Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, receive vendor resource data and vendor logic from vendors, receive customer resource data from a customer, build a page based on the customer resource data and the vendor resource data, send the page to the customer, and invoke the vendor logic in response to a request from the customer via the page. The page may describe both the current inventory of resources at the customer (based on the customer resource data) and resources that are available for purchase from the vendors (based on the vendor resource data). In various embodiments, the vendor logic purchases the resource from the vendor, requests information from the vendor, or registers the customer with the vendor. If a determination is made that a new resource is needed, either by the customer or by analysis of the customer resource data and rules for purchasing new resources, then a purchase request is sent to the vendor for the new resource.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing enhanced install performance of a computer system. A user request for an update to be installed is identified. The update to be installed is described by metadata. An installer is provided for installing one or multiple updates. Predefined information for each update to be installed, including any pre-installation operation and post-installation operation required by each update, is processed to provide enhanced install performance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for displaying a topological graph that allows a user to navigate through a history of previous topology displays to increase the user's understanding and awareness of the state of the topology. In a preferred embodiment, a topology display mechanism receives state changes to a topology of a computer network and stores a sequence of graphs that reflect the changes that are made to the topology. The topology display mechanism also allows the user to step through the sequence of stored topology graphs using “video” type controls to change the display of the topology graphs. In other embodiments, the topology display mechanism displays the changes in the topology as a sequence of graphs that form an animation to give the user a graphical visualization of the changes from one topology graph in the sequence to the next.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for displaying a topological graph that allows a user to navigate through a history of previous topology displays to increase the user's understanding and awareness of the state of the topology. In a preferred embodiment, a topology display mechanism receives state changes to a topology of a computer network and stores a sequence of graphs that reflect the changes that are made to the topology. The topology display mechanism also allows the user to step through the sequence of stored topology graphs using “video” type controls to change the display of the topology graphs. In other embodiments, the topology display mechanism displays the changes in the topology as a sequence of graphs that form an animation to give the user a graphical visualization of the changes from one topology graph in the sequence to the next.