Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically triaging a server cluster of the type including a plurality of linked servers each running a plurality of processes. The method includes: detecting at least one failed process; automatically transmitting an electronic alert message embodying a first error code indicative of the failed process to a unified triage module including a processor and an updatable index table; applying, by the processor, the first error code to the index table. If a matching error code corresponding to the first error code is found in the index table, retrieving a solution code from the index table associated with the matching error code and automatically restarting the failed process using the solution code without human intervention.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a system and method is illustrated that includes receiving user count information that includes a user count value and an address identifier. Further, an operation is executed that includes using the user count information to determine whether a limit variable has been exceeded. An operation is executed that removes a member, identified by the address identifier, from a load balancing pool, where the limit variable has been exceed by the user count information. A further operation is shown that includes introducing a device into the load balancing pool, where the user count information is less than or equal to the difference between the limit variable value and a buffer variable.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, systems, and apparatuses of a fast start system. A computing device may automatically restart itself based on a restart schedule from a fast start network server. The computing device may initiate a booting sequence and retrieve login credentials of a user stored in the computing device. Using the stored login credentials, the computing device can login the user to the system. In response to successfully logging in the user, the computing device may initialize at least one startup application on the computing device. Once the user is successfully logged in, the computing device may automatically lock the computing device to the user to prevent any unauthorized use of the workstation.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a packet processor, a persistent storage module, and a boot-up management module. The packet processor identifies a switch identifier associated with the switch in the header of a packet. The persistent storage module stores configuration information of the switch in a first table in a local persistent storage. This configuration information is included in a configuration file, and the first table includes one or more columns for the attribute values of the configuration information. The boot-up management module loads the attribute values to corresponding switch modules from the first table without processing the configuration file.

Abstract: Techniques are generally described that relate to a computer-implemented method of using a virtual device operating in a first computer network to perform a service on behalf of a low-power device operating in a second computer network includes receiving, by the virtual device, device data reports and a device descriptor from the low-power device. The virtual device may be adapted to store the device data reports and/or the device descriptor in computer-readable memory coupled to the virtual device. The virtual device may also be adapted to receive a low-power device service request from a requesting device operating in a third computer network and may determine that the device descriptor indicates that the low-power device is unavailable to respond to the low-power device service request. A response to the low-power device service request may be generated by the virtual device based on the device data reports.

Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to managing basic input/output system (BIOS) access. Example embodiments include communicating with a remote directory server in response to an attempt to access a setting of a BIOS module.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating and using a BIOS security display include determining whether a change in a BIOS user setting is associated with security of an information handling system. When the BIOS user setting is associated with security, a security level for the BIOS may be calculated based on weighted security values for BIOS user settings. Security levels for boot phases may also be individually calculated. The security levels may be displayed in the BIOS to the user when the BIOS user setting is changed.

Abstract: A gap services router (GSR) that is a drop-in replacement of an end of life Cisco™ 2811 integrated services router (ISR). The GSR is a routing, switching, and computing platform that provides a technology refresh in the same form factor as the legacy 2811 router. The GSR is one rack unit in size and comprises the latest routing and switching technology from Cisco™, preferably a Cisco™ 5915 embedded services router (ESR) and a Cisco™ embedded services 2020 switch. The GSR contains two WAN ports and twenty-five LAN ports, with power over ethernet capability on all ports. The GSR also optionally includes an embedded server module capable of running the latest virtualization technology. An embedded server module in the GSR includes a removable solid state drive (SSD) that is zeroed upon removal. The GSR is preferably used to replace 2811 ISRs integrated in deployed military equipment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of and system for dynamically loading an executable composite software application, for use on a user device. An enterprise universe including multiple application modules is maintained, with each application module being configured to perform a particular functionality within the software application. This universe is filtered in terms of a particular environment definition to result in an environment subset of application modules, wherein the environment definition defines criteria according to which application modules exist in the environment. In response to receiving a container launch request from a user device, one or more application modules from the environment subset is launched as the executable composite software application on the user device through a container module associated with the user device.

Abstract: The electronic device may include a RAM, a nonvolatile storage device as an MTD, and firmware that may be stored on the nonvolatile storage device. The firmware may include a kernel that is expanded onto the RAM and a root disk image as a root file system. The kernel mounts the root disk image on the nonvolatile storage device as the root file system when a boot mode of the electronic device is a normal boot mode. The kernel, when the boot mode is an update mode for updating the firmware on the nonvolatile storage device, may i) generate a RAM disk as an MTD in an area of the RAM not under management of the kernel, ii) expand the root disk image on the nonvolatile storage device into the RAM disk, and iii) mount the root disk image on the RAM disk as the root file system.

