Abstract: A method for sizing a computer system. Toolsets defining required performance of a subsystem, as well as hardware and software resources available to the subsystem, are transmitted to a subsystem provider. The subsystem provider responds with information about a subsystem that specifically comports with the toolset's definitions of performance and available resources. Whether two subsystem providers respond to a same toolset for a same subsystem or to different toolsets for different subsystems, the two subsystem providers are blocked from viewing the other subsystem provider's response. Further, each subsystem provider's response includes only information needed to comport with the toolset, thus preventing unnecessary disclosure of specifications of the subsystem beyond those defined in the toolset.

Abstract: A highly efficient and cost effective system, which may be physically located locally to a group of workstations, performs communications rerouting at the network session level. The intermediate system changes data packet headers as necessary to make such rerouting transparent to the devices which are connected to it. Data packets are otherwise unaltered. The intermediate system can be used to connect to a plurality of workstations and to a network in such a manner that each workstation appears to be directly connected to the network.