Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for storage system-based replication for disaster recovery in virtualized environments are provided herein.

Abstract: Allocating resources during failure recovery is provided. A set of one or more service level agreement tiers are identified corresponding to a client workload that was being processed by a failed computing environment. A highest level tier is selected in the set of one or more service level agreement tiers. Recovery resources are allocated in a failover computing environment to the highest level tier sufficient to meet a service level agreement associated with the highest level tier. The highest level tier is recovered in the set of one or more service level agreement tiers using the recovery resources in the failover computing environment. In response to recovering the highest level tier, tier resources of the highest level tier are reduced to a steady state level of processing in the failover computing environment.

Abstract: Software, hardware, and virtual network resources are anti-collocated on a networked computing environment. A computerized network-management system receives a list of resources to be installed on components of a network and a set of anti-collocation rules that identify combinations of resources that may not be installed concurrently on the same network component. Each resource is assigned a priority and the resources are organized into groups as a function of these priorities. The groups are processed sequentially in priority order, and a color is assigned to each resource in each group. Any resource not constrained by an anti-collocation rule is assigned a default “most popular” color. Each constrained resource is assigned a color that is not already used by any other resource with which the constrained resource is anti-collocated. The resources in each group are then installed in order of color, with the more populous colors being installed first.

Abstract: A system for managing cloud-based resources. The system includes a computer interface for receiving a computing resource. A computer including at least one central processing unit is configured to determine that the computing resource is abandoned and, upon determining the computer resource is abandoned, determine a disposition action for the computing resource.

Abstract: A method and associated systems for anti-collocating multiple virtual entities in a cloud-computing environment. A computerized cloud-configuration system receives a list of virtual machines to be placed in a cloud and a set of anti-collocation rules that identify combinations of machines that may not be placed in a same location. Each virtual machine is assigned a priority and the machines are organized into groups as a function these priorities. The groups are processed sequentially in priority order, and a color is assigned to each virtual machine in each group. Any machine not constrained by an anti-collocation rule is assigned a default “most popular” color. Constrained machines are each assigned a color that is not already used by any other machine with which it is anti-collocated. The virtual machines in each group are then placed in the cloud in order of color, with the populous colors being assigned first.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention LPARs can be run on any server in a group of servers. Upon detecting a server has failed, each LPAR then running on the failed server is identified, and servers in the group that are available for restarting the identified LPARs are determined. Identified LPARs are assigned to an available server for restarting, wherein each LPAR has a value associated with a specified LPAR priority criterion, and a given LPAR is assigned in accordance with its value. Responsive to assigning the given LPAR to an available server, a specified storage resource is connected for use by the server in association with the given LPAR, wherein the specified storage resource was previously connected for use by the failed server in association with the given LPAR.

Abstract: Restarting virtual machines is provided. Each server in a plurality of servers is monitored within a client virtual machine host environment via a network. In response to determining that a server failed in the plurality of servers within the client virtual machine host environment, a list of virtual machines that were executing in the failed server is retrieved. A set of virtual machine dependency groups for virtual machines in the list of virtual machines is retrieved based on properties corresponding to each respective virtual machine in the list of virtual machines. The set of virtual machine dependency groups is restarted in parallel on a failover server of an alternate virtual machine host environment via the network.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a user having a username and password and authenticating access to the user's information. A client computer generates, and sends to a server computer, input data that includes a key (h1) to a dataset of salts accessible to the server computer, a proxy (h2) for the password, a proxy (h4) for the username, and in one embodiment, a different proxy (h8) for the username. The input data does not include the username in plaintext and does not include the password in plaintext. Using the input data and not utilizing the username in plaintext and not utilizing the password in plaintext, the server computer authenticates both the user and access to the user's information, after which the server computer sends, to the client computer, notification that the server computer has authenticated both the user and access to the user's information.

Abstract: A distributed, self-organizing environment conditioning system with adaptive and learning behaviors that provide localized and targeted climate conditioning such as, but not limited to, temperature and humidity control in indoor and outdoor settings and more particularly, to extensible networked multi-modal autonomous systems of heating units working together to efficiently target objects for selective environmental control.

