Abstract: A method and apparatus, operating within a kernel of a UNIX-based host computer, that ensures that no unauthorized users or processes have accessed a pseudo-terminal (pty) slave file within a pty device driver prior to an authorized process accessing the pty slave file. Specifically, upon receiving, from an application program, a request to open a pty master file to form a pty device driver, the request is granted by the kernel only if the pty master file and pty slave file are presently closed. Similarly, a request to open a pty slave file to form a pty device driver is granted by the kernel only if the pty master file is open and a user identification of an application attempting to open the slave file is identical to a user identification of the application program which opened the master file. In this manner, a pseudo-terminal link between the pty master file and the pty slave file is secure from unauthorized processes being surreptitiously connected to the pty slave.

Abstract: In a method for generating a software development environment in a software development supporting system including a plurality of stations which are connected through a network, a first station within the plurality of stations decides one or more softwares which are a part of a development environment based on a development work procedure to be utilized. A request including the names of the requested softwares is transmitted from the first station to a second station within the plurality of stations through the network. The second station transmits, in response to the request, transmission information including the requested softwares and data corresponding thereto, to the first station through the network. The first station automatically installs the requested softwares included in the transmission information.

Abstract: Data processing systems often include multiple servers which provide facilities for other data stations within the system. A File System Driver loaded within an operating system is generally utilized to define the relationships among the operating system, the file systems and the device drivers. The method and system of the present invention loads multiple File System Drivers, each having a public entry point which may be utilized to identify each server device managed by an associated File System Driver. Thereafter, any server request by the user will result in an automatic sequential polling of each loaded File System Driver to identify the particular File System Driver which manages the server in question. In response to a failure to identify the particular File System Driver which manages the desired server, each File System Driver is polled a second time and permitted to transmit queries throughout the system to locate the desired server.