Abstract: Computing systems, devices, and methods of dynamic image composition for container deployment are disclosed herein. One example technique includes receiving a request for accessing a file from a container process. In response to receiving the request, the technique includes querying a mapping table corresponding to the container process to locate an entry corresponding to a file identifier of the requested file. The entry also includes data identifying a file location on the storage device from which the requested file is accessible. The technique further includes retrieving a copy of the requested file according to the file location identified by the data in the located entry in the mapping table and providing the retrieved copy of the requested file to the container process, thereby allowing the container process to access the requested file.

Abstract: Techniques of deferred container deployment are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a computing device, a container image corresponding to the container. The container image includes a first set of files identified by symbolic links individually directed to a file in the host filesystem on the computing device and a second set of files identified by hard links. The method also includes in response to receiving the container image, at the computing device, storing the received container image in a folder of the host filesystem on the computing device without resolving the symbolic links of the first set of the files until runtime of the requested container.

Abstract: Memory is partitioned and isolated in container-based memory enclaves. The container-based memory enclaves have attestable security guarantees. During provisioning of the container-based memory enclaves from a container image, a purported link in the container to a memory address of the enclave is modified to verifiably link to an actual memory address of the host, such as partitioned memory enclave. In some instances, enclave attestation reports can be validated without transmitting corresponding attestation requests to remote attestation services, based on previous attestation of one or more previous container attestation reports from a similar container and without requiring end-to-end attestation between the container and remote attestation service for each new attestation request.

Abstract: Computing systems, devices, and methods of dynamic image composition for container deployment are disclosed herein. One example technique includes receiving a request for accessing a file from a container process. In response to receiving the request, the technique includes querying a mapping table corresponding to the container process to locate an entry corresponding to a file identifier of the requested file. The entry also includes data identifying a file location on the storage device from which the requested file is accessible. The technique further includes retrieving a copy of the requested file according to the file location identified by the data in the located entry in the mapping table and providing the retrieved copy of the requested file to the container process, thereby allowing the container process to access the requested file.

Abstract: One example technique includes receiving a request for accessing a file from a container process. In response to receiving the request, the technique includes querying a mapping table corresponding to the container process to locate an entry corresponding to a file identifier of the requested file. The entry also includes data identifying a file location on the storage device from which the requested file is accessible. The technique further includes retrieving a copy of the requested file according to the file location identified by the data in the located entry in the mapping table and providing the retrieved copy of the requested file to the container process, thereby allowing the container process to access the requested file.

Abstract: Distribution and management of services in virtual environments is described herein. In one or more implementations, a service distribution and management model is implemented in which system services and applications are seamlessly distributed across multiple containers which each implement a different runtime environment. In one or more implementations, a system for distributing access to services in a host operating system of a computing device includes a host operating system configured to implement a host runtime environment, and one or more services implemented by the host operating system. The system further includes a service control manager configured to enable communication between a client stub of a service implemented in a client runtime environment and a service provider of the service that is implemented in a service runtime environment that is separate from the first client runtime environment.

Abstract: Distribution and management of services in virtual environments is described herein. In one or more implementations, a service distribution and management model is implemented in which system services and applications are seamlessly distributed across multiple containers which each implement a different runtime environment. In one or more implementations, a system for distributing access to services in a host operating system of a computing device includes a host operating system configured to implement a host runtime environment, and one or more services implemented by the host operating system. The system further includes a service control manager configured to enable communication between a client stub of a service implemented in a client runtime environment and a service provider of the service that is implemented in a service runtime environment that is separate from the first client runtime environment.

Abstract: Memory is partitioned and isolated in container-based memory enclaves. The container-based memory enclaves have attestable security guarantees. During provisioning of the container-based memory enclaves from a container image, a purported link in the container to a memory address of the enclave is modified to verifiably link to an actual memory address of the host, such as partitioned memory enclave. In some instances, enclave attestation reports can be validated without transmitting corresponding attestation requests to remote attestation services, based on previous attestation of one or more previous container attestation reports from a similar container and without requiring end-to-end attestation between the container and remote attestation service for each new attestation request.

Abstract: Distribution and management of services in virtual environments is described herein. In one or more implementations, a service distribution and management model is implemented in which system services and applications are seamlessly distributed across multiple containers which each implement a different runtime environment. In one or more implementations, a system for distributing access to services in a host operating system of a computing device includes a host operating system configured to implement a host runtime environment, and one or more services implemented by the host operating system. The system further includes a service control manager configured to enable communication between a client stub of a service implemented in a client runtime environment and a service provider of the service that is implemented in a service runtime environment that is separate from the first client runtime environment.

Abstract: Memory is partitioned and isolated in container-based memory enclaves. The container-based memory enclaves have attestable security guarantees. During provisioning of the container-based memory enclaves from a container image, a purported link in the container to a memory address of the enclave is modified to verifiably link to an actual memory address of the host, such as partitioned memory enclave. In some instances, enclave attestation reports can be validated without transmitting corresponding attestation requests to remote attestation services, based on previous attestation of one or more previous container attestation reports from a similar container and without requiring end-to-end attestation between the container and remote attestation service for each new attestation request.

