Abstract: Systems and techniques for dynamic monitoring, analysis and mapping of resources are described. Monitoring data can be obtained from a variety of different sources, such as operating systems, applications, hardware interfaces, and the like. In addition to obtaining monitoring data, health data can also be obtained for one or more of the computing resources. After obtaining the monitoring data and the health data, the monitoring data and health data may be used to determine whether a computing environment has computing resources available to meet the needs for a workflow. Instead of waiting for a failure event to occur, a user can be proactively informed that computing resources utilized, or computing resources that may be utilized by the workflow are experiencing health issues and/or not available within a computing environment.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for the uniform installation of one or more of a plurality of heterogeneous operating systems (operating systems) on a predetermined information handling system. A common preinstallation environment (CPE) is implemented, comprising a host preinstallation environment (HPE) and one or more native preinstallation environments (NPEs). If an NPE is not required for installation, an HPE comprising a common, bootable kernel generates a bootable operating system image that is installed on the target system. Otherwise, the HPE creates a deployment partition, where it implements the NPE and generates a metafile describing the hardware drivers supported by the NPE. The HPE then inventories the hardware components comprising the target system and compares the results to the metafile. If all required drivers are accessible, the target system boots to the NPE, which begins native installation of the chosen operating system.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for using directory services to manage resources in a virtual execution environment. A directory repository is populated with resource, administration, roles, policy, and service-level agreement (SLA) objects. A service request is received by a virtual machine manager (VMM) administrator, which determines its requirements. The directory repository is queried with a directory service to identify available resources to fulfill the service request. The service request is routed to the VMM of the virtual machine (VM) host comprising the available resources. If an active VM comprises the available resources, then its roles, policy, and SLA objects are retrieved from the directory repository. The objects are then used to respectively determine if the service request has sufficient authentication and authorizations, if the VM's configuration meets the service request's resource requirements, and if service-levels requirements can be maintained.

Abstract: An information handling system having a processor and a computer readable medium accessible by the processor and having stored thereon a data structure operable as a directory service. The data structure includes a field comprising an service level object representing a service and comprising data defining roles for the service level object, and policies for service level object. The data structure also includes a field comprising a rack object map subordinate to and in relationship with the service level object, representing hardware or software supporting the service, and comprising data defining roles for the rack object map, policies for the rack object map, and service oriented architecture polices for the rack object map.

Abstract: A surrogate systems management system with enables the creation of a potential full suite of systems management functionality via a proxy environment. The surrogate systems management system thus enables virtual creation of management abilities in a managed services environment without the need for creation of managed service specific agentry and consoles. Such a surrogate systems management system leverages onsite, within the firewall, services appliance to virtually host vendor provided management consoles and leverage the analytics intelligence of the services appliance to create correlating metadata tying the consoles to the respective vendor provided management mechanism (which may or may not include an agent).

Abstract: A surrogate systems management system with enables the creation of a potential full suite of systems management functionality via a proxy environment. The surrogate systems management system thus enables virtual creation of management abilities in a managed services environment without the need for creation of managed service specific agentry and consoles. Such a surrogate systems management system leverages onsite, within the firewall, services appliance to virtually host vendor provided management consoles and leverage the analytics intelligence of the services appliance to create correlating metadata tying the consoles to the respective vendor provided management mechanism (which may or may not include an agent).

Abstract: Installable device drivers may be stored on a partition, e.g., Utility Partition (UP) or other OEM partition, of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) storage device, e.g., hard disk drive, by associating an INT13h Basic Input-Output System (BIOS) interrupt call, e.g., reading from floppy disk drive a: or drive b: a desired storage device driver during the normal course of installing an operating system (OS), e.g., Microsoft Windows, Linux, BSD, Unix, etc., on the information handling system, e.g., personal computer, server, blade server, storage array, workstation, etc. The run-time loading of a raw floppy image having OS installable drivers residing in the Utility Partition or other hidden partition on the hard disk may be presented as a virtual floppy disk drive to the OS installer, e.g., person (manual) or scripted (automated) process.

Abstract: An information handling system having a processor and a computer readable medium accessible by the processor and having stored thereon a data structure operable as a directory service. The data structure includes a field comprising a service level object representing a service and comprising data defining roles for the service level object, policies for service level object, and service oriented architecture polices for the service level object. The data structure also includes a field comprising a hardware-level map object subordinate to and in relationship with the service level object, representing hardware or software supporting the service, and comprising data defining roles for the hardware-level map object, policies for the hardware-level map object, and service oriented architecture polices for the hardware-level map object.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for using directory services to manage resources in a virtual execution environment. A directory repository is populated with resource, administration, roles, policy, and service level agreement (SLA) objects. A service request is received by a virtual machine manager (VMM) administrator, which determines its requirements. The directory repository is queried with a directory service to identify available resources to fulfill the service request. The service request is routed to the VMM of the virtual machine (VM) host comprising the available resources. If an active VM comprises the available resources, then its roles, policy, and SLA objects are retrieved from the directory repository. The objects are then used to respectively determine if the service request has sufficient authentication and authorizations, if the VM's configuration meets the service request's resource requirements, and if service levels requirements can be maintained.

