Abstract: A computing device includes a read cache file to store a network driver, and a processor to execute the read cache file to run the network driver to connect the computing device to a communications network. A streamed base disk image is received from a server via the communications network that is used to boot the computing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for device authentication based on generating and displaying an optically scannable visual representation of a public portion of a hardware secured encryption key (EK) are described herein. A client certificate is encrypted with the public portion of the EK based on a scan of the displayed visual representation. A connection may be established between a computing device and a server using the encrypted client certificate and a private portion of the EK to authenticate the computing device. In some implementations, a request is received from a second computing device to access a first computing device, and includes data encrypted using a public portion of an EK acquired from a displayed optically scannable visual representation of the public portion of the EK. The second computing device is provided access to the first computing device based on decryption of the encrypted data using a private portion of the EK.

Abstract: A computer system is provided. The computer system includes a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to identify a message to a plug and play (PnP) manager of an operating system, the message comprising an identifier of a device to be configured by the PnP manager, determine whether the device is targeted for device identifier translation at least in part by determining whether the device satisfies one or more target device criteria, and replace the identifier of the device with a reference identifier different from the identifier of the device in response to a determination that the device is targeted for device identifier translation, the reference identifier being usable by the PnP manager to install or configure the device.

Abstract: A client device includes a memory and at least one processor configured to cooperate with the memory. The at least one processor receives a virtual disk change notification from a server, with the virtual disk change notification including a new configuration for a virtual disk image. At least one change to the virtual disk image is determined based on a comparison of the virtual disk image with the new configuration of the virtual disk image. The virtual disk image is modified based on the determined at least one change.

Abstract: A computer system is provided. The computer system includes a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to identify a message to a plug and play (PnP) manager of an operating system, the message comprising an identifier of a device to be configured by the PnP manager, determine whether the device is targeted for device identifier translation at least in part by determining whether the device satisfies one or more target device criteria, and replace the identifier of the device with a reference identifier different from the identifier of the device in response to a determination that the device is targeted for device identifier translation, the reference identifier being usable by the PnP manager to install or configure the device.

Abstract: A computing device includes a read cache file to store a network driver, and a processor to execute the read cache file to run the network driver to connect the computing device to a communications network. A streamed base disk image is received from a server via the communications network that is used to boot the computing device.

Abstract: A computing system includes a server to stream a base disk image over a communications network, and a client machine. The client machine includes a read cache to store preboot data including a network driver, and a processor coupled to the read cache. The processor initiates prebooting of the client machine using the preboot data, and after the network driver is running, receives the streamed base disk image from the server via the communications network to continue booting the client machine.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide systems and methods for streaming a virtual disk. A first virtual hard disk (VHDX) file can be converted into a read-only VHDX file on a hypervisor. A second VHDX file can be created as a snapshot of the read-only VHDX file on the hypervisor. Partition globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) of the second VHDX file can be updated to be different from those of the read-only VHDX file. A provisioning services server executing on the hypervisor can stream the second VHDX file as a virtual disk over a virtual network established by the hypervisor, by booting the second VHDX file over the virtual network.

Abstract: A computing system includes a server to stream a base disk image over a communications network, and a client machine. The client machine includes a read cache to store preboot data including a network driver, and a processor coupled to the read cache. The processor initiates prebooting of the client machine using the preboot data, and after the network driver is running, receives the streamed base disk image from the server via the communications network to continue booting the client machine.

Abstract: Methods and systems for device authentication based on generating and displaying an optically scannable visual representation of a public portion of a hardware secured encryption key (EK) are described herein. A client certificate is encrypted with the public portion of the EK based on a scan of the displayed visual representation. A connection may be established between a computing device and a server using the encrypted client certificate and a private portion of the EK to authenticate the computing device. In some implementations, a request is received from a second computing device to access a first computing device, and includes data encrypted using a public portion of an EK acquired from a displayed optically scannable visual representation of the public portion of the EK. The second computing device is provided access to the first computing device based on decryption of the encrypted data using a private portion of the EK.

Abstract: A client device includes a memory and at least one processor configured to cooperate with the memory. The at least one processor receives a virtual disk change notification from a server, with the virtual disk change notification including a new configuration for a virtual disk image. At least one change to the virtual disk image is determined based on a comparison of the virtual disk image with the new configuration of the virtual disk image. The virtual disk image is modified based on the determined at least one change.

