Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing software patches. Embodiments incorporate a patch server that collects aggregate patch history information from a community of software application users. The set of available patches for a given software application can be registered to a data store, and the number of uses electing to install a patch, as well as usage information such as the frequency of bug reports or rollbacks associated with individual patches can be tracked. When a user desires to update a software application, the various available patches and their combined usage history can be displayed in a patch selection dialog. The user can view and select the patch version best suited to their needs, for example to best match their particular hardware configuration, or to install a patch having the fewest bug reports.

Abstract: An embodiment relates generally to a method of searching. The method includes receiving a query in a structured forum and searching a general and certified knowledgebase based on the query. The method also includes providing a plurality of search results ordered based on an associated rating of each search result of the plurality of the search results.

Abstract: An embodiment relates generally to a method of searching. The method includes providing for a knowledgebase item and associating a review for the knowledgebase item. The method also includes associating a rating for the knowledgebase item and developing a ranking associated with the knowledgebase item based on at least one the review and the rating. The method further includes displaying the knowledgebase item based on the ranking in subsequent searches that include the knowledgebase item.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present teachings provide for systems and methods of maintaining published information about an entity. The systems and methods allow updates to information associated with a website. Votes are received from different sources and the information is given a confidence indicator based on the sources and other factors. A weight for the votes is determined based on the sources, and a confidence indicator is determined base on the weight of the votes. The updated information and the confidence indicator can be published on the website.

Abstract: A management tool can be included in a software appliance. The management tool can be configured to provide control, management, and maintenance of the software appliance. The management tool can be utilized in order to start/stop, configure, repair, and update a software appliance. The management tool can be configured to provide an interface for management of the software appliance. The interface allows for management of the software appliance and the individual components of the software appliance.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing software appliances using a broadcast mechanism. Embodiments incorporate a centralized appliance monitor that collects software appliance state information from a community of clients having software appliance installations. Software appliances can comprise a reduced-component operating system combined with pre-configured application(s), for instance distributed via optical disc or Web download. When a software appliance instantiates on a client in the network or at other times, the identity and execution state of the application is broadcast to an appliance monitor. The appliance monitor aggregates the appliance state information for all clients in the network, and manages their deployment and execution on the network. The appliance monitor can for example transmit an appliance control instruction to a client to terminate or otherwise manage an uncertified or unapproved appliance, or take other network management action.

Abstract: Systems and methods classify, organize, and retrieve data from a variety of applications based on entities associated with the data. A data classification module is configured to retrieve stored information from a repository. The data classification module is configured to receive a request to retrieve the stored information. The data classification module is configured to search the repository based on the request. Based on the search, the data classification module is configured to retrieved stored information from the repository The data classification module is configured provide the retrieved information to a requester of the information. For example, the data classification module can be configured to provide the retrieved information in a series of interactive cascading menus.

Abstract: A data classification module is configured to retrieve information from the repository and migrate the information into applications. The data classification module is configured to receive a request to migrate information and data from the repository into an application. The request can include the type of application and the type of information and data requested. The application can be an new application or an existing application. In order to locate information and data to migrate, the data classification module is configured to maintain rules that describe how the various applications maintain data and information.

Abstract: An application support module can be configured to dynamically build software appliances for users. The application support module can be configured to build the software appliances based on a request by a user. The request can include a desired pre-built appliance or available applications to be included in a custom appliance. Once the requested appliance is built, the application support module can be configured determine operating requirements for the complete software appliance. The operating requirements can include the minimum necessary computing requirements to utilize the software appliance, such as required storage space, required processing power, required execution memory. The application support module can be configured to provide the software appliance to the user, if the user accepts the software appliance. Additionally, the application support module can be configured to repeat the building process if the user requests reconfiguration.

Abstract: An appliance module can be configured to provide software appliances to users. The appliance module can be configured to provide the software appliances based on a role desired by the users. The role can be the desired functionality to be provided by the software appliance. To achieve this, the appliance module can be configured to receive a request for a software appliance. Based on the request, the appliance module can be configured to determine a software appliance that includes one or more applications that meets the role set forth in the request and just enough operating system to support the one or more applications. The appliance module can be configured to provide the software appliance to the requesting user.

