System and method for priority based application server updates

• US 20030135536A1
• Filed: 01/15/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lyons, Peter K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,165,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for updating applications without the need to interrupt server operation. The system may include an update deployer that functions as a main execution engine and is responsible for coordinating updates with an application server.

Claims

1. A system for enabling updates to applications on a running application server without requiring a server restart, the system comprising:

an application server that services an application for one or more clients;

a deployer that coordinates an update to the application with the application server, the deployer further comprising;

a configuration file that assigns a priority to the update and pushes the update to the application sever based, at least in part, upon the assigned priority.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a duplicate application storage space that communicates with the deployer, wherein the update to the application is first performed on the duplicate application storage space.

3. A method for updating an application on an application server wherein the update to the application is accomplished without the need for an application server restart, the method comprising:

polling a storage location with a deployer to notice the presence of an update, and when an update is noticed;

signaling an application server that the update is present;

determining a priority for the update;

deciding whether to proceed with the update based, at least in part on the priority for the update, and if the decision is to proceed;

adjusting the application so that the update may proceed;

updating the application; and

signaling the application server when the update is complete.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of determining a priority for the update further comprises:

reading the priority assigned to the update by the deployer, wherein the assigned priority is based, at least in part, upon a predetermined configuration.

5. A deployer that coordinates an update to an application running on an application server, the deployer comprising:

a configuration file that assigns a priority to the update and pushes the update to the application sever based, at least in part, upon the assigned priority.

6. The deployer of claim 5 further comprising:

a poller to poll a storage location and determine whether modified application files exist.

7. The deployer of claim 5 further comprising:

a signaler to signal the application server when the update is complete.

8. A system for enabling updates to applications on a running application server without requiring a server restart, the system comprising:

application server means for serving an application for one or more clients;

deployer means for coordinating an update to the application with the application server means, the deployer means further comprising;

configuration file means for assigning a priority to the update and pushing the update to the application sever means based, at least in part, upon the assigned priority.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

duplicate application storage means for communicating with the deployer means, wherein the update to the application is first performed on the duplicate application storage means.

10. A processor readable medium, having processor readable code embodied thereon, that causes a processor to update an application on an application server wherein the update to the application is accomplished without the need for an application server restart, the processor readable medium comprising:

processor readable code for polling a storage location with a deployer to notice the presence of an update, and when an update is noticed;

signaling an application server that the update is present;

processor readable code for determining a priority for the update;

processor readable code for deciding whether to proceed with the update based, at least in part on the priority for the update, and if the decision is to proceed;

adjusting the application so that the update may proceed;

processor readable code for implementing the update to the application; and

processor readable code for signaling the application server when the update is complete.

11. The processor readable medium of claim 10 wherein the processor readable code for determining a priority for the update further comprises:

processor readable code for reading the priority assigned to the update by the deployer, wherein the assigned priority is based, at least in part, upon a predetermined configuration.

12. Deployer means that coordinate an update to an application running on an application server, the deployer means comprising:

configuration file means for assigning a priority to the update and pushing the update to the application sever based, at least in part, upon the assigned priority.

13. The deployer means of claim 12 further comprising:

polling means that polls a storage location and determines whether modified application files exist.

14. The deployer means of claim 12 further comprising:

signaling means for signaling the application server when the update is complete.