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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. In a computer system, a computer implemented method for automatically
installing a plurality of software products on said computer system and
configuring said computer system's operating environment, said method
comprising the steps of:
a) booting said computer system, loading a first install control module for
locating install media and starting installation from a boot device into
said computer system's memory, and transferring control to said first
install control module loaded into said memory;
b) said first install control module locating an install media comprising a
second install control module for setting up and controlling automatic
installation, and giving execution control to said second install control
module;
c) said second control module locating a collection of installation files
comprising a classification rules file and a plurality of install script
files, said classification rules file having a plurality of classification
rules for classifying a computer system, each of said install script file
having a plurality of install commands for performing certain installation
and/or configuration tasks;
d) said second install control module determining at least one
classification for said computer system using said located classification
rules file; and
e) said second install control module installing said plurality of software
products on said computer system, and configuring said computer system's
operating environment automatically by selectively executing said install
script files based on the classification determined for said computer
system, wherein said first install control module comprises an operating
system with minimal functions, a plurality of initialization and related
processes, a command-like language interpreter, a set of system
reconfiguration files, and an install media locator and starter routine;
said step a) comprises the steps of:
a.1) booting said computer system, loading said operating system into said
memory, and transferring control to said operating system loaded into said
memory;
a.2) said operating system loading said initialization and related
processes and said command-like language interpreter into memory, and
starting execution of said initialization and related processes:
a.3) said operating system further loading said system reconfiguration
files into said memory and starting execution of said system
reconfiguration files using said command-like language interpreter; end
a.4) said operating system further loading said install media locator and
starter routine into said memory and starting execution of said install
media locator and starter routine using said command-like language
interpreter.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein,
said located second install control module in said step b) comprises an
operating system with minimal functions, a plurality of initialization and
related processes, a command-like language interpreter, a set of
reconfiguration files, an automatic install set up and control routine, a
plurality of probe functions, and a plurality of compare functions;
said control transfer in said step b) is achieved by said second install
control module being loaded into said memory, and giving execution control
to said second install control module loaded into said memory.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein,
said install media located in said step b) is either i) a local install
media of said computer system or ii) a remote install media coupled to
said computer system through a network; and
said collection of installation files located in said step c) is either i)
a defaulted collection of installation files or ii) a customized
collection of installation files, said defaulted collection of
installation files being stored on either i) local storage means of said
computer system or ii) a local install media coupled said computer system,
said customized collection of installation files being stored in either i)
remote storage means coupled to said computer system through a network, or
ii) a remote install media coupled to said computer system through a
network.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein,
said install script files located in said step c) comprises a plurality of
pre-install script files corresponding to a plurality of pre-install
classes of computer systems for performing pre-installation tasks for
computer systems of the corresponding pre-install classes;
said at least one classification determined in said step d) comprises a
pre-install class of said computer system; and
said step e) comprises said second control module executing the pre-install
script file corresponding to said determined pre-install class.
5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein,
said at least one classification determined in said step d) further
comprises an install class of said computer system;
said pre-installation tasks performed by said pre-install script file
corresponding to said determined pre-install class comprise deriving an
install class parameters file for said install class of said computer
system;
one of said boot device and said located install media in said step b)
further comprises a local/remote install module;
said step e) further comprises said second install control module executing
said local/remote install module using said derived install parameters
file.
6. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein, said pre-installation tasks
performed by said pre-install script file corresponding to said determined
pre-install class of said computer system comprise localization of said
automatic installation and configuration to be performed in said step e)
to a local language.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein,
one of said boot device and said install media located in said step b)
further comprises a local/remote install module;
said collection of installation files located in said step c) further
comprises a plurality of install class parameters files corresponding to a
plurality of install classes of computer systems;
said at least one classification determined in said step d) comprises an
install class of said computer system; and
said step e) comprises said second install control module executing said
install module using the install class parameters file corresponding to
said determined install class of said computer system.
