System and method for restricting data transfers and managing software components of distributed computers

Abstract

A controller, referred to as the “BMonitor”, is situated on a computer. The BMonitor includes a plurality of filters that identify where data can be sent to and / or received from, such as another node in a co-location facility or a client computer coupled to the computer via the Internet. The BMonitor further receives and implements requests from external sources regarding the management of software components executing on the computer, allowing such external sources to initiate, terminate, debug, etc. software components on the computer. Additionally, the BMonitor operates as a trusted third party mediating interaction among multiple external sources managing the computer.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 695,820, filed Oct. 24, 2000, entitled “System and Method for Restricting Data Transfers and Managing Software Components of Distributed Computers”, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates to computer system management. More particularly, the invention relates to restricting data transfers and managing software components of distributed computers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The Internet and its use have expanded greatly in recent years, and this expansion is expected to continue. One significant way in which the Internet is used is the World Wide Web (also referred to as the “web”), which is a collection of documents (referred to as “web pages”) that users can view or otherwise render and which typically include links to one or more other pages that the user can access. Many businesses and individuals have created a pres...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a system for managing data transfers and software components in a cluster of server computers located at a co-location facility. A controller, called the BMonitor, is placed on each computer and has filters to identify where data can be sent and received. These filters can be modified by management devices during operation. The BMonitor also manages software components executing on the computer and can mediate interactions among multiple management devices. The BMonitor is privileged and can create and remove ownership domains and has expanded rights compared to other domains. The system also includes a mechanism to prevent interference from other software engines.

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, because the web is geographically distributed and has non-uniformity of access, it is often desirable to distribute servers to diverse remote locations in order to minimize access times for people in diverse locations of the world.

Managing a large number of servers, however, can be difficult.

Such co-location facilities, however, also present problems.

One problem is data security.

An additional problem is the management of the servers once they are placed in the co-location facility.

This limited reset-only ability provides very little management functionality to the company.

Unfortunately, a significant amount of time can be wasted by the system administrator in traveling to the co-location facility to attend to a server.

Management of the software on these user computers can be very laborious and time consuming and is particularly difficult for the often non-technical users of these machines.

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