Using a diskless client network topology for disk duplication and configuration
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cloning system for cloning at least one file, said cloning system comprising:
- a server executing a first operating system, said server having electronic communication with at least one client through a communications network;
a diskless client system for configuring the at least one client to operate as a diskless client;
a mass storage device being in electronic communication with said diskless client;
a cloning server configuration system executed by said server, said server configuration system enabling said diskless client to access said at least one file, said at least one file created in the context of a second operating system; and
a cloning client configuration system executed by said diskless client, said cloning configuration system preparing said mass storage device for downloading said at least one file, said cloning configuration system downloading said at least one file to said mass storage device.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for cloning files to a plurality of client systems simultaneously over a network. Client PCs are booted to a server as “diskless clients”. Each client then executes configuration scripts that prepare mass storage devices to which the clients are connected for downloading a file or files from the server. Any type of file, including an operating system file or applications code, can be downloaded to the mass storage device. The mass storage device can be rendered bootable, should that be an appropriate action for the files that are downloaded. Configuration and log files are stored on the server for each cloned client.
103 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A cloning system for cloning at least one file, said cloning system comprising:
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a server executing a first operating system, said server having electronic communication with at least one client through a communications network;
a diskless client system for configuring the at least one client to operate as a diskless client;
a mass storage device being in electronic communication with said diskless client;
a cloning server configuration system executed by said server, said server configuration system enabling said diskless client to access said at least one file, said at least one file created in the context of a second operating system; and
a cloning client configuration system executed by said diskless client, said cloning configuration system preparing said mass storage device for downloading said at least one file, said cloning configuration system downloading said at least one file to said mass storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cloning system having a network upon which a server and at least one diskless client cooperatively operate, said cloning system enabling the diskless client to clone at least one file initially located on the server, said cloning system comprising:
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a subnet creation system for creating a subnet including said server and said at least one diskless client;
an IP address assignment system executing in said server, said assignment system dynamically assigning limited lease Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to said at least one diskless client on said subnet;
a file access path connecting said at least one diskless client to said server through said subnet, said path using said IP address assigned to said at least one diskless client, said path enabling said at least one diskless client to access said at least one file;
a file transfer protocol, said file transfer protocol being understood by said at least one diskless client and said server, said file transfer protocol enabling transfer of said at least one file from said server to said at least one diskless client over said file access path;
at least one mass storage device, said at least one storage device having electronic connection to said at least one diskless client;
a file transfer system for transferring said at least one file from said server to said at least one diskless client over said file access path using said file transfer protocol, said at least one diskless client transferring said at least one file to said at least one mass storage device;
a monitoring system for maintaining a cloning system execution progress log, said monitoring system storing said log on said server.
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12. A method for cloning at least one file comprising:
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enabling network communications between a diskless client and a server;
accessing the at least one file by said server;
booting the diskless client to said server through said network communications;
creating by the server a network pointer to said at least one file;
accessing said network pointer by said diskless client through said network communications;
creating at least one client-specific area on said server;
configuring said server to allow said diskless client to access said at least one file through said network pointer;
copying said at least one file from said server through said network communications to said diskless client;
copying by said diskless client said at least one file to a mass storage device, said mass storage device having electronic communication with said diskless client; and
creating and populating by said diskless client a copying progress log; and
writing by said diskless client said progress log to said server. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 19, 20, 21)
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15. A method for cloning at least one file over a communications network,
locating said at least one file on a server, the server having electronic communication with a client, said client having electronic communication with a mass storage device; -
configuring the server for cloning said at least one file to said mass storage device through the communications network, the communications network connecting the server and the client;
creating command files, said command files stored on the server, said command files created for execution on the client, said command files enabling cloning of said at least one file;
booting the client from a network boot device, requesting from the server an IP address, responding by the server to said requesting step with said IP address and a pointer to a directory on the server, said directory having a kernel image;
configuring by the client a network interface device with said IP address;
requesting by the client a download of said kernel image from the server;
responding by the server with said download of said kernel image to the client;
executing on the client said kernel image;
requesting by the kernel image executing on the client network parameters from the server;
configuring, by the client, network access for the client using said network parameters;
bringing the client into the network;
establishing a connection between the client and at least one file on the server, the client having read and write access to the at least one file;
downloading said at least one file and said command file from the server to the client, the client executing said command file, said command file storing said at least one file on said mass storage device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification