Method and system for selecting an operating system at user login on a target device

• US 20020073201A1
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ullmann, Lorin E., French, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]

Abstract

A method of selecting an operating system at a target device in communication with a server is provided. A network bootstrap program is initiated at the target device prior to executing an operating system at the target device. The target device sends a bootstrap list command from the target device to the server and receives an operating systems list of at least one operating system. A target operating system is then selected from the operating systems list.

Claims

1. A method of selecting an operating system at a target device in communication with a server, comprising:

initiating a network bootstrap program at the target device;

sending a bootstrap list command from the target device to the server;

receiving an operating systems list of at least one operating system prior to executing an operating system at the target device; and

selecting a target operating system from the operating systems list.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving instructions for the target operating system.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requesting the instructions for the target operating system from the server.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

booting the target operating system based on the instructions.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating systems list includes a default operating system.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

relocating the network bootstrap program after the target operating system is selected.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the target operating system is determined from a configuration file of the target device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the target operating system is selected by a user of the target device.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

determining from a user profile, at least one-available operating system; and

including the user-available operating system with the operating systems list.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining from a target device profile, at least one device-available operating system; and

including the device-available operating system with the operating systems list.

11. Computer program product in a computer usable medium for selecting an operating system at a target device, comprising:

means for initiating network bootstrap program code at the target device;

means for receiving a command requesting an operating systems list of at least one operating system;

means for sending the operating systems list to the target device before an operating system is executed at the target device; and

means for receiving a selection of a target operating system from the operating systems list.

12. The program of claim 11 further comprising:

means for sending the target operating system to the target device.

13. The program of claim 11 further comprising:

means for determining a default operating system.

14. The program of claim 11 further comprising:

means for relocating the network bootstrap program code after the target operating system is selected.

15. The program of claim 11 further comprising:

means for determining the target operating system from a configuration file of the target device.

16. The program of claim 11 further comprising:

means for receiving the selection of the target operating system from a user of the target device.

17. The program of claim 16 further comprising:

means for determining at least one operating system available to the user.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

means for receiving the target operating system at the target device.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

means for executing the target operating system at the target device.

21. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

means for relocating the network bootstrap program after the target operating system is selected.

22. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

means for determining the target operating system from a configuration file of the target device.

23. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

means for determining the target operating system from input of a user of the target device.

18. A network data processing system comprising:

means for initiating a network bootstrap program at a target device;

means for sending a command requesting an operating systems list of at least one operating system;

means for receiving the operating systems list prior to executing an operating system at the target device; and

means for selecting a target operating system from the operating systems list at the target device.