Abstract: Embodiments of the invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to load balancing for servers having multiple blades and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for load balancing at the blade level for servers having multiple blades. In one embodiment of the present invention, a blade server for performing load balancing may comprise a plurality of blades, each blade coupled with a plurality of outgoing ports. The blade server may further include a blade management module configured for monitoring throughput performance of the server and the plurality of blades, wherein each blade is coupled with a plurality of outgoing ports, instructing a blade to switch from a first outgoing port to a second outgoing port when throughput performance decreases and instructing the blade to switch from the second outgoing port back to the first outgoing port when throughput performance increases.

Abstract: An arrangement which eliminates the need to remove a computer system from its packaging in order to initiate a re-imaging process. Particularly, there is broadly contemplated herein the use of a position-sensitive switching arrangement, such as a mercury switch, that is configured to power selected control circuitry in a computer so as to receive additional information or data as needed to update imaging or other aspects of a computer's operating system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for controlling the allocation of power to a plurality of computers whose supply of power is managed by a common power manager by assigning by a workload manager a power priority to each computer in dependence upon application priorities of computer software applications assigned for execution to the computer and providing, by the workload manager to the power manager, the power priorities of the computers. Controlling the allocation of power to a plurality of computers whose supply of power is managed by a common power manager may include allocating by the power manager power to the computers in dependence upon the power priorities of the computers.

Abstract: A management computer controlling operations of computer systems in a number of positions within a chassis is programmed to receive a signal indicating that one of the computer systems has been installed and to determine whether it has been installed in a previously unoccupied position, installed in a previously occupied position, or moved from one position to another. If it has been installed in a previously unoccupied position, an operating system is installed for remote booting; if it has been installed in a previously occupied position, it is allowed to continue booting the operating system used by the computer it replaced; if it has been moved from one position to another, it is allowed to continue booting as before.

Abstract: A method, system, and operating system (OS) software utility that prevents installation of a software product in a computer system in an un-approved location. The OS of the computer system (or the application itself) is coded to require a check of geographical restrictions prior to installing certain software products. The computer system is provided with a GPS receiver, which provides current geographic or spatial location of the computer system. When application installation is requested, the current location is compared against a list of approved locations for installing software on the computer system. No software installation is allowed on the computer system unless the current location is an approved location for the software and/or the computer system.

Abstract: A method, system and service for providing on-demand computing power to an owner of a multi-blade computer in a server blade chassis. The server blade chassis is delivered fully populated with server blades to a customer. However, only a portion of the total number of server blades is initially enabled. A management module in the server blade chassis monitors usage of the enabled server blades and associated hardware. If the usage of the enabled server blades exceeds a pre-defined parameter, then additional server blades in the server blade chassis are permanently turned on using the management module and a remotely provided key from the manufacturer of the multi-blade computer.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and system for customizing a computer system. According to a preferred embodiment, the method includes storing customization information for the computer system in a configuration mechanism and coupling the configuration mechanism to the computer system. The customization information in the configuration mechanism is then retrieved by the computer system to customize the computer system.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a system and method for customizing a computer system. According to a first aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes providing a configuration mechanism in the computer system and transmitting customization information for the computer system to the configuration mechanism. The customization information in the configuration mechanism is then retrieved by the computer system to customize the computer system. In a second aspect, a computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), memory coupled to the CPU, and a configuration mechanism coupled to the CPU for storing customization information for the computer system, whereby the CPU retrieves during a first system boot the customization information in the configuration mechanism to automatically customize the computer system.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a system and method for customizing a computer system. According to a first aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes providing a configuration mechanism in the computer system and transmitting customization information for the computer system to the configuration mechanism. The customization information in the configuration mechanism is then retrieved by the computer system to customize the computer system. In a second aspect, a computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), memory coupled to the CPU, and a configuration mechanism coupled to the CPU for storing customization information for the computer system, whereby the CPU retrieves during a first system boot the customization information in the configuration mechanism to automatically customize the computer system.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and system for customizing a computer system. According to a preferred embodiment, the method includes storing customization information for the computer system in a configuration mechanism and coupling the configuration mechanism to the computer system. The customization information in the configuration mechanism is then retrieved by the computer system to customize the computer system.

Abstract: A data processing system suitable for use as a client device in a network includes a service processor communicatively coupled to a general purpose processor of the system. The system is enabled to respond to a boot event by requesting boot information from a network device. If the boot information request expires unsuccessfully, the boot information is requested from the service processor. If the attempt to retrieve the boot information from the service processor is successful, the retrieved boot information is used to establish a network connection to a file transfer server. The file transfer server connection is then used to download an operating system image from the file transfer server to boot the operating system image and install an operating system on the client device. In one embodiment, the client device is a PXE client on a network lacking a DHCP server.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a secure configuration of a server blade on a network. The server blade has a Remote Supervisor Adapter (RSA) card, which contains a list of trusted Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers. A remote manager, which communicates with the RSA card via a hyper-secure network, maintains the list of trusted DHCP servers on the RSA card. When the server blade broadcasts a request for configuration parameters to join the network, a response offer is returned from a DHCP server. If the responding DHCP server is not on the list of trusted DHCP servers contained in the RSA card, then the offer is refused, and another DHCP server's offer is evaluated.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a secure network boot of a secondary server (server blade). The server blade sends a request, via an Ethernet switch, for a boot program to multiple Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers. One of the DHCP servers responds with an address of at least one Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) server that can upload a boot program to the server blade. Only if the responding DHCP server is on a list of known trusted DHCP servers will the Ethernet switch allow the server blade to receive the response from the responding DHCP server, thus allowing the download of a boot program from a PXE server.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a download of software from an application server to a client computer depending on a physical location of the client computer. The client computer transmits a real-time Global Position System (GPS) coordinate to the application server. This location is then compared to a list of authorized location ranges associated with the requested application. If the client computer is located within an authorized location range, the application server then downloads the application to the client computer. If the client computer is not within an authorized area, then the application is not allowed be downloaded.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a secure network boot of a server blade. The server blade is part of a server blade chassis, which holds multiple server blades that communicate with outside devices via a Pre-boot eXecution Environment (PXE) enabled network interface card. When a server blade receives a response from a PXE boot server offering a boot program download, a Remote Supervisory Adapter (RSA) card, managed by a remote manager, compares the identity of the responding PXE boot server with a list of trusted PXE boot servers. Only if the responding PXE boot server is on the list of trusted PXE boot servers will the server blade be allowed to use a boot program provided by the responding PXE boot server.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a download of software from an application server to a client computer depending on a physical location of the client computer. The client computer transmits a real-time Global Position System (GPS) coordinate to the application server. This location is then compared to a list of authorized location ranges associated with the requested application. If the client computer is located within an authorized location range, the application server then downloads the application to the client computer. If the client computer is not within an authorized area, then the application is not allowed be downloaded.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a secure network boot of a server blade. The server blade is part of a server blade chassis, which holds multiple server blades that communicate with outside devices via a Pre-boot eXecution Environment (PXE) enabled network interface card. When a server blade receives a response from a PXE boot server offering a boot program download, a Remote Supervisory Adapter (RSA) card, managed by a remote manager, compares the identity of the responding PXE boot server with a list of trusted PXE boot servers. Only if the responding PXE boot server is on the list of trusted PXE boot servers will the server blade be allowed to use a boot program provided by the responding PXE boot server.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a secure configuration of a server blade on a network. The server blade has a Remote Supervisor Adapter (RSA) card, which contains a list of trusted Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers. A remote manager, which communicates with the RSA card via a hyper-secure network, maintains the list of trusted DHCP servers on the RSA card. When the server blade broadcasts a request for configuration parameters to join the network, a response offer is returned from a DHCP server. If the responding DHCP server is not on the list of trusted DHCP servers contained in the RSA card, then the offer is refused, and another DHCP server's offer is evaluated.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a secure network boot of a secondary server (server blade). The server blade sends a request, via an Ethernet switch, for a boot program to multiple Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers. One of the DHCP servers responds with an address of at least one Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) server that can upload a boot program to the server blade. Only if the responding DHCP server is on a list of known trusted DHCP servers will the Ethernet switch allow the server blade to receive the response from the responding DHCP server, thus allowing the download of a boot program from a PXE server.