Installation of a data processing solution

• US 20040025157A1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Venn, Brian John, Wood, Stephen John, Blight, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US10/302,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20040025157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

Provided are methods and computer programs for managing installation of a set of data processing components. An installation manager program allows users to specify which of a set of predefined functional roles are to be implemented on which of their data processing systems and then the installation program automates installation of the set of data processing components which correspond to the specified roles.

Claims

1. A method of generating an installation program for managing installation of a set of data processing components onto a data processing system, the method comprising:

analyzing an existing data processing solution architectures to identify a set of existing separable functional roles which interoperate to provide the existing solution architecture;

analyzing a potential data processing solution architecture to identify a set of potential separable functional roles;

determining the required functional roles as the difference between the potential and existing separable functional roles;

partitioning the required functional roles into groups of data processing components wherein each group of components corresponds to one of the required functional roles; and

providing an installation program with a definition of each of the required functional roles, each definition including a list of the data processing components of the respective group, wherein the installation program is responsive to definition of each functional roles to be implemented on the existing data processing system, to access the respective definition and to install the respective list of data processing components.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing an existing data processing solution comprises determining the complete set of machines in the data processing solution.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein the step of analyzing an existing data processing solution further comprises determining for each machine in the system the existing software components.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein the step of analyzing an existing data processing solution further comprises determining for each machine the functional roles of the existing software components.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein the step of analyzing an existing data processing solution further comprises for each machine eliminating certain function role combinations.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing a potential data processing solution comprises analyzing one or more potential data processing solutions from a set related by business functions.

7. A method of generating an installation program according to claim 1 wherein said lists of components and their correspondence to defined functional roles are provided in a table which is accessible to the installation program.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the table includes data relating to the system requirements of the group of components corresponding to each defined functional role.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the data relating to system requirements includes installation-time system requirements.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the installation-time system requirements includes temporary disk space requirements.

11. A method according to claim 1 including:

determining a global installation sequence for a set of data processing components corresponding to a set of functional roles, and

providing the installation program with means for determining an installation sequence for the components of a specified functional role by comparing the data processing components of the role with the global installation sequence to identify the installation sequence of said components within the global installation sequence.

12. A system of generating an installation program for managing installation of a set of data processing components onto a data processing system, the system comprising:

means for analyzing an existing data processing solution architectures to identify a set of existing separable functional roles which interoperate to provide the existing solution architecture;

means for analyzing a potential data processing solution architecture to identify a set of potential separable functional roles;

means for determining the required functional roles as the difference between the potential and existing separable functional roles;

means for partitioning the required function roles into groups of data processing components wherein each group of components corresponds to one of the required functional roles; and

means for providing an installation program with a definition of each of the required functional roles, each definition including a list of the data processing components of the respective group, wherein the installation program is responsive to definition of each functional roles to be implemented on the existing data processing system, to access the respective definition and to install the respective list of data processing components.

13. A system as in claim 12 wherein the means for analyzing an existing data processing solution comprises means for determining the complete set of machines in the data processing solution.

14. A system as in claim 13 wherein the means for analyzing an existing data processing solution further comprises means for determining for each machine in the system the existing software components.

15. A system as in claim 14 wherein the means for analyzing an existing data processing solution further comprises means for determining for each machine the functional roles of the existing software components.

16. A system as in claim 15 wherein the means for analyzing an existing data processing solution further comprises means for each machine eliminating certain function role combinations.

17. A system as in claim 16 wherein the means for analyzing a potential data processing solution comprises means for analyzing one or more potential data processing solutions from a set related by business functions.

18. A system of generating an installation program according to claim 12, wherein said lists of components and their correspondence to defined functional roles are provided in a table which is accessible to the installation program.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the table includes data relating to the system requirements of the group of components corresponding to each defined functional role.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the data relating to system requirements includes installation-time system requirements.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the installation-time system requirements includes temporary disk space requirements.

22. A system according to claim 12, comprising:

means for determining a global installation sequence for a set of data processing components corresponding to a set of functional roles, and

means for providing the installation program with means for determining an installation sequence for the components of a specified functional role by comparing the data processing components of the role with the global installation sequence to identify the installation sequence of said components within the global installation sequence.

23. A computer program product for generating an installation program for managing installation of a set of data processing components onto a data processing system, said computer program arranged for causing a processor to carry out the steps of:

analyzing an existing data processing solution architectures to identify a set of existing separable functional roles which interoperate to provide the existing solution architecture;

analyzing a potential data processing solution architecture to identify a set of potential separable functional roles;

determining the required functional roles as the difference between the potential and existing separable functional roles;

partitioning the required function roles into groups of data processing components wherein each group of components corresponds to one of the required functional roles; and

providing an installation program with a definition of each of the required functional roles, each definition including a list of the data processing components of the respective group, wherein the installation program is responsive to definition of each functional roles to be implemented on the existing data processing system, to access the respective definition and to install the respective list of data processing components.

24. A computer program product as in claim 23 wherein the step of analyzing an existing data processing solution comprises determining the complete set of machines in the data processing solution.

25. A computer program product as in claim 24 wherein the step of analyzing an existing data processing solution further comprises determining for each machine in the system the existing software components.

26. A computer program product as in claim 25 wherein the step of analyzing an existing data processing solution further comprises determining for each machine the functional roles of the existing software components.

27. A computer program product as in claim 26 wherein the step of analyzing an existing data processing solution further comprises for each machine eliminating certain function role combinations.

28. A computer program product as in claim 27 wherein the step of analyzing a potential data processing solution comprises analyzing one or more potential data processing solutions from a set related by business functions.

29. A computer program product of generating an installation program according to claim 23 wherein said lists of components and their correspondence to defined functional roles are provided in a table which is accessible to the installation program.

30. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein the table includes data relating to the system requirements of the group of components corresponding to each defined functional role.

31. A computer program product according to claim 30, wherein the data relating to system requirements includes installation-time system requirements.

32. A computer program product according to claim 31, wherein the installation-time system requirements includes temporary disk space requirements.

33. A computer program product according to claim 23, including:

determining a global installation sequence for a set of data processing components corresponding to a set of functional roles, and providing the installation program with means for determining an installation sequence for the components of a specified functional role by comparing the data processing components of the role with the global installation sequence to identify the installation sequence of said components within the global installation sequence.