Software delivery method with enhanced batch redistribution for use in a distributed computer network
First Claim
1. A method for redistributing software packages in a distributed computer network after a failed, original distribution attempt, the distributed computer network including a master device adapted for initiating the original distribution attempt, a plurality of intermediate distribution devices for distributing the software packages as instructed by the master device, and a plurality of recipient network devices, the method comprising:
- determining one of the intermediate distribution devices affected by the failed original distribution attempt;
identifying a distribution job that failed at the affected intermediate distribution device;
retrieving distribution parameters from the affected intermediate distribution device comprising distribution control commands received from the master device during the original distribution attempt;
building new distribution commands for the failed distribution job from the retrieved distribution parameters; and
performing a redistribution of a set of software packages from the affected intermediate distribution device based on the new distribution commands.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, and associated computer system, for redistributing software packages in a distributed computer network after a failed distribution attempt is made in a distributed computer network by a master network device. The method includes determining which intermediate distribution devices or servers were affected by the failed distribution. Then for each of these devices, identifying a distribution job that failed and retrieving from the particular distribution device stored distribution parameters, such as distribution control commands, a set of distributed packages, and a distribution list, used in the failed distribution. The method continues with building new distribution commands for the failed distribution job from the retrieved distribution parameters and then performing a redistribution of the set of software packages utilizing the new distribution commands.
52 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method for redistributing software packages in a distributed computer network after a failed, original distribution attempt, the distributed computer network including a master device adapted for initiating the original distribution attempt, a plurality of intermediate distribution devices for distributing the software packages as instructed by the master device, and a plurality of recipient network devices, the method comprising:
-
determining one of the intermediate distribution devices affected by the failed original distribution attempt;
identifying a distribution job that failed at the affected intermediate distribution device;
retrieving distribution parameters from the affected intermediate distribution device comprising distribution control commands received from the master device during the original distribution attempt;
building new distribution commands for the failed distribution job from the retrieved distribution parameters; and
performing a redistribution of a set of software packages from the affected intermediate distribution device based on the new distribution commands. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A computer system for distributing software in a distributed computer network having a plurality of intermediate distribution servers and end user devices communicatively-linked to a data communications network, comprising:
-
a master network device linked to the communications network and adapted for transmitting a distribution job for a set of software packages to select ones of the intermediate distribution servers, wherein the distribution job includes distribution data comprising a distribution list of the end user devices and distribution parameters including instructions on how to install the software packages; and
a redistribution tool configured for retrieving the distribution parameters and the distribution list from an affected one of the selected intermediate distribution servers that failed to complete the distribution job, for building commands for a redistribution of the distribution job from the retrieved distribution parameters and the distribution list, and issuing the redistribution commands to a distribution manager running on the affected intermediate distribution server to cause initiation of a redistribution job. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
15. A software distribution method, comprising:
-
performing an initial distribution of a set of software applications over a data communications network including transmitting a distribution list, distribution commands, and the software applications to intermediate servers for further distribution of the software applications to end user devices;
receiving an error alert message indicating a failure at an affected one of the intermediate servers to complete the initial distribution;
automatically building a job ticket based on the error alert message and transmitting the job ticket over the communications network to a maintenance center to initiate correction of a problem underlying the failure at the affected intermediate server;
after the underlying problem has been corrected, running a redistribution tool on the affected intermediate server to automatically generate a set of redistribution commands; and
performing a redistribution of the software applications from the affected intermediate server based on the redistribution commands.
-
-
18. A computer service method for selectively creating job tickets in response to error alerts, the error alerts being created during package distribution on a computer network comprising a plurality of network devices and including information related to package distribution failure, the method comprising:
-
receiving an error alert;
processing the error alert to identify a failure type from the failure information;
updating an error tracking file comprising tracking values for each of the failure types to incrementally change a tracking number for the identified failure type;
comparing the updated tracking value for the identified failure type to a threshold limit for the identified failure type to determine if the threshold limit is exceeded; and
when the comparing determines the threshold limit is exceeded, creating a job ticket including at least a portion of the failure information from the error alert to initiate service in the computer network.
-
Specification