Abstract: A method and a processing device are provided for detecting a hardware-based virtual machine environment. An execution time of a privileged instruction may be measured and an execution time of a nonprivileged instruction may be measured. The execution time of the privileged instruction may be compared with the execution time of the nonprivileged instruction. When the execution time of the privileged instruction exceeds the execution time of the nonprivileged instruction by at least a threshold or a threshold factor, then a hardware-based virtual machine environment is detected. In some embodiments, a well-known technique for detecting a software-based virtual machine environment may be used in conjunction with a technique for detecting a hardware-based virtual machine environment. A licensing policy of a software product may be accessed and the software product may be prevented from executing when a detected machine environment is in violation of the licensing policy.

Abstract: Conflicts among programs are detected, and advice is given based on the detected conflicts. A set of conflict rules defines what constitutes a conflict, and a set of advice rules defines what advice is to be given in response to a conflict that has been detected. The conflict rules may be provided by a different party from the action rules, so the decision as to what constitutes a conflict can be made separately from the decision as to what advice should be given when a conflict is detected.

Abstract: Targeted rules and action based support techniques are described, in which, operational data collected from a plurality of clients is used to generate support instructions for troubleshooting operational problems of the clients. Clients are provided targeted access to support instructions based upon information included in the support instructions which matches the support instructions to the clients. In an implementation, clients may be placed in one or more groups based on the analysis of the operational data and may receive support instructions corresponding to the group automatically and without user intervention.

Abstract: Targeted rules and action based support techniques are described, in which, operational data collected from a plurality of clients is used to generate support instructions for troubleshooting operational problems of the clients. Clients are provided targeted access to support instructions based upon information included in the support instructions which matches the support instructions to the clients. In an implementation, clients may be placed in one or more groups based on the analysis of the operational data and may receive support instructions corresponding to the group automatically and without user intervention.

Abstract: Client category configuration is described, in which, a computer-implemented method may be employed to find categories of clients based on configuration data obtained from the clients. A configuration recommendation is then created for a particular one of the categories based on configuration of one or more of the clients included in the particular category.