Abstract: A system is described for downloading server-based content to peers in a P2P network. The server-based content can be partitioned and different peers can be given priority for downloading the different parts. A client on each peer can view what content is available on each of the other peers as well as what content is available on a virtual peer, which represents content on the server and only makes content that exists on the server and not on any peers available for download. Consequently, a client on a peer requesting to download the content can download the content from the peers and the virtual peer based on a file sharing protocol, such as BitTorrent.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for capturing and reproducing the full state of an application session. An application is captured by performing a dump of various components of the session and storing the components in an application session capture. Captured components include a memory image, CPU register values, open handles to kernel objects, and loaded libraries. The session is reproduced when requested based on the session capture. In cases where locations or references to certain items (e.g., memory locations, open handle references, library addresses, etc.) are different when the session is restored, a driver is used to remap the old locations or references to the new locations or references.

Abstract: Techniques are described for delivering an application to a computing device by dynamically creating an application storage volume, such as a virtual disk, based on a minimal subset of application files downloaded from a remote server and attaching the virtual disk to the computing device in order to make the application executable from the virtual disk. The minimal subset of files access to at least some portion of the functionality of the application. Dynamically creating the virtual disk can be completed quickly and the minimal subset of application files is smaller than the full size of the application, which improves the speed of application delivery to the device. After the virtual disk is attached, the user can begin working on the application, while the remaining files are streamed to the virtual disk both as an ongoing background process and in response to on-demand requests, transparently from the user's perspective.

Abstract: A management agent operates transparently in the background on each endpoint computing device that needs to be managed. The agent performs a static analysis of the system on the endpoint computing device on which it is operating in order to capture the applications that have been installed on the endpoint device. The static analysis is performed after the applications have been installed on the endpoint device and therefore does not require installing the application on any dedicated staging machine, nor any recording of the pre-installation state. The post-installation static analysis involves steps that are used to determine all of the necessary components that comprise the application, which can then be packaged together and managed as individual application packages.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for packaging and deploying applications using minimal and maximal component sets. A minimal set of application components that includes at least the necessary components for launching the application is first downloaded to an endpoint device from a central server. The application is launched on the endpoint from the minimal set. If the application requests a missing component that is not available on the endpoint, the missing component is requested and delivered on-demand from a maximal set located on the server, where the maximal set contains all possible application components. The application is suspended during the download of the missing component. After the missing component is downloaded, the application is resumed, having access to the missing component on the endpoint.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide ways to optimize application minimal sets based on the behavior of users. Described embodiments further provide ways to produce a minimal set that is optimized based on various attributes regarding the target endpoint onto which the minimal set is to be deployed, such as the target endpoint's operating system, applications installed on the target endpoint, hardware on the target endpoint, or profile information regarding the target endpoint's user. Also, described embodiments provide ways to prioritize the order of deployment when multiple minimal sets for various applications are downloaded to a target endpoint.

Abstract: A system is described for downloading server-based content to peers in a P2P network. The server-based content can be partitioned and different peers can be given priority for downloading the different parts. A client on each peer can view what content is available on each of the other peers as well as what content is available on a virtual peer, which represents content on the server and only makes content that exists on the server and not on any peers available for download. Consequently, a client on a peer requesting to download the content can download the content from the peers and the virtual peer based on a file sharing protocol, such as BitTorrent.

Abstract: Techniques are described for segregating a monolithic computing device that contains many installed applications into separate application storage volumes that can be attached or detached from the computing device as needed. Once the monolithic device has been segregated, the application storage volumes can be managed remotely from a management server and can be enabled or disabled on the device based on instructions from an administrator. Additionally, the administrator is enabled to select which application storage volumes are migrated during an operating system (OS) upgrade on the computing device.

Abstract: Techniques are described for segregating a monolithic computing device that contains many installed applications into separate application storage volumes that can be attached or detached from the computing device as needed. Once the monolithic device has been segregated, the application storage volumes can be managed remotely from a management server and can be enabled or disabled on the device based on instructions from an administrator. Additionally, the administrator is enabled to select which application storage volumes are migrated during an operating system (OS) upgrade on the computing device.

Abstract: Techniques are described for delivering an application to a computing device by dynamically creating an application storage volume, such as a virtual disk, based on a minimal subset of application files downloaded from a remote server and attaching the virtual disk to the computing device in order to make the application executable from the virtual disk. The minimal subset of files access to at least some portion of the functionality of the application. Dynamically creating the virtual disk can be completed quickly and the minimal subset of application files is smaller than the full size of the application, which improves the speed of application delivery to the device. After the virtual disk is attached, the user can begin working on the application, while the remaining files are streamed to the virtual disk both as an ongoing background process and in response to on-demand requests, transparently from the user's perspective.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide ways to optimize application minimal sets based on the behavior of users. Described embodiments further provide ways to produce a minimal set that is optimized based on various attributes regarding the target endpoint onto which the minimal set is to be deployed, such as the target endpoint's operating system, applications installed on the target endpoint, hardware on the target endpoint, or profile information regarding the target endpoint's user. Also, described embodiments provide ways to prioritize the order of deployment when multiple minimal sets for various applications are downloaded to a target endpoint.

Abstract: Techniques are described for segregating a monolithic computing device that contains many installed applications into separate application storage volumes that can be attached or detached from the computing device as needed. Once the monolithic device has been segregated, the application storage volumes can be managed remotely from a management server and can be enabled or disabled on the device based on instructions from an administrator. Additionally, the administrator is enabled to select which application storage volumes are migrated during an operating system (OS) upgrade on the computing device.

Abstract: Techniques are described for segregating a monolithic computing device that contains many installed applications into separate application storage volumes that can be attached or detached from the computing device as needed. Once the monolithic device has been segregated, the application storage volumes can be managed remotely from a management server and can be enabled or disabled on the device based on instructions from an administrator. Additionally, the administrator is enabled to select which application storage volumes are migrated during an operating system (OS) upgrade on the computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for capturing and reproducing the full state of an application session. An application is captured by performing a dump of various components of the session and storing the components in an application session capture. Captured components include a memory image, CPU register values, open handles to kernel objects, and loaded libraries. The session is reproduced when requested based on the session capture. In cases where locations or references to certain items (e.g., memory locations, open handle references, library addresses, etc.) are different when the session is restored, a driver is used to remap the old locations or references to the new locations or references.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for packaging and deploying applications using minimal and maximal component sets. A minimal set of application components that includes at least the necessary components for launching the application is first downloaded to an endpoint device from a central server. The application is launched on the endpoint from the minimal set. If the application requests a missing component that is not available on the endpoint, the missing component is requested and delivered on-demand from a maximal set located on the server, where the maximal set contains all possible application components. The application is suspended during the download of the missing component. After the missing component is downloaded, the application is resumed, having access to the missing component on the endpoint.

Abstract: A management agent operates transparently in the background on each endpoint computing device that needs to be managed. The agent performs a static analysis of the system on the endpoint computing device on which it is operating in order to capture the applications that have been installed on the endpoint device. The static analysis is performed after the applications have been installed on the endpoint device and therefore does not require installing the application on any dedicated staging machine, nor any recording of the pre-installation state. The post-installation static analysis involves steps that are used to determine all of the necessary components that comprise the application, which can then be packaged together and managed as individual application packages.