SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING A PROGRAM COMPATIBLE ACROSS MULTIPLE-VERSIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

A method for making a program compatible across multiple-versions of Operation Systems (OS) is disclosed. The method includes receiving the program to be attached to function. Next, the method includes compiling the received program using macro to make it agnostic to OS version. The macro includes a conditional branching feature for determining type of syscall based on flag information from a shared map for attaching the program in different OS versions. Thereafter, the method includes attaching the program to the OS based on the determined type of syscall. In one scenario, the program is attached to a first function if the determined type of syscall is of a first type. In another scenario, the program is attached to a second function if the determined type of syscall is of a second type.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of low-level code instrumentation and analysis, and particularly relates to a system and method for making a program compatible across multiple-versions of operation systems.

Description of the Related Art

Modern computing systems, particularly those based on the Linux operating system, rely on intricate software structures to function efficiently. Critical components of the system, such as kernel functions and user space functions, are integral to the seamless operation of applications. Custom programs are used to get access to such function's argument through registers that may be accessed through an open-source library. In order to develop custom programs that can be executed during the invocation of the kernel functions or the user space functions, programs, such as through extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) technology are utilized that help in debugging the kernel functions and the user space functions. It may be noted that the programs that are hooked to the kernel functions are called kprobe, and the programs hooked to the user space functions are called uprobe. Further, the kprobe and the uprobe written for certain function can only be attached to the specific kernel function and the user space function with an exact function name in the underlying kernel and user space, or the attachment fails. Since different versions of the operating systems have different kernel functions and user space function names, a challenge arises in attaching the programs to the functions due to mismatch of the function names. For example, the newer version and the older Linux version have major differences in the newer and older Linux version i.e., the newer Linux version kernels have legacy syscalls that are wrapped under architecture specific names (for eg, _x64_sys_read) unlike older Linux version kernels (for eg, _sys_read).

There are two popular known ways to write such tracing and bebugging programs for different versions for operating systems. First, by compiling the program on the Linux host, which requires headers and compilers to be installed for hooking such programs to kernel functions. Since the Linux kernel headers are available beforehand, it may be determined what is the function name where the program may be hooked. Second, by using a CO-Re feature of libbpf (cilium/ebpf), where programs are compiled once and can be used anywhere on any ebpf-supported Linux kernel. However, the known in the art solution works only if the operating system kernel has BPF Type Format (BTF) files and configuration extern is available in the BTF. Accordingly, making the program dependent on the operation system kernel version makes it incompatible to use across different operating system versions and makes the CO-RE unusable between systems that support legacy syscall and systems that support wrapped syscall.

Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for making a program compatible across multiple-versions of operation systems, and overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One or more embodiments are directed to a system, method, and computer program product for making a program compatible across multiple-versions of operating systems for tracing and observing functions. The program that helps in tracing and observing different functions are broadly referred to as probe. It may be noted that the varying function names between different versions of the operating system pose a challenge for writing compatible extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) programs. Additionally, differences in accessing function arguments in older and newer functions further complicate the compatibility issue. The disclosure aims to resolve these challenges by introducing a macro-based approach that determines the type of supported syscall based on flag information from a map and attaches the program to a function based on the determined type of supported syscall.

An embodiment of the present disclosure discloses a system for making a program compatible across multiple-versions of operating systems for tracing and observing functions. The system includes a receiver module to receive the program to be attached to a function. The program corresponds to an eBPF program. Further, the operating system is a Linux Operating system. Furthermore, the function is a kernel function and/or a user space function. In an embodiment, the system includes a program compilation module to compile the received program using a macro to make the program agnostic to operating system version. The macro includes a conditional branching feature for determining type of supported syscall based on flag information from a shared map for attaching the program in different operating system versions. The shared map may correspond to a bpf map that includes the flag information indicative of the type of syscall supported by host operating system on which the probe needs to run. Further, the type of syscall includes legacy syscall and/or wrapped syscall. The macro further includes an internal helper function for processing of the program with syscall arguments to ensure compatibility. In an embodiment, the program compilation module forms a unified program, via the compilation using the macro, that invokes the program when attached to the function.

