Abstract: Novel autonomous self-watering containers for growing plants and soil and hydrogel mixture therefor. The novel self-watering containers are filled with the specific soil and hydrogel mixture and filled with water. The soil and hydrogel mixture absorbs the water and slowly releases it to water the plants planted in the mixture over the next several weeks, requiring no supervision, interaction, or maintenance with the container. The self-watering container and soil and hydrogel mixture save water and labor costs associated with the required frequent maintenance of current plant growing systems.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to trusted platform module (TPM) unification in a trusted computing environment and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for trusted platform module data harmonization. In one embodiment of the invention, a TPM log harmonization method can include designating both a single master TPM for a master node among multiple nodes, and also a multiplicity of subsidiary TPMs for remaining ones of the nodes. The method further can include extending the single master TPM with a measurement representing a rendezvous operation for the nodes.

Abstract: A method for interlocking a plurality of servers to a server system is disclosed. The method comprises assigning an identifier to each of the plurality of servers, wherein the identifier associates each of the plurality of servers to the server system, thereby defining a plurality of interlocked servers.

Abstract: An aggregated server blade system includes a plurality of individual server blades and a management module which can be designated as a bootable device. A boot list maintained and executed in each server blade includes a management module entry in its list of bootable devices. In response to the management module entry being selected or otherwise made active as the bootable device for a particular blade, an alternative bootable-devices list maintained on the management module is referenced and the boot process proceeds according to the alternative list.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for glyphword-based security. Embodiments include establishing a glyphword comprising a plurality of glyphs; and creating a plurality of glyphsheets wherein each glyphsheet includes one or more glyphs included in the established glyphword and one or more glyphs not included in the established glyphword; and for each glyphsheet: presenting to a user the glyphsheet; receiving from the user at least one selection of a glyph included in the glyphsheet; determining whether the glyphsheet is the last glyphsheet if the glyph selected by the user is not included in the glyphs of the glyphword; and providing access to a resource if the glyphsheet is the last glyphsheet.

Abstract: An aggregated server blade system includes a plurality of individual server blades and a management module which can be designated as a bootable device. A boot list maintained and executed in each server blade includes a management module entry in its list of bootable devices. In response to the management module entry being selected or otherwise made active as the bootable device for a particular blade, an alternative bootable-devices list maintained on the management module is referenced and the boot process proceeds according to the alternative list.

Abstract: A flash memory is provided that includes a primary flash bank and a secondary flash bank. The primary flash bank includes CRTM logic and BIOS logic and the secondary flash bank comprises a backup copy of the CRTM logic and the BIOS logic. A switching mechanism is configured to selectively activate the primary flash bank or the secondary flash bank.

Abstract: A method and system for a failover management module for a server blade chassis. A virtual out-of-band network connects management modules in different server blade chassis. Upon a detection of a failure of the management module(s) in a first server blade chassis, a management module in a second server blade chassis takes over control of the first server blade chassis.

Abstract: A system for obtaining location information of a server. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention cause a node to obtain correlation of a first address of at least one target server with a second address of the at least one target server based on the second address of the at least one target server and a plurality of addresses similar in type to the first address. Embodiments further retrieve the correlation from the node. As a result, a client may access the correlated location information and communicate directly with the target server.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to boot ROM handling and provide a method, system and computer program product for optimized boot ROM handling for I/O devices. In one embodiment of the invention, a ROM scan area optimization method can be provided. The method can include pre-processing multiple boot ROM images to determine memory space requirements in the ROM scan area for all of the boot ROM images. The method further can include partitioning the ROM scan area into multiple, different static portions and at least one dynamic paged portion. Finally, the method can include generating an optimal arrangement of the boot ROM images defining placement of some of the boot ROM images in corresponding ones of the static portions, and others of the boot ROM images in the dynamic paged portion.

Abstract: An aggregated server blade system includes a plurality of individual server blades and a management module which can be designated as a bootable device. A boot list maintained and executed in each server blade includes a management module entry in its list of bootable devices. In response to the management module entry being selected or otherwise made active as the bootable device for a particular blade, an alternative bootable-devices list maintained on the management module is referenced and the boot process proceeds according to the alternative list.