Abstract: An approach for regional firewall clustering for optimal state-sharing of different sites in a virtualized/networked (e.g., cloud) computing environment is provided. In a typical embodiment, each firewall in a given region is informed of its peer firewalls via a registration process with a centralized server. Each firewall opens up an Internet protocol (IP)-based communication channel to each of its peers in the region to share state table information. This allows for asymmetrical firewall flows through the network and allows routing protocols to ascertain the best path to a given destination without having to take firewall placement into consideration.

Abstract: Techniques for enabling monitoring across one or more domains are provided. The techniques include identifying information technology resources across one or more domains, collecting information technology dependency information relating to the information technology resources identified across one or more domains, collecting monitoring data from the information technology resources identified across one or more domains, and using the dependency information to aggregate the monitoring data into one or more pre-determined metrics.

Abstract: A system and computer program product for enabling monitoring across one or more domains include identifying information technology resources across one or more domains, collecting information technology dependency information relating to the information technology resources identified across one or more domains, collecting monitoring data from the information technology resources identified across one or more domains, and using the dependency information to aggregate the monitoring data into one or more pre-determined metrics.

Abstract: A distributed, self-organizing environment conditioning system with adaptive and learning behaviors that provide localized and targeted climate conditioning such as, but not limited to, temperature and humidity control in indoor and outdoor settings and more particularly, to extensible networked multi-modal autonomous systems of heating units working together to efficiently target objects for selective environmental control.

Abstract: A microprocessor-operated, networked device that uses sensors in, on and near the toilet to detects toilet leaks and overflows of the toilet tank or bowl, then reports these errant conditions with a visual or audible indicator in addition to sending a message via a network (if available) to a computer system that may collate this data with that from other toilets and other sources and subsequently determine further action such as shutting off water or calling a technician. The present invention can be integral to a toilet or removably attached to an existing toilet without this technology.

Abstract: A method and associated systems for anti-collocating multiple virtual entities in a cloud-computing environment. A computerized cloud-configuration system receives a list of virtual machines to be placed in a cloud and a set of anti-collocation rules that identify combinations of machines that may not be placed in a same location. Each virtual machine is assigned a priority and the machines are organized into groups as a function these priorities. The groups are processed sequentially in priority order, and a color is assigned to each virtual machine in each group. Any machine not constrained by an anti-collocation rule is assigned a default “most popular” color. Constrained machines are each assigned a color that is not already used by any other machine with which it is anti-collocated. The virtual machines in each group are then placed in the cloud in order of color, with the populous colors being assigned first.

Abstract: An approach for regional firewall clustering for optimal state-sharing of different sites in a virtualized/networked (e.g., cloud) computing environment is provided. In a typical embodiment, each firewall in a given region is informed of its peer firewalls via a registration process with a centralized server. Each firewall opens up an Internet protocol (IP)-based communication channel to each of its peers in the region to share state table information. This allows for asymmetrical firewall flows through the network and allows routing protocols to ascertain the best path to a given destination without having to take firewall placement into consideration.

Abstract: A method and system for teaching an object of a deictic reference to a machine. A processor of the machine teaches the object of the deictic reference to the machine which results in the machine learning the object. The teaching includes: the processor finds an item in a region indicated by a physical pointing gesture, by the user, that points to the object; the processor shines a laser light on the item and in response, the processor receives a negative spoken indication from the user that the item shined on by the laser light is not the object; in response to the negative spoken indication from the user, the processor interacts with the user in an iterative procedure wherein the machine learns the object in a final iteration of the procedure. The processor stores the learned object in a storage repository.

Abstract: A method of automatic security parameter renewal includes determining if a security parameter satisfies a renewal condition, and automatically updating the security parameter when the renewal condition is satisfied. The automatically updating the security parameter includes modifying a certificate in dependent components of an application of the security parameter, by a central certification server, upon receipt of a new certificate.

Abstract: A method of automatic security parameter renewal including determining if a security parameter satisfies a renewal condition and automatically updating the security parameter when the renewal condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A machine, system and method for user-guided teaching of deictic references and referent objects of deictic references to a conversational system. The machine includes a system bus for communicating data and control signals received from the conversational system to the computer system, a data and control bus for connecting devices and sensors in the machine, a bridge module for connecting the data and control bus to the system bus, respective machine subsystems coupled to the data and control bus, the respective machine subsystems having a respective user interface for receiving a deictic reference from a user, a memory coupled to the system bus for storing deictic references and objects of the deictic references learned by the conversational system and a central processing unit coupled to the system bus for executing the deictic references with respect to the objects of the deictic references learned.