Patent ID: 7519814
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In a system having a plurality of servers with operating systems that differ, operating in disparate computing environments, wherein each server includes a processor and an operating system including a kernel a set of associated local system files compatible with the processor, a method of providing at least some of the servers in the system with secure, executable, applications related to a service, wherein the applications are executed in a secure environment, wherein the applications each include an object executable by at least some of the different operating systems for performing a task related to the service, the method comprising: storing in memory accessible to at least some of the servers a plurality of secure containers of application software, each container comprising one or more of the executable applications and a set of associated system files required to execute the one or more applications, for use with a local kernel residing permanently on one of the servers; wherein the set of associated system files are compatible with a local kernel of at least some of the plurality of different operating systems, the containers of application software excluding a kernel, wherein some or all of the associated system files within a container stored in memory are utilized in place of the associated local system files that remain resident on the server, wherein said associated system files utilized in place of the associated local system files are copies or modified copies of the associated local system files that remain resident on the server, and wherein the application software cannot be shared between the plurality of secure containers of application software, and wherein each of the containers has a unique root file system that is different from an operating system's root file system.