Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for license management includes logic adapted for arranging entitlement slots under a plurality of licenses, each entitlement slot being configured for affording entitlement to use of an instance of a software application during a particular time frame, logic adapted for determining a license use signature from recorded license attribution information, logic adapted for receiving a notification of an instance not attributed to a license, and logic adapted for attributing the non-attributed instance to one of the plurality of licenses as a function of the license use signature, wherein each license has an entitlement value defining a maximum number of entitlement slots that may be attributed to that license during the time frame and any given instance of the software application may consume any number of the entitlement slots including zero entitlement slots.

Abstract: A system management product installed in a distributed computing environment can efficiently provide appropriate translations of message texts without preinstalled catalogues of translations. When a management activity that includes displaying a message text is performed, the system management product determines that a translation of the message text in the target language is unavailable at a client computer. A translation of the message text into the target language is requested from a translation service. A plurality of different translations of the message text in the target language is received. The plurality of different translations is displayed at the client computer. Feedback about the plurality of different translations is requested. The feedback is provided to the translation service. An indication of a vote for a preferred translation of the message text in the target language based on the feedback is recorded.

Abstract: Efficiently performing a complete inventory of a shared file system is provided. A list of a set of shared file systems is sent from a configuration management agent to a central server, the list indicates which shared file systems are mounted by a computing device associated with the configuration management agent. Responsive to a notification from a central server indicating that a software inventory scan is to be performed by the configuration management agent, a software inventory scan of the one or more shared file systems is initiated. Results of the software inventory scan are uploaded to the central server and shared with other computing devices that mount the one or more shared file systems in the set of shared file systems. Thus, other the computing devices do not have to scan the one or more shared file systems to retrieve the results of the software inventory scan.

Abstract: A solution (400) for discovering shared software components (C1-C9) of software products (PRODa-PRODe) installed on a data processing system (110) 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 (PRODb) associated with the single valid group (Gb1).

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 (PRODb) associated with the single valid group (Gb1).

Abstract: A solution is proposed for exchanging messages (such as e-mails) among a plurality of data processing entities, such as client computers (105). A corresponding method starts with the step of sending (403-412) an original message from a sender entity to a set of original receiver entities; the original message includes an original information content and an indication of the original receiver entities. The method continues by sending (415-424) a correction message from the sender entity at least partially to the original receiver entities and completely to a set of missing receiver entities being missing in the original message; the correction message includes the original information content and an indication of the original receiver entities and the missing receiver entities. The original message for each original receiver entity is then corrected (427-496) according to the correction message.

Abstract: A method and a corresponding apparatus for metering usage of software products on a computer are proposed. The metering system is based on the use of a software catalogue. The software catalogue lists all the known products to be metered; each product is identified by one or more executable modules indicative of its running. A licensing agent detects the executable modules that have been launched. For each executable module, the system checks if a corresponding product is listed in the catalogue, and can decide an appropriate action, or simply meter the usage of the product for future reporting and invoicing activity. If no corresponding product is found in the catalogue, the method according to the present invention performs a similarity check between the unknown detected module and the product identifiers existing on the catalogue. Sometimes the difference between a new product and a catalogued one is very limited.

Abstract: Metering execution of interpreted programs on a data processing system is accomplished. An interpreted program requests a service to an interpreter running the interpreted program. The interpreter invokes a native external function for implementing the service. The invocation of the external function is intercepted. The interpreted program identified according to the external function by accessing a catalogue which associates native functions with interpreted programs. A license management operation is performed according to the identified interpreted program.

Abstract: A method and a corresponding apparatus for metering usage of software products on a computer are proposed. The solution of the invention is based on the idea of associating each product with an installation signature (indicative of the installation of the product on the computer) and with a running signature (indicative of the running of the product on the computer). The products that are installed on the computer are asynchronously determined according to their installation signatures; in this way, any ambiguities (for example, caused by different versions and/or configurations of a product sharing the same executable modules) can be resolved in advance. Therefore, when at run-time the invocation of an executable module is detected it is possible to use only the running signatures to identify the corresponding product uniquely (without the need of additional information about the executable module, such as its size).

