Abstract: Methods and structure for utilizing a virtual Expansion ROM. One exemplary embodiment is a management device. The management device includes a memory, a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) link, and a processor. The memory stores Expansion Read-Only Memory (Expansion ROM) boot instructions for a host. The processor identifies devices in a PCIe hierarchy by transmitting PCIe enumeration requests via the PCIe link. The processor also generates a synthetic PCIe hierarchy that includes an added virtual Expansion ROM which is not present in the PCIe hierarchy, and provides responses describing the synthetic PCIe hierarchy to a host. Furthermore, the processor acquires PCIe read requests initiated by the host that are directed to the virtual Expansion ROM, and provides boot instructions to the host from the memory based on the PCIe read requests.

Abstract: Methods and structure for utilizing a virtual Expansion ROM. One exemplary embodiment is a management device. The management device includes a memory, a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) link, and a processor. The memory stores Expansion Read-Only Memory (Expansion ROM) boot instructions for a host. The processor identifies devices in a PCIe hierarchy by transmitting PCIe enumeration requests via the PCIe link. The processor also generates a synthetic PCIe hierarchy that includes an added virtual Expansion ROM which is not present in the PCIe hierarchy, and provides responses describing the synthetic PCIe hierarchy to a host. Furthermore, the processor acquires PCIe read requests initiated by the host that are directed to the virtual Expansion ROM, and provides boot instructions to the host from the memory based on the PCIe read requests.

Abstract: A method of remote booting over PCI Express using a synthetic remote boot capability is provided. A management host software system intercepts probe requests from a host and provided information required for a remote boot. The management host software system may include expansion ROM information to support different host architectures. A synthetic device booting capability may be shown to a host, including the expansion ROM information. Additional support for DHCP and TFTP may be provided.

Abstract: A method, a cluster system, and a computer-readable medium for distributing data packets addressed to at least one virtual address over a communication network using a protocol, which allows for at least some content of the data packet to be encrypted, to a multiplicity of service nodes. The method includes receiving incoming data packets addressed to a virtual address through a packet analyzer and identifying whether the incoming data packets are encrypted. Each encryption data packet is forwarded to a decryption module and a decrypted data packet is returned. Based on the decrypted data packet, a scheduling decision is made by a scheduling module. Scheduling data is then combined with the originally received encrypted data packet such that the encrypted data packet can be forwarded to one service node for further processing.

Abstract: A method for provisioning servers in a computer arrangement allows more than one administrator to utilize the servers and prevents the servers from being influenced by more than one administrator at the same time. The computer arrangement includes at least one server, at least one administrator operable to control the usage of the servers by making provisioning decisions, and a deployment server operable to provision the servers according to the provisioning decisions of the administrators. An administrator is required to exclusively reserve the server before the administration unit can use the server. This prevents the server from being used by two or more interfering administrators, meanwhile allowing a flexible assignment between servers and administrators.

Abstract: A computer arrangement for providing services to clients over a network includes: at least two servers, each server hosting at least one application, an automated administrator configured to automatically provision the servers to provide the services, and at least one network load balancer connected to the clients and the servers. The network load balancer is responsible for at least one of the services and is configured to gather state information on the state of the servers and/or the applications hosted on the servers and is operable to route incoming requests of clients to at least one of the servers. The network load balancer provides the automated administrator with the state information. The automated administrator provides the network load balancer with provisioning information regarding which servers are provisioned to provide the at least one service for which the network load balancer is responsible.

Abstract: A method, a cluster system, and a computer-readable medium for distributing data packets addressed to at least one virtual address over a communication network using a protocol, which allows for at least some content of the data packet to be encrypted, to a multiplicity of service nodes. The method includes receiving incoming data packets addressed to a virtual address through a packet analyzer and identifying whether the incoming data packets are encrypted. Each encryption data packet is forwarded to a decryption module and a decrypted data packet is returned. Based on the decrypted data packet, a scheduling decision is made by a scheduling module. Scheduling data is then combined with the originally received encrypted data packet such that the encrypted data packet can be forwarded to one service node for further processing.