Abstract: A tool for communicating configuration information includes an analysis tool to determine changes to the configuration of an information handling device. The analysis tool develops a set of configuration tags to identify the configuration changes by identifying a subset of tables or other information, such as Extensible Markup Language (XML) pairs, associated with a configuration management database (CMDB) and by identifying values for each table to reflect the configuration of the information handling device. The analysis tool encodes the configuration tags into an information string. Because the information string is encoded and does not represent the complete configuration of the information handling system configuration, it can be easily and accurately communicated to a technical support center by a user, thereby reducing potential communication problems and improving technical support.

Abstract: A system and method for addressing audiovisual equipment issues are disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a display device having a housing component at least partially defining an interior space. In some cases, a memory may be fixed within the interior space, and the memory may be storing a first set of display parameters and a second set of display parameters. The system may also include a diagnostic tool located within the interior space. The tool may be operable to assist a user in resolving a display-related issue by engaging in a diagnostic routine that includes a communicative interaction with a remotely located network node.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for monitoring the status of a system by providing a health score. A health scoring module accesses a configuration management database (CMDB) comprising a plurality of configuration items referencing physical, service and process information. A target value for each configuration item is decided, followed by collecting their current value. Comparison operations are then performed between each configuration item's current and target value and a health subscore is generated. The resulting health subscore is then indexed to its corresponding configuration item. Once indexed, a health score is generated from a predetermined plurality of health subscores.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing remote services to an integrated information technology environment. The apparatus comprises a remote management platform. The remote management platform comprises a service delivery platform which comprises a plug in module. The plug in module is configurable to comprise a plurality of service functions. The plug in module enables some or all of the plurality of service functions to be selectively enabled.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing remote services to an integrated information technology environment. The information technology environment comprises a services appliance. The services appliance provides agent-less monitoring of information handling systems within the information technology environment. The apparatus comprises a remote management platform. The remote management platform is configured to receive services information from the services appliance. The remote management platform analyzes the services information and determines a response based upon the services information. The remote management platform initiating the response by the remote management platform based upon the services information.

Abstract: An improved system and method is disclosed for making the Common Information Model (CIM), produced by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF), more flexible and extensible without requiring changes to it or its existing implementations. MultipleInheritance associations are implemented to define extension abstract classes for managed element information and to create static and dynamic add-in classes, all operable to reference the CIM schema class. Ambiguity is mitigated by not allowing properties of different data types to have the same name in super classes that are used for MultipleInheritance associations. Data integrity is facilitated by merging class properties of the same name and data type through the use of a Min algorithm. Concrete user classes are derived from new abstract classes such that management functionality is enabled for managed element properties.

Abstract: A system and method for addressing audiovisual equipment issues are disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a display device having a housing component at least partially defining an interior space. In some cases, a memory may be fixed within the interior space, and the memory may be storing a first set of display parameters and a second set of display parameters. The system may also include a diagnostic tool located within the interior space. The tool may be operable to assist a user in resolving a display-related issue by engaging in a diagnostic routine that includes a communicative interaction with a remotely located network node.

Abstract: An improved system and method are disclosed for the backup and restoration of data. An init image is created for a new system. Data is uploaded from a current system and a data image is generated. The resulting data image and the init image are combined to create a combined data image, which is then stored on an on-line backup host. A copy of the combined data image is transferred to the new system. The uploaded data is extracted from the copy of the combined data image and stored on the new system in the same location as the original system. Metadata describing the location of the combined data on the new system is captured and then applied to the combined data image stored on the on-line backup host. The extracted data on the new system is compared to the current data on the original system and the new system is updated. A differential backup is performed on the new system and then uploaded to the on-line backup host, where it is associated with the combined data image.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for monitoring the status of a system by providing a health score. A health scoring module accesses a configuration management database (CMDB) comprising a plurality of configuration items referencing physical, service and process information. A target value for each configuration item is decided, followed by collecting their current value. Comparison operations are then performed between each configuration item's current and target value and a health subscore is generated. The resulting health subscore is then indexed to its corresponding configuration item. Once indexed, a health score is generated from a predetermined plurality of health subscores.

