Method for checking a computer system configuration

• US 20030126504A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Ward, John, Ryan, Fintan
• Granted Patent: US 6,990,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2247 Verification or detection of system hardware configuration

Abstract

A method is provided for checking a computer system configuration in which a first check file is provided (28). A second check file is compiled (34) from the computer system configuration. The first and second check files are compared against each other (36) and a computer system configuration is approved (38) in dependence on the result of this comparison. This process can take place at the point of manufacture or at a customer installation or both.

Claims

1. A method for checking a computer system configuration comprising the steps of:

specifying a set of customer'"'"'s requirements for a computer system configuration;

designing a computer system configuration meeting the specified requirements;

generating a first check file relating to the designed computer system configuration;

building the designed computer system configuration;

deriving a second check file from the built computer system configuration;

comparing the first and second check files; and

approving the built computer system configuration in dependence on the results of the comparison.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the first check file includes data relating to a hardware portion of the designed computer system configuration.

3. A method according to claim 1 in which the first check file includes data relating to a firmware portion of the designed computer system configuration.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which the first check file comprises data relating to a software portion of the designed computer system configuration.

5. A method according to claim 4 in which the step of generating the first check file comprises the step of generating checksum data from said software portion.

6. A method according to claim 5 in which the step of generating checksum data comprises the step of deriving checksum data for each file in said software portion.

7. A method according to claim 1 in which the second check file includes data relating to a hardware portion of the built computer system configuration.

8. A method according to claim 1 in which the second check file includes data relating to a firmware portion of the built computer system configuration.

9. A method according to claim 1 in which the second check file comprises data relating to a software portion of the built computer system configuration.

10. A method according to claim 9 in which the step of generating the second check file comprises the step of generating checksum data from said software portion.

11. A method according to claim 10 in which the step of generating checksum data comprises the step of deriving checksum data for each file in said software portion.

12. A method for checking a computer system configuration comprising the steps of:

specifying a set of customer'"'"'s requirements for a computer system configuration;

designing a computer system configuration meeting the specified requirements;

generating a first check file relating to the designed computer system configuration;

building and installing the designed computer system configuration;

deriving a second check file from the installed computer system configuration;

comparing the first and second check files; and

approving the installed computer system configuration in dependence on the results of the comparison.

13. A method according to claim 12 in which the first check file includes data relating to a hardware portion of the designed computer system configuration.

14. A method according to claim 12 in which the first check file includes data relating to a firmware portion of the designed computer system configuration.

15. A method according to claim 12 in which the first check file comprises data relating to a software portion of the designed computer system configuration.

16. A method according to claim 15 in which the step of generating the first check file comprises the step of generating checksum data from said software portion.

17. A method according to claim 16 in which the step of generating checksum data comprises the step of deriving checksum data for each file in said software portion.

18. A method according to claim 12 in which the second check file includes data relating to a hardware portion of the installed computer system configuration.

19. A method according to claim 12 in which the second check file includes data relating to a firmware portion of the installed computer system configuration.

20. A method according to claim 12 in which the second check file comprises data relating to a software portion of the installed computer system configuration.

21. A method according to claim 20 in which the step of generating the second check file comprises the step of generating checksum data from said software portion.

22. A method according to claim 21 in which the step of generating checksum data comprises the step of deriving checksum data for each file in said software portion.