8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein, said local/remote install
module in said step e) determines critical install parameters unspecified
in said install class parameters file corresponding to said determined
install class.
9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein,
said collection of installation files located in said step c) further
comprises a plurality of post-install script files corresponding to a
plurality of post-install classes of computer systems;
said at least one classification determined in said step d) comprises a
post-install class of said computer system; and
said step e) comprises said second control module executing the
post-install script file corresponding to said determined post-install
class of said computer system.
10. In a computer system, an apparatus for automatically installing a
plurality of software products on said computer system and configuring
said computer system's operating environment, said apparatus comprising:
a) booting means coupled to said computer system's processor and memory for
loading a first install control module into said memory, and giving
execution control to said first install control module loaded into said
memory, said first install control module being used for locating install
media and starting installation;
b) install media coupled to said computer system's processor and memory
comprising a second install control module for setting up and controlling
automatic installation, said second install control module being loaded
into said memory and given execution control by said first install control
module booted into said memory upon locating said install media; and
c) file subsystem means coupled to said computer system's processor and
memory for storing a collection of installation files comprising a
classification rules file and a plurality of install script files, said
classification rule file having a plurality of classification rules for
classifying a computer system, said install script files being organized
by computer system classifications, each of said install script files
having a plurality of install commands for performing certain installation
and configuration tasks, said classification file being used to determine
at least one classification for said computer system by said second
install control module loaded in said memory upon locating said file
subsystem;
said second install control module automatically causing said plurality of
software products to be installed on said computer system and said
computer system's operating environment to be configured by selectively
executing said install script files based on the classification determined
for said computer system under its control,
wherein,
said first install control module comprises an operating system with
minimal functions, a plurality of initialization and related processes, a
command-like language interpreter, a set of system reconfiguration files,
and an install media locator and starter routine;
said booting means boots said install media locator and starter module into
said memory and gives it control by
booting said operating system into said memory, and giving control to said
operating system booted into said memory,
loading said initialization and related processes into said memory and
executing said loaded initialization and related processes under the
control of said operating system,
loading said system reconfiguration files into said memory and executing
said loaded system reconfiguration files under the control of said
operating system and said command-like language interpreter, and
loading said install media locator and starter routine into said memory and
executing said loaded install media locator and starter routine under the
control of said operating system and said command-like language
interpreter.
11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein,
said located second install control module comprises an operating system
with minimal functions, a plurality of initialization and related
processes, a command-like language interpreter, a set of reconfiguration
files, an automatic install set up and control routine, a plurality of
probe functions, and a plurality of compare functions;
said control transfer to said located second install control module is
achieved by rebooting said second install control module into said memory,
and giving execution control to said second install control module booted
into said memory.
12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein,
said install media is either i) a local install media of said computer
system or ii) a remote install media coupled to said computer system
through a network; and
said collection of installation files stored in said file subsystem means
is either i) a defaulted collection of installation files, or ii) a
customized collection of installation files, said file subsystem means
storing said defaulted collection of installation files being either i)
local storage means of said computer system, or ii) a local install media
coupled said computer system, said file subsystem means storing said
customized collection of installation files being either i) remote storage
means coupled said computer system through a network, or ii) a remote
install media coupled to said computer system through a network.
13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein,
said install script files stored in said file subsystem means comprises a
plurality of pre-install script files corresponding to a plurality of
pre-install classes of computer systems for performing pre-installation
tasks for computer systems of the corresponding pre-install classes;
said at least one classification determined comprises a pre-install class
[for]of said computer system; and
said automatic installation and configuration caused by said second install
control module comprises executing the pre-install script file
corresponding to said determined pre-install class of said computer system
under its control.
14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein,
said at least one classification determined further comprises an install
class of said computer system;
said pre-installation tasks performed by said pre-install script file
corresponding to said determined pre-install class of said computer system
comprise deriving an install class parameters file for said install class
of said computer system;
one of said boot device and said located install media in said step b)
further comprises a local/remote install module;
said automatic installation and configuration caused by said second install
control module comprises executing said local/remote install module using
said derived install parameters file under its control.
