Abstract: A tool for using an interconnected network of systems to create an index for a database table. An index advisor on a primary server recommends one or more indexes to improve efficiency. While resources of the primary server are being used by various queries and processes, the primary server sends the recommendations to a secondary server (with available resources) so that the recommended indexes may be built in parallel with the processes executing on the primary server. The secondary server builds the recommended indexes based on its own copies of the database tables. The secondary server sends the built indexes to the primary server, where the primary server must reconcile the indexes with any changes that took place to the database tables subsequent to the replication of the tables on the secondary server. The primary server makes the associations between the new indexes and the tables they were built for.

Abstract: A tool for using an interconnected network of systems to create an index for a database table. An index advisor on a primary server recommends one or more indexes to improve efficiency. While resources of the primary server are being used by various queries and processes, the primary server sends the recommendations to a secondary server (with available resources) so that the recommended indexes may be built in parallel with the processes executing on the primary server. The secondary server builds the recommended indexes based on its own copies of the database tables. The secondary server sends the built indexes to the primary server, where the primary server must reconcile the indexes with any changes that took place to the database tables subsequent to the replication of the tables on the secondary server. The primary server makes the associations between the new indexes and the tables they were built for.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing software between computers are disclosed. A software fix manager compares a preferred software inventory with a software inventory from a computer that is to be synchronized and, from this comparison, creates a number of software product synchronizations. An update manager uses the software fix list to apply software product synchronizations to the computer. Preferably, the computer can be brought to the same fix level or product level, if desired, as the preferred software inventory through this process. The software fix manager can place synchronizations in a fix list. There can be multiple software product synchronizations per software product, and the synchronizations can be applied to a computer by removing a software product fix or installing a product software fix. The current invention may also be applied to software products themselves, by installing or removing software products.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing software between computers are disclosed. A software fix manager compares a preferred software inventory with a software inventory from a computer that is to be synchronized and, from this comparison, creates a number of software product synchronizations. An update manager uses the software fix list to apply software product synchronizations to the computer. Preferably, the computer can be brought to the same fix level or product level, if desired, as the preferred software inventory through this process.

Abstract: An object oriented framework defines a model computer system that can be used to configure computer systems on a network. The copying of configuration data for the model computer system to one or more other computer systems is referred to herein as “cloning.” The model computer system may be defined by a system administrator specifying configuration data, or by a system administrator selecting one computer system on the network as the model computer system. The framework may then be used to configure one or more selected computer systems on the network to be similar to the model computer system in one or more aspects. The framework mechanism of the invention defines a model class and a system replicator class that are core classes of the framework, and therefore cannot be modified by a user. The model class defines a model computer system with one or more aspects that may be configured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing software between computers are disclosed. A software fix manager compares a preferred software inventory with a software inventory from a computer that is to be synchronized and, from this comparison, creates a number of software product synchronizations. An update manager uses the software fix list to apply software product synchronizations to the computer. Preferably, the computer can be brought to the same fix level or product level, if desired, as the preferred software inventory through this process. The software fix manager can place synchronizations in a fix list. There can be multiple software product synchronizations per software product, and the synchronizations can be applied to a computer by removing a software product fix or installing a product software fix. The current invention may also be applied to software products themselves, by installing or removing software products.