Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing bundles of applications and services over a network between a server system and client computers. Related applications and services are bundled together in one package so that a user is able to quickly and easily configure a computer to perform a specified task. By combining both the applications and the services in one bundle, users no longer have to search the Internet for necessary components. Furthermore, additional features that allow portability of the bundled applications and services in addition to diagnostic monitoring are included.

Abstract: Accelerating data transfers is described herein. When a second computing system is requested to transfer a file to a first computing system, a data segment is sent to the first computing system instead of the entire file. The data segment is then compared to data stored within a data store on the first computing system. If the data segment and data within the data store match, then the file does not need to be transferred, and a pointer points to the file already located on the first computing system. If the data segment does not match any data stored in the data store, then the file is transferred from the second computing system to the first computing system. By comparing only the data segment instead of sending an entire file, data transfer is able to be greatly expedited in situations where the data is common between systems.

Abstract: A method of and system for enhanced storage allows more data to be backed up than would otherwise be possible. Instead of storing uncompressed base images and incremental images, differentials of non-current base images are compressed and stored. Furthermore, incremental images that are older than the current base image are removed. By only saving differential base images that are compressed, aside from the newest base image, and deleting older incremental images, a significant amount of space is saved. A removable drive is used as temporary storage in the process of generating a compressed differential base for previous base images. Additionally, a process ensures that previous base images are differentials of the most recent base image and not each other.

Abstract: A method of and system for enhanced storage allows more data to be backed up than would otherwise be possible. Instead of storing uncompressed base images and incremental images, differentials of non-current base images are compressed and stored. Furthermore, incremental images that are older than the current base image are removed. By only saving differential base images that are compressed, aside from the newest base image, and deleting older incremental images, a significant amount of space is saved. A removable drive is used as temporary storage in the process of generating a compressed differential base for previous base images. Additionally, a process ensures that previous base images are differentials of the most recent base image and not each other.

Abstract: A secure virtual private network (VPN) is described herein. The secure VPN implements standard VPN software with diagnostics to ensure a client device coupling to the VPN is secure. The diagnostics include a policy, a library and an engine where the policy determines what the requirements are for permitting the client device to couple to the VPN. The library stores programs for checking if the client device has any problems. The engine gathers information related to the client device and executes the programs stored within the library. When a user attempts to couple to the VPN with a client device, the server initiates the policy, library and engine to check for issues, and then the user is informed of the issues and/or a mechanism automatically fixes the issues. After the client device is verified as secure, it is able to couple to the VPN for data transfers.

Abstract: A system and method for managing data is described herein. A Data Manager (DM) is an application that is able to be situated on a server or a user system to provide capabilities of managing user data. The user data is located and knowledge of where the data is located is stored by the DM. Users are then able to set policies based on scheduling which will manage their data. Furthermore, within the data manager are utilities for managing the data efficiently and properly. The utilities include database management, open file management, VSS, synchronization and encryption. The DM uses the utilities and the policies provided and is able to manage the data as needed so as to ensure environment is healthy and managed the way the user desires.

Abstract: Accelerating data transfers is described herein. When a second computing system is requested to transfer a file to a first computing system, a data segment is sent to the first computing system instead of the entire file. The data segment is then compared to data stored within a data store on the first computing system. If the data segment and data within the data store match, then the file does not need to be transferred, and a pointer points to the file already located on the first computing system. If the data segment does not match any data stored in the data store, then the file is transferred from the second computing system to the first computing system. By comparing only the data segment instead of sending an entire file, data transfer is able to be greatly expedited in situations where the data is common between systems.

Abstract: A system for and method of securing a network are described herein. A receiving device listens for packets with proper credentials. If a transmitting device sends the correct credentials, the receiving device will respond with an acknowledgment and further data is able to be transmitted. However, if the transmitting device does not send a packet with the proper credentials, then the receiving device will drop the packet and not respond. Thus, the transmitting device will be unaware of the presence of the receiving device, in particular when hackers are using scanning software to locate target devices.