Abstract: Techniques for automatically designing an application-requirement based configuration for a distributed computing system are provided. One or more application-level templates are obtained, wherein the one or more templates are representative of one or more requirements associated with one or more applications. Using the one or more application-level templates, one or more logical flows are created. The one or more logical flows are then used to generate one or more system-level configuration plans of the distributed computing system.

Abstract: Upgrading a multi-tiered application is provided. In response to receiving a request to upgrade a multi-tiered application, wherein components of the multi-tiered application are deployed across a plurality of virtual machines, an appropriate integrated patch is selected for the upgrade. The selected integrated patch includes an integrated set of patches for the components of the multi-tiered application, state update data, and order constraints. The components of the multi-tiered application specified in the selected integrated patch are upgraded by using the integrated set of patches and order constraints. In addition, the state of the components of the multi-tiered application are updated by using the state update data. Then, the updated state of the multi-tiered application is saved to storage.

Abstract: A system for upgrading a multi-tiered application. In response to receiving a request to upgrade a multi-tiered application, wherein components of the multi-tiered application are deployed across a plurality of virtual machines, an appropriate integrated patch is selected for the upgrade. The selected integrated patch includes an integrated set of patches for the components of the multi-tiered application, state update data, and order constraints. The components of the multi-tiered application specified in the selected integrated patch are upgraded by using the integrated set of patches and order constraints. In addition, the state of the components of the multi-tiered application are updated by using the state update data. Then, the updated state of the multi-tiered application is saved to storage.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically designing an application-requirement based configuration for a distributed computing system are provided. One or more application-level templates are obtained, wherein the one or more templates are representative of one or more requirements associated with one or more applications. Using the one or more application-level templates, one or more logical flows are created. The one or more logical flows are then used to generate one or more system-level configuration plans of the distributed computing system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for updating a software component. A determination is made as to whether to update the software component. The software component is updated to form an updated software component in response to a determination to update the software component. The updated software component is automatically tested. A corrective action is performed in response to a failure in testing of the updated component.

Abstract: A method of assisting a user with the task of categorizing a received electronic document into a collection includes the steps of classifying the document to obtain one or more most likely categorical labels; displaying, to the user, a representation of the one or more most likely categorical labels; receiving data, from the user, representative of a selected categorical label; and labeling the document within the collection with the selected categorical label. The electronic document can include an electronic mail message, a web page bookmark, an audio file or a video file.

Abstract: In a network-connected distributed system including nodes through which digital data flow, one or more of the nodes adapted to process the digital data, a method for efficiently managing the transmission of units of digital data from node to node, includes the steps of receiving, at one of the one or more nodes, units of digital data first transmitted by an originating node; filtering out sufficiently processed units of the digital data based on filtering information; transmitting, to the originating node and/or other nodes, filtered results relating to the sufficiently processed units; queuing, for processing at other nodes, unfiltered units of the digital data which are not filtered out; and updating the filtering information according to results of automatic processing performed in and received from the one of the one or more nodes and/or other nodes in the system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for updating a software component. A determination is made as to whether to update the software component. The software component is updated to form an updated software component in response to a determination to update the software component. The updated software component is automatically tested. A corrective action is performed in response to a failure in testing of the updated component.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for constructing a self-managing distributed computing system comprised of “autonomic elements” is disclosed. An autonomic element provides a set of services, and may provide them to other autonomic elements. Relationships between autonomic elements include the providing and consuming of such services. These relationships are “late bound,” in the sense that they can be made during the operation of the system rather than when parts of the system are implemented or deployed. They are dynamic, in the sense that relationships can begin, end, and change over time. They are negotiated, in the sense that they are arrived at by a process of mutual communication between the elements that establish the relationship.

Abstract: A method for operating a data processing system of a type that includes a first data processing entity located within a trusted environment and a second data processing entity located within an untrusted environment. The method includes a first step, executed at the first data processing entity, of operating a first software agent for detecting a presence of an information container of interest and for producing a modified information container by automatically identifying and at least one of removing, masking, or replacing at least one predetermined type of restricted or private information in the information container. A second step of the method transports the modified information container from the first data processing entity to the second data processing entity for further processing. The further processing may entail an analysis of the modified information container to locate and/or identify an undesirable software entity, such as a computer virus.

Abstract: In a network-connected distributed system including nodes through which digital data flow, one or more of the nodes adapted to process the digital data, a method for efficiently managing the transmission of units of digital data from node to node includes the steps of receiving, at one of the one or more nodes, units of digital data first transmitted by an originating node; queuing, for processing at other nodes, one or more units of the digital data; prioritizing the queued units of digital data for transmission to a next node based on prioritizing information; and updating the prioritizing information according to results of processing performed in and received from the one of the one or more nodes and/or other nodes in the system.

Abstract: A method of assisting a user with the task of categorizing a received electronic document into a collection includes the steps of classifying the document to obtain one or more most likely categorical labels; displaying, to the user, a representation of the one or more most likely categorical labels; receiving data, from the user, representative of a selected categorical label; and labeling the document within the collection with the selected categorical label. The electronic document can include an electronic mail message, a web page bookmark, an audio file or a video file.

Abstract: A system for continuous monitoring and autonomous detection of patterns in the main memory subsystem of a computer system. The invention can be embodied as an extension to existing memory scrubbing hardware to permit stored code pattern analysis and identification during the autonomous transparent memory scrubbing process. A library of stored target signatures is provided to which code signatures are compared during analysis. Code signatures may be derived directly from the memory subsystem data pattern or may be indirectly and more efficiently derived from the error correction code (ECC) string associated with the stored data pattern. This invention is directly applicable to computer virus detection and neutralization systems.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying the integrity of a computer system's BIOS programs stored in alterable read only memory (such as FLASH ROM), and preventing malicious alteration thereof. The system and method regularly check the contents of the alterable read only memory using a digital signature encrypted by means of an asymmetrical key cryptosystem.