Abstract: In a system, a communication device capable of exchanging messages through a local network, such messages being exchanged according to a given network protocol; a discovery agent capable of sending a first message according to the network protocol through the communication device, the first message comprising an identification data and a first message content satisfying a second protocol, and the second protocol implying a response from another computer to the first message; an analysis agent capable of recovering a second message received in response to first message, and of extracting from the second message a second message content according to the second protocol, the second protocol implying a further response to be sent to the second message; and a controller capable of operating said discovery agent and the analysis agent over a selected period of time, while refraining the computer system from sending a response to the second message.

Abstract: A method for configuration of a program with a plurality of configuration variables to operate on a computer system that includes obtaining a plurality of priority semantics for the plurality of configuration variables, wherein the plurality of priority semantics are heterogeneous, assigning a value for each of the plurality of configuration variables based on the plurality of priority semantics, and configuring the program using the value to operate on the computer system.

Abstract: A method for providing strong security in an insecure network, involving creating a payload associated with a data packet for transmission by a sending node, determining whether the payload is associated with a unicast data packet, if the payload is associated with the unicast data packet encrypting the payload using a private key associated with the sending node to obtain a unicast encrypted payload, encrypting the unicast encrypted payload using a public key associated with a receiving node to obtain a double-encrypted payload, and transmitting the data packet including the double-encrypted payload to the receiving node over the insecure network.

Abstract: A method for configuring a switch with a switch controller that includes obtaining a switch program, wherein the switch program comprises a plurality of instructions written using a switch control language, and executing the switch program on the switch controller, wherein executing the switch program includes for each instruction in the plurality of instructions determining a switch specified by the instruction, sending the instruction to the switch, and configuring the switch based on the instruction.

Abstract: A method for configuration of a program with a plurality of configuration variables to operate on a computer system that includes obtaining a plurality of priority semantics for the plurality of configuration variables, wherein the plurality of priority semantics are heterogeneous, assigning a value for each of the plurality of configuration variables based on the plurality of priority semantics, and configuring the program using the value to operate on the computer system.

Abstract: A method for configuring a switch with a switch controller that includes obtaining a switch program, wherein the switch program comprises a plurality of instructions written using a switch control language, and executing the switch program on the switch controller, wherein executing the switch program includes for each instruction in the plurality of instructions determining a switch specified by the instruction, sending the instruction to the switch, and configuring the switch based on the instruction.

Abstract: A method for providing strong security in an insecure network, involving creating a payload associated with a data packet for transmission by a sending node, determining whether the payload is associated with a unicast data packet, if the payload is associated with the unicast data packet encrypting the payload using a private key associated with the sending node to obtain a unicast encrypted payload, encrypting the unicast encrypted payload using a public key associated with a receiving node to obtain a double-encrypted payload, and transmitting the data packet including the double-encrypted payload to the receiving node over the insecure network.

Abstract: A computer system, comprising a communication device capable of exchanging messages through a local network, such messages being exchanged according to a given network protocol; a discovery agent capable of sending a first message according to said network protocol through said communication device, said first message comprising an identification data and a first message content satisfying a second protocol, and said second protocol implying a response from another computer to said first message; an analysis agent capable of recovering a second message received in response to first message, and of extracting from said second message a second message content according to said second protocol, said second protocol implying a further response to be sent to said second message; and a controller capable of operating said discovery agent and said analysis agent over a selected period of time, while refraining the computer system from sending a response to said second message.