Abstract: In some aspects, the present embodiments provide a system, server, and computing device for building and modifying a user interface of an application executable on a computing device. The method may be performed by a server that is remote from the computing device. In some embodiments the method comprises: receiving parameters for updating a user interface element of the application, the user interface element being identified at the server by a programming language unit for the user interface element in the program code of the application; and sending the parameters to the computing device, wherein the computing device receives the parameters, updates the user interface element of the application with the parameters, and displays a modified user interface for the application, the modified user interface comprising the updated user interface element.

Abstract: The execution of a process within a VM may be monitored, and when a trigger event occurs, additional monitoring is initiated, including storing behavior data describing the real-time events taking place inside the VM. This behavior data may then be compared to information about the expected behavior of that type of process in order to determine whether malware has compromised the VM.

Abstract: Techniques are described for generating a unique identifier by a first processor using a plurality of values including a shared value, the first processor's identifier, a container identifier and a time value. The shared value is a common value used by a plurality of processors including the first processor. The container identifier identifies a memory location. The time value denotes an amount of time that has elapsed since the first processor was last booted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing processes are provided, the method comprising: obtaining a process identifier for a process in an operating system; after the shutdown of the process by a user, determining, in response to a first system event of the operating system, whether a first set of event objects comprise the process identifier to generate an examination result; and if the examination result indicates that the first set of event objects comprise the process identifier, deleting the process identifier from the first set of event objects. The method and apparatus for managing processes effectively prevent a process that was shut down by a user from being unintentionally reinitiated.

Abstract: A computer system includes a memory storing an UEFI firmware and a processor. The UEFI firmware supports pre-boot initialization of a plurality of different bootloader programs, wherein the UEFI firmware has a plurality of instructions and a plurality of configuration data for different bootloader programs.

Abstract: As the file system of an operating system program might be damaged by a crash, the file system is usually used neither for the selection of data to be dumped from a memory nor for the analysis of the dumped data, and all data contained in one or several areas of the memory are dumped. In order to preserve the integrity of the file system and enable its use after the crash, the memory is divided into a primary and a secondary memory section during a memory setup, file system data are transferred from the primary memory section to the secondary memory section widely out of the control of the operating system program, and a read access of a dump program is directed to the secondary memory section in order to select file system data to be dumped after the crash using error data.

Abstract: A method for obtaining media presentation description information. The method includes a client obtaining information related to a change in a first Media Presentation Description (MPD) on a server. The method further includes the client updating a second MPD on the client with the information related to the change.

Abstract: A method for identifying user managed software modules includes: receiving a request for a directed load of a software module into memory, wherein the request includes an address for storing the software module; storing the software module at the address in the received request; adding a name and an address range of the stored software module to a data structure identifying software modules that have been loaded into memory via directed loads; receiving a query that includes an input module name or an input address range; and responsive to determining that the input module name or input address range of the received query is not stored in one or more data structures identifying one or more software modules that have been loaded into memory without directed loads, searching the data structure identifying software modules that have been loaded into memory via directed loads for the respective query.

Abstract: A system and method for managing backup and restore operations associated with a backup system. Metadata associated with files/directories of one or more file systems associated with one or more resources may be received. A virtual catalog image associated with the metadata may be created in a virtual file system image format. Once the virtual catalog image is created, virtualization vendor specific technology may be utilized to mount the image on the backup system and search and browse operations may be performed. The virtual catalog image may contain the file/directory hierarchy without containing actual file data.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing the operation of a circuit operating in a slave mode. The circuit is connected to a bus having at least two of wires and a priority logic level. The slave circuit imposes the priority logic level on a first wire of the bus. While imposing, the slave circuit detects a possible conflict on the first wire resulting from a forcing, external to the slave circuit, of the first wire to another logic level. Upon detecting a conflict, the slave circuit is placed in a state stopping the sending by the circuit of any data over the bus while leaving the circuit listening to the bus.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for performing experiments on a software application and identifying optimized experience configurations for the software application. An application experiment system receives an experiment configuration from a developer of the software application. Based on the experiment configuration, the application experiment system determines an experiment strategy and generates a set of experience configurations for testing. Users available to participate in the experiment are identified, and the set of experience configurations are allocated to user computing devices associated with the available users to configure instances of the software application executing on the user computing devices. Experiment data related to the execution of the instances of the software application are collected and analyzed by the application experiment system to identify the optimized experience configuration for the software application.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for reconfiguring hardware at run-time. In multi-tasking environments, applications may depend on specific hardware configurations for their execution. The run-time hardware configuration change management API can receive hardware configuration requests from applications, accept or deny configuration requests, arbitrate conflicting configuration requests, and apply configuration requests.

