Abstract: A computer system includes a mass storage unit, the mass storage unit comprising: a first portion which contains a first operating system; a second portion distinct from the first portion; wherein: the second portion stores the value of an address comprised in the first portion and at which a boot record of the first operating system is located; the first portion has a sub-portion containing a second operating system; the second portion further stores the value of another address comprised in the first portion and which is the address of a boot record of the second operating system, whereby the second operating system can be activated without the first operating system being active.

Abstract: A system and method update client computers of various end users with software updates for software products installed on the client computers, the software products manufactured by diverse, unrelated software vendors. The system includes a service provider computer system, a number of client computers and software vendor computer systems communicating on a common network. The service provider computer system stores in an update database information about the software updates of the diverse software vendors, identifying the software products for which software updates are available, their location on the network at the various software vendor computer systems, information for identifying in the client computers the software products stored thereon, and information for determining for such products, which have software updates available. Users of the client computers connect to the service provider computer and obtain a current version of portions of the database.

Abstract: A method of using a dynamic computing environment to facilitate a sales preparation of a first software is provided. The method comprises configuring the dynamic computing environment for a first hardware, a first software environment and a first network configuration, preparing for sales of the first software using the first hardware, the first software environment, and the first network configuration of the dynamic computing environment, configuring the dynamic computing environment for a second hardware, a second software environment, and a second network configuration; and preparing for sales of the first software using the second hardware, the second software environment, and the second network configuration of the dynamic computing environment. A method of using dynamic computing environments to facilitate a sales demonstration by a sales team and an evaluation by a customer is also provided.

Abstract: Computer equipment using a plurality of BIOS versions. The equipment includes a selecting device, a memory device, and a CPU. The selecting device provides a selecting signal responding to the BIOS version. The memory device is coupled to the selecting device to store the BIOS version, and outputs the responding BIOS version according to the selecting signal. The CPU is coupled to the memory device to load the responding BIOS version.

Abstract: An alternative boot methodology that begins with legacy-free firmware allows the peaceful coexistence of legacy-free and legacy option ROMs in a system. Legacy-free firmware provides a legacy-free boot path from system power up to operating system loading. This legacy-free boot path is independent of any legacy firmware. A legacy-free boot manager boots from an ordered list of OS loaders. If a legacy boot option is available, legacy-free drivers that have already been loaded may be stopped, and a legacy boot using legacy firmware may be initiated, without having to reboot the system.

Abstract: A system and method to intelligently control power consumption of distributed services using a computer system that provides independent computing elements each capable of entering a power saving mode. The first algorithm is a reduced load power saving algorithm. As the load decreases, duplicate instances of services can be gracefully suspended and the host processor cards hosting these instances can enter a power saving mode. The second algorithm is a priority-based power consumption reduction algorithm. If power consumption must be reduced, services having less of a contribution to revenue are suspended before components that having a higher contribution to revenue. The third algorithm is a minimal power-consuming redundant computing hardware algorithm that allows a “cold spare” host processor card to be pressed into service if another card fails.