Abstract: A label that can display information that is electronically written to the label is used instead of a traditional printed paper label on an electronic product. The label itself is made from any suitable material that can be electronically written that will maintain the last display state when power is removed from the label. The preferred embodiments include a memory that includes product information on the electronic product, along with a label interface that reads the product information from the memory and displays corresponding information on the label. The label interface monitors the product information in the memory, and anytime the product information changes, the label interface automatically writes the changed product information to the label. The result is a label for an electronic product that is automatically updated each time the electronic product changes to reflect the current state of the electronic product.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, receive service data at a computer system from an RFID tag, where the service data was sent to the RFID tag from an RF transmitter while the computer system was powered off. The RFID tag includes tag memory and an antenna, and the RFID tag is attached to the computer system. In another embodiment, the computer system sends the service data to the RFID tag, and the service data is received by an RF scanner from the RFID tag via the antenna while the computer system is powered off. In various embodiments, the service data identifies the computer system or a product within the computer system. In another embodiment, the service data includes log information associated with the computer system. In this way, in an embodiment, service data associated with a computer system, such as vital product service data and log information may be accessed and updated even while the computer system is powered off.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, receive a command that requests a name of a boot image and a network address of a boot server that contains the boot image, invoke a plug-in to determine the name of the boot image and the network address of the boot server based on an address of a client that sent the command, and send the name of the boot image and the network address of the boot server to a client that sent the command. In various embodiments, the address of the client may be a network address or a MAC (Media Access Control) address. The client retrieves the boot image via the name and the network address of the boot server, and the boot image initializes the client when executed at the client. In various embodiments, the name of the boot image or the network address of the boot server are changed to second names or addresses and sent to the client in response to another command.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing enhanced system behavior control in a computer system. A system behavior control tool is attached to a computer system during power on or runtime. The attachment of the system behavior control tool causes predefined default behaviors to be overridden and changed based upon the detection of the attached system behavior control tool. At least one predefined setting from the attached system behavior control tool is applied to the computer system. At applying the least one predefined setting to the computer system, then the computer system is rebooted.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide parallel installation of logical partitions on a computer system. The function of a hardware maintenance console is built into a logical partition configuration mechanism that resides in the system firmware. A virtual local area network (VLAN) is used by the logical partition configuration mechanism to define an I/O bridge that allows installing multiple logical partitions in parallel. Because multiple logical partitions may be installed in parallel, the time required to install logical partitions is greatly reduced.