Abstract: Securing a server before connecting the server to a data communications network in a data center may include: establishing a proximity-based communications connection with a service processor of a server, where the server is not coupled to a data communications network; and transmitting, via the proximity-based data communications connection, a digital certificate to the service processor of the server, where the digital certificate is configured to enable access to the server only by a system management server.

Abstract: A selected guest key for making configuration changes to a computing device in a current use period of the computing device by an end user to which the selected guest key has been provided is activated. The end user presenting the selected guest key when remotely logging onto the computing device from a remote client computing device is authenticated. Responsive to authentication of the end user, the end user is permitted to make the configuration changes to the computing device via communications from the remote client computing device that are encrypted or signed with the selected guest key. Upon expiration of the current use period, the selected guest key is deactivated, and a new selected guest key for making configuration changes in another current use period by a different end user to which the new selected guest key has been provided can be activated.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a subset of components of a node that should be loaded during the next boot of the node, storing a list of the identified subset of components in a file outside of a basic input output system, and initiating boot of the node. The method further comprises the basic input output system accessing the file and controlling boot of the node to load only the identified subset of components of the node. Another method stores a plurality of such files, wherein each file is associated with maintenance of a target component of the node. After selecting one of the files, the basic input output system may access the selected file and control boot of the node to load only the subset of components that the selected file indicates should be loaded for purposes of a maintaining or testing the target component.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes detecting that a processor is attempting to boot a server using a network boot option over a first network. The method also includes receiving a network address, using the processor, from an integrated management module (IMM) connected to the processor via a local connection without using a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server on the first network. In another embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable program medium. The computer readable program medium includes program instructions configured to cause a processor in an IMM to intercept a network boot option initiated by a server over a first network and acquire a network address for the server without using a DHCP in the first network. The IMM is connected to the server via a local connection. Other methods, systems, and computer program products are described according to more embodiments.

Abstract: Securing a server before connecting the server to a data communications network in a data center may include: establishing a proximity-based communications connection with a service processor of a server, where the server is not coupled to a data communications network; and transmitting, via the proximity-based data communications connection, a digital certificate to the service processor of the server, where the digital certificate is configured to enable access to the server only by a system management server.

Abstract: A mobile computing device of a user transmits a digital certificate to a server computing device over a non-networking connection established with the server computing device. The digital certificate identifies the user, a particular server computing device, a validity period in which the digital certificate is valid, and a list of actions that the user is permitted to perform on the particular server computing device during the validity period. The server computing device authenticates the digital certificate, such as by determining whether a current time is within the validity period and whether the particular server computing device is the server computing device. When authentication is successful, the user can perform any action of the list of actions, including an action to power off the service computing device. The non-networking connection is such that the user is not provided a user account and a password to access the server computing device.

Abstract: Capturing physical inventory in a data center includes: establishing a proximity-based data communications connection with a service processor of a server, the server installed at a location within a server rack; retrieving an identifier of the server via the proximity-based data communications connection; capturing, with a camera of the mobile computing device, a digital image of the server in the server rack; identifying, from the digital image, the location of the server within the server rack; and storing the identified location of the server within the server rack in association with the retrieved identifier.

Abstract: A method includes running servers to provide computer services to client devices and storing a hardware profile for each of a plurality of server models, wherein each hardware profile identifies hardware components that should be enabled to implement the server model on one of the servers. A request is received from a client device to provide computer services on one or more of the servers using a selected server model and applying the hardware profile for the selected server model to configure the hardware components of the one or more of the servers to use the identified hardware components without manually reconfiguring the one or more of the servers. Still further, the method includes providing computer services to the client device using the one or more of the servers that has been configured using the hardware profile for the selected server model.

Abstract: Embodiments include a power-efficient failover method. The method includes operating a primary server at a normal operating state in which program code is executed, and dynamically generating a backup of the results of the executed program code while in the normal operating state. The method further includes operating a redundant server at a reduced power state in which less power is consumed than in the normal operating state of the primary server. The workload of the primary server may be assumed according to the backup in response to a failure of the primary server. The power state of the redundant server is managed, including maintaining the redundant server in the reduced power state prior to detecting a failure of the primary server and increasing the power state of the redundant server and assuming the workload of the primary server in response to the failure of the primary server.

Abstract: A computing resource management system maintains plural sessions for managing plural computing resources using an administration console. The system further maintains a management user interface on an electronic display screen of the administration console. The management user interface includes plural tabbed user interface elements, wherein each user interface element corresponds to a session for managing a computing resource via a communication link. The system dynamically refreshes the status of each computing resource in a corresponding user interface element tab in the management user interface. User interaction with a user interface element based on user input is monitored, and based on the user interaction with a user interface element, display a panel is displayed on the display for the user managing the corresponding computing resource.

Abstract: A method of managing the workload in a computer system having one or more semi-redundant hardware components is provided. The method comprises detecting loss or degradation of the level of performance of one or more of the semi-redundant hardware components, identifying hardware components affected by the loss or degradation, migrating a critical job from an affected hardware component to an unaffected hardware component, and performing less-critical jobs on an affected hardware component. Loss or degradation of the semi-redundant component reduces the capacity of affected hardware components in the computer system without entirely disabling the computer system. Jobs identified as critical run on hardware components having the most capacity and reliability, while less-critical jobs use the remaining capacity of affected hardware components. Examples of semi-redundant hardware components include a memory module, CPU core, Ethernet port, power supply, fan, disk drive, and an input output port.

