Client-server text messaging monitoring for remote computer management

• US 20040093401A1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Morin, Eric J., Buswell, Ronald M.
• Application Number:
  US10/065,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20040093401A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/10 Streamlined, light-weight or high-speed protocols, e.g. express transfer protocol [XTP] or byte stream

Abstract

Implementation of a client-server text messaging (CSTM) monitor installed on a computer system that is configured to monitor a client-server text messaging (CSTM) server for commands posted thereto, and a management program installed on the computer system which is responsive to the commands. The CSTM monitor is lightweight and allows multiple computer systems to monitor a CSTM server and execute posted commands. Managed computer systems are more efficient because the management program does not run continuously. The commands are text-based and, therefore, require very little network bandwidth between a management system and the managed computer system. The invention allows a centralized computer management system to monitor managed computer systems and implement corrective measures without overburdening the systems or network bandwidth.

Claims

1. A system for performing remote computer system management, the system comprising:

a client-server text messaging (CSTM) monitor installed on a computer system, the monitor configured to monitor a CSTM server for commands posted thereto; and

a management program installed on the computer system which is responsive to the commands.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the CSTM monitor and server are configured to function according to Internet relay chat protocol.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the command is in the form of a text string.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the command includes a preface, an identifier and an instruction for the management program.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the CSTM monitor is also configured to post a response from the management program to the CSTM server.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the CSTM server includes a log program configured to record CSTM server activities.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the CSTM server is configured to receive commands from an update server.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the CSTM monitor is also configured to sense a problem in the computer system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the management program is idle until it receives a command.

10. A method of managing a managed computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring a client-server text messaging (CSTM) server for a command posted thereto, each command including a computer system identifier for the command and an instruction; and

receiving the command at the managed computer system and executing the instruction with a management program.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the command is in the form of a text string.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the CSTM server is configured to function according to Internet relay chat protocol.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of sensing a problem in the computer system and posting a response to the CSTM server and channel regarding the problem.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for implementing remote computer management of a computer system, the program product comprising:

program code configured to monitor a client-server text messaging (CSTM) server for a command, each command including a computer system identifier for the command and an instruction; and

program code configured to manage the computer system responsive to the instruction.

15. The program product of claim 14, wherein the program code configured to monitor functions according to Internet relay chat protocol.

16. The program product of claim 14, wherein the command is in the form of a text string.

17. The program product of claim 14, wherein the command includes a preface, an identifier and an instruction for the management program code.

18. The program product of claim 14, further comprising program code configured to record posted commands at the CSTM server.

19. The program product of claim 14, further comprising program code configured to sense a problem in the computer system and post a response to the CSTM server regarding the problem.

20. The program product of claim 14, further comprising program code configured to post a response from the management program to the CSTM server.