15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein, said pre-installation
tasks performed by said pre-install script file corresponding to said
determined pre-install class of said computer system comprise localizing
said automatic installation and configuration to a local language.
16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein,
either said boot device or said install media further comprises a
local/remote install module;
said collection of installation files further comprises a plurality of
install class parameters files corresponding to a plurality of install
classes of computer systems;
said at least one classification determined comprises an install class of
said computer system; and
said automatic installation and configuration caused by said second install
control module comprises executing said install module using the install
class parameters file corresponding to said determined install class of
said computer system under its control.
17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein, said local/remote
install module determines critical install parameters unspecified in said
install class parameter file corresponding to said determined install
class.
18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein,
said collection of installation files stored in said file subsystem means
further comprises a plurality of post-install script files corresponding
to a plurality of post-install classes of computer systems;
said at least one classification determined comprises a post-install class
of said computer system; and
said automatic installation and configuration caused by said second install
control module comprises executing the post-install script file
corresponding to said determined post-install class of said computer
system under its control.
19. In a computer system, a computer implemented method for automatically
installing a plurality of software products on said computer system and
configuring said computer system's operating environment, said method
comprising the steps of:
a) booting said computer system, loading a first install control module for
locating install media and starting installation from a boot device into
said computer system's memory, and transferring control to said first
install control module loaded into said memory;
b) said first install control module locating an install media comprising a
second install control module for setting up and controlling automatic
installation, and giving execution control to said second install control
module;
c) said second control module locating a collection of installation files
comprising a classification rules file and a plurality of install script
files, said classification rules file having a plurality of classification
rules for classifying a computer system, each of said install script file
having a plurality of install commands for performing certain installation
and/or configuration tasks;
d) said second install control module determining at least one
classification for said computer system using said located classification
rules file; and
e) said second install control module installing said plurality of software
products on said computer system, and configuring said computer system's
operating environment automatically by selectively executing said install
script files based on the classification determined for said computer
system, wherein said software products include application programs and
operating system programs.
20. In a computer system, an apparatus for automatically installing a
plurality of software products on said computer system and configuring
said computer system's operating environment, said apparatus comprising:
a) booting means coupled to said computer system's processor and memory for
loading a first install control module into said memory, and giving
execution control to said first install control module loaded into said
memory, said first install control module being used for locating install
media and starting installation;
b) install media coupled to said computer system's processor and memory
comprising a second install control module for setting up and controlling
automatic installation, said second install control module being loaded
into said memory and given execution control by said first install control
module booted into said memory upon locating said install media; and
c) file subsystem means coupled to said computer system's processor and
memory for storing a collection of installation files comprising a
classification rules file and a plurality of install script files, said
classification rule file having a plurality of classification rules for
classifying a computer system, said install script files being organized
by computer system classifications, each of said install script files
having a plurality of install commands for performing certain installation
and configuration tasks, said classification file being used to determine
at least one classification for said computer system by said second
install control module loaded in said memory upon locating said file
subsystem;
said second install control module automatically causing said plurality of
software products to be installed on said computer system and said
computer system's operating environment to be configured by selectively
executing said install script files based on the classification determined
for said computer system under its control, wherein said software products
include application programs and operating system programs. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of computer systems, in
particular, microprocessor based computer systems connected as a network.
More specifically, the present invention relates to installing software
products and configuring operating environments on these computer systems.
2. Background
As cost performance of microprocessor based computer systems and network
technology continues to improve, their popularity continues to increase.
However, before each of these powerful low cost computer systems can be
put to productive use, typically a slate of software products including an
operating system has to be installed on the computer system, and the
operating environment has to be properly configured. Both the typical
slate of software products that get installed and the number of operating
environment configuration decisions that have to be made continue to grow
with the power and capacity of these low cost computer systems.