In an embodiment, the system includes a program attachment module to attach the program in the operating system based on the determined type of syscall. In one scenario, the program is attached to a first function if the determined type of syscall is of a first type. The first function may correspond to a non-wrapped function. In another scenario, the program is attached to a second function if the determined type of syscall is of a second type. The program attachment module adds an entry indicative of the second function in the shared map. The second function may correspond to a wrapped function. Based on the reading of the flag information, the program can be attached with the right function irrespective of the version of operating systems. Once the unified program is creating, during provisioning of the probe at a client environment, the system can attach the probe to the right function based on determination of the flag information from an BPF map.

An embodiment of the present disclosure discloses a method for making a program compatible across multiple-versions of operating systems for tracing and observing functions. The method includes the steps of receiving the program to be attached to a function. Upon receiving the program, the method includes the steps of compiling the received program using a macro to make the program agnostic to operating system version. Such macro includes a conditional branching feature for determining type of supported syscall based on flag information from a shared map for attaching program in different operating system versions. The method also includes the steps of forming a unified program, via the compilation using the macro. Thereafter, the method includes the steps of attaching the program to the operating system based on the determined type of syscall. In one scenario, the program is attached to a first function (such as non-wrapped function) if the determined type of syscall is of a first type. In another scenario, the program is attached to the second function (such as wrapped function) if the determined type of syscall is of second type. In order to do such attachment, the method includes the steps of adding an entry indicative of the second function in the shared map.

An embodiment of the present disclosure discloses a computer program product including at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein for making a program compatible across multiple-versions of operating systems for tracing and observing functions. The computer program product receives the program to be attached to a function. Upon receiving the program, the computer program product compiles the received program using a macro to make the program agnostic to operating system version. Such macro includes a conditional branching feature for determining type of supported syscall based on flag information from a shared map for attaching program in different operating system versions. The computer program product forms a unified program, via the compilation using the macro, that invokes the program when attached to the function. Thereafter, the computer program product attaches the program in the operating system based on the determined type of syscall. In one scenario, the program is attached to a first function (such as non-wrapped function) if the determined type of syscall is of a first type. In another scenario, the program is attached to the second function (such as wrapped function) if the determined type of syscall is of second type. In order to do such attachment, the computer program product adds an entry indicative of the second function in the shared map.

In an embodiment, the disclosed system, method, and computer program product (together called as disclosed mechanism) for making a program compatible across multiple-versions of operating systems for tracing and observing functions enables eBPF programs to be compatible across different versions of operating systems. Further, the disclosed mechanism allows for dynamic determination of the type of syscall, ensuring flexibility in program attachment. Further, the disclosed mechanism utilizes a macro-based approach making a unified program that can be compiled once and used across different kernel versions.

Other features of embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent from accompanying drawings and detailed description that follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Terminology

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system, method, and computer program product (together referred to as ‘disclosed mechanism’) for making a program compatible across multiple-versions of operating systems for tracing and observing functions. The disclosed mechanism intricately addresses the multifaceted challenges encountered in achieving compatibility for programs (such as eBPF programs) across a spectrum of operating system versions (such as old and new versions of Linux) where discrepancies in kernel function names and variations in the mechanisms for accessing function arguments pose significant obstacles while attaching the programs to the functions. The disclosed mechanism may overcome such obstacles through a systematic solution that makes programs agnostic to the underlying operating system version, allowing seamless compatibility across different versions of the operating system. The disclosed mechanism may utilize the receiver module as the entry point for receiving programs to be attached to the function. This module acts as an interface for accepting programs that are intended for attachment to specific functions within the operating system.

In an embodiment, the disclosed mechanism may utilize a program compilation module operating at the heart of the disclosure. The program compilation module may employ a sophisticated macro with a conditional branching feature to dynamically determine the type of supported syscall during the compilation process through a shared map, such as a bpf map. The shared map may store flag information that decisively indicates the type of syscall, whether it be a legacy syscall or a wrapped syscall. The intricate nature of this compilation process may ensure that the resulting program is agnostic to the underlying operating system version.

In an embodiment, the disclosed mechanism may utilize a program attachment module for the seamless integration of the compiled program into the operating system. The program attachment module may dynamically determine the type of syscall based on the flag information obtained from the shared map during the compilation phase. As a result, the program may be attached to a specific function within the operating system. The determination of whether the syscall is of a legacy or wrapped type dictates whether the program is attached to a non-wrapped or wrapped function, respectively.

