Abstract: A system and computer program product for optimizing virtual storage in a virtual computer system including at least one virtual machine, each virtual machine being associated with one or more virtual disks. A target set of virtual machines among the virtual machines comprised in the virtual computer system is determined based on information related to the virtual machines and on shrinking constraints. For each virtual machine in the target set of virtual machines, each virtual disk associated with the virtual machine is identified. Furthermore, for each virtual disk associated with the virtual machine, the following occurs: the virtual disk is analyzed, a virtual disk saving quantity based on the virtual disk analysis is estimated, a resized virtual disk based on the estimated virtual disk saving quantity is generated, and the current virtual disk is replaced with the resized virtual disk.

Abstract: A solution for running a software application on a computing machine is provided, which includes registering a capability of a delegation component to execute at least one action on the computing machine, each one defined by at least one characteristic thereof, receiving a request for executing the at least one action from the software application by the delegation component, the request being bound to the delegation component at run-time according to the capability registration thereof, and delegating, by the delegation component, the execution of the at least one action to at least one local component of the computing machine being capable of executing at least part of the at least one action and/or to at least one remote component of at least one remote computing machine being capable of executing at least part of the at least one action according to an availability of the at least one local component.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for managing one or more virtual appliances on a computing system. For a specific virtual appliance, profile information indicative of a set of profiles of the specific virtual appliance is retrieved, status information indicative of a status of the computing system is retrieved, and constraint information indicative of one or more constraints applicable to one or more software programs of the specific virtual appliance on the computing system is retrieved. A determination is made of a configuration scheme of the specific virtual appliance according to the profile information, the status information, and the constraint information. The configuration scheme a specific profile of the set of profiles of the specific virtual appliance having the one or more software programs thereof compliant with the applicable constraints. The specific virtual appliance is configured according to the configuration scheme.

Abstract: A solution for managing a computing system comprising a plurality of client computing machines to be managed and at least one server computing machine for controlling the managing of the client computing machines, wherein each client computing machine has at least one of a plurality of roles in a deployment infrastructure for deploying management data from said at least one server computing machine to the client computing machines. A corresponding method comprises monitoring one or more operative parameters of each client computing machine against one or more reference policies, detecting a non-compliance of the operative parameters to the reference policies, and changing the role of at least one of the client computing machines in response to the non-compliance of the operative parameters to the reference policies for restoring a compliance thereto.

Abstract: Localizing a software product is improved. A plurality of attributes of a plurality of interface elements according to a specified type of user interface are retrieved. Responsive to user input, one or more countries in which the software product is to be localized are specified. An interface element for the user interface is selected. From the attributes of the selected interface element, it is determined whether the interface element is consistent with the specified countries. If not, an alert on a computer display is displayed, in the event the selected interface element is not consistent with the countries specified by the user. The invention also calculates a cost of localizing the selected interface element, wherein the projected cost of localizing the user interface is incremented with the cost of localizing the selected interface element. An alert for the projected cost of localizing the user interface is displayed on the computer display.

Abstract: A method for live-migration of an operating system and an application is provided. The operating system runs on a first computer. The application may run on the operating system. The live-migration may be performed to a second computer while the application showing no externally detectable downtime during live-migration of the application. The method may comprise operating a tracking tool that may track and store data modifications to a disk-system of the computer in a tracking file, triggering a shutdown of the first computer while the tracking tool continues to operate in tracking mode and shut down the first computer completely. Then restarting the first computer and sending the data modifications stored prior to the complete shutdown of the first computer to the second computer, which then may be started based on the sent data, followed by starting the application such that from an external perspective no application disruption is detectable.

Abstract: Encryption of virtual disc image is accomplished by increasing the size of a virtual disc to support the inclusion of a master boot record and a decryption program. Encrypting portions of a virtual disc image on the virtual disc, but leaving the boot record and decryption program unencrypted and accessible, where the decryption program will decrypt the encrypted portions if the appropriate cryptographic key is supplied. Subsequent decryption is accomplished by initiating a boot sequence through the master boot record, receiving the appropriate cryptographic key, appropriately ordering the decrypted disc image.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product deploys software images onto a computing system. A first computing machine is instantiated from a software image onto a computing system. The first computing machine has a first old access identifier, and is initially connected to a second computing machine in the computing system via a second old access identifier for the second computing machine. The second computing machine is reconfigured to have a new access identifier by: retrieving the new access identifier for said second computing machine, and associating the new access identifier with the second old access identifier; and redirecting each outbound communication, from the first old access identifier to the second old access identifier, to the new access identifier of the second computing machine.

Abstract: A method for providing a roaming service to a first client may be provided. The first client may be associated to at least one application service running on an associated virtual machine as a Cloud service via a primary route between the first client and the at least one application service. The method may comprise providing a first agent on the first client, and providing an alternative route to the primary route between the first client and the at least one application service utilizing a second agent running on a second client. Thereby, the alternative route is based on a set of preferences submitted by the first client.

Abstract: Mechanisms for optimizing the storage allocation in a virtual desktop environment (VDE) managing a shared storage capacity, are provided. The shared storage capacity includes previously stored files, each being associated with a respective unique first file identifier, the VDE providing a virtual desktop to a processing device of a user. Upon reception of a first write request for writing a second file specified in the request, a second file identifier of the specified second file is determined and compared with the first file identifier of any first file stored to the shared storage capacity. A pointer to the stored first file associated with that first file identifier is created if the second file identifier is identical to one of the first file identifiers and, if not, the specified second file associated with the second file identifier is stored in the shared storage capacity.