Increasingly, it is not uncommon to find organizations having to install a
large number of software products and configure operating environments on
tens, hundreds, or even thousands of machines, While the installed
software and the operating environments are not uniform across all
machines within the organization, they tend to be substantially similar
within a class of machines, such as accounting's workstations or
engineering's workstations.
One common solution to the problem is to have a typical slate of software
products preinstalled and the operating environment pre-configured in a
typical configuration at the factory. Experience has shown that this
approach is satisfactory only to a minority number of users. The majority
of users find themselves to be atypical and having to reinstall the
software products and reconfigure the operating environment in order to
meet their needs. Additionally, the approach is costly to the
manufacturers. It forces earlier cutoff of software development. When
changes to one or more of the software products are necessary, existing
inventories in the distribution channels will have to be recalled, their
software products reinstalled with the latest revisions, and their
operating environments reconfigured taking into account the latest
revisions. Furthermore, the factory preinstall approach really does not
address the need of system administrators who have to install software
products and configure operating environments of a class of similar
machines.
Thus, it is desirable to automate software installation and operating
environment configuration on computer systems, in particular,
microprocessor based computer systems connected in a network. It is
further desirable if automated software installation and operating
environment configuration can overcome the manufacturing disadvantages of
the factory pre-install approach. It is further desirable if the needs of
system administrators who have to install software products and configure
operating environments for classes of similar machines can be addressed.
As will be disclosed, the method and apparatus of the present invention
for automatically installing software products and configuring operating
environment on a computer system achieves the above described desired
results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and apparatus for automatically installing software products and
configuring operating environment on a computer system is disclosed. The
method and apparatus of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages
of the factory preinstall approach to software installation and operating
environment configuration. The present invention allows system
administrator to automatically install software products and configure
operating environment by machine class. The present invention has
particular application to microprocessor based computer systems connected
in a network.
Under the present invention, a boot device, a local or remote install media
and a local or remote storage device are provided to a computer system.
The boot device comprises an install media locator and starter module. The
local or remote install media comprises an install set up and control
module and an install module. The local or remote storage device comprises
a defaulted or a customized collection of installation files. The
defaulted/customized collection of installation files comprises a
classification rules file, a number of pre-install class script files, a
number of install class parameters file, and a number of post-install
class script files. Together, these elements cooperate to automatically
install software products on the computer system, and configure the
operating environment of the computer system.
The install media locator and starter module is loaded into the memory of
the computer system and given control as part of the computer system's
boot up process. The install media locator and starter module is used to
locate a local or a remote media, and starts up the local/remote install
set up and control module stored on the located local/remote media. The
local/remote install set up and control module is used to determine at
least a pre-install class, or an install class, or a post-install class
for the computer system. The local/remote install set up and control
module makes the class determinations based on the classification rules
stored in the defaulted/customized classification rules file.
Additionally, the local/remote install set up and control module is used
to start the corresponding defaulted/customized pre-install class script
file if a pre-install class is determined, the local/remote install module
if an install class is determined, and the corresponding
defaulted/customized post-install class script file if a post-install
class is determined.
The defaulted/customized pre-install class script files are used to perform
pre-installation tasks for the corresponding pre-install classes. The
local/remote install module is used to install software products and
configure the operating environment of the computer system based on the
installation parameters stored in the corresponding defaulted/customized
install class parameters file of the determined installation class. The
defaulted/customized post-install class script files are used to perform
post-installation tasks for the corresponding post-install classes.
As will be explained in detail below, pre-installation tasks can include
such tasks as determining whether or not localization packages (i.e.,
system support packages for different countries) are required, setting up
the required file systems, and any other tasks that need to be performed
for the pre-installation class before other installation tasks are
performed, as determined by the specific model of the computer, the type
of applications that the computer will support, etc. Post-installation
tasks include such tasks as restoring paths to certain applications and
directories, restoring user preferences and any other tasks that are
required to restore the computer system back to operational status. The
determination of which classification each task is to be associated with
(i.e. the determination of the order of the task execution) is dependent
on the specific type of the computer system and the needs of the system
administrator.
