Abstract: A secure filesystem provides write-only access with limited read. The filesystem stores data as an encrypted block on a user machine using a symmetric (active) key, along with metadata including a read condition. While the read condition is valid, local applications can read the data using the active key. When the read condition becomes invalid, the active key is deleted so local applications no longer have access. However, the filesystem encrypts the active key to yield an inactive key, using an RSA public key. The corresponding private key is sent to an authorized party machine, but deleted from the user machine. Thus the user machine is unable to decrypt the inactive key, but the authorized party machine can still read the data by first decrypting the inactive key using the private key to regenerate the active key, and then decrypting the encrypted block using the regenerated active key.

Abstract: A secure filesystem provides write-only access with limited read. The filesystem stores data as an encrypted block on a user machine using a symmetric (active) key, along with metadata including a read condition. While the read condition is valid, local applications can read the data using the active key. When the read condition becomes invalid, the active key is deleted so local applications no longer have access. However, the filesystem encrypts the active key to yield an inactive key, using an RSA public key. The corresponding private key is sent to an authorized party machine, but deleted from the user machine. Thus the user machine is unable to decrypt the inactive key, but the authorized party machine can still read the data by first decrypting the inactive key using the private key to regenerate the active key, and then decrypting the encrypted block using the regenerated active key.

Abstract: A technique is provided for creating virtual units in a computing environment. A virtual system definition is received by a processor that is utilized to create the virtual units for a virtual system. Relationship constraints between the virtual units in the virtual system are received by the processor. The relationship constraints between the virtual units include a communication link requirement between the virtual units and/or a location requirement between the virtual units. The virtual units in the virtual system are deployed by the processor according to the relationship constraints between virtual units.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer program product and method for authorizing information flows between devices of a data processing system are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, an information flow request is received from a first device to authorize an information flow from the first device to a second device. The information flow request includes an identifier of the second device. Based on an identifier of the first device and the second device, security information identifying an authorization level of the first device and second device is retrieved. A sensitivity of an information object that is to be transferred in the information flow is determined and the information flow is authorized or denied based only on the sensitivity of the information object and the authorization level of the first and second devices irregardless of the particular action being performed on the information object as part of the information flow.

Abstract: A technique is provided for creating virtual units in a computing environment. A virtual system definition is received by a processor that is utilized to create the virtual units for a virtual system. Relationship constraints between the virtual units in the virtual system are received by the processor. The relationship constraints between the virtual units include a communication link requirement between the virtual units and/or a location requirement between the virtual units. The virtual units in the virtual system are deployed by the processor according to the relationship constraints between virtual units.

Abstract: Techniques for placement of a virtual machine in a computing system. A first request is sent from a pool management subsystem to a placement subsystem. The first request includes specification of available storage capacities of storage systems in a computer network. The placement subsystem automatically determines a target storage system based, at least in part, on the available storage capacities. An identification of the target storage system is received at the pool management subsystem. At least one disk image of the virtual machine is written to the target storage system. Then, a second request is sent to the placement subsystem. The placement subsystem automatically determines a target computer. The latter determination is based, at least in part, on connectivity between the target computer and the target storage system. The virtual machine is installed at the target computer. The techniques facilitate live migration of virtual machines placed thereby.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer program product and method for authorizing information flows between devices of a data processing system are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, an information flow request is received from a first device to authorize an information flow from the first device to a second device. The information flow request includes an identifier of the second device. Based on an identifier of the first device and the second device, security information identifying an authorization level of the first device and second device is retrieved. A sensitivity of an information object that is to be transferred in the information flow is determined and the information flow is authorized or denied based only on the sensitivity of the information object and the authorization level of the first and second devices irregardless of the particular action being performed on the information object as part of the information flow.

Abstract: Authorizing information flows between devices of a data processing system is provided. In one illustrative embodiment, an information flow request is received from a first device to authorize an information flow from the first device to a second device. The information flow request includes an identifier of the second device. Based on an identifier of the first device and the second device, security information identifying an authorization level of the first device and second device is retrieved. A sensitivity of an information object that is to be transferred in the information flow is determined and the information flow is authorized or denied based only on the sensitivity of the information object and the authorization level of the first and second devices irregardless of the particular action being performed on the information object as part of the information flow.

