Session based elastic layering

Abstract

A server includes a processor to execute a single generic composited layered image that includes an operating system layer and an application layer. The processor hooks into the user log-in process to capture a user identification of the user initiating the log-in process, and compares the user identification to a list of additional application layers that are to be available to different users based on their respective user identifications. The processor determines if at least one additional application layer is to be available to the user based on the compare, and creates a single user-specific composited layered image by mounting the at least one additional application layer to the single generic composited layered image if the at least one additional application layer is to be available to the user.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A server comprising:
 a memory and at least one processor cooperating with said memory to perform the following:
 execute a single generic composited layered image comprising an operating system layer and at least one application layer, and 
 perform, in response to a user log-in process, the following:
 hook into the user log-in process to capture a user identification of the user initiating the log-in process, 
 compare, in response to the user log-in process, the user identification to a list of additional application layers that are to be available to a plurality of different users based on their respective user identifications, 
 determine if at least one additional application layer is to be available to the user based on the compare, and 
 create, in response to the determining, a single user-specific composited layered image by mounting the at least one additional application layer to the single generic composited layered image if the at least one additional application layer is to be available to the user. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The server according to  claim 1  wherein said processor is further configured to save the single user-specific composited layered image. 
     
     
         3 . The server according to  claim 2  wherein said processor is further configured to capture a host session identification based on the user logging-in so that a next time the user logs-in the single user-specific composited layered image is available. 
     
     
         4 . The server according to  claim 1  wherein said processor is further configured to access a policy database prior to the compare, with the policy database including the list of additional application layers that are to be available to the plurality of different users based on their respective user identifications. 
     
     
         5 . The server according to  claim 4  wherein the policy database is remotely located from the server. 
     
     
         6 . The server according to  claim 4  wherein the server has a host server identification associated therewith, and wherein the policy database further includes a list of host server identifications, with each host server identification identifying the list of additional application layers that are available to that host server, and wherein said processor is configured to further accesses the policy database based on the host server identification. 
     
     
         7 . A method for operating a server comprising:
 executing a single generic composited layered image comprising an operating system layer and at least one application layer, with the operating system layer providing a user interface to be accessed by anyone of a plurality of different users via a user log-in process;   hooking into a user log-in process to capture a user identification of the user initiating the log-in process;   comparing, in response to the user log-in process, the user identification to a list of additional application layers that are to be available to the plurality of different users based on their respective user identifications;   determining if at least one additional application layer is to be available to the user based on the comparing; and   creating, in response to the determining, a single user-specific composited layered image by mounting the at least one additional application layer to the single generic composited layered image if the at least one additional application layer is to be available to the user.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  further comprising saving the single user-specific composited layered image. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising capturing a host session identification based on the user logging-in so that a next time the user logs-in the single user-specific composited layered image is available. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7  further comprising accessing a policy database prior to the compare, with the policy database including the list of additional application layers that are to be available to the plurality of different users based on their respective user identifications. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the policy database is remotely located from the server. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the server has a host server identification associated therewith, and wherein the policy database further includes a list of host server identifications, with each host server identification identifying the list of additional application layers that are available to that host server, and the method further comprising accessing the policy database based on the host server identification. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 at least one client computing device configured to access a virtual desktop; and   a server comprising a memory and at least one processor cooperating with said memory to perform the following:
 execute a single generic composited layered image comprising an operating system layer and at least one application layer to provide the virtual desktop, and 
 perform, in response to a user log-in process for the at least one client computing device, the following:
 hook into the user log-in process to capture a user identification of the user initiating the log-in process, 
 compare, in response to the user log-in process, the user identification to a list of additional application layers that are to be available to a plurality of different users based on their respective user identifications, 
 determine if at least one additional application layer is to be available to the user based on the compare, and 
 create, in response to the determining, a single user-specific composited layered image by mounting the at least one additional application layer to the single generic composited layered image if the at least one additional application layer is to be available to the user. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13  wherein said processor is further configured to save the single user-specific composited layered image. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14  wherein said processor is further configured to capture a host session identification based on the user logging-in so that a next time the user logs-in the single user-specific composited layered image is available. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 13  wherein said processor is further configured to access a policy database prior to the compare, with the policy database including the list of additional application layers that are to be available to the plurality of different users based on their respective user identifications. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein the policy database is remotely located from said server. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein said server has a host server identification associated therewith, and wherein the policy database further includes a list of host server identifications, with each host server identification identifying the list of additional application layers that are available to that host server, and wherein said processor is configured to further accesses the policy database based on the host server identification.