Abstract: An express update deployment system can enable a larger number of computing devices to be updated during a time window. When an update is to be deployed to computing devices, a management server can select a set of the computing devices to function as proxy file repositories. The management server can select the set of computing devices based on hardware details of the computing devices that are to be updated. The management server can prioritize the deployment of the update to the selected set of computing devices. Once the update has been deployed on the selected set of computing devices, the computing devices can commence functioning as proxy file repositories. The management server can then instruct other computing devices to obtain parts of the update from the computing devices that are functioning as proxy file repositories. The management server can also instruct other computing devices to concurrently obtain the update from the file repository.

Abstract: An express update deployment system can enable a larger number of computing devices to be updated during a time window. When an update is to be deployed to computing devices, a management server can select a set of the computing devices to function as proxy file repositories. The management server can select the set of computing devices based on hardware details of the computing devices that are to be updated. The management server can prioritize the deployment of the update to the selected set of computing devices. Once the update has been deployed on the selected set of computing devices, the computing devices can commence functioning as proxy file repositories. The management server can then instruct other computing devices to obtain parts of the update from the computing devices that are functioning as proxy file repositories. The management server can also instruct other computing devices to concurrently obtain the update from the file repository.

Abstract: Applications can be selectively offloaded to ensure that thin clients will have sufficient disk space to install an update. To enable this offloading, a service can be employed to track how long each application is used on the thin client during a particular time period. Based on this usage of each application, the service can assign a rank to each application. The service can also monitor the amount of free space on the disk to determine whether it has fallen below a threshold. If so, the service can employ the ranks to identify applications to be offloaded them by copying an install location folder for each application to a remote repository and then deleting each copied install location folder. When the thin client includes a write filter, the service can commit the deletes of the install location folders so that the applications will remain offloaded after reboot.

Abstract: Applications can be selectively offloaded to ensure that thin clients will have sufficient disk space to install an update. To enable this offloading, a service can be employed to track how long each application is used on the thin client during a particular time period. Based on this usage of each application, the service can assign a rank to each application. The service can also monitor the amount of free space on the disk to determine whether it has fallen below a threshold. If so, the service can employ the ranks to identify applications to be offloaded them by copying an install location folder for each application to a remote repository and then deleting each copied install location folder. When the thin client includes a write filter, the service can commit the deletes of the install location folders so that the applications will remain offloaded after reboot.

Abstract: Techniques for non-disruptive upgrade of a storage appliance may include: restarting a first portion of nodes running a target software version while also running a current software version on a second portion of the nodes, wherein the non-disruptive upgrade is performed to upgrade the nodes of the storage appliance from the current software version to the target software version; performing I/O forwarding where I/Os from the host initiators are serviced using the second portion of the nodes and not serviced using the first portion of the nodes; and determining, in accordance with host initiator login information, whether to continue with the non-disruptive upgrade of the nodes to the target software version. Such techniques may be used, for example, to avoid data unavailability for one or more hosts using the host initiator login information.

Abstract: Cloud based Wake-on-LAN (WoL) for thin clients can be performed to allow a cloud based management server to wake up a thin client prior to an update command (or other communication) being transmitted to the thin client to ensure that the thin client will receive the update command. Cloud based WoL can therefore facilitate the deployment of updates to thin clients by providing a way for the administrator to wake up the thin clients from the cloud.

Abstract: Analytics driven update notifications can be provided. An agent on a managed device can monitor which applications are being used on the managed device and can provide a report of these application usage details along with other details of components on the managed device to a management server. The management server can evaluate reports received from a number of agents to generate rankings of applications and components that are based at least partially on usage. The management server can then identify available updates and present recommendations for deploying the updates based on the rankings.

Abstract: Peer assisted updates can be provided in a device management environment. When it is desired to deploy an update to a group of managed devices, an update command can be sent to a first set of managed devices in the group instructing these managed devices to download the update. Once these managed devices have downloaded and installed the update, they will notify the management server. In response, the management server can instruct these managed devices to remain awake so that they may each function as a master device or repository for deploying the update to other managed devices in the group. The management server can then send update commands to the other managed devices instructing them to download the update from one of the managed devices that is now acting as a master device. This process can be repeated until all managed devices in the group have been updated.

Abstract: Analytics driven update notifications can be provided. An agent on a managed device can monitor which applications are being used on the managed device and can provide a report of these application usage details along with other details of components on the managed device to a management server. The management server can evaluate reports received from a number of agents to generate rankings of applications and components that are based at least partially on usage. The management server can then identify available updates and present recommendations for deploying the updates based on the rankings.

