Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable medium for request routing based on prioritization and load information are provided. A client request processing a resource identifier for requested content transmits a DNS query to a content delivery network service provider. Based on a content provider identifier included in the DNS query, a receiving DNS nameserver determines a selection from a hierarchical organization of POPs and the relative capacity for a selected POP to process a subsequent request for resources. Based on the processing of the prioritization information and load information, the receiving DNS nameserver resolves the DNS query.

Abstract: An electronic mail management system may have a standardized interface to which different mail providers may provide an adapter. The standardized interface may have a predefined set of functions that each mail provider may provide, and the mail management system may have a user interface through which the functions may be managed. In some cases, a mail provider may have additional or customized functions that may be added to the user interface and made available to an administrator. Through the user interface, an administrator may be able to add, delete, configure, and move mailboxes, as well as other functions.

Abstract: A library of routines may serve as a connection point between multiple services. Each service may be a consumer or provider of data, and may be connected through the library using a registry service. The library may include a provider access mechanism through which provider services may transmit availability of an interface, as well as a consumer access mechanism through which an interface to be consumed may be transmitted. A registry service may match providers with consumers and facilitate communication between the two. The library may be configured to allow providers and consumers to be added or removed at any time.

Abstract: A bookmark file is stored in persistent storage and is updated as various tasks are completed during an installation process. The bookmark file may be read when an installation process is started so that the installation process may continue from a point after the last successfully completed task, if the installation process had failed and was restarted. The bookmark file may also include data collected from a user interface during the installation process. When an installation process is restarted, some embodiments may present the data in a user interface for the user to modify. The installation process may be defined in a configuration file that includes metadata that defines the sequence of installation tasks as well as some error handling for various tasks.

Abstract: A configuration and change management system may have installation and configuration processes that include a discovery mechanism for discovering incomplete installations or configuration changes, a cleanup mechanism for placing the system in a state to continue, an installation or configuration mechanism, and a rollback mechanism for rolling back to a defined restore point if a problem is detected. The configuration and change management system may be used for initial installation, as well as configuration changes after installation. The system may be used in a multiple server environment with interdependencies between devices, as well as a multiple services environment with interdependencies between applications and services, including services provided over the Internet.

Abstract: An installation and configuration system consolidates workloads of multiple applications and services, including applications or services that may be installed or configured on multiple server devices or remotely hosted services. The system gathers environmental information, analyzes dependencies among the workloads, and populates the input data used by the workloads from a common database. The system then executes the workloads, allowing branching within the workloads or the sequence of workloads. An example of branching may include detecting an error condition, pausing the sequence, and presenting alternative fixes to a user.

Abstract: An electronic mail management system may have a standardized interface to which different mail providers may provide an adapter. The standardized interface may have a predefined set of functions that each mail provider may provide, and the mail management system may have a user interface through which the functions may be managed. In some cases, a mail provider may have additional or customized functions that may be added to the user interface and made available to an administrator. Through the user interface, an administrator may be able to add, delete, configure, and move mailboxes, as well as other functions.

Abstract: A monitoring and management system for distributed and interacting systems stores configuration settings after a successful installation or modification and compares values to the stored configuration settings. When a discrepancy is found, a messaging system may relay the information to a console where the issue may be dispositioned. In some cases, the configuration settings may be updated, while in other cases, the monitored setting may be restored to the stored configuration setting. A set of wizards or other user interface mechanisms may be used to restore the system to order.

Abstract: A library of routines may serve as a connection point between multiple services. Each service may be a consumer or provider of data, and may be connected through the library using a registry service. The library may include a provider access mechanism through which provider services may transmit availability of an interface, as well as a consumer access mechanism through which an interface to be consumed may be transmitted. A registry service may match providers with consumers and facilitate communication between the two. The library may be configured to allow providers and consumers to be added or removed at any time.

Abstract: A computer environment analysis tool may have a modular architecture that comprises data collection modules and data analysis modules. The data collection modules may populate multiple data sets defined by a schema, and the data analysis modules may analyze or interpret the data from the database to produce report output. A reporting module may generate information that may be consumed by a user or other service. The data collection modules may be specialized modules that collect specific types of data from local and remote devices, and the data analysis modules may analyze the data for specific business logic, such as determining if a computer environment is capable of upgrading or deploying various changes.

Abstract: A script driven infrastructure is provided in order to selectively move structure and data from a source database to a target database. The structure and data is moved using a data transfer mechanism, where the data is contained in disk files stored on the source database and it has corresponding script files describing the structure of the data. The transfer of the data is driven by the script files which allows for selective transfer of structure and data. In one aspect of the invention, the disk files are stored in SQL format and the script files are saved in SQL format and XML format, where the script files saved in SQL format create objects and relational constraints in the target database, and the script files stored in XML format drive the transfer process of the data stored in the disk files.

