Abstract: A provisioning server can remotely deliver a rescue environment to a malfunctioning target machine. The provisioning server can operate in conjunction with a network management server in order to identify malfunctioning target machines, for example, target machines with damaged operating systems. Once a malfunctioning target machine is identified, the provisioning server can be configured to identify a rescue environment to repair the malfunctioning target machine and provide the rescue environment to the malfunctioning target machine.

Abstract: When terminating a process instantiated in a cloud, a cloud management system can provide and interact with an eraser agent on the computing systems supporting the process. The process can be any type of process that can exits in the cloud such a virtual machine, software appliance, or software instance. The eraser agent can execute on the computing systems to erase information stored on physical storage devices of the computing systems and associated with the process. In particular, the eraser agent can utilize secure algorithms to alter and obscure the information stored on the physical storage devices of the computing systems and associated with the process.

Abstract: A space management tool can consolidate the duplicate files in the software packages while maintaining the file structure of the software packages. The space management tool can search the software packages to identify duplicate files and consolidate the duplicate files without altering the file structure of the software packages. In particular, the space management tool can consolidate the storage space utilized by the software packages by removing duplicate files in the software packages and replacing the removed files with a reference to the remaining file.

Abstract: A provisioning server can import a software distribution and determine the type of distribution in order to integrate the software distribution in the software provisioning environment. The provisioning server can be configured to determine a type for the software distribution. Once determined, the provisioning server can be configured to locate a configuration template that matches the type of the software distribution. The configuration template can allow the generation of a configuration file that enables the software distribution to be incorporated into software provisioning processes, automatically. Once located, the provisioning server can be configured to generate a profile for the imported software distribution.

Abstract: A provisioning server can provide and utilize a diagnostic tool to test and interrogate hardware on target machines and to collect data from the hardware. The diagnostic tool can operate on the target machine independently of software already installed on the target machine. The diagnostic tool can interrogate hardware of the target machine and collect data from the hardware of the target machine. The provisioning server can select the diagnostic tool from a set of pre-generated diagnostic tools or generate a custom diagnostic tool tailored to a specific target machine. The provisioning server can interact directly with the diagnostic tool or interact with the diagnostic tool utilizing a network management server. Once data is collected, the provisioning server can be configured to store the collected data and/or output the data to other parties or systems.

Abstract: A provisioning server can remotely determine target machines, requiring a hardware update, and remotely provide the hardware updates to the target machines. The provisioning server can identify hardware updates for target machines in a network it serves. The provisioning server can operate in conjunction with a network management server in order to identify the target machines, requiring the hardware update. The provisioning server can generate the hardware update for the target machines and provide the hardware update to the target machines.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for remote network configuration management having multi-node awareness. A management server can communicate with a set of hosts in a network, each of which can have associated target machines such as computer clients. The configuration details of the set of hosts can be stored in a set of configuration files. The configuration files can specify, for example, processor, memory, hardware, I/O, and other resources of the hosts or targets associated with the hosts. When a systems administrator or other user wishes to push an updated configuration or send new data to the set of hosts, the management server can identify versions of software and other resources to transmit and install to hosts in the set of hosts based on their particular configuration details reflected in the corresponding configuration files(s), without having to manually identify versions to be distributed to individual hosts or resolve dependencies.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for integrated package development and machine configuration management. In aspects, a stage management engine can be invoked by a developer to initiate the development, testing, and deployment of a software package, e.g. an application or operating system. A set of repositories can store related versions of the software under development at different stages of building, testing, and deployment. The repositories can enforce consistent file naming and avoid duplication of stored files. In embodiments, the stage management engine can likewise interface with a configuration management database that stores and manages a resource configuration state of a host virtual machine used to develop and run the subject software package. Both the package and virtual machine bed can be moved through various development stages to production in coordinated fashion, ensuring consistency in both the software to be installed and the target machine for the installation.

Abstract: A network management server can be configured to search the components of computing systems and devices in a managed network for specified settings and configurations in order to determine if the computing systems or devices contain the specified settings and configurations. The network management server can receive a request containing search parameters. The search parameters can identify specific settings and configurations to search for in the components of the systems and devices of the managed network. The network management server can initiate a search of the components of all the systems and devices in the managed network based on the search parameters.

Abstract: A storage tool can determine and provide an abstract view of storage systems in a network of computing system. The storage tool can utilize the abstract view in order to identify the storage systems based on the performance and capabilities of the storage systems without regard to the configuration of the storage system, storage devices in the storage system, or the details of the storage devices.

