Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for providing portable composite solutions. The mechanism deploys a set of virtual images for a plurality of components of a composite solution to a build environment to form a set of virtual machines. The mechanism deploys a network virtual image to the build environment to form a network virtual machine. The network virtual machine comprises a router. The mechanism configures the router to create a private subnet with a set of fixed addresses and set of host names for the composite solution. Optionally, the mechanism may discover the fixed addresses during the build phase. The mechanism optionally installs middleware components to the set of virtual machines for the composite solution to form a set of solution virtual machines. The mechanism captures the set of solution virtual machines as a set of solution virtual images as a portable composite solution.

Abstract: Embodiment of the present invention include a method, system and computer program product for a data processing system for QoS based planning in a Web services aggregation. The system can include Web service aggregation and coordination logic configured to identify accessible Web services in a registry and to arrange an aggregation of the Web services for invocation responsive to requests received from communicatively coupled clients over a computer communications network. The system further can include QoS planning logic coupled to the Web service aggregation and coordination logic. The QoS planning logic can be enabled to measure both the individual performance of the Web services in an aggregation of Web services and also the cumulative performance of the aggregation of Web services.

Abstract: An adaptive data replication and caching system configured to enforce service terms at the network edge. Service terms can include, but are not limited to established quality of service (QoS) terms, as well as the terms of a service level agreement (SLA). This system can include a data caching system configured to cache application data in a data store and to satisfy queries for application data from the cache. The system also can include a data replication system configured to replicate application data in the data store and to satisfy queries for application data against the replicated application data. Finally, the adaptive data replication and caching system can include a configurator for configuring portions of the data store for exclusive use by the data caching system and the data replication system based upon the service terms.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to configuring a computing appliance and provide a method, system and computer program product for device certificate based virtual appliance configuration. In one embodiment of the invention, a virtual appliance secure configuration method can be provided. The method can include mounting non-volatile storage to the virtual appliance, retrieving a device certificate from the mounted storage and extracting a signature from the device certificate, activating the virtual appliance in a network domain and acquiring an adapter address and unique identifier for the virtual appliance, and authenticating the signature with the adapter address and unique identifier to ensure a unique active instance of the virtual appliance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to configuring a computing appliance and provide a method, system and computer program product for device certificate based virtual appliance configuration. In one embodiment of the invention, a virtual appliance secure configuration method can be provided. The method can include mounting non-volatile storage to the virtual appliance, retrieving a device certificate from the mounted storage and extracting a signature from the device certificate, activating the virtual appliance in a network domain and acquiring an adapter address and unique identifier for the virtual appliance, and authenticating the signature with the adapter address and unique identifier to ensure a unique active instance of the virtual appliance.

Abstract: Under the present invention, the performance of a set of system resources is monitored in response to incoming request traffic. When a system resource is approaching an overload condition, a corrective action is identified and implemented. Overload thresholds for each system resource and appropriate corrective actions are contained within a management policy. Based on a performance history of the corrective actions, the management policy can be changed/revised.

Abstract: A request for content is received at a content server via a first network connection from a client device. The content includes a set of portions represented within a root document. Based upon a download constraint of at least one portion of the content and a network characteristic of the first network connection, at least one portion of the content is deferred for download over a network connection other than the first network connection. The content is sent with each deferred portion of the content replaced with a content stub within the root document. Each content stub identifies the respective portion of the content as a deferred portion of the content and includes a content identifier of the respective deferred portion of the content.

Abstract: A request for content is sent, using a client device, to a content server through a first network connection. A root document is received from the content server. The root document includes at least one content stub, where each content stub identifies a respective portion of the content as a deferred portion of the content and includes a content identifier of the respective deferred portion of the content. A network connection change to the content server from the first network connection to a second network connection is detected. A determination is made to download at least one deferred portion of the content through the second network connection based upon a configured download constraint assigned to the deferred portion of the content and a network characteristic of the second network connection. The deferred portion of the content identified by the respective content stub is obtained.

Abstract: An adaptive data replication and caching system configured for deployment at the network edge. This system can include a data caching system configured to cache application data in a data store and to satisfy queries for application data from the cache. The system also can include a data replication system configured to replicate application data in the data store and to satisfy queries for application data against the replicated application data. Finally, the adaptive data replication and caching system can include a configurator for configuring portions of the data store for exclusive use by the data caching system and the data replication system.

Abstract: Under the present invention, the performance of a set of system resources is monitored in response to incoming request traffic. When a system resource is approaching an overload condition, a corrective action is identified and implemented. Overload thresholds for each system resource and appropriate corrective actions are contained within a management policy. Based on a performance history of the corrective actions, the management policy can be changed/revised.

