Method, apparatus, and program for server based network computer load balancing across multiple boot servers
First Claim
1. A method for retrieving client boot information in a network environment with multiple boot servers, comprising:
- sending an initial request for client configuration information to a first boot server;
if the client configuration information is not found on the first boot server, sending a list request for a boot server list to the first boot server;
receiving the boot server list; and
sending a configuration information request for the client configuration information to each server in the boot server list until the client configuration information is found or a request has been sent to every server in the boot server list.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and program is provided to redirect a client computer to an appropriate boot server after it has been directed to any initial boot server by preboot execution environment (PXE) or similar services. An apparatus includes a data file containing a set of addresses of managed boot servers in any syntax and a program file containing a network bootstrap program (NBP) that interprets the syntax of the data file. These files are placed on every initial boot server. The NBP requests a file from the initial boot server whose name is identified with the client computer. The initial boot server will not return that file if it is not an appropriate server for booting the client. In that case, the NBP requests the data file containing the boot server addresses. The NBP then polls each of those boot servers by requesting the client'"'"'s unique file. A boot server that returns the file is an appropriate boot server for the client computer. The data file containing boot server addresses is changed to reflect current boot server load balancing requirements without involving the configuration or affecting the availability of PXE or similar services.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for retrieving client boot information in a network environment with multiple boot servers, comprising:
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sending an initial request for client configuration information to a first boot server;
if the client configuration information is not found on the first boot server, sending a list request for a boot server list to the first boot server;
receiving the boot server list; and
sending a configuration information request for the client configuration information to each server in the boot server list until the client configuration information is found or a request has been sent to every server in the boot server list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing client boot information in a network environment with multiple boot servers, comprising:
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receiving an initial request for client configuration information from a client;
if the client configuration information is not found, sending an error message that indicates that the client information is not found;
receiving a list request for a boot server list from the client; and
sending the boot server list to the client. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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14. An apparatus for retrieving client boot information in a network environment with multiple boot servers, comprising:
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first sending means for sending an initial request for client configuration information to a first boot server;
second sending means for sending a list request for a boot server list to the first boot server if the client configuration information is not found on the first boot server;
receipt means for receiving the boot server list; and
third sending means for sending a configuration information request for the client configuration information to each server in the boot server list until the client configuration information is found or a request has been sent to every server in the boot server list.
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21. An apparatus for providing client boot information in a network environment with multiple boot servers, comprising:
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first receipt means for receiving an initial request for client configuration information from a client;
first sending means for sending an error message that indicates that the client information is not found if the client configuration information is not found;
second receipt means for receiving a list request for a boot server list from the client; and
second sending means for sending the boot server list to the client. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for retrieving client boot information in a network environment with multiple boot servers, comprising:
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instructions for sending an initial request for client configuration information to a first boot server;
instructions for sending a list request for a boot server list to the first boot server if the client configuration information is not found on the first boot server;
instructions for receiving the boot server list; and
instructions for sending a configuration information request for the client configuration information to each server in the boot server list until the client configuration information is found or a request has been sent to every server in the boot server list.
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26. A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for providing client boot information in a network environment with multiple boot servers, comprising:
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instructions for receiving an initial request for client configuration information from a client;
instructions for sending an error message that indicates that the client information is not found if the client configuration information is not found;
instructions for receiving a list request for a boot server list from the client; and
instructions for sending the boot server list to the client.
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Specification