Computer system and a program install method thereof

• US 20040194084A1
• Filed: 04/13/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Akira Yamamoto, Hideki Kamimaki, Jun Matsumoto, Naoto Matsunami, Yoichi Mizuno
• Original Assignee: Akira Yamamoto, Hideki Kamimaki, Jun Matsumoto, Naoto Matsunami, Yoichi Mizuno
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akira, Mizuno, Yoichi, Matsumoto, Jun, Matsunami, Naoto, Kamimaki, Hideki
• Application Number:
  US10/822,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20040194084A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A computer system including plural computers, a management console for installing a program in the computers and a storage subsystem coupled to each computer and management console. The storage subsystem includes a first storage unit shared by the computers and plural second storage units corresponding to the computers. The first storage unit stores a file related to each installed program and an installer program for installing a program. The second storage units each store an install agent and a control file accessed by the install agent. The management console includes an install manager for starting each install agent by switching on power to a corresponding computer. Upon starting, the install agent starts the installer program based on the control file. The installer program reads a related file from the first storage unit, and transfers it to the second storage unit of the corresponding computer, thereby installing the program.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A computer program on a computer readable medium for a computer system which includes a first computer, a second computer, a management computer operated by an operator to install a target program and a storage system coupled to said first computer, said second computer and said management computer, wherein said storage system includes a shared logical unit accessed by each of said first computer, said second computer, and said management computer, a first logical unit accessed by said first computer, and a second logical unit accessed by said second computer, wherein said computer program when executed causes said computer system to perform the steps of:

controlling said first computer and said second computer from said management computer to start a process executed by an install agent of each of said first computer and said second computer;

loading an installer program stored in said shared logical unit into each of said first computer and said second computer by the install agent;

installing, according to the installer program on said first computer, a target program for said first computer by controlling transfer of said target program previously stored in said shared logical unit to said first logical unit; and

installing, according to the installer program on said second computer a target program for said second computer by controlling transfer of said target program previously stored in said shared logical unit to said second logical unit,

wherein upon performing said installing steps, said first computer can use said target program stored in said first logical unit and said second computer can use said target program stored in said second logical unit.

3. A computer program according to claim 2, wherein said computer program when executed causes said computer system to further perform the steps of:

before performing the step of controlling said first computer and said second computer performing the steps of;

storing said target program in said shared logical unit by said management computer, and

storing the install agent and a control file used by the install agent in said first logical unit and said second logical unit.

4. A computer program according to claim 3, wherein said control file includes the information for identifying said installer program and the information indicating the place where said installer program is stored.

5. A computer program according to claim 4, wherein said computer program when executed causes said computer system to further perform the step of:

setting the install agent of each of said first computer and said second computer to start at the time of activating of each of said first computer and said second computer from said management computer.

6. A computer program according to claim 5, wherein before loading an installer program, switching on the power supply of each of said first computer and said second computer under the control of said management computer.

7. A computer program according to claim 6, wherein said control file includes the ID information indicating whether the install work is to be carried out or not, and wherein said computer program when executed causes said computer system to further perform the step of:

determining whether the install agent of each of said first computer and said second computer conducts the install work based on said ID information.

8. A computer program according to claim 3, wherein said control file includes key information for permitting said target program to be installed.

9. A computer program according to claim 8, wherein said computer program when executed causes said computer system to further perform the step of:

determining whether said target program is to be installed for each of said first computer and said second computer according to said key information.

10. A computer program according to claim 9, wherein said key information contains an identifier of a computer for which said target program is permitted to be installed, and said substep of determining whether said target program is to be installed includes the substep of comparing the identifier of each of said first computer and said second computer with the identifier contained in said key information.

11. A computer program according to claim 10, wherein said identifier is a unique address information assigned to the controller board of a computer for coupling to said storage system via a network.

12. A computer program according to claim 2, wherein said computer program when executed causes said computer system to further perform the step of:

obtaining information indicating the condition of the process for installing said target program by said management computer.

13. A computer program according to claim 2, wherein said information indicating the condition of the process for installing said target program is given through a logical unit included in said storage system.

14. A computer program according to claim 2, wherein the step of installing said target program for said first computer includes the substeps of:

transferring a file copy request from said first computer to said storage system, and

copying said target program from said shared logical unit to said first logical unit in response to said file copy request by said storage system; and

wherein the step of installing said target program for said second computer includes the substeps of;

transferring a file copy request from said second computer to said storage system, and

copying said target program from said shared logical unit to said second logical unit in response to said file copy request by said storage system.