Abstract: A BIOS updating method determines whether to allow a current BIOS version to be upgraded or downgraded to a target BIOS version according to a dependency description recorded in a BIOS updating program or a dependency description recorded in an SMBIOS. If all of the BIOS versions recorded in the dependency description are not between the current BIOS version and the target BIOS version, the BIOS updating program allows the current BIOS version to be upgraded or downgraded to the target BIOS version. If at least one of the BIOS versions recorded in the dependency description is between the current BIOS version and the target BIOS version, the BIOS updating program forbids the current BIOS version to be directly upgraded or downgraded to the target BIOS version.

Abstract: A method of providing instant messaging communication between a first user and at least one other user via a communication network.

Abstract: A method is used in managing storage space of storage tiers. Storage space utilization characteristics of a storage tier of a set of storage tiers in a storage system are evaluated. Based on the evaluation, reservation of headroom storage space in the storage tier is adjusted. The headroom storage space indicates an amount of the storage space reserved as unused storage space in the storage tier.

Abstract: Techniques for using hardware-based mechanisms for updating computing resources are described herein. At a time after receiving a code update request, one or more hardware-supported system management capabilities of processors within a computing system are invoked at least to interrupt execution of currently running instructions. While the system management capabilities are active and instruction execution is suspended, programmatic routines are updated. After the updates are complete, instruction execution is resumed.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for recovering registry information and recreating the entire registry for all available tenants in a scalable, multi-tenant distributed environment, while also potentially looking into all of the running services where the most up-to-date data could exist. Dynamic real-time or substantially real-time recreation of connections between a web application and the latest instance of a tenant in such an environment (e.g., following a failure of one of the databases holding the tenant data, a corruption of the registry entry pointing to the tenant, and/or the like) is made possibly by, for instance, comparing the timestamps of the last written entities in order to examine the most current data and “re-bundle” the last master/replication instances, e.g., for restores in an environment where a rolling failover procedure is implemented.

Abstract: A method includes determining an anticipated usage pattern for an information technology system and a desired service level for the information technology system. The method includes determining a utilization saturation point for the information technology system and selecting a number of servers in the information technology system. The method also includes calculating one or more performance characteristics for the information technology system based on the anticipated usage pattern, the desired service level, the utilization saturation point, and the number of servers and comparing the one or more performance characteristics for the information technology system with one or more desired performance characteristics for the information technology system.

Abstract: A tamper resistant servicing Agent for providing various services (e.g., data delete, firewall protection, data encryption, location tracking, message notification, and updating software) comprises multiple functional modules, including a loader module (CLM) that loads and gains control during POST, independent of the OS, an Adaptive Installer Module (AIM), and a Communications Driver Agent (CDA). Once control is handed to the CLM, it loads the AIM, which in turn locates, validates, decompresses and adapts the CDA for the detected OS environment. The CDA exists in two forms, a mini CDA that determines whether a full or current CDA is located somewhere on the device, and if not, to load the full-function CDA from a network; and a full-function CDA that is responsible for all communications between the device and the monitoring server. The servicing functions can be controlled by a remote server.