Abstract: A computing device associated with a cloud computing environment identifies a first worker cloud computing device from a group of worker cloud computing devices with available resources sufficient to meet required resources for a highest-priority task associated with a computing job including a group of prioritized tasks. A determination is made as to whether an ownership conflict would result from an assignment of the highest-priority task to the first worker cloud computing device based upon ownership information associated with the computing job and ownership information associated with at least one other task assigned to the first worker cloud computing device. The highest-priority task is assigned to the first worker cloud computing device in response to determining that the ownership conflict would not result from the assignment of the highest-priority task to the first worker cloud computing device.

Abstract: Embodiment of the present invention include a method, system and computer program product for a data processing system for QoS based planning in a Web services aggregation. The system can include Web service aggregation and coordination logic configured to identify accessible Web services in a registry and to arrange an aggregation of the Web services for invocation responsive to requests received from communicatively coupled clients over a computer communications network. The system further can include QoS planning logic coupled to the Web service aggregation and coordination logic. The QoS planning logic can be enabled to measure both the individual performance of the Web services in an aggregation of Web services and also the cumulative performance of the aggregation of Web services.

Abstract: Embodiment of the present invention include a method, system and computer program product for a data processing system for QoS based planning in a Web services aggregation. The system can include Web service aggregation and coordination logic configured to identify accessible Web services in a registry and to arrange an aggregation of the Web services for invocation responsive to requests received from communicatively coupled clients over a computer communications network. The system further can include QoS planning logic coupled to the Web service aggregation and coordination logic. The QoS planning logic can be enabled to measure both the individual performance of the Web services in an aggregation of Web services and also the cumulative performance of the aggregation of Web services.

Abstract: A request for content is received at a content server via a first network connection from a client device. The content includes a set of portions represented within a root document that are each configurable with assigned download constraints that specify network characteristics under which the individual portions of the content are downloadable. A determination to defer at least one portion of the content for download is made based upon a network characteristic of the first network connection not satisfying a configured download constraint assigned to the at least one portion of the content. The root document is sent with each deferred portion of the content replaced with a content stub within the root document. Each content stub identifies the respective deferred portion of the content as a deferred content portion and includes a deferred content portion identifier of the respective deferred portion of the content.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing a build order of component source modules comprises creating a dependency graph based on dependency information. Historical build information associated with previous build failures is then used to calculate relative failure factors for paths of the dependency graph; and the relative failure factors are used to determine an order of traversal of the dependency graph during a build process in which component binary modules are built from the component source modules.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for providing portable composite solutions. The mechanism deploys a set of virtual images for a plurality of components of a composite solution to a build environment to form a set of virtual machines. The mechanism deploys a network virtual image to the build environment to form a network virtual machine The network virtual machine comprises a router. The mechanism configures the router to create a private subnet with a set of fixed addresses and set of host names for the composite solution. Optionally, the mechanism may discover the fixed addresses during the build phase. The mechanism optionally installs middleware components to the set of virtual machines for the composite solution to form a set of solution virtual machines. The mechanism captures the set of solution virtual machines as a set of solution virtual images as a portable composite solution.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for holistic task scheduling in a distributed computing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for holistic task scheduling in a distributed computing environment is provided. The method includes selecting a first task for a first job and a second task for a different, second job, both jobs being scheduled for processing within a node of a distributed computing environment by a task scheduler executing in memory by at least one processor of a computer. The method also can include comparing an estimated time to complete the first and second jobs. Finally, the first task can be scheduled for processing in the node when the estimated time to complete the second job exceeds the estimated time to complete the first job. Otherwise the second task can be scheduled for processing in the node when the estimated time to complete the first job exceeds the estimated time to complete the second job.

Abstract: A Virtual Machine (VM) is created utilizing a virtual Operating System (OS) disk and virtual application disks, each of which may be from disparate third party suppliers. One or more files in the virtual application disk are then linked to a specific file system location (node) in the virtual OS disk.

Abstract: A receipt management system, method and article of manufacture. The article of manufacture can include a storage medium configured to store receipt data from multiple disparate vendors, communications logic for establishing a communicative link between the system and receipt data processing logic disposed within individual ones of the multiple disparate vendors, and a receipt management processor programmed to moderate access to the storage medium. Importantly, the storage medium can be a portable mass storage device. Notably, each of the storage medium, communications logic and receipt management processor can be disposed in a pervasive device, or in a personal article.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing a customizable visual configuration (VC) template to retrieve and display a working set of system configuration objects. The computer-implementable method includes selecting a current system configuration object. Once a system configuration object is selected, a VC utility examines all available VC templates. The VC utility displays available VC templates whose starting configuration object matches the selected current system configuration object. In response to a selected VC template, the VC utility retrieves and displays system configuration objects defined by the selected VC template.