Abstract: Rendering images on a video graphics adapter, the method including receiving in the video graphics adapter a video graphics command including a window identification (‘WID’) value and simultaneously, in accordance with the video graphics command and in dependence upon the WID value, rendering video frame data to a frame buffer and WID data to a WID buffer. Typical embodiments include configuring the video graphics command to include the WID value. In typical embodiments, the WID value represents an index to a pixel type in a window attribute table.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are provided for peer-to-peer computer software installation. Embodiments include receiving, by an observing install agent running on an observing host from a test install agent running on a test host, performance information describing the performance of software installed on the test host; determining, by the observing install agent, whether the performance information meets performance criteria for the observing host; and if the performance information meets the performance criteria for the observing host, installing the software on the observing host. In some embodiments, determining, by the observing install agent, whether the performance information meets performance criteria for the observing host is carried out by determining, whether the performance information meets performance criteria for the observing host in dependence upon a rule.

Abstract: A method of communicating with a remote site on a network by establishing different user personas respectively associated with different remote sites on the network, each user persona containing one or more attributes used in accessing the remote sites, and then accessing a specific one of the remote sites using the attributes in a specific one of the user personas that is associated with the specific remote site. The specific remote site can be associated with the specific user persona by a universal resource locator (URL), e.g., for web sites on the Internet, and the accessing is automatically performed in response to matching of the URL of the specific remote site to the URL associated with the specific user persona. A default persona can be used for any remote site having no specifically associated user persona.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions in a data processing system for managing window identifiers for different layers. A request is received to create or change a window, wherein the received request includes a set of attributes. A determination is made in response to this request as to whether a shareable window identifier is present in the layer, wherein the sharable window identifier has correct attributes matching the set of attributes for the window. This determination is made if the request is made to create a window. If a shareable window identifier is absent, a determination is made as to whether a free window identifier is present in the first layer. A determination is made as to whether a free window identifier plane is present in another layer if a free window identifier is absent in the first layer. If a free window identifier plane is present, the free window identifier plane is assigned to the layer for use to create the window.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing colors in a color table used in displaying graphics. A request is received for a color map. A color map location is set in the color table, wherein the color map location has a starting point. An identification of the starting point for the color map is placed in an entry in a window attribute table. The colors for the color map are loaded into the color table. The starting point of the color map at the color map location is identified using the window attribute table.