Abstract: A system configuration manager provides a graphical user interface that allows a system administrator to easily administer configuration settings for different computer systems and platforms on a computer network. The system configuration manager allows identifying one system configuration or a settings profile as a “model system”. Once the model system is defined, other computer systems may be compared to the model system. Differences between the selected computer systems and the model system are then displayed, and the system configuration manager may be used to update the selected computer systems with configuration settings specified in the model system. Cross-platform support is provided by a configuration mapping mechanism that maps configuration information from one platform to corresponding configuration information for another platform.

Abstract: The disclosure and claims herein are directed to copying segments of a virtual resource definition from an existing virtual resource to create a new virtual resource definition or modifying an existing one to simplify virtualization management. The virtualization manager divides a virtual resource definition into a number of reusable segments. A user may then select one or more segments and place them into a new or existing virtual resource definition. The user can choose to mix and match segments to quickly create or modify a virtual resource definition such as a virtual server, virtual printer or virtual data storage. Any default information in the new virtual resource or old information in the existing resource is replaced by the information in the copied segment. Any dependencies in the existing virtual resource are resolved with user input to break the dependencies or copy dependent data.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, find duplicate resource identifiers that originate from different applications, converge the duplicate resource identifiers into a converged interface object, and present the converged interface object. The duplicate resource identifiers identify the same resource, and the different applications manage the same resource. Duplicate links associated with the duplicate resource identifiers are found, where the duplicate links originate from different applications, and the duplicate links are converged into a converged interface object. The duplicate links provide information regarding the same resource. Duplicate task identifiers are found that are associated with the duplicate resource identifiers and that originate from the different applications. The duplicate task identifiers are converged into a converged interface object.

Abstract: An apparatus and program product utilize a displayed pictorial representation that depicts the actual physical configuration of a plurality of hardware components in a physical computer system to facilitate the collective management of the underlying hardware components. Typically, within such a pictorial representation, a selected status is displayed for multiple of such hardware components, thereby permitting hardware components sharing common attributes or characteristics to be identified in an efficient and intuitive manner, as well as to permit collective management operations to be performed on all selected hardware components. In addition, a pictorial representation may be dynamically generated to represent the physical configuration of a plurality of hardware components within a plurality of computers. In connection with such dynamic generation, the plurality of computers may be accessed to identify the plurality of hardware components that are resident in such computers.

Abstract: A first data model in which a large dataset is stored is maintained, wherein a first set of operations is allowed to be performed on the first data model. The first data model is reduced to a second data model that is of a smaller size than the first data model. Selected operations of the first set of operations are restricted from being performed on the second data model. A second set of operations is performed on the second data model, wherein the second set of operations is a subset of the first set of operations, and wherein the second set of operations does not include the selected operations that have been restricted from being performed on the second data model.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a verifier receives requirements for membership in a group from a service and receives proof of attributes from users. The verifier verifies whether the proof of attributes meets the membership requirements and sends acceptance or rejection to the service. If the proof meets the requirements, the service allows the users to become members of the group and allows the members to transfer data to and from other members. If the proof does not meet the requirements, the service prevents the users from becoming members. In this way, the service and group members know that other group members satisfy the group membership requirements without needing to know the identity of the group members or other information unrelated to the group membership requirements.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, display a time-lapse widget having time indicators associated with times. In an embodiment, each of the time indicators represents a relative ranking of changes to data at the times, and the size of the time indicators are proportional to the ranking. The data associated with the time indicators is displayed in response to a slider moving over the time indicators. In various embodiments, the time indicators may be associated with a time prior to the current time, in which case the associated data is historical or after the current time, in which case the associated data is forecasted. In an embodiment, data that has been changed associated with the time indicator currently selected via the position of the slider is emphasized. A current value and a previous value for the data associated with the time indicator may be displayed, and the current value may be changed to the previous value.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method utilize a displayed pictorial representation that depicts the actual physical configuration of a plurality of hardware components in a physical computer system to facilitate the collective management of the underlying hardware components. Typically, within such a pictorial representation, a selected status is displayed for multiple of such hardware components, thereby permitting hardware components sharing common attributes or characteristics to be identified in an efficient and intuitive manner, as well as to permit collective management operations to be performed on all selected hardware components in addition, a pictorial representation may be dynamically generated to represent the physical configuration of a plurality of hardware components within a plurality of computers. In connection with such dynamic generation, the plurality of computers may be accessed to identify the plurality of hardware components that are resident in such computers.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture that help system administrators visualize the relationship between a global setting and the setting in each instance. One embodiment of the present invention comprises receiving a selection of a setting, determining an inheritance state for the selected setting, and displaying a graphical indication of the inheritance state of the selected setting. In some embodiments, the method further comprises displaying a graphical indication of the inheritance relationship between the selected setting and at least one related setting. The method may also include receiving a change inheritance relationship command, and changing the inheritance relationship for the selected setting.

Abstract: A storage medium and computer that determine a tree representing links embedded in documents, create a depth indicator having a size proportional to the size of the tree, and display the depth indicator with a root link in a root document. The tree is determined by repeatedly probing the links to retrieve the documents. In various embodiments, the size of the tree may be the number of levels in the tree or the number of links in the tree. The depth indicator may include representations of the links and represents a possible future context of the root document. In various embodiments, a graphical representation of the tree may be displayed, hover help that includes the tree size may be displayed, and an indication of a condition reported by a document may be displayed. In various embodiments, the condition may include a message, updated content, new content, or an error.