Abstract: Efficiently performing a complete inventory of a shared file system is provided. A list of a set of shared file systems is sent from a configuration management agent to a central server, the list indicates which shared file systems are mounted by a computing device associated with the configuration management agent. Responsive to a notification from a central server indicating that a software inventory scan is to be performed by the configuration management agent, a software inventory scan of the one or more shared file systems is initiated. Results of the software inventory scan are uploaded to the central server and shared with other computing devices that mount the one or more shared file systems in the set of shared file systems. Thus, other the computing devices do not have to scan the one or more shared file systems to retrieve the results of the software inventory scan.

Abstract: A method (300) and system for controlling use of software programs on multiple workstations of a network. An agent running on each workstation detects (306) any new process (using a kernel hooking technique), which is started in response to the request of execution of a program (397). The process is suspended (308) and an authorization to run the program is requested (334) to an associated metering server. The metering server compares (380) the current usage of the product with the respective authorized conditions of use, and answers (382) the agent granting or denying the authorization to run. The process is accordingly resumed (312), in order to enable the program to start, or aborted (315), so as to prevent execution of the program. In any case, the program is not stopped (but it is prevented from starting); this avoids killing the program while it is performing potentially risky operations.

Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes using a class loader, detecting an entry point to a Java application; using a class loader, detecting each entry point extension to the Java application; and contacting a third party license server for acquiring a license for each of the Java application and extension associated with each detected entry point.

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: Methods, 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. 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: A method for determining a software configuration in a computer system having a plurality of devices which can communicate with a central server and a one or more shared file systems, the method including the acts of determining, by each of the plurality of devices, which of the one or more shared file systems the corresponding device is mounted to; designating for each of the one or more shared file systems a device which is mounted thereto to perform a scanning operation on the corresponding shared file system, the device being selected from the plurality of devices; scanning, by each designated device, the one or more shared file systems that the corresponding device has been designated to scan so as to identify software products on the corresponding shared file systems that correspond with the catalog information; and receiving, from each designated device, results of the scanning for further processing.

Abstract: A solution is proposed for exchanging messages (such as e-mails) among a plurality of data processing entities, such as client computers (105). A corresponding method starts with the step of sending (403-412) an original message from a sender entity to a set of original receiver entities; the original message includes an original information content and an indication of the original receiver entities. The method continues by sending (415-424) a correction message from the sender entity at least partially to the original receiver entities and completely to a set of missing receiver entities being missing in the original message; the correction message includes the original information content and an indication of the original receiver entities and the missing receiver entities. The original message for each original receiver entity is then corrected (427-496) according to the correction message.

Abstract: A solution (400) for discovering shared software components (C1-C9) of software products (PRODa-PRODe) installed on a data processing system (110) 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 (PRODb) associated with the single valid group (Gb1).

Abstract: A method (300) and system for controlling use of software programs on multiple workstations of a network. An agent running on each workstation detects (306) any new process (using a kernel hooking technique), which is started in response to the request of execution of a program (397). The process is suspended (308) and an authorisation to run the program is requested (334) to an associated metering server. The metering server compares (380) the current usage of the product with the respective authorised conditions of use, and answers (382) the agent granting or denying the authorisation to run. The process is accordingly resumed (312), in order to enable the program to start, or aborted (315), so as to prevent execution of the program. In any case, the program is not stopped (but it is prevented from starting); this avoids killing the program while it is performing potentially risky operations.

Abstract: A method (300) and system for controlling use of software programs on multiple workstations of a network. An agent running on each workstation detects (306) any new process (using a kernel hooking technique), which is started in response to the request of execution of a program (397). The process is suspended (308) and an authorisation to run the program is requested (334) to an associated metering server. The metering server compares (380) the current usage of the product with the respective authorised conditions of use, and answers (382) the agent granting or denying the authorisation to run. The process is accordingly resumed (312), in order to enable the program to start, or aborted (315), so as to prevent execution of the program. In any case, the program is not stopped (but it is prevented from starting); this avoids killing the program while it is performing potentially risky operations.

Abstract: A solution for metering usage of at least one software product on a data processing system, the at least one software product having a plurality of available associated licenses, each license having a set of attributes. An event indicative of the use of the at least one product on the system is detected. Responsive to the detection, the best available license among said plurality of licenses is determined according to predetermined preference rules of the attributes. Metering conditions to the at least one software product are applied according to the identified best available license. A change of the best available license is detected. New metering conditions are applied to the at least one software product accordingly.