Abstract: A method and system for load balancing switch modules in a server system and a computer system utilizing the same is disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises assigning each of a plurality of servers to a switch module of a plurality of switch modules, such that a number of servers assigned to each of the plurality of switch modules is substantially equal. In a second aspect, a computer system comprises a plurality of servers coupled to a plurality of switch modules, a management module, and a load balancing mechanism coupled to the management module, wherein the load balancing mechanism assigns each of the plurality of servers to a switch module of the plurality of switch modules, such that a number of servers assigned to each of the plurality of switch modules is substantially equal.

Abstract: A system for interlocking a plurality of servers to a server system is disclosed. In a first aspect, a computer system comprises a plurality of servers, a management module coupled to each of the plurality of servers, and an interlock mechanism coupled to the management module, wherein the interlock mechanism assigns to each of the plurality of servers an identifier that associates each of the plurality of servers to the server system, thereby defining a plurality of interlocked servers.

Abstract: A flash memory is provided that includes a primary flash bank and a secondary flash bank. The primary flash bank includes CRTM logic and BIOS logic and the secondary flash bank comprises a backup copy of the CRTM logic and the BIOS logic. A switching mechanism is configured to selectively activate the primary flash bank or the secondary flash bank.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for glyphword-based security. Embodiments include establishing a glyphword comprising a plurality of glyphs; and creating a plurality of glyphsheets wherein each glyphsheet includes one or more glyphs included in the established glyphword and one or more glyphs not included in the established glyphword; and for each glyphsheet: presenting to a user the glyphsheet; receiving from the user at least one selection of a glyph included in the glyphsheet; determining whether the glyphsheet is the last glyphsheet if the glyph selected by the user is not included in the glyphs of the glyphword; and providing access to a resource if the glyphsheet is the last glyphsheet.

Abstract: An aggregated server blade system includes a plurality of individual server blades and a management module which can be designated as a bootable device. A boot list maintained and executed in each server blade includes a management module entry in its list of bootable devices. In response to the management module entry being selected or otherwise made active as the bootable device for a particular blade, an alternative bootable-devices list maintained on the management module is referenced and the boot process proceeds according to the alternative list.

Abstract: An aggregated server blade system includes a plurality of individual server blades and a management module which can be designated as a bootable device. A boot list maintained and executed in each server blade includes a management module entry in its list of bootable devices. In response to the management module entry being selected or otherwise made active as the bootable device for a particular blade, an alternative bootable-devices list maintained on the management module is referenced and the boot process proceeds according to the alternative list.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to boot ROM handling and provide a method, system and computer program product for optimized boot ROM handling for I/O devices. In one embodiment of the invention, a ROM scan area optimization method can be provided. The method can include pre-processing multiple boot ROM images to determine memory space requirements in the ROM scan area for all of the boot ROM images. The method further can include partitioning the ROM scan area into multiple, different static portions and at least one dynamic paged portion. Finally, the method can include generating an optimal arrangement of the boot ROM images defining placement of some of the boot ROM images in corresponding ones of the static portions, and others of the boot ROM images in the dynamic paged portion.

Abstract: A method, software, and system for loading data from disk include comparing a current sequence of disk I/O requests to data indicative of a previous disk I/O request sequence. Responsive to detecting a match between the current disk I/O sequence and the previous disk I/O sequence, a copy of data blocks accessed during the I/O sequence is stored in a contiguous portion of the disk. Responsive to a subsequent request to data in the disk sequence, the request is mapped to and serviced from the sequential portion of the disk. In one embodiment, the disk sequence represents a boot sequence of the system.

Abstract: A method and system for method of removing a node from a multi-node computer. The node receives a system management interrupt (SMI), resulting in a quiescenting of only that node. The SMI receiving node then polls other nodes in the multi-node computer to determine if the SMI affects an operation of any of the other nodes, and quiescents any other node affected by the SMI. Each quiescent node then transfers all of the contents of its system memory to a backup memory in an unaffected remote node in the multi-node computer. The remote node than assumes the function of the removed node that had received the SMI. The method and system thus allows node removal in the event of a hot-swap request or a predicted failure of a node.