Abstract: A tamper resistant servicing Agent for providing various services (e.g., data delete, firewall protection, data encryption, location tracking, message notification, and updating software) comprises multiple functional modules, including a loader module (CLM) that loads and gains control during POST, independent of the OS, an Adaptive Installer Module (AIM), and a Communications Driver Agent (CDA). Once control is handed to the CLM, it loads the AIM, which in turn locates, validates, decompresses and adapts the CDA for the detected OS environment. The CDA exists in two forms, a mini CDA that determines whether a full or current CDA is located somewhere on the device, and if not, to load the full-function CDA from a network; and a full-function CDA that is responsible for all communications between the device and the monitoring server. The servicing functions can be controlled by a remote server.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that enable a computer system comprising networked computers to self-heal from a boot failure of one of the computers. In some embodiments, upon detecting a first computer failing to successfully load a first boot image, a second computer configures the first computer to boot a second boot image. Upon power cycling, the first computer loads the second boot image.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a BIOS, a setting module, a determination module and a display controller. The setting module sets a display priority order at booting in the BIOS. The determination module determines connection of display units in order of priority based on the display priority order. The display controller performs a shortest waiting operation based on the connection determination and executes a display operation. An information processing apparatus having a screen display output includes a control program, a setting module, a determiner and a display controller. The setting module sets a display priority order at booting in the control program. The determiner determines whether display units are connected, in order of priority based on the display priority order. The display controller performs a shortest waiting operation based on the connection determination and executes a display operation.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a data-intensive computer is provided. The data-intensive computer includes a processing sub-system formed by a plurality of processing node servers and a database sub-system formed by a plurality of database servers configured to form a collective database in excess of a petabyte of storage. The data-intensive computer also includes an operating system sub-system formed by a plurality of operating system servers that extend a unifying operating system environment across the processing sub-system, the database sub-system, and the operating system sub-system to act as components in a single data-intensive computer. The operating system sub-system is configured to coordinate execution of a single application as distributed processes having at least one of the distributed processes executed on the processing sub-system and at least one of the distributed processes executed on the database sub-system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for creating, maintaining and applying a dataset that can be used to synchronize multiple instances of a data store. The dataset includes a sequentially-ordered sequence of change sets associated with the data store, wherein each change set includes zero or more entries that specify how the state of certain entities in the data store have changed since state changes represented by a previous change set in the sequence were applied to the data store. When a new change set is added to the dataset, any entries in any previously-added change sets dealing with the entities identified in the new change set are removed. Consequently, the dataset provides a concise and complete representation of all the state changes that have occurred to the data store since a known origin state.

Abstract: A firmware upgrading method for an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a storage section which stores a firmware image and a controller which executes a boot loader of the electronic device to determine whether the firmware image is damaged, performs a restoration function for the firmware image if the firmware image is damaged, and executes an operating system (OS) to perform normal operations if the firmware image is not damaged.

Abstract: A method is provided for protecting a computer system, comprising creating an isolated process, then assigning a first process group to the process; creating an additional group process within the first process group; performing a first determination by an application programming interface (API) that the additional group process is within the first process group, and as a result of the first determination, causing the additional group process to inherit and duplicate a handle of the process. Process communications and control within isolated groups is permitted freely, whereas process control by an isolated process for non-isolated processes or isolated processes in different groups is constrained or prohibited.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a main processor and a first memory. The main processor is configured to: determine whether or not specific data is stored in a first IO memory area of the first memory; generate a first piece of image data based on an OS memory area of the first memory; store the first piece of image data to a nonvolatile storage device; generate a second piece of image data based on the OS memory area of the first memory and the first IO memory area of the first memory; store the second piece of image data to the nonvolatile storage device; restore the software program to the OS memory area from the first piece of image data; and restore the software program to the OS memory area and the specific data to the first IO memory area from the second piece of image data.

Abstract: Additional components or functionality can be provided for a computing device by coupling the device with one or more device skins. Each device skin can include one or more components that can be utilized by the computing device, such that a user of the computing device can obtain desired functionality by selecting an appropriate skin. The components of the skin can be powered by the computing device, such as through wired or wireless power coupling. The computing device can determine an appropriate control scheme for the skin when the skin is coupled with the device, enabling a user to utilize the various components of the skin as if those components were part of the computing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for utilizing local storage of host computers to emulate a centralized storage system comprise receiving a write operation from a virtual machine running on a first host computer, wherein the write operation corresponds to a disk image that is locally stored in a first host computer. The disk image and a second disk image is updated in accordance with the write operation, wherein (i) the second disk image is locally stored on a second host computer that is networked to the first host computer, (ii) the second disk image serves as a back-up to the disk image, and (ii) the second host computer is configured to support the running of other virtual machines that access other disks images that (a) are locally stored on the second host computer, and (b) are further backed-up on at least a third host computer.

Abstract: One embodiment entails delivering a software payload to guest software in a virtual machine so that the software payload is part of a file system accessible by the guest software, wherein the delivery is such that the software payload is part of a file system accessible by the guest software. The delivering utilizes a virtual device of the virtual machine, but does not involve either a virtual network interface card (NIC) or any virtual host bus adapter (VHBA) of the virtual machine. The delivering further includes establishing a data path from the software payload to the virtual machine and a guest agent of the virtual machine. During processing of the software payload, status from the guest agent is monitored. After reception of the status indicating completion of the processing of the software payload, the data path is deactivated.

