Abstract: Migration of a user state from a source computing device to a destination computing device using a state migration point (SMP) is disclosed. The destination computing device may be the same as the source computing device but with a different operating system. The user state is securely stored by the SMP until the user state is restored on the destination computing device or a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Additional SMPs can be added without an architectural change. SMPs can be used to simultaneously migrate the states of multiple users of the source computing device to multiple destination computing devices. The SMPs can be restricted to migrate only the user states of computing devices with particular IP subnets. The SMPs can retain user states for a period of time after restoration in order to provide a backup, if necessary.

Abstract: Migration of a user state from a source computing device to a destination computing device using a state migration point (SMP) is disclosed. The destination computing device may be the same as the source computing device but with a different operating system. The user state is securely stored by the SMP until the user state is restored on the destination computing device or a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Additional SMPs can be added without an architectural change. SMPs can be used to simultaneously migrate the states of multiple users of the source computing device to multiple destination computing devices. The SMPs can be restricted to migrate only the user states of computing devices with particular IP subnets. The SMPs can retain user states for a period of time after restoration in order to provide a backup, if necessary.

Abstract: Migration of a user state from a source computing device to a destination computing device using a state migration point (SMP) is disclosed. The destination computing device may be the same as the source computing device but with a different operating system. The user state is securely stored by the SMP until the user state is restored on the destination computing device or a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Additional SMPs can be added without an architectural change. SMPs can be used to simultaneously migrate the states of multiple users of the source computing device to multiple destination computing devices. The SMPs can be restricted to migrate only the user states of computing devices with particular IP subnets. The SMPs can retain user states for a period of time after restoration in order to provide a backup, if necessary.

Abstract: A configuration management database for storing configuration information about an IT system. The configuration management database may have representations of configuration items that correspond to configuration items in the IT system, indicia of relations between the configuration items, and attributes of the configuration items. The configuration management database may also have configuration state information of the configuration items, where the configuration state information has information indicating whether a configuration item, relation, or attribute is in a state of pending approval or in a state of planned deployment. The configuration management database may also have temporal information indicating a temporal state of a configuration item, relation, or attribute.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of instructing at least one operator in a best practices implementation of a process for managing resource capacity in an information technology (IT) environment is provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of instructing at least one operator in a best practices implementation of a process for managing resource capacity in an information technology (IT) environment is provided.

Abstract: A configuration management database for storing configuration information about an IT system. The configuration management database may have representations of configuration items that correspond to configuration items in the IT system, indicia of relations between the configuration items, and attributes of the configuration items. The configuration management database may also have configuration state information of the configuration items, where the configuration state information has information indicating whether a configuration item, relation, or attribute is in a state of pending approval or in a state of planned deployment. The configuration management database may also have temporal information indicating a temporal state of a configuration item, relation, or attribute.

Abstract: Migration of a user state from a source computing device to a destination computing device using a state migration point (SMP) is disclosed. The destination computing device may be the same as the source computing device but with a different operating system. The user state is securely stored by the SMP until the user state is restored on the destination computing device or a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Additional SMPs can be added without an architectural change. SMPs can be used to simultaneously migrate the states of multiple users of the source computing device to multiple destination computing devices. The SMPs can be restricted to migrate only the user states of computing devices with particular IP subnets. The SMPs can retain user states for a period of time after restoration in order to provide a backup, if necessary.

Abstract: Techniques for preserving state information across multiple operating environments on a machine are provided. A task engine creates and utilizes a task environment to preserve state information through multiple operating environments while sequencing the actions in a task sequence. During task sequence execution, the task environment is maintained in the machine's memory. If an action that is being executed involves initiating a reboot operation, the task environment in memory is saved to disk (i.e., non-volatile memory). When the machine completes the reboot operation, either into the same operating environment or a new operating environment, the task engine creates a new task environment in the machine's memory, and the new task environment is restored from the previously saved task environment on disk. The task engine then continues to sequence the actions in the task sequence utilizing the new task environment in memory.

Abstract: Techniques for importing, managing, and deploying drivers are provided. When a machine is being re-imaged, a process on the machine scans for hardware devices on the machine and generates a list of hardware device IDs and compatible hardware device IDs for each scanned hardware device. The process then formulates a request for device driver package IDs corresponding to device drivers that are compatible with the hardware and compatible hardware device IDs, and sends the request to a management server. The process receives a list of compatible device driver package IDs in response to the request and accesses the device driver files from an appropriate content server.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of instructing at least one operator in a best practices implementation of a process for managing resource capacity in an information technology (IT) environment is provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of instructing at least one operator in a best practices implementation of a process for managing resource capacity in an information technology (IT) environment is provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of instructing users in the implementation of a patch management process is provided. The patch management process relates to the installation of a software patch in a computer system. The method comprises an act of providing instructions that describe the patch management process in a hierarchical manner so that the patch management process is described as comprising a plurality of top-level activities, with each of the plurality of top-level activities being described as comprising at least one sub-action, the instructions describing trigger events that result in transitions between the top-level activities. In another aspect, a method includes following the instructions that describe the patch management process.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of instructing operators in a best practices implementation of a service monitoring and control (SMC) facility performing a plurality of functions in a computer system comprising a plurality of services to be monitored is provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of instructing operators in a best practices implementation of a service monitoring and control (SMC) facility performing a plurality of functions in a computer system comprising a plurality of services to be monitored is provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of instructing operators in a best practices implementation of a service monitoring and control (SMC) facility performing a plurality of functions in a computer system comprising a plurality of services to be monitored is provided.

Abstract: A schema for use in implementing a configuration management database (CMDB) includes an entity to store information identifying configuration items and a separate entity to store attributes of the configuration items. The CMDB schema may also include a separate entity to track relationships between configuration items. The CMDB schema may also include an entity to store a default list of approvers for changes and/or an entity to store dependencies between requested changes.