Abstract: An appliance support module can be configured to update and upgrade the software incrementally. To achieve this, the appliance support module can be configured to receive a request to update or upgrade a software appliance. The request can include the update or upgrade requested and information describing the software appliance to upgrade or update. Based on the request, the appliance support module can be configured to determine alterations to make to a original binary image of the software appliance to upgrade or update.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing software patches. Embodiments incorporate a patch server that collects aggregate patch history information from a community of software application users. The set of available patches for a given software application can be registered to a data store, and the number of uses electing to install a patch, as well as usage information such as the frequency of bug reports or rollbacks associated with individual patches can be tracked. When a user desires to update a software application, the various available patches and their combined usage history can be displayed in a patch selection dialog. The user can view and select the patch version best suited to their needs, for example to best match their particular hardware configuration, or to install a patch having the fewest bug reports.

Abstract: Systems and methods classify, organize, and retrieve data from a variety of applications based on entities associated with the data. A data classification module is further configured to operate in cooperation with a communications application. Upon receiving an incoming communication via the communication application, the data classification module is configured to receive the identifying information from the communication application. The data classification module is configured to utilize the identifying information to retrieve additional information and data associated with the remote user from the searchable repository. The additional information and data can include additional identity information for the remote user. The additional information and data can also include information to allow the user to discern the context of the incoming communication. The data classification module is configured to generate an interface to provide the retrieved information to the user of communication application.

Abstract: Systems and methods classify and organize data from a variety of applications based on entities associated with the data. A data classification module is configured to retrieve data from different applications. Each application can utilize data in a different format from other applications. The data classification module is configured to extract identifying information from the data, received from the applications. The identifying information includes information on entities and person related to the data. For example, entities can be companies, corporations, associations, organization, and the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide real time and interactive software configuration. A configuration support module is configured to provide configuration data associated with software being configured by a user. The configuration support module is configured to store configuration data associated with different entities related to users. The entities can be a company, organization, corporation, association, and the like related to the users. The configuration support module can store configuration data that is common to different users related to the entity.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for updating software appliances. A client can host a software appliance, such a Linux™ software appliance, which a user wishes to update to a newer version. Instead of performing an in-place update by installing a new version that deletes the configuration state and/or user data of the existing version of the appliance, an export module takes an image of an initial appliance installation and then registers further changes to the configuration state and/or user data over time. When the user chooses to update the software appliance, the new version can be downloaded to execute an installation. The export module aggregates all changes to the original installation image as well as user data, and delivers the complete current configuration state and/or complete current user data to the new version of the appliance to instantiate the new version.

Abstract: An embodiment relates generally to a method of packaging an application. The method includes providing for a plurality of applications and receiving a selection of an application from the plurality of applications. The method also includes determining a set of binary files for a lightweight operating system configured to only support the selected application and packaging the set of binary files with the selected application as an installation package.

Abstract: An embodiment pertains generally to a method of tagging for a variety of applications. The method includes providing for a data object, the data object associated with a respective application and applying at least one tag term to the data object. The method also includes creating a context triple for each of the at least one tag term, where a first element of the context triple is the at least one tag term. The method further includes storing the context tag triple in a searchable repository.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present teachings provide for standardized post installation configuration of a software application. For Linux-based applications, a portal service provides a Red Hat Packet Manager (“RPM”) package that includes selected software to be installed on a user's computing device, post-install configurator, and a post install configuration file (“PIC”). The post-install configurator accesses the PIC file and performs post-installation configuration based on the contents of the PIC file. The PIC file thus provides a standardized mechanism in which software vendors can specify post-installation configuration of their applications, without having to develop their own tools or applications.

Abstract: An embodiment relates generally to a method of updating data. The method includes providing for a plurality of components, where each component is associated with a respective web page. The method also includes providing for a subset of components from the plurality of components, where the subset of components subscribes to an event. The method further includes publishing a notification message in response to the event occurring and retrieving the event by the subset of components.