Accordingly, the disclosed mechanism has several advantages over the prior arts. The inclusion of a shared map as a dynamic source of flag information enhances flexibility and adaptability to evolving kernel versions. The macro-based compilation ensures a unified program that can be compiled once and deployed across multiple versions, streamlining the development process. The disclosed mechanism proves particularly beneficial for tracing and observing both kernel and user functions across a diverse landscape of kernel versions. The disclosed mechanism, with its nuanced and comprehensive methodology, not only overcomes the challenges associated with compatibility but also offers a sophisticated and future-proof solution for environments, such as a dynamic Linux kernel environment.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment 100 having network assets for various enterprises 106A, 106B, 106C, . . . , 106N (hereinafter known as “network assets of enterprise” 106) connected to a system 102 for making a program 104 compatible across multiple-versions of operating systems for tracing and observing functions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In a non-limiting embodiment, the operating system may be a Linux operating system and the program 104 may be an extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) program. Further, the functions may, without any limitation, correspond to a kernel function and a user space function. In an embodiment, the user functions are associated with a user space i.e. a part of memory where regular applications and software run. For example, web browsers, word processors, games, and other software applications that operate in the user space. Such functions perform tasks that the users directly interact with, like browsing the internet, typing documents, and playing games. The eBPF programs attached to functions within the user space to trace and monitor their activities are called uprobes. Such tracing and monitoring allows debugging, profiling, and performance analysis of the user functions. In an embodiment, the kernel functions are associated with a kernel space i.e., a protected part of memory where the core functions of the operating system, including the device drivers and low-level system processes, reside. Typically, when the user functions need to perform a task that requires access to hardware or sensitive system resources, it requests the kernel to perform that task on its behalf. For example, when a user space function wants to read data from a hard disk, then it requests the kernel to handle the disk I/O operations. The eBPF programs attached to functions within the kernel space to trace and monitor their activities are called kprobes. Such tracing and monitoring allows tracing and analyze low-level system behavior. In a non-limiting example, when dealing with binaries that utilize Transport Layer Security (TLS) libraries such as OpenSSL, the uprobe may be attached to critical functions like SSL_read and/or SSL_write that handle plaintext data which makes them crucial for security monitoring.

In an embodiment, the function may, without any limitation, include a non-wrapped function and a wrapped function. The non-wrapped function may correspond to a legacy system call or kernel function whose usage remains consistent across different kernel versions without any additional architectural or version-specific wrapping. Accordingly, the non-wrapped function typically follows the traditional naming conventions without any architecture-specific prefixes or modifications. For example, a “sys_open” system call in the Linux kernel for representing the operation of opening a file, as shown below:

The wrapped function may correspond to a system call or kernel function that has been modified or “wrapped” with architecture-specific or version-specific prefixes or alterations to accommodate changes in naming conventions or to provide compatibility with different architectures or versions of the operating system. Such wrapping allows the kernel to handle architecture-specific implementations while providing a standardized interface for system calls. The use of wrapped functions is common in modern kernels to support diverse architectures and maintain compatibility across different versions. Typically, in newer versions of the kernel, especially those that support 64-bit x86 architectures, system calls like “sys_open” are often wrapped with architecture-specific identifiers. For example: a “_x64_sys_open” system call in the Linux kernel representing the operation of opening a file, as shown below:

In an embodiment, the system 102 may be connected to the network assets of enterprise 106 via a network. The network (such as a communication network) may include, without limitation, a direct interconnection, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a wireless network (e.g., using Wireless Application Protocol), the Internet, and the like. Further, the network assets of enterprise 106 may, without any limitation, include assets, such as routers, switches, hubs, firewalls, printers, hosts, servers, and wireless access points having different software configurations in terms of at least Operating System (OS), applications, patches, and updates. For tracing and monitoring the functions associated with such assets, a user may create a program 104 that may be attached to a function in the OS of the network asset of enterprise 106. The program 104 may correspond to an Extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) that may serve as a powerful tool for tracing and monitoring either or both of kernel and user space functions. The user may create custom eBPF programs that may be executed when specific user or kernel functions are invoked.

