Abstract: An example method is provided and may include multicasting a discovery packet in an overlay network, which includes a Layer 2 scheme over a Layer 3 network; and identifying endpoints based on their respective responses to the discovery packet, where the endpoints are coupled across a multicast backbone. In more specific embodiments, the method may include identifying disconnected endpoints in the overlay network based on a lack of responses from the disconnected endpoints.

Abstract: An example method includes forwarding user credentials from a virtual machine in a distributed virtual switch (DVS) network environment to a network element outside the DVS network environment, receiving a user policy from the AAA server, and facilitating enforcement of the user policy within the DVS network environment. The user credentials may relate to a user attempting to access the VM. In a specific embodiment, the user credentials are provided in a 802.1X packet. In a particular embodiment, a network access control (NAC) in the DVS network environment forwards the user credentials, receives the user policy, and facilitates the enforcement of the user policy. In one embodiment, the NAC is provisioned as another VM in the DVS network environment.

Abstract: An example method includes forwarding user credentials from a virtual machine in a distributed virtual switch (DVS) network environment to a network element outside the DVS network environment, receiving a user policy from the AAA server, and facilitating enforcement of the user policy within the DVS network environment. The user credentials may relate to a user attempting to access the VM. In a specific embodiment, the user credentials are provided in a 802.1X packet. In a particular embodiment, a network access control (NAC) in the DVS network environment forwards the user credentials, receives the user policy, and facilitates the enforcement of the user policy. In one embodiment, the NAC is provisioned as another VM in the DVS network environment.

Abstract: An example method is provided and may include multicasting a discovery packet in an overlay network, which includes a Layer 2 scheme over a Layer 3 network; and identifying endpoints based on their respective responses to the discovery packet, where the endpoints are coupled across a multicast backbone. In more specific embodiments, the method may include identifying disconnected endpoints in the overlay network based on a lack of responses from the disconnected endpoints.

Abstract: In providing seamless migration of virtual or physical devices among networks of a virtual local area network (VLAN) such as one spanning multiple data centers, a same virtual anycast Medium Access Control (VMAC) is used for reaching default gateways in virtual and/or physical devices. Each network is typically configured such that source MAC learning for the VMAC should happen only for packets coming from the local default gateway. In this manner, when a device is migrated between networks of the VLAN, the same IP address and corresponding MAC address (typically still residing in the MAC cache of the migrated device) can be used to reach the local default gateway.

Abstract: In providing seamless migration of virtual or physical devices among networks of a virtual local area network (VLAN) such as one spanning multiple data centers, a same virtual anycast Medium Access Control (VMAC) is used for reaching default gateways in virtual and/or physical devices. Each network is typically configured such that source MAC learning for the VMAC should happen only for packets coming from the local default gateway. In this manner, when a device is migrated between networks of the VLAN, the same IP address and corresponding MAC address (typically still residing in the MAC cache of the migrated device) can be used to reach the local default gateway.

Abstract: A data processing system for resending a previously sent email message. A new recipient for the previously sent email message is selected. The new recipient of the previously sent email message is added in response to selecting the new recipient, wherein the previously sent email message is directed to the new recipient and a previous recipient. An indicator to the previously sent email message is added in response to selecting the new recipient, wherein the indicator indicates that the new recipient has been added to a form a new version of the previously sent email message. The new version of the previously sent email message is sent in response to adding the indicator, wherein the indicator causes the new version of the previously sent email message to replace the previously sent email message at an email program of the previous recipient.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for delivering data, received from a network on a network adapter to a pre-assigned port, to a storage buffer assigned to an application are disclosed. An application designates an application-specific buffer within a local data processing system for buffering data communicated with the application. The local data processing system reports to a network interface of the local data processing system a memory address of the designated application-specific buffer, and the data processing system designates a port on which to receive packets addressed to the memory address. The data processing system then sends a port registration message to the local network interface, enabling the network interface to compare the port number of incoming traffic to a registered port number and route incoming traffic from a remote data processing system directly to the designated application-specific buffers in the event of a match.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for enabling a telephone caller to generate a brief message for transmission to an intended call recipient, as part of the initial procedure of setting up a phone call between the caller and recipient. The message is sent and displayed or otherwise made available to the recipient before the recipient is required to answer the call. The message could comprise a sequence of alphanumeric characters that conveyed an abbreviated message, or otherwise indicates the purpose to the call to the recipient or provides other information. Respective characters could be transmitted as corresponding sequences of binary tones sent to the call recipient between telephone rings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for multicast tunneling for mobile devices. The method comprises receiving a multicast packet directed to a plurality of mobile nodes, the mobile nodes being associated with a home subnet and identifying if any of the plurality of the mobile nodes are coupled to a subnet other than the home subnet, wherein each of the identified mobile nodes has an associated transmission path through which that mobile node can be reached. The method further provides that in response to determining that at least some of the mobile nodes are coupled to the subnet other than the home subnet, determining which of the identified mobile nodes has a common next hop in their associated transmission path and generating a packet including at least a portion of the multicast packet and including in the packet a list of mobile nodes that have the common next hop. The method further provides for transmitting the generated packet to the common next hop.

