Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for data handling in a computing environment. A data access request is generated to access data by a requesting VM. VMs of an ordered list are sequentially checked for data cache hit corresponding to the data in an order given by a ranking. The data is read from the checked VM in response to at least one data cache hit of a checked VM being found, and thereafter a ranking value of the checked VM is updated, thereby updating ranking based on the ranking value. The data is requested from the at least one storage server in response to no data cache hot being found.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for automatically expanding a virtual storage of a virtual machine. The virtual machine monitors a usage of the virtual storage of the virtual machine. The virtual machine determines, based on the monitoring of the usage of the virtual storage, whether to expand the virtual storage of the virtual machine. In response to the virtual machine determining to expand the virtual storage of the virtual machine, a virtual machine manager executes one or more operations to expand the virtual storage. The monitoring and determining may be performed by a virtual storage management agent executing within the virtual machine and which may send an expansion request to an authorization engine to request expansion of the virtual storage.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for automatically expanding a virtual storage of a virtual machine. The virtual machine monitors a usage of the virtual storage of the virtual machine. The virtual machine determines, based on the monitoring of the usage of the virtual storage, whether to expand the virtual storage of the virtual machine. In response to the virtual machine determining to expand the virtual storage of the virtual machine, a virtual machine manager executes one or more operations to expand the virtual storage. The monitoring and determining may be performed by a virtual storage management agent executing within the virtual machine and which may send an expansion request to an authorization engine to request expansion of the virtual storage.

Abstract: An integration mechanism for managing computing components may be provided. It may comprise collecting management information about the computing components using a data collection component, storing objects of the collected management information in a full-text search-index data-structure, generating for each collected object a displayable result snippet, searching the full-text search-index data-structure for matching objects based on a received parameter, retrieving all matching objects of the full-text search-index data-structure related to the search, and displaying the matching objects in form of the related result snippets, wherein the integration mechanism is independent from the computing components it is collecting management information from.

Abstract: Deploying a software image from a source data-processing system on target data-processing entities of a target data-processing system, the software image including memory blocks being individually accessible, with a predefined subset of the memory blocks defining a bootstrap module. The deploying includes downloading the bootstrap module onto a main one of the target data-processing entities from the source data-processing system, booting the main target data-processing entity from the bootstrap module thereby loading a streaming driver in the bootstrap module, and serving each request of accessing a selected memory block of the software image on the main data-processing entity by the streaming driver.

Abstract: A deployment request from a target machine is received for an operating system on a source machine. Tracking information indicative of an evolution of the deployment of the operating system is received. Deployment of the operating system is enabled or refused in response to each deployment request according to the tracking information.

Abstract: Methods for testing a transactional software application which interacts with a database structure. The software application includes a plurality of application units, which are adapted to be executed at least in part concurrently. The method includes executing the software application. Executing the software application includes executing a plurality of transaction operations on the database structure by a plurality of respective invocations of a database management system of the database structure by the respective plurality of application units. The method also includes determining locks being applied by the database management system on elements of the database structure for each transaction operation executed by each application unit individually. The method also includes identifying potential lock conditions of the software application in possible successions of application of the locks according to possible interleaving of the application units.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products and systems for determining the level of use of a program associated with a license, by one or more agents, for comparison with a predetermined licensed level of use.

Abstract: A method, data processing system, and computer program product for applying a setting. A request for a set of resources is received. The request is to use the set of resources over a network connection. An address associated with a device from the request is identified. A geographic location of the device is identified based on the address. A set of settings for the set of resources is identified based on the geographic location of the device. The set of settings is applied to the set of resources.

Abstract: Systems, and products for testing a transactional software application which interacts with a database structure. The software application includes a plurality of application units, which are adapted to be executed at least in part concurrently. Executing the software application includes executing a plurality of transaction operations on the database structure by a plurality of respective invocations of a database management system of the database structure by the respective plurality of application units. The system also includes computer program instructions for determining locks being applied by the database management system on elements of the database structure for each transaction operation executed by each application unit individually. The system also includes computer program instructions for identifying potential lock conditions of the software application in possible successions of application of the locks according to possible interleaving of the application units.

Abstract: Deploying a software image from a source data-processing system on target data-processing entities of a target data-processing system, the software image including memory blocks being individually accessible, with a predefined subset of the memory blocks defining a bootstrap module. The deploying includes downloading the bootstrap module onto a main one of the target data-processing entities from the source data-processing system, booting the main target data-processing entity from the bootstrap module thereby loading a streaming driver in the bootstrap module, and serving each request of accessing a selected memory block of the software image on the main data-processing entity by the streaming driver.

Abstract: A mechanism for patching a virtual image modifies a selected dormant virtual image to be patched by injecting a corresponding patch logic and patch material to be applied on next boot during an off-line preparation phase. The mechanism downloads a boot medium and creates a temporary disk for a selected target virtual machine with corresponding deployment data The mechanism changes a master boot record of said temporary disk associated with the target virtual machine to boot next on the boot medium. The mechanism executes the patch logic to install the patch material in case the target virtual machine associated with the virtual image to be patched is booted.

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 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: An integration mechanism for managing computing components may be provided. It may comprise collecting management information about the computing components using a data collection component, storing objects of the collected management information in a full-text search-index data-structure, generating for each collected object a displayable result snippet, searching the full-text search-index data-structure for matching objects based on a received parameter, retrieving all matching objects of the full-text search-index data-structure related to the search, and displaying the matching objects in form of the related result snippets, wherein the integration mechanism is independent from the computing components it is collecting management information from.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for data handling in a computing environment. A data access request is generated to access data by a requesting VM. VMs of an ordered list are sequentially checked for data cache hit corresponding to the data in an order given by a ranking. The data is read from the checked VM in response to at least one data cache hit of a checked VM being found, and thereafter a ranking value of the checked VM is updated, thereby updating ranking based on the ranking value. The data is requested from the at least one storage server in response to no data cache hot being found.

Abstract: A solution for discovering shared software components (C1-C9) of software products (PRODa-PRODe) installed on a data processing system is proposed. In order to achieve this result, for each software product the corresponding software components are aggregated into groups (Ga1-Ge1); each group includes software components that must be linked by a corresponding relationship (such as a co-location on the same operating system image). In this way, it is possible to assign a software component available on the system to its software product even when it may be used by more of them. Particularly, the operation is performed deterministically when the available software component is included in a single valid group (i.e., a group including all the required software components); in this case, the available software component (C2) is assigned to the software product (PROD) associated with the single valid group (Gb1).

Abstract: A method, data processing system, and computer program product for applying a setting. A request for a set of resources is received. The request is to use the set of resources over a network connection. An address associated with a device from the request is identified. A geographic location of the device is identified based on the address. A set of settings for the set of resources is identified based on the geographic location of the device. The set of settings is applied to the set of resources.

Abstract: A deployment request from a target machine is received for an operating system on a source machine. Tracking information indicative of an evolution of the deployment of the operating system is received. Deployment of the operating system is enabled or refused in response to each deployment request according to the tracking information.

Abstract: Methods for testing a transactional software application which interacts with a database structure. The software application includes a plurality of application units, which are adapted to be executed at least in part concurrently. The method includes executing the software application. Executing the software application includes executing a plurality of transaction operations on the database structure by a plurality of respective invocations of a database management system of the database structure by the respective plurality of application units. The method also includes determining locks being applied by the database management system on elements of the database structure for each transaction operation executed by each application unit individually. The method also includes identifying potential lock conditions of the software application in possible successions of application of the locks according to possible interleaving of the application units.