In operation, the system 102 may receive the program 104 (created by the user) for tracing and observing functions in the OS of the network asset of the enterprise 106. Since operating system versions of the various network assets of the enterprise 106 may be different, the function names in the various network assets of the enterprise 106 may be different. It may be apparent to a person skilled in the art that in order to attach the program 104 to the function in the operating system, the function name has to be exactly the same in the program as in the library of the operating system. Thus, the system 102 may compile the received program using a macro to make a unified program agnostic to operating system version. Such macro may essentially include a conditional branching feature for determining type of supported syscall based on flag information for attaching the program in different operating system versions. Such flag information may be derived from a shared map, such as bpf map including the flag information indicative of the type of syscall, such as a legacy syscall and/or a wrapped syscall. Upon creating the unified program that is agnostic to the operating system version, the system 102 may attach the program in the operating system based on the determined type of syscall. In one scenario, the program 104 may be attached to a first function, i.e. a non-wrapped function, if the determined type of syscall is of a first type. In another scenario, the program 104 may be attached to a second function, i.e. a wrapped function, if the determined type of syscall is of a second type. For attaching the program 104 to the second function, the system 102 may add an entry indicative of the second function in the shared map.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram 200 of the system 102 for making the program 104 compatible across multiple-versions of operating systems for tracing and observing functions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, the system 102 may include one or more processors 202, an Input/Output (I/O) interface 204, one or more modules 206, and a data storage unit 208. The one or more processors 202 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors microcomputers, microcomputers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. Further, the I/O interface 204 may serve as the pivotal bridge connecting the internal processes of the system 102 with its external environment for facilitating the exchange of information between the system 102 and its users or external devices. Furthermore, the I/O interface 204 may contribute to the user experience by providing intuitive means for input, such as through keyboards or touchscreens, and presenting meaningful output via displays or other output devices.

In an embodiment, the one or more modules 206 may include a receiver module 210, a program compilation module 212, a program attachment module 214, and any other module 216 essential or required for the working of the system 102. In an embodiment, the data storage unit 208 may include a map 218 (such as bpf map), a macro 220, and any other data 222 required for the working of the system 102. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more processors 202 and the data storage unit 208 may form a part of a chipset installed in the system 102. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the data storage unit 208 may be implemented as a static memory or a dynamic memory. In an example, the data storage unit 208 may be internal to the system 102, such as an onside-based storage. In another example, the data storage unit 208 may be external to the system 102, such as cloud-based storage. Further, the one or more module 206 may be communicatively coupled to the data storage unit 208 and the one or more processor 202 of the system 102. The one or more processors 202 may be configured to control the operations of the one or more module 206.

In an embodiment, the receiver 302 may receive the program 104 to be attached to a function. The program 104 may correspond to an eBPF program for tracking and observing functions, such as monitoring incoming network packets on a specific network interface and filter out packets coming from a particular IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.1). Such program 104 needs to be attached to function pertaining to a network interface that a user wants to filter the packets. Similarly, the function may correspond to a function that receives network packets and processes them, such as ‘process_packet’. Thus, the program 104 needs to be attached to this function for monitoring and modifying the behavior of the ‘process_packet’ function. However, the name of the function may differ in various operating systems and since the function name has to be exactly the same for attachment, the system 102 may further process the received program 104 to make it agnostic of the operating system version, as discussed in the following paragraphs.

In an embodiment, the program compilation module 212 may compile the received program 104 using the macro 220 to make the program agnostic to operating system version. Such program may be termed as a unified program that may invoke the program 104 when attached to the function. Further, the macro 220 may include a conditional branching feature for determining type of syscall based on flag information from a shared map for attaching the program in different operating system versions. The shared map may enable communication between the program 104 and user-space applications or other parts of the kernel. The shared map may be essential for exchanging data, allowing the program 104 to store and retrieve information in a way that is accessible both from the kernel and from user space. The shared map may, without any limitation, include hash maps, array maps, and other maps tailored to specific use cases.

In an embodiment, the shared map may correspond to a bpf map that may include the flag information indicative of the type of syscall. The type of syscall may, without any limitation, include legacy syscall and wrapped syscall. The legacy syscalls may correspond to traditional system calls that follow an older naming convention, such as those with names starting with “sys_” (e.g., sys_open, sys_read). The wrapped syscalls may correspond to system calls having architecture-specific or version-specific prefixes added to their names, such as “_x64_sys” (e.g., _x64_sys_open, _x64_sys_read). It may be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the transition from the legacy syscalls to the wrapped syscalls often occurs in newer Linux kernel versions, where architectural changes or enhancements necessitate a modified naming scheme. Since transition may be to accommodate diverse architectures and maintain compatibility across different kernel versions, allowing for streamlined functionality and standardized interfaces for system calls across various platforms.