The use of the pre-install, install and post-install classifications
provides flexibility in the installation process by allowing installation
procedures to be broken down into separate scripts and the most common
portions "re-used," without having to write a different script for each
machine class. For example, all engineering workstations will require
particular application or system software be installed. However, the
localization requirements for each workstation might be different (e.g.
some workstations might have to support French, others might have to
support Dutch and German). By assigning all engineering workstation the
same install class designation but different preinstall classifications,
where each pre-install classification is determined by the language(s)
that the workstation needs to support, each engineering workstation will
support the appropriate language(s) when the local/remote install set up
and control module executes the appropriate defaulted/customized
pre-install class script file(s) and also have the required applications
or systems software installed when the local/remote install set up and
control module executes the appropriate local/remote install module.
Additionally, in the presently preferred embodiment, the
defaulted/customized install class parameter file for an install class may
be dynamically derived by a defaulted/customized pre-install class script
file. The local/remote install set up and control module determines
whether the defaulted/customized install class parameter file for an
install class is to be dynamically derived or not, and the
defaulted/customized pre-install class script file that will do the
derivation, based on the rules in the defaulted/customized classification
rules file. The local/remote install set up and control module also
controls the naming of the derived install class parameters file.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description of the presently
preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention with references to
the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary computer system incorporated with the
teachings of the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates the contents of the boot device, the local/remote
install media, and the local/remote storage devices under the present
invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates the operation flow of the install media locator and
starter module of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the install media locator and starter
module of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates the operation flow of the local/remote install set up
and control module of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the local/remote install set up and
control module of the present invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary probe functions, corresponding environment
variables and comparison functions for the local/remote install set up and
control module of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary classification rules file of a local/remote
collection of installation files.
FIGS. 9a-9b illustrate an exemplary pre-install class script file of a
local/remote collection of installation files.
FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary install class parameters file of a
local/remote collection of installation files.
FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary post-install class script file of a
local/remote collection of installation files.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS
A method and apparatus for automatically installing software products and
configuring operating environment on a computer system is disclosed. The
method and apparatus of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages
of the factory preinstall approach to software installation and operating
environment configuration. The present invention allows system
administrator to automatically install software products and configure
operating environment by machine class. The present invention has
particular application to microprocessor based computer systems connected
in a network. In the following description for purposes of explanation,
specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it
will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may
be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well known
systems are shown in diagrammatical or block diagram form in order not to
obscure the present invention unnecessarily.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
computer system incorporated with the teachings of the present invention
is shown. Shown is an exemplary computer system 10 comprising a central
processing unit (CPU) 12, a memory 14, and an I/O module 16. Additionally,
the exemplary computer system 10 also comprises a number of user
input/output devices 18, a boot device 20, a local install media 22, and a
number of storage devices 24. The CPU 12 is coupled to the memory 14 and
the I/O module 16. The user input/output devices 18, the boot device 20,
the install media 22, and the storage devices 24 are also coupled to the
I/O module 16. The I/O module 16 in turn is coupled to a network 26,
through which a remote install media 22' and a number of remote storage
devices 24' are accessible to the exemplary computer system 10.
Except for the manner they are used to practice the present invention, the
CPU 12, the memory 14, the I/O module 16, the user input/output devices
18, the boot device 20, the local/remote install media, 22 and 22', the
local/remote storage devices, 24 and 24', and the network 26, are intended
to represent a broad category of these hardware elements found in most
computer systems. The constitutions and basic functions of these elements
are well known and will not be otherwise further described here. The
contents of the boot device 20, the local/remote install media, 22 and
22', and the local/remote storage devices, 24 and 24', and the manner in
which these contents cooperate with each other, will be described in
further detail with references to the remaining figures.