Abstract: A method that, in an embodiment, determines a tree representing links embedded in documents, creates a depth indicator having a size proportional to the size of the tree, and displays the depth indicator with a root link in a root document. The tree is determined by repeatedly probing the links to retrieve the documents. In various embodiments, the size of the tree may be the number of levels in the tree or the number of links in the tree. The depth indicator may include representations of the links and represents a possible future context of the root document. In various embodiments, a graphical representation of the tree may be displayed, hover help that includes the tree size may be displayed, and an indication of a condition reported by a document may be displayed. In various embodiments, the condition may include a message, updated content, new content, or an error.

Abstract: A system configuration manager provides a graphical user interface that allows a system administrator to easily administer configuration settings for different computer systems and platforms on a computer network. The system configuration manager of the present invention allows identifying one system configuration or a settings profile as a “model system”. Once the model system is defined, other computer systems may be compared to the model system. Differences between the selected computer systems and the model system are then displayed, and the system configuration manager may be used to update the selected computer systems with configuration settings specified in the model system. Cross-platform support is provided by a configuration mapping mechanism that maps configuration information from one platform to corresponding configuration information for another platform.

Abstract: An apparatus and program product utilize a displayed pictorial representation that depicts the actual physical configuration of a plurality of hardware components in a physical computer system to facilitate the collective management of the underlying hardware components. Typically, within such a pictorial representation, a selected status is displayed for multiple of such hardware components, thereby permitting hardware components sharing common attributes or characteristics to be identified in an efficient and intuitive manner, as well as to permit collective management operations to be performed on all selected hardware components. In addition, a pictorial representation may be dynamically generated to represent the physical configuration of a plurality of hardware components within a plurality of computers. In connection with such dynamic generation, the plurality of computers may be accessed to identify the plurality of hardware components that are resident in such computers.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture that help system administrators visualize the relationship between a global setting and the setting in each instance. One embodiment of the present invention comprises receiving a selection of a setting, determining an inheritance state for the selected setting, and displaying a graphical indication of the inheritance state of the selected setting. In some embodiments, the method further comprises displaying a graphical indication of the inheritance relationship between the selected setting and at least one related setting. The method may also include receiving a change inheritance relationship command, and changing the inheritance relationship for the selected setting.

Abstract: Highlighting related user interface controls to selected items improves the ease of use and the intuitiveness of a graphical user interface. In preferred embodiments, user interface controls that are related to a selected object in the display are uniquely highlighted when an object is selected to show the user what user interface options are related to or available to perform some action on the selected object. The preferred embodiments of related highlighted controls can be used in conjunction with prior art highlighted controls that show what actions are available to the user for the current environment or cursor location.

Abstract: An interactive presentation environment for eMeetings or the like that provides participants with more control over what they see and hear. One embodiment of the interactive presentation environment comprises a meeting recorder adapted to create a recording of a live meeting and a navigation control for selecting a portion of the recording to view during the live meeting. Some embodiment may further comprise a timeline control containing a first graphical indicator associated with a live position and a second graphical indicator associated with a current position, a bookmark control adapted to mark a portion of the recording for archiving, and a display operatively connected to the meeting recorder and the navigation control.

Abstract: A common consolidation management application provides an interface to the multiple different system management software applications and at least one user input console. An adapter in each of the system management software applications supports communication with the consolidation application. A system administrator issues requests to different system management software applications using a common interface provided by the consolidation application. The consolidation application can be installed over an existing complex of computer systems managed by different management applications, without modifying the managed systems or replacing the management applications.

Abstract: A system configuration manager provides a graphical user interface that allows a system administrator to easily administer configuration settings for different computer systems and platforms on a computer network. The system configuration manager allows identifying one system configuration or a settings profile as a “model system”. Once the model system is defined, other computer systems may be compared to the model system. Differences between the selected computer systems and the model system are then displayed, and the system configuration manager may be used to update the selected computer systems with configuration settings specified in the model system. Cross-platform support is provided by a configuration mapping mechanism that maps configuration information from one platform to corresponding configuration information for another platform.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and storage medium that, in an embodiment, simulate allocation of a simulated resource to simulated partitions in a simulated logically-partitioned computer and determine whether the allocation conflicts. The simulation may include summing amounts of the simulated resource for the simulated partition in an order, where the order of the simulated partitions is received via a user interface. In various embodiments, the allocation may conflict if the allocation exceeds the capacity of the simulated logically-partitioned computer or if the simulated resource is restricted to exclusive allocation. The result of the simulation, including whether the allocation conflicts, is presented via the user interface. In various embodiments, the simulated resource may be memory, an I/O controller, or a storage device.

Abstract: A system configuration manager provides a graphical user interface that allows a system administrator to easily administer configuration settings for different computer systems and platforms on a computer network. The system configuration manager allows identifying one system configuration or a settings profile as a “model system”. Once the model system is defined, other computer systems may be compared to the model system. Differences between the selected computer systems and the model system are then displayed, and the system configuration manager may be used to update the selected computer systems with configuration settings specified in the model system. Cross-platform support is provided by a configuration mapping mechanism that maps configuration information from one platform to corresponding configuration information for another platform.