Methods, Systems, and Computer Program Products for Monitoring and Control of Changes to a Computer Apparatus and/or Virtual Machines by Means of a Management System via a Network

Abstract

In one aspect, a method of monitoring a computer apparatus by means of a management system via a network is provided, the method comprising: establishing a connection between the computer apparatus and the management system via the network, the computer apparatus being located at a first location and the management system being located at a second location remote from the first location; installing a controller and creating on the computer apparatus at least one virtual machine, the or each virtual machine being monitored by the controller; monitoring one or more characteristics of the computer apparatus and/or the or each virtual machine and generating monitoring results based on the characteristics; and reporting the monitoring results to the management system via the network. A corresponding system may also be provided. In one embodiment, characteristics of the computer apparatus include the state of the at least one virtual machine or the state of the one or more programs running within the at least one virtual machine and monitoring results include state information indicative of the state. In a second aspect, a method and system of establishing a connection between a computer apparatus and a management system via a network, and a corresponding controller for connecting a virtual machine to a network. In a third aspect, a method of configuring a virtual machine is provided. In a fourth aspect, a method of controlling data flow between one or more peripheral devices and a virtual machine on a computing apparatus is provided.

1 . A method of controlling data flow between one or more peripheral devices and a virtual machine on a computing apparatus, comprising: providing a first operating system on the virtual machine for access by a user of the computer apparatus, providing a second operating system to communicate with one or more peripheral devices connected to the computer apparatus; and managing data flow between the first operating system and second operating system via a controller located outside the computing apparatus.