Abstract: A client device includes a memory and a processor cooperating therewith to boot the client device and connect to a provisioning server via a network. The processor receives a streaming virtual disk image from the provisioning server based on a virtual disk configuration, receives a virtual disk change notification from the provisioning server, and determines changes to the virtual disk configuration based on the virtual disk change notification. The memory and the processor cooperate with the provisioning server to change the streaming virtual disk image based on the determined changes to the virtual disk configuration and without rebooting the client device.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide systems and methods for streaming a virtual disk. A first virtual hard disk (VHDX) file can be converted into a read-only VHDX file on a hypervisor. A second VHDX file can be created as a snapshot of the read-only VHDX file on the hypervisor. Partition globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) of the second VHDX file can be updated to be different from those of the read-only VHDX file. A provisioning services server executing on the hypervisor can stream the second VHDX file as a virtual disk over a virtual network established by the hypervisor, by booting the second VHDX file over the virtual network.

Abstract: A computing device may include at least one memory and a processor cooperating therewith to receive a streaming base disk image from a base disk on a provisioning server over a network upon booting up the computing device, and operate a machine session on the computing device from the streaming base disk image. Furthermore, while the machine session operates on the computing device from the streaming base disk image, the processor may further cooperate with the at least one memory to download and store the base disk image over the network from the provisioning server to a persistent read cache in the at least one memory that persists on the client device after rebooting, and store modifications to the streaming base disk image in a non-persistent write cache in the at least one memory that does not persist on the client device after rebooting.

Abstract: A client device includes a memory and a processor cooperating therewith to boot the client device and connect to a provisioning server via a network. The processor receives a streaming virtual disk image from the provisioning server based on a virtual disk configuration, receives a virtual disk change notification from the provisioning server, and determines changes to the virtual disk configuration based on the virtual disk change notification. The memory and the processor cooperate with the provisioning server to change the streaming virtual disk image based on the determined changes to the virtual disk configuration and without rebooting the client device.

Abstract: A computing device may include at least one memory and a processor cooperating therewith to receive a streaming base disk image from a base disk on a provisioning server over a network upon booting up the computing device, and operate a machine session on the computing device from the streaming base disk image. Furthermore, while the machine session operates on the computing device from the streaming base disk image, the processor may further cooperate with the at least one memory to download and store the base disk image over the network from the provisioning server to a persistent read cache in the at least one memory that persists on the client device after rebooting, and store modifications to the streaming base disk image in a non-persistent write cache in the at least one memory that does not persist on the client device after rebooting.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for provisioning a common virtual disk to both a physical and a virtual computing machine. These methods and systems can include creating a virtual disk that has binding information for both a paravirtual network interface card and a physical network interface card so that, either a virtual machine having a paravirtual network interface card, or a physical machine having a physical network interface card, may boot from the created virtual disk. Creation of the virtual disk can include exposing the paravirtual network interface card to a physical machine so that an installer program may bind to both the paravirtual network interface card and the physical network interface card.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing a provisioned machine that persists across a client machine reboot. For example, a bootstrap function executing on a client machine may identify a delta disk stored on a physical disk of the client machine prior to booting up the operating system of the client machine. The bootstrap function may establish the path to the delta disk during the boot up of the operating system of the client machine. A provisioned machine may then be established based on the delta disk and the remote base disk to form a virtual disk of the operating system. Subsequently, the client machine may shut down, reboot and re-establish the provisioned machine based on the delta disk stored locally on the client machine.

Abstract: A system for modifying a virtual disk to provide network interface card (NIC) teaming capabilities to a virtual disk. The system can include a virtual disk that has access to one or more NICs. In some instances, the NICs are included in a NIC team that is also available to the virtual disk. A teaming module executing on a computer can identify the NIC team and responsively obtain a media access control (MAC) address of the NIC team. In response to obtaining the NIC team MAC address, the teaming module can obtain a network boot MAC address that was used to PXE boot the virtual disk. The teaming module can then replace the NIC team MAC address of each NIC in the NIC team with the obtained network boot MAC address. The system then boots from the virtual disk that has the modified NIC team configuration.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for provisioning a common virtual disk to both a physical and a virtual computing machine. These methods and systems can include creating a virtual disk that has binding information for both a paravirtual network interface card and a physical network interface card so that, either a virtual machine having a paravirtual network interface card, or a physical machine having a physical network interface card, may boot from the created virtual disk. Creation of the virtual disk can include exposing the paravirtual network interface card to a physical machine so that an installer program may bind to both the paravirtual network interface card and the physical network interface card.