Abstract: A distributed execution environment provides instances of computing resources for customer use, such as instances of data processing resources, data storage resources, database resources, and networking resources. Data is collected from systems internal to and external to the distributed execution environment. Some or all of the data is utilized to compute instance availability information for instances of computing resources provided by the distributed execution environment. The instance availability information might then be provided to customers and other users of the distributed execution environment. Various types of actions might be taken in a manual or automated way based upon the computed instance availability information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring and evaluating policies that direct processing of one or more data streams are described. A configuration interface is described for allowing users to specify object oriented policies. These object oriented policies may allow any data structures to be applied with respect to a payload of a received packet stream, including any portions of HTTP traffic. A configuration interface may also allow the user to control the order in which policies and policy groups are executed, in addition to specifying actions to be taken if one or more policies are undefined. Systems and methods for processing the policies may allow efficient processing of object-oriented policies by applying potentially complex data structures to unstructured data streams. A device may also interpret and process a number of flow control commands and policy group invocation statements to determine an order of execution among a number of policies and policy groups.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for computing compensation time for clock difference between a first chip and a second chip. The method comprises emitting, by the second chip, a pulse with a fixed pulse length to the first chip; measuring, by the first chip, a pulse length of the pulse; computing the compensation time according to the measure pulse length and the fixed pulse length; and setting the compensation time to the second chip.

Abstract: A mobile information terminal includes a normal setting data storage portion configured to store temporary setting data in advance as normal setting data that is related to settings; a separate setting data storage portion configured to store, for each user, separate setting data that is related to individual settings in association with an identifier of each user; a control portion configured to perform specific processing based on the normal setting data stored in the normal setting data storage portion; a receiving portion configured to receive the identifier; and a replacement portion configured to perform replacement processing for moving the temporary setting data to a save storage portion and storing into the normal setting data storage portion, as the normal setting data, the separate setting data stored in association with the identifier received by the receiving portion.

Abstract: A server system includes a PCH, a BMC, a BIOS with a write protect end, and a controlling circuit. The BIOS includes a write protect end. The BMC includes a memory portion storing updated server data. The BIOS is electrically connected to the PCH and is electrically connected to the BMC. The controlling circuit includes a first input end and an output end. The first input end is electrically connected to the PCH. The output end is electrically connected to the write protect end. The controlling circuit is configured so that when an error in the BIOS is detected, the write protect end is opened and the BIOS is updated from the memory portion of the BMC.

Abstract: Booting an operating system that includes a secure preboot environment that performs integrity checks against security threats. A computer system boots to a preboot environment, which performs integrity checks and other anti-malware operations. Once the preboot environment finishes, the system reboots into a regular environment. The preboot environment can reside on a secure portion of a flash memory, with a computer system booting therefrom; or the preboot environment can reside securely in the computer system. The preboot environment includes integrity checks for a regular environment, and anti-malware programming. Once the preboot environment is done, the computer system reboots into a regular environment, such as from the flash memory or on the computer system. The integrity checks confirm that files in the regular environment are unchanged or uninfected. The integrity checks include determining the accuracy of a trusted system configuration on the computer system, such as using a TPM.

Abstract: In a pre-operating system environment on a device prior to loading and running an operating system on the device, a policy identifying configuration settings for the operating system is obtained. The operating system itself is prevented from changing this policy, but the policy can be changed under certain circumstances by components of the pre-operating system environment. The policy is compared to configuration values used by the operating system, and the operating system is allowed to boot with the configuration values if the configuration values satisfy the policy. However, if the configuration values do not satisfy the policy, then a responsive action is taken.

Abstract: There are disclosed asynchronous computing devices and methods of operating asynchronous computing devices. An asynchronous computing device may include an asynchronous processor and a voltage regulator circuit that outputs an operating voltage to the asynchronous processor in response to a voltage request received from the asynchronous processor.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing enhanced consumer access to information sources and controllable entities. An Access device can be a stand alone device such as a DVD player in which the DVD disk contains the back-end information network. Other Access devices obtain the back-end information network from remote sources. By way of a specific example, the consumer can then view a game and interactively select every television camera located at the game venue.

Abstract: A service provider can maintain one or more host computing devices that can be accessed as host computing device resources by customers. A hosting platform includes components arranged in a manner to limit modifications to software or firmware on hardware components. In some aspects, the hosting platform may include a master latch that indicates whether the components may be configured, and the master latch may be set once and only reset upon completion of a power cycle. In another aspect, the hosting platform can implement management functions for establishing control plane functions between the host computing device and the service provider that is independent of the customer. Additionally, the management functions can also be utilized to present different hardware or software attributes of the host computing device.