In an embodiment, the macro 220 may include helper function for processing of the program 104 with syscall arguments to ensure compatibility by ensuring the seamless and standardized operation of the program 104 across different versions of the operating system. By encapsulating the intricacies of handling syscall arguments within the macro 220, the helper function may abstract the variations in accessing arguments between legacy syscalls and wrapped syscalls and provide a uniform interface, allowing the user to write the program 104 without needing to explicitly deal with differences in operating system versions. The operation of the program compilation module 212 to form the unified program has been explained in detail in the following paragraphs.

In an embodiment, the program attachment module 214 may attach the program 104 in the operating system based on the determined type of syscall. In one scenario, the program 104 may be attached to a first function if the determined type of syscall is of a first type. In another scenario, the program is attached to a second function if the determined type of syscall is of a second type. In order to attach the program to the second function, the program attachment module 214 may add an entry indicative of the second function in the shared map. It may be noted that the first function may correspond to a non-wrapped function when the first type of syscall is the legacy syscall and the second function may correspond to a wrapped function when the second type of syscall is a wrapped syscall. The operation of the program attachment module 214 to attach the program to the function has been explained in detail in the following paragraphs.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram 300 showing working of the program compilation module 212, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary program 104, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary macro 220, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4C illustrates an exemplary unified program 302, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of brevity, FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, and 4C have been explained together.

In an embodiment, the program compilation module 212 may compile the received program 104. In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the program 104 may be designed as a kernel probe (kprobe) attached to the system call “sys_open” in the Linux kernel for providing a means of tracing file-opening events by capturing relevant information for further analysis or monitoring purposes. The program 104 may utilize the eBPF framework to trace the opening of files within the kernel. Upon the invocation of the “sys_open” system call, the associated function “bpf_sys_open” may be triggered, receiving information through the context structure “struct pt_regs *ctx.”

In an embodiment, the compilation may be done using the macro 220, as shown in FIG. 4B. In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, the macro 220, named “BPF_KPROBE_COMMON,” for the creation of the program 104 with enhanced flexibility and compatibility across various versions of the Linux kernel, is shown. The macro 220 may encapsulate the logic needed for determining the appropriate syscall type during program execution and may take a syscall function name and its arguments as parameters and dynamically select the correct implementation based on the presence or absence of an entry in the “is_syscall_wrapper” bpf map. Further, the macro 220 may include the conditional branching feature to check if the syscall is wrapped (architecture-specific) or not. If the syscall is not wrapped, the macro 220 may invoke the legacy syscall implementation, otherwise, the macro 220 may direct the program 104 to the wrapped syscall logic. Thus, the macro 220 may form the unified program 302, as shown in FIG. 4C, that may adapt to the syscall variations in different Linux kernel versions, promoting compatibility and consistent performance across diverse environments.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4C, the unified program 302 agnostic to operating system version that invoke the program 104 when attached in the function is shown. As shown, the unified program 302 may be an eBPF program created for kernel tracing purposes, specifically targeting the “_x64_sys_open” system call in the Linux kernel. By employing the “BPF_KPROBE_COMMON” macro 220, the unified program 302 may demonstrate a versatile and version-agnostic design. Additionally, the unified program 302 may also utilize the macro 220 to handle variations in syscall implementations by distinguishing between legacy syscalls and wrapped syscalls based on the presence of an entry in the “is_syscall_wrapper” bpf map. Further, the unified program 302 may be attached to the “sys_open” system call and read the user-space string argument, ‘filename,’ using the “bpf_probe_read_user_str” function. Thus, the unified program 302 may allow CO-Re feature by compilating once and deployment across different versions of the Linux kernel, ensuring consistent and adaptable functionality for tracing file-opening events.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram 500 showing working of the program attachment module 214, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the program attachment module 214 may utilize a common unified program 302 to attach the program 104 in the operating system of the network assets for enterprise 106 irrespective of the corresponding operating system versions. Such attachment of the program 104 may be based on the determined type of syscall. In one scenario, the network asset for enterprise 1 106A may have a wrapped function based on its corresponding operating system and the program attachment module 214 may attach the program 104 to the wrapped function, as shown by 502. In another scenario, the network asset for enterprise 2 106B may have a non-wrapped function based on its corresponding operating system and the program attachment module 214 may add an entry indicative of the non-wrapped function in the bpf map attach the program 104 to the non-wrapped function, as shown by 504.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart 600 of a method for making a program compatible across multiple-versions of operating systems for tracing and observing functions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method starts at step 602.

