System and method for preintegration of updates to an operating system

• US 20050172280A1
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ziegler, Jeremy R., Zabava, Bruce A.
• Application Number:
  US10/766,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20050172280A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/56 Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot

Abstract

An operating system has security updates preintegrated to reduce vulnerability of the operating system to malicious programs, such as worms. Preintegration writes update files over corresponding operating system files before boot of the operating system so that malicious programs are not provided an opportunity to attack the operating system during a post-boot security update. An update package extracts update files, such as QFE files, and prepares the update files within a file and directory structure corresponding to the operating system. An overwrite engine running on an alternative operating system writes the update files to the operating system so that the operating system boots secure from attack by worms that the updates are intended to prevent.

Claims

1. A system for creating an operating system image, the image having preintegrated updates, the system comprising:

an operating system preparation engine operable to remove the operating system source file;

an update package engine operable to package one or more updates for integration with the operating system, each update having one or more files, the update package engine extracting the update files and assigning file and directory structures to the update files that replace corresponding files in the operating system directory;

an overwrite engine operable to write the packaged update files over the corresponding operating system files; and

an install engine operable to register the update with the operating system on initial boot of the operating system.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an alternative operating system operable to support the operation of the overwrite engine to write update files over the operating system files.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the operating system has a primary and a secondary source files, the operating system preparation engine further operable to remove the primary source file, the update package engine further operable to identify an update source file and to assign the update source file to overwrite the corresponding secondary source file.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the primary source file comprises the DLLCACHE and the secondary source file comprise I386.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the update package engine is further operable to identify and select security updates for packaging.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the security updates comprise updates operable to address a security vulnerability associated with worms.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the updates comprise QFEs.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the QFEs have digital signature files, the update package engine further operable to include the digital signature files with the update files.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising an operating system image creation engine operable to copy the booted operating system as an image for use in manufacture of information handling systems.

10. A method for creating an operating system image, the image having integrated updates, the method comprising:

removing the source file of the operating system;

extracting an update file from an operating system update;

writing the update file over a corresponding operating system file;

booting the operating system; and

registering the update with the operating system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the operating system comprises a primary source file and a secondary source file and wherein:

removing the source file further comprises removing the primary source file; and

writing the update file further comprises writing a source file update over the secondary source file.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the primary source file comprises DLLCACHE and the secondary source file comprises I386.

13. The method claim 10 wherein the update comprises a QFE.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein extracting an update file further comprises extracting a signature file to support recognition of the update file by the operating system.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising running an alternate operating system to perform the removing, extracting and writing.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

imaging the booted operating system; and

using the image to manufacture information handling systems.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

identifying a plurality of updates as security updates and non-security updates;

selecting the security updates for the extracting and writing; and

installing the non-security updates after boot of the operating system.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the security updates are patches to protect worm vulnerabilities.

19. An information handling system comprising:

an operating system having plural files, the operating system in a non-operational state;

an alternative operating system operable to support operation of the information handling system;

an update package supported by the alternative operating system, the update package having one or more update files for integration with the operating system, the update files having a file and directory structure aligned to replace corresponding files in the operating system;

an overwrite engine operable to write the update files over the corresponding operating system files to preintegrate the update files in the operating system.

20. The information handling system of claim 19 further comprising an operating system image creation engine operable to:

boot the operating system; and

copy an image of the booted operating system for use in manufacture of information handling systems.