While the present invention is being described with an exemplary computer
system 10 having accesses to both local and remote install media, 22 and
22', as well as local and remote storage devices, 24 and 24', based on the
descriptions to follow, it will be appreciated that the present invention
may be practiced with the computer system having access to either local or
remote install media, and, either local or remote storage devices.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram illustrating the content of the
boot device, the local/remote install media, and the local/remote storage
devices is shown. The boot device 20 comprises an install media locator
and starter module 28. The local/remote install media, 22 or 22',
comprises an install set up and control module, 30 or 30', and an install
module, 32 or 32'. The local/remote storage devices, 24 or 24', comprise a
collection of installation files, 34 or 34', including a classification
rules file, 36 or 36', a number of pre-install class script files, 38 or
38', a number of install class parameters files, 40 or 40', and a number
of post-install class script files, 42 or 42'. The pre-install class
script files, 38 or 38', and the post-install class script files, 42 or
42' are executable files.
In the presently preferred embodiment, the local collection of installation
files 34 is the defaulted collection, whereas the remote collection of
installation files 34' is the customized collection. While having a local
collection of installation files 34 is preferred, it will be appreciated
that the present invention may nevertheless be practiced without it.
Additionally, while for ease of understanding, the present invention is
being described with the defaulted/customized collection of installation
files, 34 or 34', being located on local/remote storage devices, 24 or
24', it will be appreciated that the defaulted/customized collection of
installation files, 34 or 34', may be located on the local/remote install
media, 22 or 22', respectively. In fact, under the presently preferred
embodiment, the defaulted collection of installation files 34 is located
on the local install media 22. Similarly, while the present invention is
being described with the local install module 32 being located on the
install media 22, it will be appreciated that the local install module 32
may be located on the boot device 20. Furthermore, while the present
invention is being described with the pre-install and post-install class
script files, 38 or 38' and 42 or 42', as executable files, it will be
appreciated that the present invention may be practiced with
non-executable pre-install and post-install class script files having
tokens that can cause equivalent functions to be accomplished.
Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, the install media locator and starter module
28 is loaded into the memory of the computer system and given control as
part of the computer system's boot up process. The install media locator
and starter module 28 is used to locate a local or a remote media, 22 or
22', and starts up the local/remote install set up and control module, 30
or 30', on the local/remote media, 22 or 22'. The local/remote install set
up and control module, 30 or 30', is used to determine at least a
pre-install class or an install class or a post-install class for the
computer system. The local/remote install set up and control module, 30 or
30', makes the class determinations based on the classification rules
stored in the defaulted/customized classification rules file, 36 or 36'.
Additionally, the local/remote install set up and control module, 30 or
30', is used to start the corresponding defaulted/customized pre-install
class script file, 38 or 38', if a pre-install class is determined, the
local/remote install module, 32 or 32', if an install class is determined,
and the corresponding defaulted/customized post-install class script file,
42 or 42', if a post-install class is determined. The local/remote install
module, 32 or 32', is used to install software products and configure the
operating environment of the computer system. The local/remote install
module, 32 or 32', installs the software products and configure the
operating environment based on the installation parameters stored in the
corresponding defaulted/customized install class parameters file, 40 or
40', of the determined installation class. The defaulted/customized
pre-install class and post-install class script files, 38 or 38', and, 42
or 42', are used to perform preinstallation and post-installation tasks
respectively.
While the defaulted/customized pre-install class and post-install class
script files, 38 or 38', and, 42 or 42', are typically used to perform
preinstallation and post-installation tasks, and the local/remote install
module, 32 or 32', is used to install the software products and configure
the operating environment, it will be appreciated that the present
invention may be practiced with either the pre-install class script file,
38 or 38', or the post-install class script file, 42 or 42', performing
the automatic install and configuration, without involving the install
module, 32 or 32', at all. That's why a computer system may have as little
as only one classification determined by the automatic install set up and
control module, 30 or 30', and the pre-install class script file, 38 or
38', the install module, 32 and 32', and the post-install script file, 42
or 42', are invoked only if corresponding pre-install, install, and
post-install classes are determined.