Abstract: A method for negotiating a protocol for a conversation in which data packets are transmitted. Responsive to establishment of a link aggregation with an endpoint for the conversation, an algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation is selected to form a preferred algorithm. A request is sent to the endpoint. This request indicates the preferred algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation. A reply to the request is received from the endpoint. A determination is made as to whether a convergence has occurred. The data packets in the conversation are processed using the preferred algorithm in response to a determination that the convergence has occurred.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for handling requests in a data processing system. A plurality of processes is provided to handle the requests. Each of the plurality of processes is assigned to handle requests from a subset of foreign ports within a plurality of foreign ports such that a set of foreign ports assigned to a process is unique with respect to other subsets of foreign ports within the plurality of foreign ports. A foreign port is identified in a request in response to receiving the request. The request is sent to a process assigned the subset of foreign ports having a match to the foreign port in the request, wherein the process handles the request.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are provided for tunneling IPv6 packets. Embodiments include receiving, by an origin IPv6 border router from an origin IPv6 host, an IPv6 packet having an IPv6 destination address; receiving, by an origin IPv6 border router from an origin IPv6 host, an IPv4 address for a destination IPv6 border router retrieved from a data structure associating IPv6 destination addresses with IPv4 addresses for destination IPv6 border routers; encapsulating, by the origin IPv6 border router, the IPv6 packet in an IPv4 packet; and sending the encapsulated packet to a destination IPv6 border router at the IPv4 address. In many embodiments, encapsulating, by the origin IPv6 border router, the IPv6 packet in an IPv4 packet is carried out by adding an IPv4 header to the IPv6 packet.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are provided for tunneling IPv6 packets. Embodiments include receiving, by an origin IPv6 border router from an origin IPv6 host, an IPv6 packet having an IPv6 destination address; receiving, by an origin IPv6 border router from an origin IPv6 host, an IPv4 address for a destination IPv6 border router retrieved from a data structure associating IPv6 destination addresses with IPv4 addresses for destination IPv6 border routers; encapsulating, by the origin IPv6 border router, the IPv6 packet in an IPv4 packet; and sending the encapsulated packet to a destination IPv6 border router at the IPv4 address. In many embodiments, encapsulating, by the origin IPv6 border router, the IPv6 packet in an IPv4 packet is carried out by adding an IPv4 header to the IPv6 packet.

Abstract: A data processing system for resending a previously sent email message. A new recipient for the previously sent email message is selected. The new recipient of the previously sent email message is added in response to selecting the new recipient, wherein the previously sent email message is directed to the new recipient and a previous recipient. An indicator to the previously sent email message is added in response to selecting the new recipient, wherein the indicator indicates that the new recipient has been added to a form a new version of the previously sent email message. The new version of the previously sent email message is sent in response to adding the indicator, wherein the indicator causes the new version of the previously sent email message to replace the previously sent email message at an email program of the previous recipient.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for redirecting client connection requests among sockets providing a same service are provided. An application requests multiple sockets from a kernel. In addition, the application generates a socket call option to bind the sockets to a particular port number and passes a list of the sockets to the kernel, where the list indicates that the sockets will all provide access to server systems providing the same service. In response, the kernel sets up the sockets, bound to the same port, and set to reference one another. Then, when a connection request is received for a first socket in the list with a queue that is full, the kernel redirects the connection request to a second socket in the list with available queue space. Thus, rather than drop the connection request from the first socket when it lacks available queue space, the connection request is redirected to another socket providing access to the same service.

Abstract: A data processing system for resending a previously sent email message. A new recipient for the previously sent email message is selected. The new recipient of the previously sent email message is added in response to selecting the new recipient, wherein the previously sent email message is directed to the new recipient and a previous recipient. An indicator to the previously sent email message is added in response to selecting the new recipient, wherein the indicator indicates that the new recipient has been added to a form a new version of the previously sent email message. The new version of the previously sent email message is sent in response to adding the indicator, wherein the indicator causes the new version of the previously sent email message to replace the previously sent email message at an email program of the previous recipient.

Abstract: Data communications through a split connection proxy in a data communications protocol, including receiving in a proxy from a client, asynchronously with respect to any other messages between the client and the proxy, one or more client messages including client message data items including a connection request for a connection between the client and the proxy, destination connection data identifying a destination server, and a message from the client to the destination server; and sending from the proxy to the server, asynchronously with respect to any messages between the client and the proxy and asynchronously with respect to any other messages between the proxy and the server, one or more proxy messages including proxy message data items including a connection request for a connection between the proxy and the destination server and the message from the client to the destination server.

Abstract: Retrieving dated content from a website including receiving a URL for dated content with a date field; inserting the current date in the date field; and retrieving the dated content with the URL bearing the current date in its date field. In some embodiments, date field bears an encoded date and inserting the current date in the date field includes replacing the encoded date with the current date. Typical embodiments also include bookmarking the URL, including replacing an encoded date in the date field with a date tag. Some embodiments include prompting the user for a date format. In many embodiments, the date tag includes a default date format. Some embodiments include configuring the browser with a default date format.

Abstract: A method in a data processing system for routing a packet to a target data processing system. With the method and apparatus, a global address for the target data processing system is placed in the packet. A hop-by-hop option may then be set in the packet, which contains a media access control address for the final destination. This option causes a router for a subnet on which the target data processing system is located to send the packet to the target data processing system using the media access control address without performing a link level address discovery operation.