Abstract: A method and apparatus for sending a message from a first operator at a first workstation to a second operator at a second workstation in an operations-computing arrangement for operating one or more computer systems. The operations-computing arrangement includes the first and second workstations, which are coupled to respective operations servers. Each operations server is coupled to at least one computer system, each workstation executes software that provides an operator interface for operating a computer system, and each operations server provides an interface to a computer system. The infrastructure used to transmit system-generated event reports to operators at the workstations is used to transmit text messages between operators.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating one or more computer systems via an operations-computing arrangement. The operations-computing arrangement includes a plurality of workstations coupled to a plurality of operations servers, and each operations server is coupled to at least one computer system. Each workstation executes software that provides a user interface for operating a computer system, and each operations server provides an interface to a computer system. A first operations server registers with a second operations server for the second operations server to forward event reports received by the second operations server to the first operations server. The second operations server generates event reports in response to computer system events. Event reports are transmitted from the second operations server to one or more workstations coupled to the second operations server, and also to the first operations server.