Network boot system and method using remotely-stored, client-specific boot images created from shared, base snapshot image
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a network boot for a plurality of client devices linked to a data communications network, comprising:
- receiving a boot request from one of the client devices over the network;
responsive to the received boot request, determining a target boot volume from a plurality of client image copies, each of the client image copies including a boot image particular to one of the client devices linked to the network; and
providing communicative access to the requesting one of the client devices to the target boot volume, whereby the client is operable to remotely boot over the network from the target boot volume.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for network booting of clients linked to a network. The method includes receiving a boot request from a networked client device and determining a target. The target is determined for the client device and a boot volume is selected from a set of client image copies. Each client image copy is unique to a client device and is created using a snapshot of a base boot image with a virtual copy or reverse snapshot of the base image being stored for each client device. The method continues with logging the client into the target and providing direct access to the allocated client image copy. The client device remotely boots from the client boot volume(s) or blocks on a remote storage device. Each client image copy includes the base boot image and information specific to the client. The client information is updated with writes to automatically allocated client-specific blocks.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a network boot for a plurality of client devices linked to a data communications network, comprising:
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receiving a boot request from one of the client devices over the network;
responsive to the received boot request, determining a target boot volume from a plurality of client image copies, each of the client image copies including a boot image particular to one of the client devices linked to the network; and
providing communicative access to the requesting one of the client devices to the target boot volume, whereby the client is operable to remotely boot over the network from the target boot volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An external storage controller for managing network booting within a storage communication network, comprising:
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a snapshot manager adapted for creating a snapshot of a base boot image, for storing the base boot image in a linked storage device, for creating a reverse snapshot based on the snapshot for client devices in the network to the storage device, and for allocating one of the reverse snapshots to each of the client devices as client-specific image copies; and
an input and output server linked to the network receiving a boot request from a client device broadcast on the network and responding to the boot request by providing access to a client-specific image copy in the storage device allocated to the requesting client device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer system for deploying multiple client devices communicatively linked to a network, comprising:
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a plurality of client components that send boot requests over the network;
a snapshot component that creates a base boot image comprising an operating system and application files image and client image copies from the base boot image for each of the client components;
a pooled storage component that stores the client image copies; and
a communication component that receives the boot requests from the client components and provides the client components with remote access to the client image copies on the pooled storage component. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification