Abstract: A method for managing computing machines.

Abstract: A method, an eBook, and an apparatus are provided. The method includes calculating, by a processor, a usage metric describing a timing at which an eBook has been displayed for viewing by a user. The method further includes selectively deteriorating, by the processor, a look of the eBook for a secondary market based on the usage metric of the eBook.

Abstract: User input is received from a user for identifying a particular account from among multiple accounts. A set of questions specific for the particular account is selected. Further user input comprising one or more responses to each question of the set of questions is received. A password is generated based on the one or more received responses.

Abstract: A method, an eBook, and an apparatus. The method includes calculating, by a processor, a usage metric describing a timing at which an eBook has been displayed for viewing by a user. The method further includes selectively deteriorating, by the processor, a look of the eBook for a secondary market based on the usage metric of the eBook.

Abstract: A solution is proposed for managing each one of a plurality of computing machines. A corresponding method comprises taking one or more snapshots of the computing machine or part thereof, the snapshots being organized in a snapshot tree of nodes representing the snapshots according to a dependency thereof, expanding the snapshot tree of the computing machine according to each sub-tree of the snapshot tree of each other computing machine having the snapshot of a parent node of the sub-tree matching a graft node of the snapshot tree of the computing machine, the sub-tree being appended to the graft node, selecting a snapshot of the other computing machines represented by a selected node of the snapshot tree of the computing machine, and restoring the selected snapshot on the computing machine.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for generating customized program logic operable to control hardware devices of a target system and to boot said target system. The system is connected to one or more target systems via a network, the server system being adapted for: receiving a first list of device identifiers from one of the target systems; automatically selecting, for each of the device identifiers in the received first list, at least one driver operable to control the identified device from a set of drivers, thereby generating a sub-set of said set of drivers; providing a core program logic to the target system; and providing the sub-set of drivers to the target system, wherein a combination of the sub-set of drivers and the core program logic constitutes a customized program logic operable to control the devices of said target system.

Abstract: A method, an eBook, and an apparatus are provided. The method includes calculating, by a processor, a usage metric describing a timing at which an eBook has been displayed for viewing by a user. The method further includes selectively deteriorating, by the processor, a look of the eBook for a secondary market based on the usage metric of the eBook.

Abstract: A solution is proposed for managing each one of a plurality of computing machines. A corresponding method comprises taking one or more snapshots of the computing machine or part thereof, the snapshots being organized in a snapshot tree of nodes representing the snapshots according to a dependency thereof, expanding the snapshot tree of the computing machine according to each sub-tree of the snapshot tree of each other computing machine having the snapshot of a parent node of the sub-tree matching a graft node of the snapshot tree of the computing machine, the sub-tree being appended to the graft node, selecting a snapshot of the other computing machines represented by a selected node of the snapshot tree of the computing machine, and restoring the selected snapshot on the computing machine.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system of managing multicast groups for distribution of multicast content to a plurality of targets are provided. Managing multicast groups includes receiving a plurality of requests to join a multicast group sent by the plurality of targets and evaluating from the plurality of requests a resource utilization required for each of the plurality of targets. Managing multicast groups further includes generating the multicast group by accepting targets of the plurality of targets; accumulating each resource utilization corresponding to each accepted target into an accumulated resource utilization; and closing, by the processor, the multicast group when the accumulated resource utilization of the accepted targets exceeds a group resource utilization limit.

Abstract: A tool for managing device driver aggregation during operating system deployment. The tool receives a request for a device bundle, wherein the request originates from a first target client. The tool determines whether an available driver bundle matches the device bundle, wherein the available driver bundle is a driver bundle stored locally on a second target client. Responsive to a determination that the available driver bundle matches the device bundle, the tool provisions the available driver bundle to the first target client from the second target client.

Abstract: A method for managing computing machines.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system of managing multicast groups for distribution of multicast content to a plurality of targets are provided. Managing multicast groups includes receiving a plurality of requests to join a multicast group sent by the plurality of targets and evaluating from the plurality of requests a resource utilization required for each of the plurality of targets. Managing multicast groups further includes generating the multicast group by accepting targets of the plurality of targets; accumulating each resource utilization corresponding to each accepted target into an accumulated resource utilization; and closing, by the processor, the multicast group when the accumulated resource utilization of the accepted targets exceeds a group resource utilization limit.

Abstract: A method for generating a customized program logic operable to control hardware devices of a target system and to boot said target system includes determining the hardware devices operatively connected with the target system. A list of identifiers of the determined hardware devices is sent to a server system. The server system selects from a set of drivers for each of the device identifiers in the list at least one driver operable to control the identified device to generating a sub-set of said set of drivers. The server system retrieves a core program logic being free of any drivers of the target system and complements the core program logic with said driver sub-set to generate the customized program logic. The customized program logic is then deployed to the target system.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for generating customized program logic operable to control hardware devices of a target system and to boot said target system. The method includes determining the hardware devices operatively connected with the target system; sending a first list of identifiers of the determined hardware devices to a server system; receiving the first list of device identifiers; automatically selecting at least one driver operable to control the identified device, thereby generating a sub-set of said set of drivers; and complementing a core program logic with said driver sub-set to generate the customized program logic.

Abstract: A method and system for populating a software catalogue in software applications which monitor the presence of software products on a plurality of computers. The proposed method aims at populating a software catalogue with a limited manual intervention of an administrator. The present invention reduces the cost of producing and maintaining a comprehensive knowledge base (the catalogue) which contains definitions of software products and the related signature. Information about software products and their related signature is obtained through a process using some special files (e.g. XML files) which contains information and/or pointers to other products.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for managing system management agent configurations which include agent system management programs and program parameters in a distributed environment. A configuration management server sends upon request from the agents installed on the distributed system a description of their configuration. To this effect, the configuration management server maintains a database storing the agent configuration information, this database being usually updated by a system management administrator. The agents get from the server the list of peer distributed systems having the same agent configuration and their configuration from one distributed system of the list or obtain an agent configuration directly from the configuration management server if the peer distributed systems have modified their configuration. The agents advise the system management server when a new configuration has been installed.

Abstract: A tool for managing device driver aggregation during operating system deployment. The tool receives a request for a device bundle, wherein the request originates from a first target client. The tool determines whether an available driver bundle matches the device bundle, wherein the available driver bundle is a driver bundle stored locally on a second target client. Responsive to a determination that the available driver bundle matches the device bundle, the tool provisions the available driver bundle to the first target client from the second target client.

Abstract: A method and system for populating a software catalogue in software applications which monitor the presence of software products on a plurality of computers. The proposed method aims at populating a software catalogue with a limited manual intervention of an administrator. The present invention reduces the cost of producing and maintaining a comprehensive knowledge base (the catalogue) which contains definitions of software products and the related signature. Information about software products and their related signature is obtained through a process using some special files (e.g. XML files) which contains information and/or pointers to other products.

Abstract: A tool for managing device driver aggregation during operating system deployment. The tool receives, by a first computer processor, a request for a device bundle, the request including a unique identifier. The tool determines, by the first computer processor, whether an available driver bundle matches the requested device bundle based, at least in part, on the unique identifier. Responsive to determining an available driver bundle does not match a requested device bundle, the tool creates, by the first computer processor, an associated driver bundle for the requested device bundle.

Abstract: A tool for managing device driver aggregation during operating system deployment. The tool receives, by a first computer processor, a request for a device bundle, the request including a unique identifier. The tool determines, by the first computer processor, whether an available driver bundle matches the requested device bundle based, at least in part, on the unique identifier. Responsive to determining an available driver bundle does not match a requested device bundle, the tool creates, by the first computer processor, an associated driver bundle for the requested device bundle.