In the presently preferred embodiment, the local/remote install module, 33
or 32', is also used to heuristically determine a number of critical
install parameters, if they are not specified in the corresponding
defaulted/customized install class parameters file, 40 or 40', of the
determined installation class. For example, if the swap size is not
specified, the swap size for a stand alone system is set to be one
multiple of the memory of the system, whereas, the swap size for a server
is set to be another multiple of the memory of the system. In either case,
the swap size must also exceeds certain predetermined minimum, but at the
same time not greater than certain predetermined maximum. It will be
appreciated that what constitutes critical install parameters and the
manner they should be heuristically determined are application dependent.
Additionally, in the presently preferred embodiment, the
defaulted/customized install class parameter file, 40 or 40', for an
install class may be dynamically derived by a defaulted/customized
pre-install class script file, 38 or 38'. The local/remote install set up
and control module, 30 or 30', determines whether the defaulted/customized
install class parameter file, 40 or 40', for an install class is to be
dynamically derived or not, and the defaulted/customized pre-install class
script file, 38 or 38', that will do the derivation, based on the rules in
the defaulted/customized classification rules file, 36 or 36'. The
local/remote install set up and control module, 30 or 30', also controls
the naming of the derived install class parameters file, 40 or 40'.
Except for the manner, the local/remote install module, 32 or 32',
cooperates with the other elements, and the application dependent manner
for heuristically determining critical install parameters, the
local/remote install module, 32 or 32', is intended to represent a broad
category of install procedures found in many computer systems. Its
constitutions and basic functions are well known, and therefore will not
be otherwise described in further detail. Each of the other elements, 28,
30 and 30', 34-42, and 34'-42', and the manner they cooperate with one
another, will be described in further detail below with references to the
remaining figures.
Referring now to FIGS. 3, a block diagram illustrating the preferred
operation flow of the install media locator and starter module is shown.
Upon given control, the install media locator and starter module probes
for remote install media available through the network, block 46. If a
remote install media is located through the network, branch 48a, the
install media locator and starter module starts up and transfers control
to the install set up and control module in the remote media, block 50. On
the other hand, if a remote install media is not located through the
network, branch 48b, the install media locator and starter module probes
for locally available install media, block 52. If a local install media is
located, branch 54a, the install media locator and starter module starts
up and transfers control to the install set up and control module in the
local install media, block 56. If a local install media is also not found,
branch 54b, the install media locator and starter module terminates,
preferably with error messages describing the problem and suggesting
corrective actions. It will be appreciated that the present invention may
be practiced with the install media locator and starter module probing for
a local install media first.
Additionally, in either case, block 50 or 56, the install media locator and
starter module informs the located remote/local install set up and control
module that it is being started by an install media locator and starter
module. Furthermore, the install media locator and starter module provides
its own location to the located remote/local install set up and control
module.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the
install media locator and starter module is shown. In this embodiment, the
install media locator and starter module 28 comprises a UNIX.RTM. kernel
58 (UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories), a number
of initialization related programs 59, a UNIX.RTM. Shell program 60, a set
of UNIX.RTM. system reconfiguration files 62, and an install media locator
and starter routine 64 implemented in Shell having probing and starting
logic as described in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the kernel 58 is first
loaded into memory and given control, when the computer system is booted.
The kernel then starts the initialization and related processes 59, which
in turn execute the system reconfiguration files 62. After sufficient
system start up and reconfiguration processing has been performed to
support the install media locator and starter routine 64, the system
reconfiguration files 62 start the install media and locator and starter
routine 64.
Under this embodiment, the local and remote install media are | | |
