Abstract: Two computers of a standard size, such as 1U, are mounted in a single standard size space. This arrangement almost doubles the space utilization of a rack and thereby halves the cost of hosting a dynamic computing environment. Also, a plurality of chassis are mounted on a rack where each chassis can hold more than one single-board computers. This arrangement enables provisioning of computing environments computing power in increments other than multiples of 1U.

Abstract: A system for managing boot-up of target machines. In a preferred embodiment, a server computer acts as a managing computer. A target machine notifies the server that the target machine has been powered-up. The server allocates an IP address and sends a response to the target machine. The target machine download boot-up software from the server computer. The target machine then downloads discovery software from the server computer for purposes of determining information about the configuration and resources of the target machine. Standard protocols and mechanisms such as DHCP, BOOTP, TFTP and others can be used. The system works with different types of manufacturers' processors and platforms.

Abstract: A system for managing boot-up of target machines. In a preferred embodiment, a server computer acts as a managing computer. A target machine notifies the server that the target machine has been powered-up. The server allocates an IP address and sends a response to the target machine. The target machine download boot-up software from the server computer. The target machine then downloads discovery software from the server computer for purposes of determining information about the configuration and resources of the target machine. Standard protocols and mechanisms such as DHCP, BOOTP, TFTP and others can be used. The system works with different types of manufacturers' processors and platforms.

Abstract: A system uses a protocol stack on a card external to a motherboard in a target computer system. A processor on the motherboard is able to make use of the external protocol stack during boot-up of the computer, or at any other time, so that it is not necessary to load the protocol stack into the motherboard's memory. This saves time, memory, and disk space and permits an external, managing, computer system to communicate with a computer just after power-up without loading and configuring a protocol stack so that the managing computer system can control the boot-up of the target computer system. The extra memory saved, especially, is important in running many MS-DOS applications, such as firmware flash utilities. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses a UDP/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) stack resident in a Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) on, e.g, a network card. The approach described herein can be applied to other utilities, protocol stacks or resources (hardware and software) on other cards.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning a virtual network is provided. Virtual networks can be automatically formed including switches in networks, such as local and private networks. Once the virtual networks are formed, virtual computing devices can be provisioned in place of physical computing devices that are connected to the switches. A system for provisioning a virtual network including a first virtual subnet and a second virtual subnet is provided. The system includes a first switch; a second switch; a first software process associated with first switch for provisioning the first virtual subnet; a second software process associated with the second switch for provisioning the second virtual subnet; and a communication link connecting the first switch and the second switch.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning a virtual network is provided. Virtual networks can be automatically formed including switches in networks, such as local and private networks. Once the virtual networks are formed, virtual computing devices can be provisioned in place of physical computing devices that are connected to the switches. A system for provisioning a virtual network including a first virtual subnet and a second virtual subnet is provided. The system includes a first switch; a second switch; a first software process associated with first switch for provisioning the first virtual subnet; a second software process associated with the second switch for provisioning the second virtual subnet; and a communication link connecting the first switch and the second switch.

Abstract: A system uses a protocol stack on a card external to a motherboard in a target computer system. A processor on the motherboard is able to make use of the external protocol stack during boot-up of the computer, or at any other time, so that it is not necessary to load the protocol stack into the motherboard's memory. This saves time, memory, and disk space and permits an external, managing, computer system to communicate with a computer just after power-up without loading and configuring a protocol stack so that the managing computer system can control the boot-up of the target computer system. The extra memory saved, especially, is important in running many MS-DOS applications, such as firmware flash utilities. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses a UDP/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) stack resident in a Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) on, e.g, a network card. The approach described herein can be applied to other utilities, protocol stacks or resources (hardware and software) on other cards.

Abstract: A system allowing a target machine to be booted up from a disk image stored in memory. Instead of reading the boot-up information from a disk drive or other physical device the data is read from memory. No modification is necessary to native operating system, input/output subsystem, bootstrap code, etc., since the invention modifies characteristics, such as vectors used by the operating system, to make the disk image in memory appear to be the same as a standard external device.

Abstract: Two computers of a standard size, such as 1U, are mounted in a single standard size space. This arrangement almost doubles the space utilization of a rack and thereby halves the cost of hosting a dynamic computing environment. Also, a plurality of chassis are mounted on a rack where each chassis can hold more than one single-board computers. This arrangement enables provisioning of computing environments computing power in increments other than multiples of 1U.

Abstract: A system for managing boot-up of target machines. In a preferred embodiment, a server computer acts as a managing computer. A target machine notifies the server that the target machine has been powered-up. The server allocates an IP address and sends a response to the target machine. The target machine download boot-up software from the server computer. The target machine then downloads discovery software from the server computer for purposes of determining information about the configuration and resources of the target machine. Standard protocols and mechanisms such as DHCP, BOOTP, TFTP and others can be used. The system works with different types of manufacturers' processors and platforms.

Abstract: A system allowing a target machine to be booted up from a disk image stored in memory. Instead of reading the boot-up information from a disk drive or other physical device the data is read from memory. No modification is necessary to native operating system, input/output subsystem, bootstrap code, etc., since the invention modifies characteristics, such as vectors used by the operating system, to make the disk image in memory appear to be the same as a standard external device.

Abstract: A system uses a protocol stack on a card external to a motherboard in a target computer system. A processor on the motherboard is able to make use of the external protocol stack during boot-up of the computer, or at any other time, so that it is not necessary to load the protocol stack into the motherboard's memory. This saves time, memory, and disk space and permits an external, managing, computer system to communicate with a computer just after power-up without loading and configuring a protocol stack so that the managing computer system can control the boot-up of the target computer system. The extra memory saved, especially, is important in running many MS-DOS applications, such as firmware flash utilities. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses a UDP/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) stack resident in a Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) on, e.g, a network card. The approach described herein can be applied to other utilities, protocol stacks or resources (hardware and software) on other cards.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning a virtual network is provided. Virtual networks can be automatically formed including switches in networks, such as local and private networks. Once the virtual networks are formed, virtual computing devices can be provisioned in place of physical computing devices that are connected to the switches. A system for provisioning a virtual network including a first virtual subnet and a second virtual subnet is provided. The system includes a first switch; a second switch; a first software process associated with first switch for provisioning the first virtual subnet; a second software process associated with the second switch for provisioning the second virtual subnet; and a communication link connecting the first switch and the second switch.

Abstract: A system and a method of providing a dynamic computing environment to a user, in which the dynamic computing environment is configured to communicate and to operate under the control of the user. The dynamic computing environment has one or more virtual resources including at least one virtual computing device and one or more computer programs associated with the at least one virtual computing device. According to the present invention, the user has access, for example, to interact with, to modify, and to use the dynamic computing environment including the at least one virtual resource and the at least one physical resource.