Abstract: Content presentation in remote sessions by reducing processing and communication bandwidth requirements for the remote sessions in an information technology environment. Content presentation includes maintaining a session window on an electronic display screen of a remote administration console for remotely monitoring a corresponding server system via a communication link, and monitoring a display status of the session window on the display screen. Based on the display status of the session window, a quantity of refresh information for the session window is selectively transmitted from a management server to the remote administration console over the communication link for display in the session window. The refresh information includes status information for the remotely monitored server system.

Abstract: A computer program product includes computer usable program code embodied on a computer usable storage medium for performing a method of managing the workload in a computer system having one or more semi-redundant hardware components are provided. The method comprises detecting loss or degradation of the level of performance of one or more of the semi-redundant hardware components, identifying hardware components that are affected by the loss or degradation of the one or more semi-redundant components, migrating a critical job from an affected hardware component to an unaffected hardware component, and performing less-critical jobs on an affected hardware component. Loss or degradation of the semi-redundant component reduces the capacity of affected hardware components in the computer system without entirely disabling the computer system. Optionally, the semi-redundant hardware component may be selected from a memory module, CPU core, Ethernet port, power supply, fan, disk drive, and an input output port.

Abstract: Embodiments include a power-efficient failover system. In one embodiment, a primary server is operable at one or more power states and is configured to dynamically generate a backup for the results of n executed program code while in a normal operating state. A redundant server is coupled to the primary server and is operable at the normal operating state or one or more reduced power states. The redundant server is also configured to dynamically receive the backup from the primary server and, in response to a failure of the primary server, to assume the workload of the primary server according to the backup. A controller manages the power state of the redundant server.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically selecting and configuring storage devices according to an abstract partition table definition as part of a scripted operating system installation. The system has a deployment server in data communication with the one or more computers via the communication network. The deployment server has a deployment server storage device and a central processing unit. The deployment server storage device stores an inventory of the computers to which an operating system is to be deployed and a set of partition table requirements defined by one or more qualitative attributes associated with one or more computer storage device partitions. The central processing unit is in communication with the deployment server storage device and executes functions to map the inventory with the set of partition table requirements to create a partition table for each computer to which the operating system is to be deployed.

Abstract: A method of managing the workload in a computer system having one or more semi-redundant hardware components is provided. The method comprises detecting loss or degradation of the level of performance of one or more of the semi-redundant hardware components, identifying hardware components affected by the loss or degradation, migrating a critical job from an affected hardware component to an unaffected hardware component, and performing less-critical jobs on an affected hardware component. Loss or degradation of the semi-redundant component reduces the capacity of affected hardware components in the computer system without entirely disabling the computer system. Jobs identified as critical run on hardware components having the most capacity and reliability, while less-critical jobs use the remaining capacity of affected hardware components. Examples of semi-redundant hardware components include a memory module, CPU core, Ethernet port, power supply, fan, disk drive, and an input output port.

Abstract: Embodiments include a power-efficient failover method. The method includes operating a primary server at a normal operating state in which program code is executed, and dynamically generating a backup of the results of the executed program code while in the normal operating state. The method further includes operating a redundant server at a reduced power state in which less power is consumed than in the normal operating state of the primary server. The workload of the primary server may be assumed according to the backup in response to a failure of the primary server. The power state of the redundant server is managed, including maintaining the redundant server in the reduced power state prior to detecting a failure of the primary server and increasing the power state of the redundant server and assuming the workload of the primary server in response to the failure of the primary server.

Abstract: A content presentation system maintains a window on an electronic display screen of an administration console for remotely managing servers via a communication link. The window includes plural tabbed user interface elements, each user interface element corresponding to a session providing status information for a corresponding server. Problem servers are dynamically detected. A user interface element tab is added to the window for each detected problem server. User interaction with a user interface element based on user input, is monitored. Based on the user interaction with a user interface element for a problem server, a panel is displayed on the display screen wherein the panel includes status information for a corresponding problem server.

Abstract: A computing resource management system maintains plural sessions for managing plural computing resources using an administration console. The system further maintains a management user interface on an electronic display screen of the administration console. The management user interface includes plural tabbed user interface elements, wherein each user interface element corresponds to a session for managing a computing resource via a communication link. The system dynamically refreshes the status of each computing resource in a corresponding user interface element tab in the management user interface. User interaction with a user interface element based on user input is monitored, and based on the user interaction with a user interface element, display a panel is displayed on the display for the user managing the corresponding computing resource.

Abstract: A computing resource management system maintains a management user interface (UI) on an electronic display screen of an administration console for managing computing resources via a communication link. The management UI comprises plural user interface elements, each user interface element including a physical topography for a managed computing resource and a graphical user interface element corresponding to a session providing information for said managed computing resource. User interaction with a graphical user interface element is monitored. Based on the user interaction, a content element is displayed on the display screen wherein the content element includes information for said corresponding managed computing resource.