Abstract: Technologies are described for selective persistence of data utilized by software containers. A configuration policy is defined that includes data that specifies one or more data stores for which data is not to be persisted following accesses to a software container and one or more data stores for which data is to be persisted following accesses to the software container. When the software container is first accessed, the data stores identified in the configuration policy are attached to the software container. Upon a subsequent access to the container, such as at the conclusion of a user session or upon destruction of the container, the data in the attached data stores is persisted or deleted based upon the configuration policy. When the software container is once again accessed, the data store containing the persisted data can be re-attached to the software container.

Abstract: Securely performing file operations. A method includes determining a licensing characteristic assigned to a file. When the licensing characteristic assigned to the file meets or exceeds a predetermined licensing condition, then the method includes performing a file operation on the file in a host operating system while preventing the file operation from being performed in the guest operating system. When the licensing characteristic assigned to the file does not meet or exceed the predetermined licensing condition, then the method includes performing the file operation on the file in the guest operating system while preventing the file operation from being performed directly in the host operating system.

Abstract: Techniques of migrating containerized software packages between source and destination computing devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a destination device, a request to migrate a source container currently executing on the source device to the destination device. The method also includes synchronizing a list of handles utilized by the source container on the source device between the destination device and the source device and instantiating, in the destination device, a destination container using a copy of an image, a memory snapshot, and the synchronized list of handles of the source container on the source device. Upon completion of instantiating the destination container, the destination device can transmit a remote display output of the application to be surfaced on the source device in place of the local display output generated by the source container.

Abstract: Computing systems, devices, and methods of dynamic image composition for container deployment are disclosed herein. One example technique includes receiving a request for accessing a file from a container process. In response to receiving the request, the technique includes querying a mapping table corresponding to the container process to locate an entry corresponding to a file identifier of the requested file. The entry also includes data identifying a file location on the storage device from which the requested file is accessible. The technique further includes retrieving a copy of the requested file according to the file location identified by the data in the located entry in the mapping table and providing the retrieved copy of the requested file to the container process, thereby allowing the container process to access the requested file.

Abstract: Memory is partitioned and isolated in container-based memory enclaves. The container-based memory enclaves have attestable security guarantees. During provisioning of the container-based memory enclaves from a container image, a purported link in the container to a memory address of the enclave is modified to verifiably link to an actual memory address of the host, such as partitioned memory enclave. In some instances, enclave attestation reports can be validated without transmitting corresponding attestation requests to remote attestation services, based on previous attestation of one or more previous container attestation reports from a similar container and without requiring end-to-end attestation between the container and remote attestation service for each new attestation request.

Abstract: A host operating system running on a computing device monitors resource access by an application running in a container that is isolated from the host operating system. In response to detecting resource access by the application, a security event is generated describing malicious activity that occurs from the accessing the resource. This security event is analyzed to determine a threat level of the malicious activity. If the threat level does not satisfy a threat level threshold, the host operating system allows the application to continue accessing resources and continues to monitor resource access. When the threat level satisfies the threat level threshold, the operating system takes corrective action to prevent the malicious activity from spreading beyond the isolated container. Through the use of security events, the host operating system is protected from even kernel-level attacks without using resources required to run anti-virus software in the isolated container.

Abstract: Securely performing file operations. A method includes determining a trust characteristic assigned to a file. When the trust characteristic assigned to the file meets or exceeds a predetermined trust condition, then the method includes performing a file operation on the file in a host operating system while preventing the file operation from being performed in the container operating system. When the trust characteristic assigned to the file does not meet or exceed the predetermined trust condition, then the method includes performing the file operation on the file in the container operating system while preventing the file operation from being performed directly in the host operating system.

Abstract: Techniques of deferred container deployment are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a computing device, a container image corresponding to the container. The container image includes a first set of files identified by symbolic links individually directed to a file in the host filesystem on the computing device and a second set of files identified by hard links. The method also includes in response to receiving the container image, at the computing device, storing the received container image in a folder of the host filesystem on the computing device without resolving the symbolic links of the first set of the files until runtime of the requested container.

Abstract: Techniques of migrating containerized software packages between source and destination computing devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a destination device, a request to migrate a source container currently executing on the source device to the destination device. The method also includes synchronizing a list of handles utilized by the source container on the source device between the destination device and the source device and instantiating, in the destination device, a destination container using a copy of an image, a memory snapshot, and the synchronized list of handles of the source container on the source device. Upon completion of instantiating the destination container, the destination device can transmit a remote display output of the application to be surfaced on the source device in place of the local display output generated by the source container.

Abstract: Distribution and management of services in virtual environments is described herein. In one or more implementations, a service distribution and management model is implemented in which system services and applications are seamlessly distributed across multiple containers which each implement a different runtime environment. In one or more implementations, a system for distributing access to services in a host operating system of a computing device includes a host operating system configured to implement a host runtime environment, and one or more services implemented by the host operating system. The system further includes a service control manager configured to enable communication between a client stub of a service implemented in a client runtime environment and a service provider of the service that is implemented in a service runtime environment that is separate from the first client runtime environment.