Abstract: In a network, a set of machines communicate pairwise, each conditionally adjusting messages in response to its own local state, and each in response to statistical methods conditionally propagating those messages, with the effect that problems with that network, or with a subset of its machines, are reported to a receiver/server. Only a substantially constant number of reports are made to the receiver/server, even when there are a substantial number of such machines able to detect that problem. When a problem is reported, a similar technique causes the machines to collectively evaluate and report suggested causes for that problem. Messages are propagated from each machine to another using locally random global locality. The machines in the network, in response to statistical techniques, organize hierarchically in O(log n) time, where n is the number of machines in the network, substantially without any requirement for nonlocal message exchange.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for centralized policy management of large-scale networks (221) of computational devices is disclosed. The apparatus includes a number of distributed clients (400) run on registered computers (201-203), gathering policy advisories (401) and reporting (405) relevance (403) to a system administrator (224). The system administrator may view the relevant messages (505) through a management interface (500) and deploy suggested actions to distributed clients (503), where the actions are executed to apply the solutions of the advisories (408).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for centralized policy management of large-scale networks (221) of computational devices is disclosed. The apparatus includes a number of distributed clients (400) run on registered computers (201-203), gathering policy advisories (401) and reporting (405) relevance (403) to a system administrator (224). The system administrator may view the relevant messages (505) through a management interface (500) and deploy suggested actions to distributed clients (503), where the actions are executed to apply the solutions of the advisories (408).

Abstract: A console for an enterprise suite is disclosed. The enterprise suite addresses the increasingly complex problem of keeping critical systems updated, compatible, and free of security holes. It uses Fixlet® technology to identify vulnerable computers on the network and then allows authorized personnel to correct problems across any subset of the network with a few simple mouse-clicks. The enterprise suite helps keep the networked computers updated and properly patched, all from a central console which, along with supporting architectural enhancements, is the subject matter of this document. The invention allows rolling out a security patch in minutes instead of months, thus allowing an administrator to stay ahead of potential hacker attacks. The invention also makes it possible to track the progress of each computer as updates are applied, thus making it simple to gauge the level of compliance across the entire enterprise.

Abstract: A console for an enterprise suite is disclosed. The enterprise suite addresses the increasingly complex problem of keeping critical systems updated, compatible, and free of security holes. It uses Fixlet® technology to identify vulnerable computers on the network and then allows authorized personnel to correct problems across any subset of the network with a few simple mouse-clicks. The enterprise suite helps keep the networked computers updated and properly patched, all from a central console which, along with supporting architectural enhancements, is the subject matter of this document. The invention allows rolling out a security patch in minutes instead of months, thus allowing an administrator to stay ahead of potential hacker attacks. The invention also makes it possible to track the progress of each computer as updates are applied, thus making it simple to gauge the level of compliance across the entire enterprise.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for centralized policy management of large-scale networks (221) of computational devices is disclosed. The apparatus includes a number of distributed clients (400) run on registered computers (201-203), gathering policy advisories (401) and reporting (405) relevance (403) to a system administrator (224). The system administrator may view the relevant messages (505) through a management interface (500) and deploy suggested actions to distributed clients (503), where the actions are executed to apply the solutions of the advisories (408).