Abstract: A network system includes a reconfigurable network and a network management system. The network management system can represent the network in the form of a network image. Network image objects, corresponding to network objects, can be selected as copy sources and paste targets. A copy-and-paste operation modifies the network image to indicate a potential modification of the actual network in which the configuration of the network object corresponding to the selected copy source object is applied to the network object corresponding to the selected image object. In addition, the copy-and-paste operation can automatically represent a common connection of a source object input and a target object input to a common data source. Furthermore, the copy-and-paste operation can automatically connect outputs of source and target objects to a comparison function so that the implementation of the copy-and-paste operation on the actual network can be validated.

Abstract: A method, and a corresponding apparatus, implemented on a suitably programmed processor, selects an ideal computer to remove from a computer cluster observing a failure condition. The computer cluster includes multiple computers. The method includes the steps of recording, at each of the computers, health data for each of the computers, computing, at a health timeout, a first health score for each of the computers based on the health data, computing, at a fatal timeout, and based on the first health score, a second health score for each of the computers, and at each of the computers, selecting a computer having the highest health score for removal from the cluster.

Abstract: An application package startup procedure is divided into a plurality of atomic steps. For each of the plurality of atomic steps, a start fragment is created. The start fragment is configured to execute substeps that further the startup procedure. A stop fragment is created. The stop fragment is configured to execute substeps that undo its corresponding start fragment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to creating a data structure that specifies relationships between networked objects. According to one embodiment, information indicating a degree to which a computer potentially satisfies a condition between a software program and an object is received. The computer and the object are associated with a network. A data structure that specifies the condition between the software program and the object and specifies a degree to which the computer potentially satisfies the condition is created based on the received information.

Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for preventing computers in a network from concurrently processing a task, where the task can be successfully processed by only one computer in the network at a time. The system comprises a plurality of computers connected to the network and a locking device connected to the network, wherein the locking device uses a password change system to control which computer in the network is able to process the task.

Abstract: A system and method for handling a query seeking information about computers of a network, where the query can be optimized in a way which limits the set of computers examined to a set smaller than all known computers. The query is examined to determine a limited list of computers to be accessed that would yield the complete result. If the query can be satisfied using data from a number of computers which is less than all of the computers in the network, then the number of computers which is less than all of the computers in the network is accessed to satisfy the query. In this manner, the data collection process for satisfying the query is generally more efficient than accessing all of the computers in the network.

Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for preventing computers in a network from concurrently processing a task, where the task can be successfully processed by only one computer in the network at a time. The system comprises a plurality of computers connected to the network and a locking device connected to the network, wherein the locking device uses a password change system to control which computer in the network is able to process the task.

Abstract: A system and method for handling a query seeking information about computers of a network, where the query can be optimized in a way which limits the set of computers examined to a set smaller than all known computers. The query is examined to determine a limited list of computers to be accessed that would yield the complete result. If the query can be satisfied using data from a number of computers which is less than all of the computers in the network, then the number of computers which is less than all of the computers in the network is accessed to satisfy the query. In this manner, the data collection process for satisfying the query is generally more efficient than accessing all of the computers in the network.

Abstract: A system and method which monitor system attributes specified by a client and report the existence of a specified condition in such attributes to the client. A system and method allow a client to specify a particular condition of a system attribute of which the client desires to be notified, and the system and method derive data about the system attribute and notify the client upon detecting the existence of the specified condition. In a preferred embodiment, a reporting application receives a request from a client that specifies a query or view, which is used by the reporting application in deriving data and notifying the client of the existence of a specific condition of an attribute. The reporting application derives data about the system according to the specified query to determine if the specified condition exists, and upon determining that the condition exists, the reporting application notifies the requesting client.

Abstract: A rules-based method and apparatus for discriminating amongst a plurality of facts to arrive at a best result applies at least three primary decision-making rules, ie. (1) it is usually undesirable to use an input in combination with a fact which was based on that particular input; (2) using a fact based on several inputs is usually better than using a fact based on a single input; and (3) using a fact based on a shorter series of relationships is usually better than using a fact based on a longer series of relationships.

Abstract: A computing system includes a first processor, a second processor, a first data storage device and a second data storage device. A first network connects the first processor to the second processor. A second network connects the first processor to the first storage device and connects the second processor to the first storage device. A third network connects the second processor to the second storage device and connects the second processor to the second storage device. The first data storage device has a first cluster quorum lock. The second data storage device has a second cluster quorum lock.