15. An install method according to claim 2, wherein said first computer, said second computer and said storage system are coupled to each other through a connector,

wherein the step of installing said target program for said first computer includes the substeps of:

transferring a file copy request from said first computer to said connector, and

copying said target program from said shared logical unit to said first logical unit in response to said file copy request by said connector, and

wherein the step of installing said target program for said second computer includes the substeps of;

transferring a file copy request from said second computer to said connector, and

copying said target program from said shared logical unit to said second logical unit in response to said file copy request by said connector.

16. A computer program on a computer readable medium for a management computer in a computer system which includes a first computer, a second computer, said management computer operated by an operator to install a target program and a storage system coupled to said first computer, said second computer and said management computer, wherein said storage system includes a shared logical unit accessed by each of said first computer, said second computer, and said management computer, a first logical unit accessed by said first computer, and a second logical unit accessed by said second computer, wherein said computer program when executed causes said management computer to perform the steps of:

controlling said first computer and said second computer to start a process executed by an install agent of each of said first computer and said second computer;

loading an installer program stored in said shared logical unit into each of said first computer and said second computer by the install agent;

installing, according to the installer program on said first computer, a target program for said first computer by controlling transfer of said target program previously stored in said shared logical unit to said first logical unit; and

installing, according to the installer program on said second computer a target program for said second computer by controlling transfer of said target program previously stored in said shared logical unit to said second logical unit,

wherein upon performing said installing steps, said first computer can use said target program stored in said first logical unit and said second computer can use said target program stored in said second logical unit.

17. A computer program according to claim 16, wherein said computer program when executed causes said management computer to further perform the steps of:

before performing the step of controlling said first computer and said second computer performing the steps of;

storing said target program in said shared logical unit by said management computer, and

storing the install agent and a control file used by the install agent in said first logical unit and said second logical unit.

18. A computer program according to claim 17, wherein said control file includes the information for identifying said installer program and the information indicating the place where said installer program is stored.

19. A computer program according to claim 18, wherein said computer program when executed causes said computer system to further perform the step of:

setting the install agent of each of said first computer and said second computer to start at the time of activating of each of said first computer and said second computer from said management computer.

20. A computer program according to claim 19, wherein before loading an installer program, switching on the power supply of each of said first computer and said second computer under the control of said management computer.

21. A computer program according to claim 20, wherein said control file includes the ID information indicating whether the install work is to be carried out or not, and wherein said computer program when executed causes said computer system to further perform the step of:

determining whether the install agent of each of said first computer and said second computer conducts the install work based on said ID information.

22. A computer program according to claim 17, wherein said control file includes key information for permitting said target program to be installed.

23. A computer program according to claim 22, wherein said computer program when executed causes said computer system to further perform the step of:

determining whether said target program is to be installed for each of said first computer and said second computer according to said key information.

24. A computer program according to claim 23, wherein said key information contains an identifier of a computer for which said target program is permitted to be installed, and said substep of determining whether said target program is to be installed includes the substep of comparing the identifier of each of said first computer and said second computer with the identifier contained in said key information.

25. A computer program according to claim 24, wherein said identifier is a unique address information assigned to the controller board of a computer for coupling to said storage system via a network.

26. A computer program according to claim 16, wherein said computer program when executed causes said computer system to further perform the step of:

obtaining information indicating the condition of the process for installing said target program by said management computer.

27. A computer program according to claim 26, wherein said information indicating the condition of the process for installing said target program is given through a logical unit included in said storage system.

28. A computer program according to claim 16, wherein the step of installing said target program for said first computer includes the substeps of:

transferring a file copy request from said first computer to said storage system, and

copying said target program from said shared logical unit to said first logical unit in response to said file copy request by said storage system; and

wherein the step of installing said target program for said second computer includes the substeps of;

transferring a file copy request from said second computer to said storage system, and

copying said target program from said shared logical unit to said second logical unit in response to said file copy request by said storage system.

29. An install method according to claim 16, wherein said first computer, said second computer and said storage system are coupled to each other through a connector;

wherein the step of installing said target program for said first computer includes the substeps of;

transferring a file copy request from said first computer to said connector, and

copying said target program from said shared logical unit to said first logical unit in response to said file copy request by said connector, and

wherein the step of installing said target program for said second computer includes the substeps of;

transferring a file copy request from said second computer to said connector, and

copying said target program from said shared logical unit to said second logical unit in response to said file copy request by said connector.