At first, the program to be attached to a function may be received, at step 604. The operating system may correspond to a Linux operating system. Further, the program may include an extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) program. Furthermore, the function may correspond to a kernel function and/or a user space function.

Next, the received program may be compiled using a macro to make the program agnostic to operating system version, at step 606. The macro may include a conditional branching feature for determining type of supported syscall based on flag information from a shared map for attaching the program in different operating system versions. The shared map may correspond to a bpf map that may include the flag information indicative of the type of syscall. The type of syscall may, without any limitation, include legacy syscall and wrapped syscall. Additionally, the macro may further include an internal helper function for processing of the program with sycall arguments to ensure compatibility. In an embodiment, the method may include the steps of forming an unified program, via the compilation using the macro, that may invoke the program when attached to the function.

Next, the program may be attached to the operating system based on the determined type of syscall, at step 608. In one scenario, the program may be attached to a first function if the determined type of syscall is a first type. The first function may correspond to a non-wrapped function. In another scenario, the program may be attached to a second function if the determined type of syscall is a second type. The second function may correspond to a wrapped function. In order to attach the program to the second function, the method may include the steps of adding an entry indicative of the second function in the shared map. The method ends at step 610.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary computer system in which or with which embodiments of the present disclosure may be utilized. As shown in FIG. 7, a computer system 700 includes an external storage device 714, a bus 712, a main memory 706, a read-only memory 708, a mass storage device 710, a communication port 704, and a processor 702.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that computer system 700 may include more than one processor 702 and communication ports 704. Examples of processor 702 include, but are not limited to, an Intel® Itanium® or Itanium 2 processor(s), or AMD® Opteron® or Athlon MP® processor(s), Motorola® lines of processors, FortiSOC™ system on chip processors or other future processors. The processor 702 may include various modules associated with embodiments of the present disclosure.

The communication port 704 can be any of an RS-232 port for use with a modem-based dialup connection, a 10/100 Ethernet port, a Gigabit or 10 Gigabit port using copper or fiber, a serial port, a parallel port, or other existing or future ports. The communication port 704 may be chosen depending on a network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or any network to which the computer system connects.

The memory 706 can be Random Access Memory (RAM), or any other dynamic storage device commonly known in the art. Read-Only Memory 808 can be any static storage device(s) e.g., but not limited to, a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM) chips for storing static information e.g., start-up or BIOS instructions for processor 702.

The mass storage 710 may be any current or future mass storage solution, which can be used to store information and/or instructions. Exemplary mass storage solutions include, but are not limited to, Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA) or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) hard disk drives or solid-state drives (internal or external, e.g., having Universal Serial Bus (USB) and/or Firewire interfaces), e.g. those available from Seagate (e.g., the Seagate Barracuda 7200 family) or Hitachi (e.g., the Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000), one or more optical discs, Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) storage, e.g. an array of disks (e.g., SATA arrays), available from various vendors including Dot Hill Systems Corp., LaCie, Nexsan Technologies, Inc. and Enhance Technology, Inc.

The bus 712 communicatively couples processor(s) 702 with the other memory, storage, and communication blocks. The bus 712 can be, e.g., a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)/PCI Extended (PCI-X) bus, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), USB, or the like, for connecting expansion cards, drives, and other subsystems as well as other buses, such a front side bus (FSB), which connects processor 702 to a software system.

Optionally, operator and administrative interfaces, e.g., a display, keyboard, and a cursor control device, may also be coupled to bus 704 to support direct operator interaction with the computer system. Other operator and administrative interfaces can be provided through network connections connected through communication port 704. An external storage device 710 can be any kind of external hard-drives, floppy drives, IOMEGA® Zip Drives, Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disc-Re-Writable (CD-RW), Digital Video Disk-Read Only Memory (DVD-ROM). The components described above are meant only to exemplify various possibilities. In no way should the aforementioned exemplary computer system limit the scope of the present disclosure.