Abstract: A method for deploying an operating system onto a client system includes, with the client system, receiving a bootloader image from an external device in response to a request for the bootloader image and installing the bootloader. The installed bootloader is configured to provide a streaming function from the client system to both a client repository of the client system and a remote data repository and selectively redirect requests for a block of data to one of: the client repository and the remote data repository. The method further includes, with the client system, during operation of a function of the operating system, making a request for a data block of the operating system, the data block including the function, and receiving the data block from one of: the client repository and the remote repository based on availability information.

Abstract: Releasing a portion of mass memory, relocating memory blocks stored in boot locations of the target software image to the released portion, storing the boot blocks into corresponding boot locations, booting the data-processing entity from the boot blocks in the corresponding boot locations thereby loading a streaming function, and serving each request of reading a selected memory block of the target software image by the streaming function, the streaming function downloading the selected memory block from the external source and storing the selected memory block into the released portion when the selected memory block is not available in the mass memory, or retrieving the selected memory block from the mass memory otherwise.

Abstract: A solution for deploying a software image comprising a target operating system on a target computing machine is proposed. A corresponding method comprises mounting the software image as a storage device, identifying each software program comprised in the software image, downloading a configuration logic for configuring each software program, applying each configuration logic against the software image, and booting the target computing machine from the target operating system.

Abstract: A solution for managing a software image being stored in a plurality of physical blocks of a storage system comprises monitoring each access to the physical blocks, calculating a predicted sequence of access to the physical blocks according to the monitored accesses, and reorganizing the physical blocks according to the predicted sequence. The monitoring may be performed as the physical blocks are accessed during the booting of virtual images on the software image.

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 data processing entity that includes a mass memory with a plurality of memory locations for storing memory blocks. Each of a plurality of software images includes a plurality of memory blocks with corresponding image addresses within the software image. The memory blocks of software images stored in boot locations of a current software image are relocated. The boot blocks of the current software image are stored into the corresponding boot locations. The data processing entity is booted from the boot blocks of the current software image in the corresponding boot locations, thereby loading the access function. Each request to access a selected memory block of the current software image is served by the access function, with the access function accessing the selected memory block in the associated memory location provided by the control structure.

Abstract: A method for managing operating system deployment failure includes, with an operating system deployment server, running an operating system deployment process that comprises running a progressive hardware discovery process of a target machine to which an operating system is deployed, the discovery process to capture inventory information related to the target machine, monitoring the operating system deployment to detect failure in a pre-operating system environment running on the target machine for a predefined period of time, and executing a remediation action in response to generation of a failure code during the period of time, the remediation action related to a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) of the target machine.

Abstract: A solution is proposed for managing a plurality of data processing mobile devices. A corresponding method comprises the step of downloading management data onto each one of the mobile devices for application thereof on the mobile device, wherein for at least a first one of the mobile devices the management data is downloaded from a data processing central system, each mobile device wherein the management data has already been downloaded defining an inclusive mobile device; in the solution according to an embodiment of the invention, the step of downloading management data comprises electing a set of inclusive mobile devices temporarily as service mobile devices according to characteristic information of the inclusive mobile devices being based at least on a current position thereof, and causing at least a second one of the mobile devices to download the management data from a selected one of the service mobile devices in proximity thereof.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium containing machine executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to encrypt a virtual disc; wherein the virtual disc comprises a virtual disc image; and wherein execution of the machine executable instructions cause the processor to: receive the virtual disc; increase the size of the virtual disc; write a decryption-master-boot-record and a decryption program to the virtual disc; encrypt at least a portion of the virtual disc image, wherein the decryption program comprises decryption-machine-executable-instructions for decrypting the at least partially encrypted virtual disc image in accordance with a cryptographic key.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for creating a virtual appliance. The mechanism receives input of an unmodified virtual appliance and a list of target models. The mechanism creates a modified virtual appliance with an ISO file, a conversion tool, and a list of validated target models based on the input. The modified virtual appliance is configured to boot on the ISO file containing a mini operating system working on all validated target models. Responsive to a deployment of the modified virtual appliance being triggered on a target model, the mini operating system is booted on the corresponding target model. The mini operating system determines the model of the current target model on which the mini operating system is running, and responsive to determining the current target model is a validated target model, applies modifications to an operating system of the virtual appliance in accordance with current target model to form a portable virtual appliance running on target model.

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 solution is proposed for maintaining virtual machines being available in a data-processing system. A mechanism determines a list of software components installed on each virtual machine, retrieves a set of maintenance policies for each software component, each maintenance policy being indicative of a patch to be applied to the corresponding software component. The mechanism determines a set of old virtual machines having at least one old software component thereof requiring the application of at least a new one of the corresponding patches according to a comparison among the maintenance policies and a maintenance register indicative of a current state of the software components of the virtual machines. The mechanism applies the corresponding at least one new patch to each old software component of each old virtual machine and updates the maintenance register according to the application of said at least one new patch to each old software component of each old virtual machine.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an optically transparent electrode configured to provide transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to a user contacting a portion of an exterior surface of the apparatus proximal to the optically transparent electrode.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product deploys software images onto a computing system. A first computing machine is instantiated from a software image onto a computing system. The first computing machine has a first old access identifier, and is initially connected to a second computing machine in the computing system via a second old access identifier for the second computing machine. The second computing machine is reconfigured to have a new access identifier by: retrieving the new access identifier for said second computing machine, and associating the new access identifier with the second old access identifier; and redirecting each outbound communication, from the first old access identifier to the second old access identifier, to the new access identifier of the second computing machine.

Abstract: A wearable apparatus including a waveguide configured to act as a conduit for light emitted from an illumination source to a photodetector via an interaction portion of the waveguide, the interaction portion configured to channel the light out of the waveguide to enable interaction of the light with a wearer's body and back into the waveguide to enable detection of the interacted light by the photodetector.

Abstract: A wearable apparatus including a plurality of waveguides each configured to act as a conduit for light emitted from an illumination source to a photodetector via an interaction portion of the respective waveguide, the interaction portion of each waveguide configured to channel the light out of the respective waveguide to enable interaction of the light with the wearer's body and back into the respective waveguide to enable detection of the interacted light by the photodetector.

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: A method for live-migration of an operating system and an application is provided. The operating system runs on a first computer. The application may run on the operating system. The live-migration may be performed to a second computer while the application showing no externally detectable downtime during live-migration of the application. The method may comprise operating a tracking tool that may track and store data modifications to a disk-system of the computer in a tracking file, triggering a shutdown of the first computer while the tracking tool continues to operate in tracking mode and shut down the first computer completely. Then restarting the first computer and sending the data modifications stored prior to the complete shutdown of the first computer to the second computer, which then may be started based on the sent data, followed by starting the application such that from an external perspective no application disruption is detectable.

Abstract: A solution is proposed for managing a plurality of data processing mobile devices. A corresponding method comprises the step of downloading management data onto each one of the mobile devices for application thereof on the mobile device, wherein for at least a first one of the mobile devices the management data is downloaded from a data processing central system, each mobile device wherein the management data has already been downloaded defining an inclusive mobile device; in the solution according to an embodiment of the invention, the step of downloading management data comprises electing a set of inclusive mobile devices temporarily as service mobile devices according to characteristic information of the inclusive mobile devices being based at least on a current position thereof, and causing at least a second one of the mobile devices to download the management data from a selected one of the service mobile devices in proximity thereof.