Abstract: A system and method for automating the generation and execution of sequences of manual operations, using a structured process and grammar, suitable for implementation in systems integration. The method of the invention allows manual operations to be defined by local or remote subject matter experts (SMEs), using a Manual Operations Grammar, with the system allowing the definition of methods for validating measurements, reporting, and optimizing a set of one or more operations and/or processes. As part of the system, generated scripts can automate a plurality of manual tasks, operation and/or process steps, and a plurality of automated tasks, operation and/or process steps.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing remote services to an integrated information technology environment. The information technology environment comprises a services appliance. The services appliance provides agent-less monitoring of information handling systems within the information technology environment. The apparatus comprises a remote management platform. The remote management platform comprises a service delivery platform and a network operations center. The service delivery platform receives services information from the services appliance, analyzes the services information and determines a response based upon the services information. The service delivery platform provides the response to the network operations center. The network operation center proactively initiates the response based upon the services information.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing remote services to an integrated information technology environment. The apparatus comprises a remote management platform. The remote management platform comprises a service delivery platform which comprises a plug in module. The plug in module is configurable to comprise a plurality of service functions. The plug in module enables some or all of the plurality of service functions to be selectively enabled.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing remote services to an integrated information technology environment. The information technology environment comprises a services appliance. The services appliance provides agent-less monitoring of information handling systems within the information technology environment. The apparatus comprises a remote management platform. The remote management platform is configured to receive services information from the services appliance. The remote management platform analyzes the services information and determines a response based upon the services information. The remote management platform initiating the response by the remote management platform based upon the services information.

Abstract: An improved system and method are disclosed for the backup and restoration of data. An init image is created for a new system. Data is uploaded from a current system and a data image is generated. The resulting data image and the init image are combined to create a combined data image, which is then stored on an on-line backup host. A copy of the combined data image is transferred to the new system. The uploaded data is extracted from the copy of the combined data image and stored on the new system in the same location as the original system. Metadata describing the location of the combined data on the new system is captured and then applied to the combined data image stored on the on-line backup host. The extracted data on the new system is compared to the current data on the original system and the new system is updated. A differential backup is performed on the new system and then uploaded to the on-line backup host, where it is associated with the combined data image.

Abstract: A tool for communicating configuration information includes an analysis tool to determine changes to the configuration of an information handling device. The analysis tool develops a set of configuration tags to identify the configuration changes by identifying a subset of tables or other information, such as XML pairs, associated with a configuration management database (CMDB) and by identifying values for each table to reflect the configuration of the information handling device. The analysis tool encodes the configuration tags into an information string. Because the information string is encoded and does not represent the complete configuration of the information handling system configuration, it can be easily and accurately communicated to a technical support center by a user, thereby reducing potential communication problems and improving technical support.

Abstract: A system and method for addressing audiovisual equipment issues are disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a display device having a housing component at least partially defining an interior space. In some cases, a memory may be fixed within the interior space, and the memory may be storing a first set of display parameters and a second set of display parameters. The system may also include a diagnostic tool located within the interior space. The tool may be operable to assist a user in resolving a display-related issue by engaging in a diagnostic routine that includes a communicative interaction with a remotely located network node.

Abstract: An improved system and method is disclosed for making the Common Information Model (CIM), produced by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF), more flexible and extensible without requiring changes to it or its existing implementations. MultipleInheritance associations are implemented to define extension abstract classes for managed element information and to create static and dynamic add-in classes, all operable to reference the CIM schema class. Ambiguity is mitigated by not allowing properties of different data types to have the same name in super classes that are used for MultipleInheritance associations. Data integrity is facilitated by merging class properties of the same name and data type through the use of a Min algorithm. Concrete user classes are derived from new abstract classes such that management functionality is enabled for managed element properties.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for reducing the effects of cross-profile crosscutting concerns to enable just-in-time configuration updates and real-time adaptation in the Common Information Model (CIM). The CIM object model is thereby allowed to adapt to dynamic role, resource, or service changes such as logging, debugging, security or quality of service (QOS). An aspect syntactic analyzer is implemented to extend a CIM Managed Object Format (MOF) to implement aspect and dynamic pattern extensions. CIM MOF extensions comprise an Aspect Oriented Programming (AOP) join point. The join point can be implemented as an association class referencing two classes or as a method call of a first class to a property of a second class. The two classes may reside in the same or different CIM profiles. A CIM repository is accessed by a CIM Object Manager (CIMOM) comprising an aspect weaver implemented to enable AOP operations between CIM clients and data providers.

Abstract: A system and method for automating the generation and execution of sequences of manual operations, using a structured process and grammar, suitable for implementation in systems integration. The method of the invention allows manual operations to be defined by local or remote subject matter experts (SMEs), using a Manual Operations Grammar, with the system allowing the definition of methods for validating measurements, reporting, and optimizing a set of one or more operations and/or processes. As part of the system, generated scripts can automate a plurality of manual tasks, operation and/or process steps, and a plurality of automated tasks, operation and/or process steps.

Abstract: A system and method for authenticating the source, integrity, and associated execution controls, of a plurality of software, including but not limited to, installation packages, updates, patches, and other code components, distributed from a plurality of issuers for implementation on a plurality of predetermined recipient information handling systems operating within a network environment. Current file security is improved by automatically filtering software installation packages to ensure that each package component is signed by a trusted and verified issuer, and has not been tampered with, thereby replacing a weak, native trust model based on firewalls, static filters, reactive detection, and cleansing approaches.