Abstract: A data processing entity that includes a mass memory with a plurality of memory locations for storing memory blocks. Each of a plurality of software images includes a plurality of memory blocks with corresponding image addresses within the software image. The memory blocks of software images stored in boot locations of a current software image are relocated. The boot blocks of the current software image are stored into the corresponding boot locations. The data processing entity is booted from the boot blocks of the current software image in the corresponding boot locations, thereby loading the access function. Each request to access a selected memory block of the current software image is served by the access function, with the access function accessing the selected memory block in the associated memory location provided by the control structure.

Abstract: A method for deploying an operating system onto a client system includes, with the client system, receiving a bootloader image from an external device in response to a request for the bootloader image and installing the bootloader. The installed bootloader is configured to provide a streaming function from the client system to both a client repository of the client system and a remote data repository and selectively redirect requests for a block of data to one of: the client repository and the remote data repository. The method further includes, with the client system, during operation of a function of the operating system, making a request for a data block of the operating system, the data block including the function, and receiving the data block from one of: the client repository and the remote repository based on availability information.

Abstract: Releasing a portion of mass memory, relocating memory blocks stored in boot locations of the target software image to the released portion, storing the boot blocks into corresponding boot locations, booting the data-processing entity from the boot blocks in the corresponding boot locations thereby loading a streaming function, and serving each request of reading a selected memory block of the target software image by the streaming function, the streaming function downloading the selected memory block from the external source and storing the selected memory block into the released portion when the selected memory block is not available in the mass memory, or retrieving the selected memory block from the mass memory otherwise.

Abstract: A solution for managing a software image being stored in a plurality of physical blocks of a storage system comprises monitoring each access to the physical blocks, calculating a predicted sequence of access to the physical blocks according to the monitored accesses, and reorganizing the physical blocks according to the predicted sequence. The monitoring may be performed as the physical blocks are accessed during the booting of virtual images on the software image.

Abstract: Deploying a software image from a source data-processing system on target data-processing entities of a target data-processing system, the software image including memory blocks being individually accessible, with a predefined subset of the memory blocks defining a bootstrap module. The deploying includes downloading the bootstrap module onto a main one of the target data-processing entities from the source data-processing system, booting the main target data-processing entity from the bootstrap module thereby loading a streaming driver in the bootstrap module, and serving each request of accessing a selected memory block of the software image on the main data-processing entity by the streaming driver.

Abstract: A data processing entity that includes a mass memory with a plurality of memory locations for storing memory blocks. Each of a plurality of software images includes a plurality of memory blocks with corresponding image addresses within the software image. The memory blocks of software images stored in boot locations of a current software image are relocated. The boot blocks of the current software image are stored into the corresponding boot locations. The data processing entity is booted from the boot blocks of the current software image in the corresponding boot locations, thereby loading the access function. Each request to access a selected memory block of the current software image is served by the access function, with the access function accessing the selected memory block in the associated memory location provided by the control structure.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium containing machine executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to encrypt a virtual disc; wherein the virtual disc comprises a virtual disc image; and wherein execution of the machine executable instructions cause the processor to: receive the virtual disc; increase the size of the virtual disc; write a decryption-master-boot-record and a decryption program to the virtual disc; encrypt at least a portion of the virtual disc image, wherein the decryption program comprises decryption-machine-executable-instructions for decrypting the at least partially encrypted virtual disc image in accordance with a cryptographic key.

Abstract: A mechanism for patching a virtual image modifies a selected dormant virtual image to be patched by injecting a corresponding patch logic and patch material to be applied on next boot during an off-line preparation phase. The mechanism downloads a boot medium and creates a temporary disk for a selected target virtual machine with corresponding deployment data The mechanism changes a master boot record of said temporary disk associated with the target virtual machine to boot next on the boot medium. The mechanism executes the patch logic to install the patch material in case the target virtual machine associated with the virtual image to be patched is booted.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for creating a virtual appliance. The mechanism receives input of an unmodified virtual appliance and a list of target models. The mechanism creates a modified virtual appliance with an ISO file, a conversion tool, and a list of validated target models based on the input. The modified virtual appliance is configured to boot on the ISO file containing a mini operating system working on all validated target models. Responsive to a deployment of the modified virtual appliance being triggered on a target model, the mini operating system is booted on the corresponding target model. The mini operating system determines the model of the current target model on which the mini operating system is running, and responsive to determining the current target model is a validated target model, applies modifications to an operating system of the virtual appliance in accordance with current target model to form a portable virtual appliance running on target model.