Abstract: A hash key is generated based on an information object and a lookup operation is performed in a hash table based on the hash key. A determination is made whether an entry in the hash table at an index corresponding to the hash key identifies a labelset for the information object. A labelset, identifying a sensitivity of the information object, is stored in the entry at the index corresponding to the hash key for the information object if a labelset for the information object is not identified in the entry in the hash table. Information flows involving the information object are authorized based on a lookup of the labelset associated with the information object in the hash table. The hash table may be a multidimensional hash table.

Abstract: Techniques for placement of a virtual machine in a computing system. A first request is sent from a pool management subsystem to a placement subsystem. The first request includes specification of available storage capacities of storage systems in a computer network. The placement subsystem automatically determines a target storage system based, at least in part, on the available storage capacities. An identification of the target storage system is received at the pool management subsystem. At least one disk image of the virtual machine is written to the target storage system. Then, a second request is sent to the placement subsystem. The placement subsystem automatically determines a target computer. The latter determination is based, at least in part, on connectivity between the target computer and the target storage system. The virtual machine is installed at the target computer. The techniques facilitate live migration of virtual machines placed thereby.

Abstract: A reference monitor that authorizes information flows between elements of a data processing system is provided. The elements of the data processing system are associated with security data structures in a reference monitor. An information flow request is received from a first element to authorize an information flow from the first element to a second element. A first security data structure associated with the first element and a second security data structure associated with the second element are retrieved. At least one set theory operation is then performed on the first security data structure and the second security data structure to determine if the information flow from the first element to the second element is to be authorized. The security data structures may be labelsets having one or more labels identifying security policies to be applied to information flows involving the associated element.

Abstract: A method for authorizing information flows based on security information associated with information objects is provided. A hash key is generated based on an information object and a lookup operation is performed in a hash table based on the hash key. A determination is made whether an entry in the hash table at an index corresponding to the hash key identifies a labelset for the information object. A labelset, identifying a sensitivity of the information object, is stored in the entry at the index corresponding to the hash key for the information object if a labelset for the information object is not identified in the entry in the hash table. Information flows involving the information object are authorized based on a lookup of the labelset associated with the information object in the hash table. The hash table may be a multidimensional hash table.

Abstract: A reference monitor that authorizes information flows between elements of a data processing system is provided. The elements of the data processing system are associated with security data structures in a reference monitor. An information flow request is received from a first element to authorize an information flow from the first element to a second element. A first security data structure associated with the first element and a second security data structure associated with the second element are retrieved. At least one set theory operation is then performed on the first security data structure and the second security data structure to determine if the information flow from the first element to the second element is to be authorized. The security data structures may be labelsets having one or more labels identifying security policies to be applied to information flows involving the associated element.

Abstract: A reference monitor system, apparatus, computer program product and method are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, elements of the data processing system are associated with security data structures in a reference monitor. An information flow request is received from a first element to authorize an information flow from the first element to a second element. A first security data structure associated with the first element and a second security data structure associated with the second element are retrieved. At least one set theory operation is then performed on the first security data structure and the second security data structure to determine if the information flow from the first element to the second element is to be authorized. The security data structures may be labelsets having one or more labels identifying security policies to be applied to information flows involving the associated element.

Abstract: A hash key is generated based on an information object and a lookup operation is performed in a hash table based on the hash key. A determination is made whether an entry in the hash table at an index corresponding to the hash key identifies a labelset for the information object. A labelset, identifying a sensitivity of the information object, is stored in the entry at the index corresponding to the hash key for the information object if a labelset for the information object is not identified in the entry in the hash table. Information flows involving the information object are authorized based on a lookup of the labelset associated with the information object in the hash table. The hash table may be a multidimensional hash table.

Abstract: Authorizing information flows between devices of a data processing system is provided. In one illustrative embodiment, an information flow request is received from a first device to authorize an information flow from the first device to a second device. The information flow request includes an identifier of the second device. Based on an identifier of the first device and the second device, security information identifying an authorization level of the first device and second device is retrieved. A sensitivity of an information object that is to be transferred in the information flow is determined and the information flow is authorized or denied based only on the sensitivity of the information object and the authorization level of the first and second devices irregardless of the particular action being performed on the information object as part of the information flow.