Abstract: A method and system provides for the migration of a modified virtual machine from a first network environment to a second by transmitting only a new value-block pair and a new set of key-value pairs to a client in the second network environment. Changes to the virtual machine, which is composed of component blocks, may be captured in a new component block. A corresponding new key and new hash value maybe generated to produce the new value-block pair and a corresponding new key-value pair. In this way, a user may make changes to a virtual machine in the first network environment and have those changes distributed and made available in the second network environment; not by transferring the entire image file, but rather by transferring a minimal amount of data between the two environments.

Abstract: A method to establish a peer-to-peer network connection between two physical machines for distributing virtual machine images between the machines based on users' end user roles is provided. A first physical machine receives, from a second physical machine, a first virtual machine image corresponding to a first end user role and subsequently the first physical machine receives a second virtual machine image corresponding to a second end-user role from the second physical machine. Another method provides for partitioning a virtual machine image file into a plurality of blocks, each identified with a corresponding hash code where the corresponding hash/block pairs are stored in a distributed hash table. A list of the hash codes is sent to a target machine and the unique hash codes are maintained until the complete virtual machine image file is received by the target machine.

Abstract: A system, including a central server, remotely install server agents, and administrative agents, is disclosed for provisioning software and updates, maintenance directives, and data to client machines within a central domain or a remote disjoint domain. By monitoring network traffic through various network nodes, a focal point of network traffic for all machines in the domain may be identified by the central server. A server agent is installed at the focal point network node for identifying all machines in the domain. Administrative agents are installed on all identified machines. The administrative agents facilitate the copying and distribution of files needed for software and data provisioning and maintenance.