Abstract: An embodiment relates generally to a method of distributing virtual machines. The method includes specifying a set of requirements for a virtual machine and instantiating a virtual machine based on a lightweight reusable profile, based on the set of requirements as described in the profile. The method also includes importing the profile to a distribution server; and distributing the profile to at least one physical machine in response to a request. Software can be added to the at least one physical machine that can manage the deployment of the physical hosts as a farm to hosting the virtual images.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for automatically generating a system restoration order for network recovery. A set of managed machines, such as personal computers or servers, can be managed by a network management platform communicating with the machines via a secure channel. The network management platform can access a dependency map indicating a required order for restoration of machines or nodes on a network. The network management platform likewise access a reverse kickstart file for each machine to be automatically restored in order to ensure proper functioning of the network, and extract a current configuration of that machine for purposes of restoring the overall network.

Abstract: To provision software content from the different software repositories and manage updates to the repositories, a provisioning server can maintain a repository record. The repository record can include an identification of the repositories associated with the provisioning server. Additionally, the repository record can associate, with each identification of a repository, the type of repository, the software content contained in the repository, and provisioning objects associated with the software content contained in the repository. The provisioning server can be configured to utilize the repository record during provisioning processes for software content and for updating software content of target machines.

Abstract: A provisioning server can manage and configure the network parameters for target machines and systems residing in the networks associated with the provisioning server. The provisioning server can associate provisioning objects with the network configurations stored in the network record. The provisioning server can maintain an object record that associates the network configurations with different provisioning object. The provisioning server can utilize the object record to determine network parameters for target machines requesting provisioning processes, such as target machine installs, and virtualization.

Abstract: A security tool can access a tagging tool and the history generated by the tagging tool in order to identify potential threats and analyze the identified threats. When a potential threat is detected or an actual threat is identified, the security tool can request the history of actions from the tagging tool corresponding to the threat. The security tool can compare the potential or actual threat with the history of any action recorded by the tagging tool in order to classify a potential threat as an actual threat or determine the source or cause of an actual threat.

Abstract: Embodiments relate systems and methods for detecting machine faults in a network using acoustic monitoring. In embodiments, one or more servers, clients, or other machines in a managed network can have a microphone or other acoustic sensor integrated into motherboard or other hardware. The sensor can sample acoustic signals from inside or near the machine, and can digitize that data. The resulting set of acoustic data can be transmitted to a management server or other destination for analysis of the operating sounds related to that machine. For instance, the acoustic data can be analyzed to detect indications of a failed or failing hard drive, for instance by detecting spindle whine or head movement noises, or a failed or failing power supply based on other sounds. The management server can respond to potential fault events for instance by issuing configuration commands, such as instructions to power down the malfunctioning component.

Abstract: A provisioning server can maintain a library of virtual images. The virtual images can be a disk image of software that has been previously installed according to metadata. The metadata can represent parameters utilized to create the virtual image and the parameters required to provision the virtual image on a target machine. The provisioning server can maintain the metadata for a virtual image in a virtual image record associated with the virtual image. The provisioning server can provision a virtual image to one or more target machines. To provision the virtual image, the provisioning server can copy the virtual image to a storage device on the one or more target machines and configure the target machine according to metadata in the associated virtual image record.

Abstract: A software provisioning environment can include several provisioning server for providing software provisioning. One of the several provisioning server can be configured to be a central provisioning server. The central provisioning server can be configured to maintain the provisioning objects required for the software provisioning. The central provisioning server can be configured to manage the software provisioning supported by additional provisioning servers in the environment. The central provisioning server can be configured to select the provisioning objects to be supported by each additional provisioning server.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for installation of management agents on target machines. In embodiments, a central management server can scan a managed network to identify different types and configurations of target machines. Different types of target machines may require different types of management agent software in order to invoke different types of management services, such as configuration management or performance monitoring services. The necessary types of management agent may depend, for instance, on the operating system and/or applications installed on individual targets. In embodiments, different types or classes of management agents can register or communicate with different types of remote management servers.

Abstract: In order to track actions performed by a package manager, a computing system can be configured to include a tagging tool. The tagging tool can be configured to cooperate with the package manager in order to determine and generate a history of the actions performed by the package manager. The history can include a description of the actions, the reasons why the actions were performed, and a list and description of the software programs, files, and software libraries that are affected by the actions.