Abstract: Described is a technology by which a remote network (or local) service is monitored for failure, e.g., by determining whether data corresponding to operation of the service achieves a threshold. When a threshold is achieved that indicates that the service has failed, the service is automatically deactivated for use with a local workload, and the workload switched to use a second service or system having functionality similar to that of the failed service. The second service may be monitored for failure, as may the failed service to determine when it is again operational. In this manner, a remote primary service may have another local or remote secondary service/system automatically substituted for it when it fails, and be restored for use when it returns to acceptable operation.

Abstract: A query for a help system includes data about a user system and a task that the user is attempting. The query may be used by a search engine to generate relevant results to aid the user. The user system data may include configuration data about hardware and software. The task data may be derived from the current state of a device, or from operational history that may be developed from a single user or a group of users. The query may have a mechanism to weight various keywords or components of the query and a feedback system may adjust the weights for future queries.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which a user interface page outputs security status information obtained from network-wide and/or network client security components. This allows for simultaneous evaluation of the state of various network-wide and client security components, such as antimalware state, anti-spam state, firewall state, client program update state, and state data from a remote security service. Network security page logic couples to network-wide security components and client security components to obtain security state data for each. A user interface associated with the network security page logic lists the security components and the current security status for each, such as via an icon that changes its appearance to reflect the current state.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies that facilitate hosting of a domain name and access of users to the Internet, by using a well defined protocol to interact with a plurality of Dynamic Domain Name Service (DDNS) providers, via employing; a purchasing component and a status verifying component. Once a user has selected a domain name, the purchasing component can automatically query the provider(s) for terms of the service plan to host such domain name associated with dynamic IP addresses. The status verifying component can verify the IP address of the end user machine and supply it to the DDNS, to manage in-bound traffic to the user's domain name.

Abstract: A group of security functions may be configured and managed by organizing the security functions and their features into a ranked list and made available through an administrative console. The ranked list may represent various levels of security from which a user may select. Once selected, the security functions may be configured according to the selected level. The console may determine a current security level by analyzing the configuration or status of each of the security functions and presenting a single status level from the ranked list determined by the least secure setting of the various security functions.

Abstract: A computer performs a method of communicating with a referral server to identify configurables available to the computer based on the computer's location and at least one other factor. The computer receives a list of provider servers selected by the referral server for referring to the computer because the provider servers on the list auto-configure configurables in the computer's location and according to the at least one other factor. The method communicates with a provider server selected from the list to purchase a selected configurable and to auto-configure the computer's computing environment to operate the selected configurable. The method communicates with the referral server to provide a metric about the provider server's performance during purchase and auto-configure.

Abstract: A service provider management system may consolidate multiple functions and multiple service providers for those functions using a user interface system with a common schema. Each service provider may comply with a function specific schema, and some service providers may include extensions to the schema. The user interface system may present a list of service providers. When a specific service provider is selected, a list of available tasks along with current data about the service provider may be presented. The service provider management may integrate with local databases for populating information used by a service provider. One embodiment may be used to manage services across a network of computer devices, such as managing multiple computing devices and multiple users within a local area network.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies that facilitate purchase and/or transfer of a domain name and access of users to the internet by using a well defined protocol to interact with a plurality of domain name registrars via employing a purchasing component and a mapping component. Once a user has identified a domain name, the purchasing component can automatically query the provider(s) for terms of the service plan to obtain such domain name. The mapping component can then point to a DNS provider designated to host such domain name, to manage in-bound traffic. The subject invention can also be implemented in web services based hosted solutions directory, for example by designation of a trusted on-line registry that registers a plurality of service providers to supply services to clients, with a secure communication between the clients and the trusted on-line registry for selection of a service provider.

Abstract: A license enforcement system is disclosed herein. The system receives digitized licenses associated with computer applications in a secure license store. The licenses are then monitored and compared with the actual use by users to determine compliance with licenses. If users employ an application in violation of licensing terms then corrective action can be taken such as providing warnings and/or shutting down or denying access to a licensed application. Additional security features are employed to ensure that license store data is valid and that the system is constantly monitored except where a bypass component is properly utilized. Furthermore, a user can utilize a plurality of different wizards such as an add license wizard, a backup license wizard and a restore license wizard, to facilitate easy step-by-step interaction with the license system.