Abstract: Manual discovery of devices in a device management environment can be performed from a management server. The manual discovery process can enable the discovery process to be initiated at the management server and can be performed without requiring an administrator or other user to manually configure each device to initiate and perform the discovery process. To discover devices to be managed, the management server, which can be a cloud based server or Software as a Service based server, can send a registration request to an on-premise server. The on-premise server can then relay this registration request to all devices on the same network infrastructure. The agent on each device can be configured to listen for such registration requests, and in response to receiving a registration request, can automatically register with the management server using information contained in the registration request. In this way, the management server can manually discover devices.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting Clostridium difficile in a sample, comprising detecting the presence in said sample of one or more genes that have been identified as being specific to Clostridium difficile. Also provided is a method of diagnosing a Clostridium difficile infection in a subject, a method of determining the efficacy of a therapeutic regime being used to treat a Clostridium difficile infection and a method of testing for the presence of Clostridium difficile in a sample. Further provided are primer pairs and a kit suitable for use in such methods.

Abstract: A diagnostic service can be provided for devices that include a device agent for allowing the devices to be managed. The diagnostic service can operate on a managed device to monitor and manage the device agent. To facilitate communication between the management server and the diagnostic service, the diagnostic service can obtain connection information and an authentication code from the device agent after the device agent has registered with the management server. The diagnostic service can then employ the connection information and authentication code to register with the management server. Once the diagnostic service is registered, the management server can employ the diagnostic service to monitor and manage the device agent.

Abstract: Peer assisted updates can be provided in a device management environment. When it is desired to deploy an update to a group of managed devices, an update command can be sent to a first set of managed devices in the group instructing these managed devices to download the update. Once these managed devices have downloaded and installed the update, they will notify the management server. In response, the management server can instruct these managed devices to remain awake so that they may each function as a master device or repository for deploying the update to other managed devices in the group. The management server can then send update commands to the other managed devices instructing them to download the update from one of the managed devices that is now acting as a master device. This process can be repeated until all managed devices in the group have been updated.

Abstract: Cloud based Wake-on-LAN (WoL) for thin clients can be performed to allow a cloud based management server to wake up a thin client prior to an update command (or other communication) being transmitted to the thin client to ensure that the thin client will receive the update command. Cloud based WoL can therefore facilitate the deployment of updates to thin clients by providing a way for the administrator to wake up the thin clients from the cloud.

Abstract: Manual discovery of devices in a device management environment can be performed from a management server. The manual discovery process can enable the discovery process to be initiated at the management server and can be performed without requiring an administrator or other user to manually configure each device to initiate and perform the discovery process. To discover devices to be managed, the management server, which can be a cloud based server or Software as a Service based server, can send a registration request to an on-premise server. The on-premise server can then relay this registration request to all devices on the same network infrastructure. The agent on each device can be configured to listen for such registration requests, and in response to receiving a registration request, can automatically register with the management server using information contained in the registration request. In this way, the management server can manually discover devices.

Abstract: A diagnostic service can be provided for devices that include a device agent for allowing the devices to be managed. The diagnostic service can operate on a managed device to monitor and manage the device agent. To facilitate communication between the management server and the diagnostic service, the diagnostic service can obtain connection information and an authentication code from the device agent after the device agent has registered with the management server. The diagnostic service can then employ the connection information and authentication code to register with the management server. Once the diagnostic service is registered, the management server can employ the diagnostic service to monitor and manage the device agent.

Abstract: An adapter can execute a test script in parallel relative to separate tenant installations in a multi-tenant environment. Such tenant installations can be established within a cloud computing environment. Multiple tenant installations may share some installation components, such as an application server and/or a database, so that these shared installation components are not duplicated. While executing the test script in parallel, the adapter can translate selected values for each test script execution so that those values are distinguished from corresponding values within other test script executions. The values can be translated to reflect the identity of the tenant whose installation the test script execution targets. Furthermore, while executing the test scripts in parallel, the adapter can cause the test script executions to synchronize at specified points within the test script, so that all of the test script executions are guaranteed to have executed to a common point before proceeding.

Abstract: An adapter can execute a test script in parallel relative to separate tenant installations in a multi-tenant environment. Such tenant installations can be established within a cloud computing environment. Multiple tenant installations may share some installation components, such as an application server and/or a database, so that these shared installation components are not duplicated. While executing the test script in parallel, the adapter can translate selected values for each test script execution so that those values are distinguished from corresponding values within other test script executions. The values can be translated to reflect the identity of the tenant whose installation the test script execution targets. Furthermore, while executing the test scripts in parallel, the adapter can cause the test script executions to synchronize at specified points within the test script, so that all of the test script executions are guaranteed to have executed to a common point before proceeding.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method performed by a computing device includes receiving one or more command-line options; determining a user associated with the computing device; accessing, based on the command-line options and the user, configuration file for configuration settings for one or more user interfaces with the operating system shell hosted by the computing device; and creating the user interfaces within the operating system shell based on the configuration settings.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting Clostridium difficile in a sample, comprising detecting the presence in said sample of one or more genes that have been identified as being specific to Clostridium difficile. Also provided is a method of diagnosing a Clostridium difficile infection in a subject, a method of determining the efficacy of a therapeutic regime being used to treat a Clostridium difficile infection and a method of testing for the presence of Clostridium difficile in a sample. Further provided are primer pairs and a kit suitable for use in such methods.