Abstract: A method for dynamic presentations management of electronic presentations including multiple slides, wherein each slide has at least one presentation constraint parameter assigned thereto, and wherein a presentation software is used for generating and displaying the presentation can include gathering metadata regarding the presentation by the presentation software, evaluating the metadata regarding the presentation and determining at least one presentation constraint parameter by the presentation software, and automatically arranging and/or selecting slides and/or modifying a content of slides according to the determined at least one presentation constraint parameter to be presented by use of the presentation software.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium containing machine executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to encrypt a virtual disc; wherein the virtual disc comprises a virtual disc image; and wherein execution of the machine executable instructions cause the processor to: receive the virtual disc; increase the size of the virtual disc; write a decryption-master-boot-record and a decryption program to the virtual disc; encrypt at least a portion of the virtual disc image, wherein the decryption program comprises decryption-machine-executable-instructions for decrypting the at least partially encrypted virtual disc image in accordance with a cryptographic key.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium containing machine executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to encrypt a virtual disc; wherein the virtual disc comprises a virtual disc image; and wherein execution of the machine executable instructions cause the processor to: receive the virtual disc; increase the size of the virtual disc; write a decryption-master-boot-record and a decryption program to the virtual disc; encrypt at least a portion of the virtual disc image, wherein the decryption program comprises decryption-machine-executable-instructions for decrypting the at least partially encrypted virtual disc image in accordance with a cryptographic key.

Abstract: A user of an instant messaging application may interact with instant messaging contacts in other collaboration applications (e.g., e-mail, calendar applications, etc.). IM conversations may relate to information in the collaboration applications. For example, an employee may send an e-mail containing marketing data to his manager and wishes to discuss the data further. The employee sends an IM to the manager referencing the data. The manager should read the e-mail before responding, but the manager may not know that she received the e-mail. Information from a plurality of collaboration applications can be integrated into an instant messaging application. A collaboration integration unit can collect and associate information from the collaboration applications with instant messaging contacts and provide suggestions based on the information.

Abstract: A software application distributed as a virtual appliance is automatically installed, updated and removed in a virtual machine system running on top of a virtual machine monitor in a computer. The software application virtual appliance comprises a virtual disk, which is automatically detected and installed or removed at the customer by a virtual disk activation manager program, which executes scripts including commands through an API to the virtual machine monitor. The virtual appliance virtual disk is also created automatically by the software manufacturing using the virtual disk activation manager program. The virtual appliance virtual disk stores the binaries of the software application, a software package created by the software manufacturer using a software package tool, an installer to execute the software package, installation and un-installation scripts and a unique identifier which is a signature for the virtual machine virtual disk.

Abstract: A method for dynamic presentations management of electronic presentations including multiple slides, wherein each slide has at least one presentation constraint parameter assigned thereto, and wherein a presentation software is used for generating and displaying the presentation can include gathering metadata regarding the presentation by the presentation software, evaluating the metadata regarding the presentation and determining at least one presentation constraint parameter by the presentation software, and automatically arranging and/or selecting slides and/or modifying a content of slides according to the determined at least one presentation constraint parameter to be presented by use of the presentation software.

Abstract: A software application distributed as a virtual appliance is automatically installed, updated and removed in a virtual machine system running on top of a virtual machine monitor in a computer. The software application virtual appliance comprises a virtual disk, which is automatically detected and installed or removed at the customer by a virtual disk activation manager program, which executes scripts including commands through an API to the virtual machine monitor. The virtual appliance virtual disk is also created automatically by the software manufacturing using the virtual disk activation manager program. The virtual appliance virtual disk stores the binaries of the software application, a software package created by the software manufacturer using a software package tool, an installer to execute the software package, installation and un-installation scripts and a unique identifier which is a signature for the virtual machine virtual disk.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for managing pre-requisite software components of a software product distributed on a virtual machine. A list of pre-requisite software components for the software product provided in the software product virtual image distribution package of the software product virtual image is read. A test is performed as to whether each pre-requisite software component in the list of prerequisite software components is not installed in the virtual machine. If the prerequisite software component is not installed, the pre-requisite software component is retrieved. License text of the retrieved pre-requisite software component is read and displayed to a user. Upon approval of the license text by the user, the retrieved pre-requisite software component is installed. The process is repeated until all the pre-requisite software components are installed.

Abstract: A method is presented for monitoring software product usage in a data processing system. The method may include installing an instance of a software product on a target entity of a data processing system. A usage condition applicable to the instance may be identified. Reconciliation information may be generated upon installation of the instance. This reconciliation information may correlate the usage condition with the instance to facilitate later determining compliance of the software product with applicable usage conditions.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for managing phone calls on phone devices used by the employee of a company. When the user wants to give a call, a new plugin in the phone device interprets an attribute value added by the phone device user to each phone number in order to categorize the call. The cell phone user enters a profile describing his call accounting information. A call management plugin computes a prefix for user personal calls which will be adapted to the user location. The call management plugin at the end of the call tags the call information as a personal call or business call. The phone device sends the tagged call information to a remote server of the company, which consolidates billing information received from the phone operators with the tagged call information.