Abstract: A security management system uses several security scenarios that have rules defining the configuration of system and security components in order to meet a specific security scenario. The rules may include an evaluation of multiple components to give a summary statistic or evaluation, as well as rules that may be used to configure the various components to achieve a desired level of security. A management console may aggregate multiple security scenarios together for administration.

Abstract: Automated redundant configuration of a computer service can be accomplished in a variety of ways. An installation answer can be received and used to automatically determine configuration settings for a computer service to operate redundantly across multiple computer servers. The configuration settings can then be used to configure the multiple computer servers. A user can be asked an installation question, and based on the answer different configuration settings can be determined for configuring a first and second server of a plurality of computer servers. The first and second server can be configured with the corresponding configuration settings. In addition, an installation knowledge base can be consulted, based on an installation answer, when automatically determining configuration settings.

Abstract: An extensible management console may use a discovery mechanism to detect and identify security services across a network. After identification, the console may download and install an adapter so that the security service may be monitored and controlled using the extensible management console. A catalog of security services may be obtained from a catalog server and used to scan various devices, registries, file systems, and active services to detect and identify security services that may be added to the extensible management console.

Abstract: A license management system may include a license analyzer that is capable of evaluating different licensing strategies for software products or services on a single device or a group of devices. Rules for licensing options are coupled with actual usage data and forecasts to determine various licensing options. The options may be implemented by an automated system for renewing licenses or changing licenses and installing updated licenses.

Abstract: A scripting model may include links to web based services by including an interface associated with each web based service. The interface may perform various functions used to exchange information with a web based service, such as discovery, addressing, connection, configuration, authentication, and other functions. The web based service may be used in a similar manner as a local service within the scripting model, including automatic memory management, bounds checking, data translation, and other features of scripting.

Abstract: A traffic manager may monitor network performance, detect that the network performance has changed, and may prioritize network traffic based on which application or function is associated with the traffic. Each packet of network traffic may be analyzed to determine a source application or source function and allowed or disallowed along the network based on a set of predetermined priorities. Several sets of priorities may be established for various network performance conditions. In some embodiments, traffic may be routed along different paths using the sets of priorities and the source application or function. The traffic manager is adaptable for web-based services, applications, or other functions provided over a network connection.

Abstract: A query for a help system includes data about a user system and a task that the user is attempting. The query may be used by a search engine to generate relevant results to aid the user. The user system data may include configuration data about hardware and software. The task data may be derived from the current state of a device, or from operational history that may be developed from a single user or a group of users. The query may have a mechanism to weight various keywords or components of the query and a feedback system may adjust the weights for future queries.

Abstract: A security manager aggregates various security components into a unified user interface. For each security component, the security manager may obtain an updated policy description that defines specific groups of settings for the component in terms of several threat conditions. Using the groups of settings, the security manager may classify a current state of a security component into a category. Some embodiments may use a standardized schema for an interface between a security component and the security manager. The schema may be implemented with an adapter that translates the specific settings of a security component into data for the security manager. In some embodiments, the adapter may also receive updated policy descriptions and perform a classification of the current settings.

Abstract: A setup workflow may be defined in a complex workflow manner that may have branching, error compensation, and relationships defined between a software product to be installed and previously installed or future products that may be installed. As a setup workflow operates, a remote device may be contacted for an updated setup step that may also include relationship definitions between the new setup step and other steps or installed components. The new step may be for a remotely provided service that may be used in lieu of a locally installed product. The setup workflow may include dependencies and coordinate setup workflows across multiple devices.

Abstract: A license management system may have an adapter or interface that enables any type of licensed software or service to be managed through a common administrative view. The adapters may use a common schema that includes various parameters about a license as well as information that may enable a license management system to interact with a license vendor or license provider. The licenses may include locally operating software, software operating over a local area network, and various services that may be provided over a network including the Internet. The license management system may support many types of licenses and may be able to consolidate license management of many different devices and types of devices. The license management system may display the various licenses, as well as provide some other functions including alerting, usage monitoring, and managing licenses.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which a client discovers services (e.g., Internet services) via a service listing server, and upon selecting a service, the client and/or service are automatically configured to couple to one another such that the client may host the service. In one example, a client includes or is associated with a mechanism that couples to the server listing server that maintains information regarding services, and communicates with that server to request available services. The service listing server returns a list, from which the client selects a service and returns configuration information needed by the service to be hosted. The service listing server evaluates and may modify the client configuration information as necessary to make the client compatible with the selected service. The client applies the modified configuration information to at least one client application or resource to configure the client for hosting the service.