Abstract: A method for analyzing impact on binaries, software, and hardware of a planned software upgrade for a computer system. The method includes performing a configuration inventory for the computer system with profiles for the computer system of hardware, software including operating system software, middleware, applications, development tools, and third party software, application interfaces, and binaries. A set of upgrade rules, e.g., rules defining hardware and software requirements including interfaces, libraries, dependencies, and more, are accessed and the binary profiles are analyzed based on the upgrade rules to determine safe binaries and at-risk binaries. The at-risk binaries are further divided into subcategories based on risks of incompatibility with the planned software upgrade. The subcategories include failure, high risk, and low risk.

Abstract: A method of identifying applications installed on a customer computer system by collecting signature information associated with installed binaries. The binaries are precisely identified by comparing the collected signature information to previously stored signatures. In a specific implementation the signatures comprise MD5 signatures.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing binary compatibility between software modules permits software developers to register with a system, download software tools for testing binary compatibility between their software products and one or more ABIs. The system further enables software developers to certify their binary compatibility with one or more ABIs by uploading compatibility information to the system. A unique identifier of the software, e.g., the MD5 signature of the binary code, may be uploaded with the results of the compatibility test. The results of the compatibility test and the unique identifier may be stored in a database to record whether the developer's software is binary compatible with one or more of the ABIs. In addition, computer users may register with the system, utilize a tool that collects the MD5 signatures of the binary files on their computer(s) and forward the MD5 signatures to the system.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing binary compatibility between software modules permits software end users to register with a system, download software tools for testing binary compatibility between one or more ABIs and binary files resident on the end users' computer system(s). The testing generates a file including the results of the binary compatibility test for each binary file tested. A unique identifier of each binary file, e.g., the MD5 signature of the binary code, may be uploaded with the results of the compatibility test. The results of the compatibility test and the unique identifier may be further analyzed to determine a risk profile that the binary file(s) on the end user's computer system(s) is not binary compatible with a particular ABI. A report may be generated indicating the binary compatibility risk profile of the files resident on the user's computer system.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing binary compatibility between software modules permits software developers to register with a system, download software tools for testing binary compatibility between their software products and one or more ABIs. The system further enables software developers to certify their binary compatibility with one or more ABIs by uploading compatibility information to the system. A unique identifier of the software, e.g., the MD5 signature of the binary code, may be uploaded with the results of the compatibility test. The results of the compatibility test and the unique identifier may be stored in a database to record whether the developer's software is binary compatible with one or more of the ABIs. In addition, computer users may register with the system, utilize a tool that collects the MD5 signatures of the binary files on their computer(s) and forward the MD5 signatures to the system.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing binary compatibility between software modules permits software end users to register with a system, download software tools for testing binary compatibility between one or more ABIs and binary files resident on the end users' computer system(s). The testing generates a file including the results of the binary compatibility test for each binary file tested. A unique identifier of each binary file, e.g., the MD5 signature of the binary code, may be uploaded with the results of the compatibility test. The results of the compatibility test and the unique identifier may be further analyzed to determine a risk profile that the binary file(s) on the end user's computer system(s) is not binary compatible with a particular ABI. A report may be generated indicating the binary compatibility risk profile of the files resident on the user's computer system.

Abstract: A method of identifying applications installed on a customer computer system by collecting signature information associated with installed binaries. The binaries are precisely identified by comparing the collected signature information to previously stored signatures. In a specific implementation the signatures comprise MD5 signatures.

Abstract: A method for analyzing impact on binaries, software, and hardware of a planned software upgrade for a computer system. The method includes performing a configuration inventory for the computer system with profiles for the computer system of hardware, software including operating system software, middleware, applications, development tools, and third party software, application interfaces, and binaries. A set of upgrade rules, e.g., rules defining hardware and software requirements including interfaces, libraries, dependencies, and more, are accessed and the binary profiles are analyzed based on the upgrade rules to determine safe binaries and at-risk binaries. The at-risk binaries are further divided into subcategories based on risks of incompatibility with the planned software upgrade. The subcategories include failure, high risk, and low risk.

Abstract: A method for reporting computer system and network asset changes. The method includes receiving from a client node first and second comparison points, such as survey dates or user-entered dates. The method continues with retrieving from memory sets of asset data corresponding to each of the comparison points and then comparing the sets of asset data to identify asset deltas. An asset delta report is transmitted to the client node providing the sets of asset data for the two comparison points and change of status flags or other indications of which assets were determined to have changes at the two comparison points. Viewing parameters and filtering variables, such as particular monitored systems and asset subsets, are received and used to determine which asset data sets to compare and to include in the asset delta report. To reduce storage requirements, asset data is stored when changes occur between asset surveys.

Abstract: A method and associated system for providing customer-directed user administration within a system monitoring environment. The method includes assigning customer users differing privileges for user administration based on an assigned user class. A root administrator class has administration privileges to view gathered data for the entire monitored environment and administer users in the entire environment by adding or modifying users with less administration privileges, such as domain administrators and viewers. Users may be assigned as domain administrators and viewers of one or more domain within the environment. Domain administrators can view system data within the assigned domain and administer users within the domain, including viewers and domain administrators. Viewers can view system data within the assigned domain. Users being assigned to multiple domains filter the reported data by selecting a subset of the domains for monitoring.