Abstract: A solution is proposed for maintaining virtual machines being available in a data-processing system. A mechanism determines a list of software components installed on each virtual machine, retrieves a set of maintenance policies for each software component, each maintenance policy being indicative of a patch to be applied to the corresponding software component. The mechanism determines a set of old virtual machines having at least one old software component thereof requiring the application of at least a new one of the corresponding patches according to a comparison among the maintenance policies and a maintenance register indicative of a current state of the software components of the virtual machines. The mechanism applies the corresponding at least one new patch to each old software component of each old virtual machine and updates the maintenance register according to the application of said at least one new patch to each old software component of each old virtual machine.

Abstract: A method for live-migration of an operating system and an application is provided. The operating system runs on a first computer. The application may run on the operating system. The live-migration may be performed to a second computer while the application showing no externally detectable downtime during live-migration of the application. The method may comprise operating a tracking tool that may track and store data modifications to a disk-system of the computer in a tracking file, triggering a shutdown of the first computer while the tracking tool continues to operate in tracking mode and shut down the first computer completely. Then restarting the first computer and sending the data modifications stored prior to the complete shutdown of the first computer to the second computer, which then may be started based on the sent data, followed by starting the application such that from an external perspective no application disruption is detectable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for data handling in a computing environment. A data access request is generated to access data by a requesting VM. VMs of an ordered list are sequentially checked for data cache hit corresponding to the data in an order given by a ranking. The data is read from the checked VM in response to at least one data cache hit of a checked VM being found, and thereafter a ranking value of the checked VM is updated, thereby updating ranking based on the ranking value. The data is requested from the at least one storage server in response to no data cache hot being found.

Abstract: Releasing a portion of mass memory, relocating memory blocks stored in boot locations of the target software image to the released portion, storing the boot blocks into corresponding boot locations, booting the data-processing entity from the boot blocks in the corresponding boot locations thereby loading a streaming function, and serving each request of reading a selected memory block of the target software image by the streaming function, the streaming function downloading the selected memory block from the external source and storing the selected memory block into the released portion when the selected memory block is not available in the mass memory, or retrieving the selected memory block from the mass memory otherwise.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium containing machine executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to encrypt a virtual disc; wherein the virtual disc comprises a virtual disc image; and wherein execution of the machine executable instructions cause the processor to: receive the virtual disc; increase the size of the virtual disc; write a decryption-master-boot-record and a decryption program to the virtual disc; encrypt at least a portion of the virtual disc image, wherein the decryption program comprises decryption-machine-executable-instructions for decrypting the at least partially encrypted virtual disc image in accordance with a cryptographic key.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for managing multiple software images in a data processing entity. At least part of the memory blocks of each of the software images is stored into a corresponding image portion of a mass memory. A current software image stored in a current image is selected. The memory blocks stored in boot locations of the current software image are relocated to a relocation portion of the mass memory. The boot blocks of the current software image are copied into the corresponding boot location. The data processing entity is booted from the boot blocks of the current software image in the corresponding boot locations and each request to access a selected memory block of the current software image by the access function is served.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for migrating a software image installed on a source data-processing entity to a target data-processing entity. The target data-processing entity is booted from a preliminary bootstrap program. The software image is mounted as a remote mass memory on the target data-processing entity. A primary bootstrap program of the software image is copied onto a local mass memory of the target data-processing entity. The target data-processing entity is re-booted from the primary bootstrap program thereby loading a streaming function, and serving each request of accessing a memory block on the target data-processing entity by the streaming function. In response to the memory block missing from the local mass storage, the streaming function downloads the memory block from the software image and stores the memory block into the local mass memory. Otherwise, the streaming function retrieves the memory block from the local mass memory otherwise.

Abstract: A solution for managing a software image being stored in a plurality of physical blocks of a storage system comprises monitoring each access to the physical blocks, calculating a predicted sequence of access to the physical blocks according to the monitored accesses, and reorganizing the physical blocks according to the predicted sequence. The monitoring may be performed as the physical blocks are accessed during the booting of virtual images on the software image.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting data including pieces of data. The method includes the steps of: placing a piece of data on at least one cache memory; and sending a signal indicating a presence of the piece of data on the cache memory to at least one client, where at least one of the steps is carried out by a computer device.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting data including pieces of data. The method includes the steps of: placing a piece of data on at least one cache memory; and sending a signal indicating a presence of the piece of data on the cache memory to at least one client, where at least one of the steps is carried out by a computer device.

Abstract: A deployment request from a target machine is received for an operating system on a source machine. Tracking information indicative of an evolution of the deployment of the operating system is received. Deployment of the operating system is enabled or refused in response to each deployment request according to the tracking information.