Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and products are provided for establishing and verifying the authenticity of data within one or more data files. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for verifying the authenticity of data involves providing at least one data file which includes an identifier and a signature file which includes the identifier for the data file as well as a digital signature. The digital signature is then verified using a computer system, and the identifier in the data file is compared with the identifier in the signature file using the computer system. In one embodiment, the identifier for the data file includes at least one certificate authority, site certificate, software publisher identifier, or a site name, and verifying the authenticity of data involves setting a security level for at least one of the certificate authority, the site certificate, the software publisher identifier, and the site name.

Abstract: A method of generating pairs of random interprogram conversation testcases is provided in which conversation statements are selected with which to construct the testcases in dependence on what statements are permitted for the predicted current conversation states of the testcases. The effect of each statement that is added to the testcases on the states of the testcases at eventual execution is predicted from predefined state tables for particular conversation protocols. As each conversation-type statement is added to a testcase, it is determined whether matching statements must be added to the other testcase and, if so, these matching statements are randomly generated in the same way. Self-checking code is added to the testcases to check correct execution. The method is particularly suitable for testing the support of asynchronous conversations between transaction processing programs running in different CICS systems.

Abstract: Failure detection and reporting for a computer mail gateway is provided. In a preferred embodiment, two computer mail systems are connected by a gateway. The gateway includes an automatic gateway failure detection and reporting facility. The gateway also includes a message transfer store. The facility transmits a message from the first mail system into the message transfer store for retrieval by the second mail system. The facility then detects that the transmitted message from the first mail system has remained in the message transfer store for at least a predetermined time without being retrieved by the second mail system. In response to detecting that the transmitted message from the first mail system has remained in the message transfer store for at least a predetermined time without being retrieved by the second mail system, the facility diagnoses the failure of the gateway.