Abstract: Trace and replay objects can be designed to automatically perform operations concerning database trace data upon invocation by custom computer processes. Trace data can be saved to any of variety of locations. It can be manipulated for the purpose of storage or replay. Trace data can be played back against any database server using numerous replay configuration options. Replay notifications allow data to be changed just before it is submitted to a database for execution, and allow immediate examination of replay results and validation of playback correctness. Thus, trace and replay objects greatly simplify manageability of trace data. Custom processes can now completely automate security audit and health monitoring of traced database servers. Automatic verification of new server releases and security packs can also be performed. Custom processes can use the provided objects to flexibly access and manipulate the retrieval, storage, and replay of database trace data.

Abstract: A method of generating commands for a database server includes accessing a script having parser-specific commands, a first set of database-specific commands and optional shell commands. A componentized batch parser splits out the different command types and converts the parser-specific commands into a second set of database-specific commands. The first set and second set of database-specific commands may be sent to a target database for execution. The optional shell commands may be executed by a user tool at a local console. The batch parser offers features including separation of parsing functions using batch separators, performing automatic substitution of tokens in the script with defined values or substitution of tokens by requesting token values via a client tool, stripping off comments and blanks spaces from processed commands, referencing and editing files outside the script, and the ability to connect to different servers.

Abstract: A user interface displays multiple steps in sequential relationship to each other, and may group various steps together and provide completion indicators for each step as well as an overall completion indicator. Error conditions, status information, queries, and details about a particular step or group of steps may be displayed inline with the steps in a task detail portion of the user interface. The task detail portion may be collapsible and expandable by the user. Progress and completion indicators may be updated for each step, groups of steps, and the overall sequence. In a typical use, a software installation sequence may comprise installation steps from multiple software components. The user interface may illustrate the status of individual tasks, groups of task, and the overall sequence as the tasks are performed, and enable errors to be resolved by displaying queries and other information inline with the steps.

Abstract: An installation and configuration system consolidates workloads of multiple applications and services, including applications or services that may be installed or configured on multiple server devices or remotely hosted services. The system gathers environmental information, analyzes dependencies among the workloads, and populates the input data used by the workloads from a common database. The system then executes the workloads, allowing branching within the workloads or the sequence of workloads. An example of branching may include detecting an error condition, pausing the sequence, and presenting alternative fixes to a user.

Abstract: Computer components may be installed and configured using virtual machines, where a trusted relationship with a virtual machine is created when a virtual machine is launched on a device with an installation manager. The installation manager may provide configuration options, scripts, and other information to a configuration agent operating in the virtual machine. Additional virtual machines may be launched on other devices and trusted relationships established with the installation manager, which may also manage configuration agents on the additional virtual machines. In some embodiments, a remote controller may be used to control functions of the installation manager.

Abstract: An installation manager may have a user interface that may enable a user to modify the execution of an installation sequence. A user may indicate an installation step or task within a step that may for pausing the sequence, skipping the step or task, repeating a step or task, or closely monitoring a specific step or task. The user's modifications to the installation sequence may be presented in the user interface, and the modifications may persist even when a system reboot operation is performed during the sequence. The installation manager may enable a user to augment the installation sequence by pausing the sequence, inspecting an item or performing an additional task, and resuming the sequence.

Abstract: System performance data and program performance data may be collected, converted into the same format and correlated by time. A graph or other display of system performance data over a time period may be displayed. A bar may be superimposed on the graph. A corresponding grid or other display, of program performance data over the same time period may be displayed. An item or line of the grid corresponding to a program event at a particular timepoint may be selected. A timepoint in the system performance graph may be selected by adjusting the position of the bar superimposed on the system performance graph. In response to the movement of the bar, the portion of the grid of program performance data displayed may be changed so that the grid of program performance data displays program performance data corresponding to the selected timepoint in the system performance graph.

Abstract: A backup system stores configuration data for several interdependent systems in a single backup store. As the systems are being configured and when changes are made to the systems, the backup store is updated with the change. The systems may be configured with each system having a designated role. During a restore operation, an otherwise unallocated system may assume a particular role and use the configuration logic defined for the role that may be taken from the backup store. The system may perform the restore in conjunction with the other systems and the interdependencies with the systems.

Abstract: A configuration and change management system may have installation and configuration processes that include a discovery mechanism for discovering incomplete installations or configuration changes, a cleanup mechanism for placing the system in a state to continue, an installation or configuration mechanism, and a rollback mechanism for rolling back to a defined restore point if a problem is detected. The configuration and change management system may be used for initial installation, as well as configuration changes after installation. The system may be used in a multiple server environment with interdependencies between devices, as well as a multiple services environment with interdependencies between applications and services, including services provided over the Internet.