Abstract: An information handling system having a processor and a computer readable medium accessible by the processor and having stored thereon a data structure operable as a directory service. The data structure includes a field comprising an service level object representing a service and comprising data defining roles for the service level object, and policies for service level object. The data structure also includes a field comprising a rack object map subordinate to and in relationship with the service level object, representing hardware or software supporting the service, and comprising data defining roles for the rack object map, policies for the rack object map, and service oriented architecture polices for the rack object map.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for the uniform installation of one or more of a plurality of heterogeneous operating systems (operating systems) on a predetermined information handling system. A common preinstallation environment (CPE) is implemented, comprising a host preinstallation environment (HPE) and one or more native preinstallation environments (NPEs). If an NPE is not required for installation, an HPE comprising a common, bootable kernel generates a bootable operating system image that is installed on the target system. Otherwise, the HPE creates a deployment partition, where it implements the NPE and generates a metafile describing the hardware drivers supported by the NPE. The HPE then inventories the hardware components comprising the target system and compares the results to the metafile. If all required drivers are accessible, the target system boots to the NPE, which begins native installation of the chosen operating system.

Abstract: An information handling system having a processor and a computer readable medium accessible by the processor and having stored thereon a data structure operable as a directory service. The data structure includes a field comprising a service level object representing a service and comprising data defining roles for the service level object, policies for service level object, and service oriented architecture polices for the service level object. The data structure also includes a field comprising a hardware-level map object subordinate to and in relationship with the service level object, representing hardware or software supporting the service, and comprising data defining roles for the hardware-level map object, policies for the hardware-level map object, and service oriented architecture polices for the hardware-level map object.

Abstract: Installable device drivers may be stored on a partition, e.g., Utility Partition (UP) or other OEM partition, of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) storage device, e.g., hard disk drive, by associating an INT13h Basic Input-Output System (BIOS) interrupt call, e.g., reading from floppy disk drive a: or drive b: a desired storage device driver during the normal course of installing an operating system (OS), e.g., Microsoft Windows, Linux, BSD, Unix, etc., on the information handling system, e.g., personal computer, server, blade server, storage array, workstation, etc. The run-time loading of a raw floppy image having OS installable drivers residing in the Utility Partition or other hidden partition on the hard disk may be presented as a virtual floppy disk drive to the OS installer, e.g., person (manual) or scripted (automated) process.

Abstract: A directory service architecture simplifies management of operations of plural server information handling systems. A server object associated with each server information handling system applies an associated server policy to perform tasks of a task list at the associated server information handling system. The tasks call tool box objects from a tool box, the tool box objects having tool distinguished names that point to tool objects. The tool objects have tools that deploy to the server information handling system to perform the tasks of the task lists, such as updating applications, running diagnostics, running virus scans or otherwise executing applications at the server information handling system. A policy class set up to do a task with a tool object for a server object is applied to other server objects by copying the service to the other server object policies.

Abstract: An improved system and method for providing updates, drivers and other utilities to target systems utilizes a directory service. A target object, a policy object and a virtual media image object are provided within the directory service. The virtual media image object includes one or more updates needed by the associated target system. The target system may automatically access the directory service and interface with the target object and policy object to locate the virtual media image object and gain access to the virtual media image object.

Abstract: An improved information handling system incorporates a primary memory resource that includes a partition. The partition includes a configuration module. In the event that the memory resource is reconfigured, the configuration module first copies or replicates the partition onto a second memory resource. Following the reconfiguration of the memory resource, the configuration module directs the restoration of the partition onto the primary memory resource.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically installing system-specific drivers in a pre-operating system environment include the utilization of a driver locator. The driver locator is stored within nonvolatile memory and allows the target system to access the driver locator in a pre-operating system environment. The driver locator includes system-specific identification information and directs the system to an operating system installation resource in a pre-operating system environment. The operating system installation resource is further operable to identify at least one driver needed for the target system based on information incorporated with the driver locator.

Abstract: A method of updating a computer system to a qualified state prior to installation of an operating system (OS) is disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of updating an information handling system to a qualified state prior to installation of an OS including performing an inventory of the information handling system for installed system components in a pre-installation environment. The method further including automatically determining a compatibility relationship between the installed system components and available drivers. The method further including recommending an alternative driver based on the compatibility relationship. The method further including updating drivers in the information handling system such that the alternative driver installs on the information handling system to bring the information handling system to a qualified state based on the acceptance of the recommendation.