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: A method and a system for monitoring power consumption are provided. The system comprises a breaker including a server for dynamically distributing network configuration parameters and an active RFID device, and further comprises a device including a client for dynamically distributing network configuration parameters and a passive RFID device, wherein the device is a switch or a receptacle. In the method and the system, the device is registered by the breaker by passing information of the passive RFID device to the active RFID device; the breaker and the devices are connected through Ethernet over a power line. The server is configured to provide a service to the client.

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 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: Automated deactivation of service to enable effective resource reusability in a computing system, may include receiving a request to destroy a virtual machine, the virtual machine running in a virtual data center comprising one or more software components allocated for servicing a customer. In response, a provisioning module may be notified to remove the virtual machine. Based on the number of resources determined to be left as available, deactivation of pending actions on the virtual machine may be performed at the time the virtual machine is being removed or as an automatic scheduled job to be performed at a scheduled time.

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 mechanism is provided for handling incidents occurring in a managed environment. An incident is detected in a resource in the managed environment. A set of incident handling actions are identified based on incident handling rules for an incident type of the incident. From the set of incident handling actions, one incident handling action is identified to be executed based on a set of impact indicators associated with the set of incident handling rules. The identified incident handling action is then executed to address the failure of the resource.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for handling incidents occurring in a managed environment. An incident is detected in a resource in the managed environment. A set of incident handling actions are identified based on incident handling rules for an incident type of the incident. From the set of incident handling actions, one incident handling action is identified to be executed based on a set of impact indicators associated with the set of incident handling rules. The identified incident handling action is then executed to address the failure of the resource.

Abstract: A method and associated systems of automatic notification of isolation of a first networked device. In response to detecting that it is not being properly managed by a network-management means, the first networked device creates a notification message that identifies the problem and requests proper network management. The device then transmits this message to any other device or networked node that it can communicate with, along with a request that recipients try to forward the message to the network-management means. If a device that receives the message is able to forward the message successfully, the network-management means takes appropriate steps to begin properly managing the first networked device.

Abstract: A method of automating patching of a computer system includes determining whether a computer patch is available for a computer system of a customer, determining a patch management policy of the customer, determining a patch window of the customer based on the determined patch management policy, and directing application of the computer patch to the computer system at the determined patch window.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and an article of manufacture for detecting an event storm in a networked environment. The method includes receiving a plurality of events via a plurality of probes in a networked environment, each of the plurality of probes monitoring a monitored information technology (IT) element, aggregating the plurality of events received into an event set, and correlating the plurality of events in the event set to determine whether the plurality of events are part of an event storm by determining if the plurality of events in the event set meet one or more event storm criteria.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for provisioning Cloud services by establishing a Cloud services catalog using a Cloud service bus within a Cloud computing environment. In one embodiment, there is a Cloud services catalog manager configured to connect a plurality of Clouds in a Cloud computing environment; maintain a catalog of integrated Cloud services from the plurality of connected Clouds; and display an index of the integrated services on a user interface. Using this system and method will allow for multiple disparate services, offered by different partners, across unrelated, physically distinct Clouds to be presented as an index of integrated services.

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: In accordance with one aspect of the embodiments of this invention there is a method to operate a network mapping tool. The method includes performing a network mapping operation over a first set of ports to generate a list of hosts that are found to be alive; performing a sequential scan on only those hosts in the list to detect the operating system of each host in the list; and performing a parallel port scan to detect characteristics of only those hosts in the list. The characteristics can include an identification of at least applications and services running on the hosts in the list. The second set of ports can be a full set of ports.

Abstract: A machine, system and method for user-guided teaching and modifications of voice commands and actions to be executed by a conversational learning system. The machine includes a system bus for communicating data and control signals received from the conversational learning system to a computer system, a vehicle data and control bus for connecting devices and sensors in the machine, a bridge module for connecting the vehicle data and control bus to the system bus, machine subsystems coupled to the vehicle data and control bus having a respective user interface for receiving a voice command or input signal from a user, a memory coupled to the system bus for storing action command sequences learned for a new voice command and a processing unit coupled to the system bus for automatically executing the action command sequences learned when the new voice command is spoken.

Abstract: An approach for sharing an asset in a peer-to-peer network is provided. After determining a locally stored first list does not include meta data specifying the asset, a new node is identified. In response to receiving a subscription from the new node, a second list locally stored at the new node is received. The second list includes the meta data and an identification of a source node that has the asset. The first list is updated to include the meta data and the identification of the source node. The updated first list is searched and in response, the meta data and the identification of the source node are detected. Based on the detected meta data and identification, the source node is identified. A request to retrieve the asset is sent to the source node, and in response, the asset is received.

Abstract: A method and system for sharing an asset in a peer-to-peer network. Meta data and a source node identification are received. The meta data specifies properties and content of the asset to be shared by the source node. The received source node identification and the meta data are locally stored as a couple in a catalog. Subsequently, content specifying the asset and a request to search for and retrieve the asset based on the content is received. The locally stored catalog is loaded and searched to detect the couple that includes the source node identification and meta data, where the received content matches the meta data. The source node is identified based on the detected couple. A request is sent to the source node to retrieve and share the asset, and in response, the asset is received.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for overcoming errors in speech recognition systems. For example, a technique for processing acoustic data in accordance with a speech recognition system comprises the following steps/operations. Acoustic data is obtained in association with the speech recognition system. The acoustic data is recorded using a combination of a first buffer area and a second buffer area, such that the recording of the acoustic data using the combination of the two buffer areas at least substantially minimizes one or more truncation errors associated with operation of the speech recognition system.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for detecting and reacting to a network discrepancy within a data center network environment. The method comprises monitoring network traffic between a first computer configured as a first hypervisor inter-networked within the data center network environment and a second computer inter-networked within the data center network environment in order to detect a presence of a predetermined condition representing a presence of the network discrepancy in the data center network environment between a recorded state of the data center network environment and an observed state of the data center network environment. The monitoring includes determining the observed state of the data center network environment using one of: polling, event-based or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Automated deactivation of service to enable effective resource reusability in a computing system, may include receiving a request to destroy a virtual machine, the virtual machine running in a virtual data center comprising one or more software components allocated for servicing a customer. In response, a provisioning module may be notified to remove the virtual machine. Based on the number of resources determined to be left as available, deactivation of pending actions on the virtual machine may be performed at the time the virtual machine is being removed or as an automatic scheduled job to be performed at a scheduled time.