Verification of computer programs

• US 20030177223A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Allison, Michael S., Erickson, Michael J., Embry, Leo J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,065,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

A computer program version checking system checks at least one version of software running on a computing device including a plurality of programmable devices. A version of software running on the computing device is identified and compared to a version of the software in a recipe that is previously determined to be a correct version of the software. A determination is made as to whether the versions match.

Claims

1. A method of checking at least one version of software running on a multi-programmable device system, the method comprising steps of:

identifying a version of software running on a programmable device in the multi-programmable device system;

comparing the version to a version of the software in a recipe, wherein the version in the recipe is previously determined to be a correct version of the software; and

determining whether the version of the running software matches the correct version.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of generating an alert in response to determining the version of the running software does not match the correct version.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the alert is generated one or more of locally and at a remote device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of prompting transmission of the correct version to the programmable device in response to determining the version of the running software does not match the correct version.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of prompting further comprises transmitting a request to a remote device requesting that the correct version be transmitted to the programmable device from the remote device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-programmable device system includes a plurality of programmable devices, each running a version of software and the step of comparing further comprises comparing the versions of software running on the plurality of programmable devices to a recipe.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining further comprises determining whether each of the versions matches a version in the recipe.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of, prior to the step of identifying, connecting to the programmable device from a remote monitoring device and performing the steps of identifying, comparing and determining at the remote monitoring device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the version of software running on the programmable device and the correct version are versions of one of firmware and configuration instructions for configuring a programmable device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of determining whether a new version of the software running on the programmable device is available in response to determining the version of software running on the programmable device matches the correct version.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising steps of:

generating a request for the new version in response to determining the new version is available; and

transmitting the request to a remote device storing the new version.

12. A system comprising a remote monitoring device connected to a computing device having multiple programmable devices, wherein the remote monitoring device is configured to identify at least one version of software running on the computing device and compare the at least one version to a version of the software previously determined to be a correct version of the software.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the remote monitoring device is further configured to generate an alert in response to a determination that the at least one version does not match the correct version.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the remote monitoring device is connected to a remote computing device storing software, and the remote monitoring device is configured to transmit a request to the remote computing device prompting transmission of the correct version to the computing device from the remote computing device in response to a determination that the at least one version does not match the correct version.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the remote computing device includes at least one server connected to the computing device via a network, the at least one server storing a plurality of versions of software that are downloadable by the computing device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the remote monitoring device stores at least one recipe, and the remote monitoring device is configured to identify a plurality of versions of software running on the computing device and compare the plurality of versions to versions in the at least one recipe.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote monitoring device is a network administrator console.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the computing device includes a plurality of programmable devices, each running a version of the plurality of versions of software.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the computing device further includes a service processor configured to identify the versions of software running on the programmable devices and configured to transmit a message to the remote monitoring device identifying the versions of software running on the programmable devices.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the remote monitoring device is configured to prompt transmission of a new version of the software to the computing device in response to determining that the new version is available.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one version and the correct version are versions of one of firmware and configuration instructions for configuring a programmable device.

22. A computer readable medium on which is embedded a program, the program performing a method of checking at least one version of software running on a multi-programmable device system, the method comprising steps of:

identifying a version of software running on a programmable device in the multi-programmable device system;

comparing the version to a version of the software in a recipe, wherein the version in the recipe is previously determined to be a correct version of the software; and

determining whether the version of the running software matches the correct version.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises a step of generating an alert indicating a mismatch is detected in response to determining the version of the running software does not match the correct version.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises a step of prompting transmission of the correct version to the programmable device in response to determining the version of the running software does not match the correct version.

25. A computer system for checking at least one version of software running on a computing device, the system comprising:

means for identifying at least one version of software running on the computing device;

means for comparing the at least one version to a version of the software previously determined to be a correct version of the software; and

means for determining whether the at least one version matches the correct version.

26. The computer system of claim 25, further comprising means for generating an alert indicating a mismatch is detected in response to determining the at least one version does not match the correct version.

27. The computer system of claim 25, further comprising means for prompting transmission of the correct version to the computing device in response to determining the at least one version does not match the correct version.