computer center including a plurality of assets connected together by a network. The method comprises the steps of host asset of the computer center, obtaining an address for the un-located asset; and sending a command from the host asset to the un-located asset, through the computer center network, for the un-located asset to produce a signal for physically locating the un-located asset. Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of sending a request from the host asset to the un-located asset, through the computer center network, for the un-located asset to confirm that the un-located asset is in the computer center; and in response to receipt of said request, the un-located asset sending a signal to the host asset to confirm that the un-located asset is in the computer center. For example, an IP 'SQUAWK' command may be issued from any computer asset or system in the computer center or network to the IP address of the un-located computer asset system. Preferably, the code needed to implement the SQUAWK command is contained in a patch that is loaded on the computer systems during initial system code load.

Locator for computer equipment

A power supply module removably disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system. An automated data storage and retrieval system which includes one or more power supply modules removably disposed therein. An accessor movably disposed with an automated data storage and retrieval system comprising a gripper mechanism which can be releaseably attached to a power supply module. A method to supply power to an automated data storage and retrieval system. A method to monitor the operation of a power supply module removably disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system.

Method and apparatus for supplying power in an automated data storage and retrieval system

An accessor moveably disposed within an autowated data storage and retrieval system is provided, wherein the automated data storage and retrieval system includes one or more power supply modules removeably disposed therein. Each of the one or more power supply modules comprises an attachment device, and the accessor comprises at least one gripper mechanism, wherein the gripper mechanism can be releaseably attached to the attachment device.

Accessor movably disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system

Provided are a method, system, and device for signaling a reconnection inhibitor over a bus to cause the reconnection inhibitor to access the bus to inhibit an Input/Output (I/O) controller from accessing the bus. An initiator transmits I/O requests on the bus to the I/O controller, wherein the I/O requests are queued in an I/O queue, wherein the I/O controller is inhibited by the reconnection inhibitor from draining the queue while the initiator transmits requests to the I/O controller.

Method, system, and program for building a queue to test a device

A system and method for measuring data transmission activity through a port of a switch device interconnecting nodes of a storage area network, the port transmitting data as words of predetermined length, one data word indicating idle port activity. The method includes steps of: counting a number of transmitted words received from the port in a first counter device; and, for each word counted, comparing that word with a predetermined word indicating no (idle) port transmission activity. In response to the comparing, a number of matches are counted in a second counter device. In this manner, a ratio of a number of counted matches with a total amount of words counted indicates available bandwidth for transmitting additional data over that link. Preferably, this value is communicated to a processor device for controlling bandwidth over the link.

Available bandwidth detector for SAN switch ports

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for quick access of stored removable storage media. The apparatus includes an automated data storage library, a communications processor, and a media interface module. The automated data storage library has a plurality of storage cells, each storage cell having a media interface module for communicating with removable storage media. The communication processor module communicates with the media interface module of each storage cell. A grid bus couples the media interface module and the communication processor module. The system includes a storage area network coupling multiple hosts to at least one automated data storage library. The method includes communicating with the removable storage media, communicating with the media interface modules, and coupling the media interface modules to the communication processor module.

Apparatus, system, and method for quick access grid bus connection of storage cells in automated storage libraries

A system and method for measuring data transmission activity through a port of a switch device interconnecting nodes of a storage area network, the port transmitting data as words of predetermined length, one data word indicating idle port activity. The method includes steps of: counting a number of transmitted words received from the port in a first counter device; and, for each word counted, comparing that word with a predetermined word indicating no (idle) port transmission activity. In response to the comparing, a number of matches are counted in a second counter device. In this manner, a ratio of a number of counted matches with a total amount of words counted indicates available bandwidth for transmitting additional data over that link. Preferably, this available bandwidth information is included in a link state record that the switch communicates to other switch devices interconnecting that link. Processing devices at the switches determine a link cost factor, based on the available bandwidth of that link and, in addition, the link speed, the cost factor being used to optimize path selection over links in the network according to a path routing algorithm.

System and method for selecting fibre channel switched fabric frame paths

An accessor moveably disposed within a data storage and retrieval system, where that accessor includes an information input/output device and a power supply connector disposed on a gripper mechanism such that the information input/output device and the power supply connector can be releaseably coupled/connected to an information input/output port and a power port, respectively, disposed on a hard disk drive unit disposed in a storage slot within the data storage and retrieval system. A data storage and retrieval system which includes one or more of Applicants' accessors, one or more hard disk disposed in one or more hard disk drive units each of which includes an information input/output port in communication with that hard disk, and an information transfer station in communication with a host computer, wherein that information transfer station can communicate with Applicants' accessor(s). A method to transfer information between one or more hard disks disposed in Applicants' data storage and retrieval system and a host computer using a memory device disposed on one or more accessors moveably disposed within Applicants' data storage and retrieval system. Applicants' data storage and retrieval system includes computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein, where that computer readable program code comprises a series of computer readable program steps to implement Applicants' method.

Method and apparatus to transfer information between a host computer and one or more hard disks disposed in a data storage and retrieval system

A data processing system and method are disclosed for simulating a hardware fault occurring on an expansion card coupled to the system utilizing a bus. The hardware fault to simulate is specified. A determination is made of a signal to output utilizing the bus to simulate the hardware fault occurring on the expansion card. The signal is output during operation of the expansion card such that the hardware fault occurring on the expansion card is simulated.

Data processing method and system for simulation of hardware faults utilizing a PCI bus

A method and system including apparatus for detecting and blocking an invalid request to a target wherein fiber channels interconnect the data processing configuration. A request made from a hub such as a fabric switch to an internal fiber channel arbitrated loop is blocked by substituting IDLE characters for the frames of data included with the request. The substitution of IDLE signals can also occur within an internal fiber channel arbitrated loop system where access is blocked to a confidential data storage system. If the request is legitimate, the data frames are passed to the target and the requested data is transmitted back to the requester. If the request is refused as being an unauthorized request, the data frames are replaced with IDLE characters and no transfer of confidential data occurs.

Fiber channel address blocking

A method and apparatus for providing, in an automated data storage system having a plurality of removable data storage devices, independent memory devices associated with and physically attached to respective removable data storage devices for storing volume identification, RAID bundle information where applicable, and other drive specific information about their respective removable data storage devices. The removable data storage devices are typically hard disk drives, and the independent memory devices are preferably serial electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory ('EEPROM') solid state memory devices. The EEPROM operates independently of the operation of its respective removable hard disk drive, does not require that the hard disk drive be powered up, and continues to operate in the presence of a catastrophic failure of the hard disk drive.

Serial EEPROM for volume identification and drive specific information storage in a hard disk drive library

A disk drive having an optical signal connector and a magnetic power coupling is placed in a drive carrier. The bottom of the carrier has a recess with a transverse pin mounted in the recess. A pair of small magnets are mounted near the rear of the carrier. The carrier slidably mounts in the drawer of a disk drive library. The drawer has an optical signal connector and a magnetic power coupling that mate with those of the disk drive. The drawer also has a sensor for detecting the magnets on the carrier, and an eject button for manually ejecting the carrier. In addition, a drive mechanism is mounted in the bottom of the drawer for engaging the pin on the bottom of the carrier. Although the carrier may be manually inserted or removed from the drawer, the disk drive library can also perform these functions automatically. The automated sequence is accomplished by inserting the carrier into the drawer until the pin engages the drive mechanism. When the sensor senses the first magnet, the system actuates the drive mechanism to pull the carrier completely into the drawer such that the connectors and couplings interconnect. Proper registration of the carrier in the drawer is verified when the sensor senses the second magnet.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Robert George Emberty