Abstract: A computerized method for collecting error data and providing error reports relating to occurrences of errors of software applications installed on one or more computing devices is disclosed. Data for describing software applications and identifying software application errors is collected from the computing devices and stored in a catalog. Data associated with error occurrences is obtained and combined with related data being stored in the catalog. A report is generated based on the error occurrences and related catalog data.

Abstract: A computerized method for collecting error data and providing error reports relating to occurrences of errors of software applications installed on one or more computing devices is disclosed. Data for describing software applications and identifying software application errors is collected from the computing devices and stored in a catalog. Data associated with error occurrences is obtained and combined with related data being stored in the catalog. A report is generated based on the error occurrences and related catalog data.

Abstract: A computerized method for collecting error data and providing error reports relating to occurrences of errors of software applications installed on one or more computing devices is disclosed. Data for describing software applications and identifying software application errors is collected from the computing devices and stored in a catalog. Data associated with error occurrences is obtained and combined with related data being stored in the catalog. A report is generated based on the error occurrences and related catalog data.

Abstract: A method for updating a catalog of hardware device and software object identifiers by identifying unknown identifiers and categorizing each of the unknown identifiers. The method further provides the categorized identifiers to a community of users for review and receives comments from the community of users on the provided categorization. The method further determines if the categorized identifiers should be recategorized based upon the received comments. Another method performs a search for an entity associated with an unknown identifier, determines a likely entity associated with the unknown identifier, and verifies the correctness of such determined likely entity. Another method generates a catalog of computer system components, receives information regarding the identity of a computer system component from at least two different sources, and determines the identity of the computer system component based upon the reputation of the sources of the received information.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and apparatus are provided for collecting information gathered by an instrumentation mechanism for transport to an information collection facility. In one embodiment, the information that is collected is defined by a configuration file. An application may examine the configuration file, execute one or more queries specified by the configuration file, and write the data which is collected to one or more data structures employed by a transport mechanism in transferring information to the information collection facility. The process of collecting the information may occur periodically, such as nightly. The configuration file may be periodically updated to reflect new information that is to be collected.

Abstract: A method for updating a catalog of hardware device and software object identifiers by identifying unknown identifiers and categorizing each of the unknown identifiers. The method further provides the categorized identifiers to a community of users for review and receives comments from the community of users on the provided categorization. The method further determines if the categorized identifiers should be recategorized based upon the received comments. Another method performs a search for an entity associated with an unknown identifier, determines a likely entity associated with the unknown identifier, and verifies the correctness of such determined likely entity. Another method generates a catalog of computer system components, receives information regarding the identity of a computer system component from at least two different sources, and determines the identity of the computer system component based upon the reputation of the sources of the received information.

Abstract: A computerized method for collecting error data and providing error reports relating to occurrences of errors of software applications installed on one or more computing devices is disclosed. Data for describing software applications and identifying software application errors is collected from the computing devices and stored in a catalog. Data associated with error occurrences is obtained and combined with related data being stored in the catalog. A report is generated based on the error occurrences and related catalog data.

Abstract: Reconciling an installed software application with a software license. A discovery agent is deployed to each computing device at a user site, and each deployed discovery agent identifies information associated with access to the installed software application on the respective computing device. The identified information is aggregated to determine a present utilization of the installed software application on the computing devices at the user site. Usage rights associated with a software license for the software application is correlated with the present utilization of the software application. A resulting utilization is created as a function of the correlation and a report is provided indicating the resulting utilization.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and apparatus are provided for collecting information gathered by an instrumentation mechanism for transport to an information collection facility. In one embodiment, the information that is collected is defined by a configuration file. An application may examine the configuration file, execute one or more queries specified by the configuration file, and write the data which is collected to one or more data structures employed by a transport mechanism in transferring information to the information collection facility. The process of collecting the information may occur periodically, such as nightly. The configuration file may be periodically updated to reflect new information that is to be collected.