Abstract: The technology described herein secures input data during communication between an input device and an input destination, such as an application or container. In an aspect, the input device is a keyboard. The technology described herein may enable a keyboard to communicate in a standard mode and a secure mode. In the standard mode, the keyboard communicates like currently available keyboards. In secure mode, the keyboard may provide several security enhancements including the encryption of keystrokes with decryption occurring at the input destination. The security enhancements can include building a secure communication channel between the keyboard and the input destination. The security enhancements can include an attestation to the user that the keyboard is operating in secure mode.

Abstract: Software application state synchronization across computing environments to an alternate software application is provided. A user working in a first application executing at a first state on a first computing environment, changes to work at a second computing environment. The user proceeds to work in an alternate application, which executes from the same state on the second computing environment. In response to receipt of a synchronization trigger it is determined that the alternate application is installed on the second computing environment. A synchronization file including a data structure storing first application state information is received from the first computing environment. The alternate application is launched for execution on the second computing environment, and at least a portion of the state information of the first application is applied in the second computing environment for synchronizing execution of the alternate application with the state of the first application.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer-readable storage mediums are described herein for software application state synchronization across computing environments. A user working in an application at a first state may change computing environments and open the application in a second computing environment at the same state. The first instance of the software application executing on the first computing environment is locked and application specific state information including memory state information scanned from runtime memory or persistent memory, and execution state information from render commands intercepted by an operating system filter, are written to a synchronization file that is stored in the memory system. Application agnostic information is also written to the synchronization file.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for imaging an operating system (OS) by creating a new OS image from an installer OS image copy maintained in durable storage. During the OS imaging, only a subset of OS files from the installer image are fully copied into the new OS image. Placeholder files are created for other files not included in the initial subset of OS files which were determined to be critical for booting of the OS and/or a minimum set of OS functionality. The placeholder files are distinguished from sparse files and are inaccurately presented by the file system as being full copies of the underlying installer OS image. The data for the placeholder files is only copied when requested, on demand, and/or when there is available/unused processing bandwidth that is subsequently identified after rebooting the computing system with the new OS image.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for imaging an operating system (OS) by creating a new OS image from an installer OS image copy maintained in durable storage. During the OS imaging, only a subset of OS files from the installer image are fully copied into the new OS image. Placeholder files are created for other files not included in the initial subset of OS files which were determined to be critical for booting of the OS and/or a minimum set of OS functionality. The placeholder files are distinguished from sparse files and are inaccurately presented by the file system as being full copies of the underlying installer OS image. The data for the placeholder files is only copied when requested, on demand, and/or when there is available/unused processing bandwidth that is subsequently identified after rebooting the computing system with the new OS image.

Abstract: Technologies are disclosed for redirecting input/output (“I/O”) requests to virtual hard disks (“VHDs”) to improve network performance and data redundancy. More particularly, files can be encapsulated in remote VHDs and accessed in such a way that the files appear to a local operating system and any local applications to be residing locally. Furthermore, I/O requests redirected to files encapsulated in VHDs may also be redirected to one or more additional VHDs for data redundancy. The redirected I/O requests may be transmitted simultaneously but separately to the additional VHDs in a split stream.

Abstract: Technologies are disclosed for redirecting input/output (“I/O”) requests to virtual hard disks (“VHDs”) to improve network performance and data redundancy. More particularly, files can be encapsulated in remote VHDs and accessed in such a way that the files appear to a local operating system and any local applications to be residing locally. Furthermore, I/O requests redirected to files encapsulated in VHDs may also be redirected to one or more additional VHDs for data redundancy. The redirected I/O requests may be transmitted simultaneously but separately to the additional VHDs in a split stream.

Abstract: File resources that are most likely to be used on a target computer are proactively cached, so that the resources are available before they are needed. This greatly reduces or eliminates associated user wait times. It is determined which file resources are most likely to be used, the cost of transmitting them to the cache, the cost of storing them in the cache and the amount of cache space available. Based on a weighted balancing analysis of factors such as these, specific file resources are proactively streamed for use on the target computer. The determination as to which resources are most likely to be used can be based on a variety of factors, such as usage patterns, schedule based information, user and group based information, target computer and network information, etc.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the invention permit a virtualization application to interact with a SuperFetch feature of an operating system so that on creation of a virtualization layer the SuperFetch feature is provided the opportunity to act on the newly available file system objects of the virtualization layer. Further, when the virtualization layer is removed, embodiments in accordance with the invention remove the file system objects associated with the virtualization layer from utilization by the SuperFetch feature.

Abstract: The inventions relate generally to computer systems having facilities for providing virtual portions of file systems and configuration settings to applications. More particularly, the inventions relate to computer systems that provide a layer organization for files and configuration settings that can be overlaid on top of an operating system. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: The inventions relate generally to computer systems having facilities for providing virtual portions of file systems and configuration settings to applications. More particularly, the inventions relate to computer systems that provide a layer organization for files and configuration settings that can be overlaid on top of an operating system, and can later delete the layer organization to restore the computer systems to a clean state. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: The inventions relate generally to computer systems having facilities for providing virtual portions of file systems and configuration settings to applications. More particularly, the inventions relate to computer systems that provide a layer organization for files and configuration settings that can be overlaid on top of an operating system. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: The claimed inventions relate generally to computer systems having facilities for providing virtual portions of file systems and configuration settings to applications. More particularly, the claimed inventions relate to methods of capturing software packages using layered computing systems and software package products produced by those methods.

Abstract: The inventions relate generally to computer systems having facilities for providing virtual portions of file systems and configuration setting to applications. More particularly, the inventions relate to methods of capturing software packages using layered computing systems and software package products produced by those methods. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: The inventions relate generally to computer systems having facilities for providing virtual portions of file systems and configuration settings to applications. More particularly, the inventions relate to computer systems that provide a layer organization for files and configuration settings that can be overlaid on top of an operating system, and can later delete the layer organization to restore the computer systems to a clean state. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: The inventions relate generally to computer systems having facilities for providing virtual portions of file systems and configuration settings to applications. More particularly, the inventions relate to computer systems that provide a layer organization for files and configuration settings that can be overlaid on top of an operating system. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.