Dynamically resolving fix groups for managing multiple releases of multiple products on multiple systems

• US 20040003387A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Olson, Diane E., Waldbillig, Jeffrey D., Haugen, Ronald J., DeStefano, George F., Streifel, Ellen B., Lucier, Brian R., Ballard, Barbara A., Vanselow, Gary John, Hintermeister, Gregory R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,533,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

The present invention generally is directed to a method, system and article of manufacture for managing software fixes for a software product in a computer system. The method comprises: for each of a plurality of software fixes for a corresponding software product, determining whether the corresponding software product is installed on the computer system; if the corresponding software product is installed, then determining whether the each one of the plurality of software fixes is installed in the computer system; and if the each one of the plurality of software fixes is installed, then setting a status value to reflect that the plurality of software fixes is installed.

Claims

1. A method of managing software fixes for a software product in a computer system, comprising:

for each of a plurality of software fixes for a corresponding software product, determining whether the corresponding software product is installed on the computer system;

if the corresponding software product is installed, then determining whether the each one of the plurality of software fixes is installed in the computer system; and

if the each one of the plurality of software fixes is installed, then setting a status value to reflect that the plurality of software fixes is installed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if at least one of the plurality of software fixes is not installed, then setting the status value to reflect that the plurality of software fixes is not installed.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the corresponding software product is not installed, then setting the status value to reflect that the plurality of software fixes is not applicable.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the each one of the plurality of software fixes is installed in the computer system comprises accessing a data structure identifying each one of the plurality of software fixes and having the status value associated therewith.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the corresponding software product is not installed and at least one of the plurality of software fixes is stored on the computer system, then setting the status value to reflect that the at least one of the plurality of software fixes is stored on the computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the each one of the plurality of software fixes is installed in the computer system comprises determining whether each one of the plurality of software fixes is identified in a software fix inventory of the computer system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the corresponding software product is installed in the computer system comprises determining whether a software product identifier and release identifier corresponding to the corresponding software product is identified in a software product inventory of the computer system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the plurality of software fixes has a related plurality of software fixes, then determining whether the related plurality of software fixes is stored in a software fixes inventory of the computer system;

and if not, setting the status value to reflect an unknown status.

9. A method of sending a data structure identifying a plurality of software fixes from a computer system, comprising:

receiving a request to send the data structure;

if the plurality of software fixes has a related plurality of software fixes, then retrieving a data structure identifying the related plurality of software fixes; and

sending the data structure identifying the plurality of software fixes and the data structure identifying the related plurality of software fixes.

10. A method of processing a data structure identifying a plurality of software fixes, comprising:

receiving the data structure from a first computer;

storing the data structure in a second computer;

using information provided by the data structure, retrieving, by the second computer, the plurality of software fixes from the first computer; and

installing the plurality of software fixes into the second computer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein storing the data structure in a second computer comprises replacing a data structure identifying an existing plurality of software fixes.

12. A computer readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation of managing software fixes for a software product in a computer system, the operation comprising:

for each of a plurality of software fixes for a corresponding software product, determining whether the corresponding software product is installed on the computer system;

if the corresponding software product is installed, then determining whether the each one of the plurality of software fixes is installed in the computer system; and

if the each one of the plurality of software fixes is installed, then setting a status value to reflect that the plurality of software fixes is installed.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising, if at least one of the plurality of software fixes is not installed, then setting the status value to reflect that the plurality of software fixes is not installed.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising, if the corresponding software product is not installed, then setting the status value to reflect that the plurality of software fixes is not applicable.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein determining whether the each one of the plurality of software fixes is installed in the computer system comprises accessing a data structure identifying each one of the plurality of software fixes and having the status value associated therewith.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising, if the corresponding software product is not installed and at least one of the plurality of software fixes is stored on the computer system, then setting the status value to reflect that the at least one of the plurality of software fixes is stored on the computer.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein determining whether the each one of the plurality of software fixes is installed in the computer system comprises determining whether each one of the plurality of software fixes is identified in a software fix inventory of the computer system.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein determining whether the corresponding software product is installed in the computer system comprises determining whether a software product identifier and release identifier corresponding to the corresponding software product is identified in a software product inventory of the computer system.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising, if the plurality of software fixes has a related plurality of software fixes, then determining whether the related plurality of software fixes is stored in a software fixes inventory of the computer system;

and if not, setting the status value to reflect an unknown status.

20. A computer readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation of sending a data structure identifying a plurality of software fixes from a computer system, the operation comprising:

receiving a request to send the data structure;

if the plurality of software fixes has a related plurality of software fixes, then retrieving a data structure identifying the related plurality of software fixes; and

sending the data structure identifying the plurality of software fixes and the data structure identifying the related plurality of software fixes.

21. A computer readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation of processing a data structure identifying a plurality of software fixes, the operation comprising:

receiving the data structure from a first computer;

storing the data structure in a second computer;

using information provided by the data structure, retrieving, by the second computer, the plurality of software fixes from the first computer; and

installing the plurality of software fixes into the second computer.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein storing the data structure in a second computer comprises replacing a data structure identifying an existing plurality of software fixes.

23. A data structure stored in a memory, the data structure comprising:

a plurality of records identifying a plurality of software fixes for a plurality of software products, each record comprising a software product identifier, a software fix identifier and a software product release identifier; and

a reference to a plurality of records identifying a related plurality of software fixes.

27. The data structure of claim 23, wherein each record further comprises a fix group level.

24. A computer system, comprising:

a memory containing a program for managing software fixes for a software product in a computer system; and

a processor which, when executing the program, performs an operation comprising;

for each of a plurality of software fixes for a corresponding software product, determining whether the corresponding software product is installed on the computer system;

if the each one of the plurality of software fixes is installed, then setting a status value to reflect that the plurality of software fixes is installed.

25. A computer system, comprising:

a memory containing a program for sending a data structure identifying a plurality of software fixes from a computer system; and

a processor which, when executing the program, performs an operation comprising;

receiving a request to send the data structure;

if the plurality of software fixes has a related plurality of software fixes, then retrieving a data structure identifying the related plurality of software fixes; and

sending the data structure identifying the plurality of software fixes and the data structure identifying the related plurality of software fixes.

26. A computer system, comprising:

a memory containing a program for processing a data structure identifying a plurality of software fixes; and

a processor which, when executing the program, performs an operation comprising;

receiving the data structure from a first computer;

storing the data structure in a second computer;

using information provided by the data structure, retrieving, by the second computer, the plurality of software fixes from the first computer; and

installing the plurality of software fixes into the second computer.