Method and system for live operating environment upgrades

• US 20040019823A1
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Gere, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,000,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and system for implementing a live operating system upgrade of a computer system. The method includes generating a first copy of a previous operating system environment of the computer system. The computer system is then booted to a subsequent operating system environment. A second copy of the previous operating system environment at the time of the booting is then-generated. Additionally, a third copy of the subsequent operating system environment, at the time of the booting is generated. The copies function by ensuring the subsequent operating system environment is synchronized with the previous operating system environment by comparing the first copy, the second copy, and the third copy to detect any intervening changes and allow decisions to be made regarding such changes.

Claims

1. A method for live operating system upgrade of a server computer system comprising:

generating a first copy of a previous operating system environment;

booting the computer system to a subsequent operating system environment;

generating a second copy of the previous operating system environment, at the time of said booting;

generating a third copy of the subsequent operating system environment, at the time of said booting; and

ensuring the subsequent operating system environment is synchronized with the previous operating system environment by comparing the first copy, the second copy, and the third copy.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating the first copy, the second copy, and the third copy dynamically on the server computer system.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing the first copy of the previous operating system environment with the second copy of the subsequent operating system environment; and

generating an error if the first copy differs from the second copy.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing the second copy of the previous operating system environment with the third copy of the subsequent operating system environment at the time of said booting; and

changing the third copy to match the second copy if the second copy reflects intervening changes with respect to the third copy.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing the second copy of the previous operating system environment with the third copy of the subsequent operating system environment at the time of said booting; and

adopting the third copy if the third copy reflects intervening changes with respect to the second copy.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing the second copy of the previous operating system environment with the third copy of the subsequent operating system environment at the time of said booting; and

adopting the third copy if the third copy if there are no intervening changes with respect to the second copy.

7. A server configured for implementing live operating system upgrades comprising:

a computer system having a processor coupled to a memory, the memory having computer readable code which when executed by the processor causes the computer system to implement;

generating a first copy of a previous operating system environment;

booting the computer system to a subsequent operating system environment;

generating a second copy of the previous operating system environment, at the time of said booting;

generating a third copy of the subsequent operating system environment, at the time of said booting; and

ensuring the subsequent operating system environment is synchronized with the previous operating system environment by comparing the first copy, the second copy, and the third copy.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

generating the first copy, the second copy, and the third copy dynamically on the server computer system.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

comparing the first copy of the previous operating system environment with the second copy of the subsequent operating system environment; and

generating an error if the first copy differs from the second copy.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

comparing the second copy of the previous operating system environment with the third copy of the subsequent operating system environment at the time of said booting; and

changing the third copy to match the second copy if the second copy reflects intervening changes with respect to the third copy.

11. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

comparing the second copy of the previous operating system environment with the third copy of the subsequent operating system environment at the time of said booting; and

adopting the third copy if the third copy reflects intervening changes with respect to the second copy.

12. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

comparing the second copy of the previous operating system environment with the third copy of the subsequent operating system environment at the time of said booting; and

adopting the third copy if the third copy if there are no intervening changes with respect to the second copy.

13. A computer readable media having computer readable code which when executed by a server computer system cause the computer system to implement a method for a live operating system upgrade comprising:

generating a first copy of a previous operating system environment;

booting the computer system to a subsequent operating system environment;

generating a second copy of the previous operating system environment, at the time of said booting;

generating a third copy of the subsequent operating system environment, at the time of said booting; and

ensuring the subsequent operating system environment is synchronized with the previous operating system environment by comparing the first copy, the second copy, and the third copy.

14. The computer readable media of claim 13 further comprising:

generating the first copy, the second copy, and the third copy dynamically on the server computer system.

15. The computer readable media of claim 13 further comprising:

comparing the first copy of the previous operating system environment with the second copy of the subsequent operating system environment; and

generating an error if the first copy differs from the second copy.

16. The computer readable media of claim 13 further comprising:

comparing the second copy of the previous operating system environment with the third copy of the subsequent operating system environment at the time of said booting; and

changing the third copy to match the second copy if the second copy reflects intervening changes with respect to the third copy.

17. The computer readable media of claim 13 further comprising:

comparing the second copy of the previous operating system environment with the third copy of the subsequent operating system environment at the time of said booting; and

adopting the third copy if the third copy reflects intervening changes with respect to the second copy.

18. The computer readable media of claim 13 further comprising:

comparing the second copy of the previous operating system environment with the third copy of the subsequent operating system environment at the time of said booting; and

adopting the third copy if the third copy if there are no intervening changes with respect to the second copy.

19. A system for live operating system upgrade of a server computer system comprising:

means for generating a first copy of a previous operating system environment;

means for booting the computer system to a subsequent operating system environment;

means for generating a second copy of the previous operating system environment, at the time of said booting;

means for generating a third copy of the subsequent operating system environment, at the time of said booting; and

means for ensuring the subsequent operating system environment is synchronized with the previous operating system environment by comparing the first copy, the second copy, and the third copy.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

means for generating the first copy, the second copy, and the third copy dynamically on the server computer system.