Method for imaging computer systems

• US 20060031425A1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Williamson, John T., Parker, Ryan J., Nelson, Richard F.
• Application Number:
  US10/862,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031425A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order

Abstract

A method is provided for configuring a target computer system in accordance with a computer image. The method comprises the steps of determining a hardware configuration of the target system, reconfiguring a hardware abstraction layer of the target system, transferring information from the computer image to a storage device in the target computer, and using the transferred information to reconfigure the target computer.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a target computer system in accordance with a computer image, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a hardware configuration of the target system;

reconfiguring a hardware abstraction layer of the target system;

transferring information from the computer image to a storage device in the target computer; and

using the transferred information to reconfigure the target computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reconfiguring a hardware abstraction layer of the target system comprises the step of:

creating, removing and/or modifying device links in the hardware abstraction layer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

repartitioning a software layout onto the storage device of the target system;

formatting the storage device according to a desired profile; and

writing software from the computer image to the storage device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reconfiguring a hardware abstraction layer of the target system comprises the steps of:

rebuilding a device tree to conform to the target computer hardware configuration; and

rebuilding major/minor numbers which map device drivers to the hardware abstraction layer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

creating hardware handles for the target computer; and

rebuilding a path_to_inst file to reflect the hardware handles.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

migrate network information to a network interface controller.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

running custom or third party software to detect and migrate additional hardware or software.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating a digital signature of the computer image.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating a digital signature of the computer image comprises the step of:

generating hash values of configuration management information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

checking the computer image integrity by comparing the generated hash values with stored hash values.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transferring information from the computer image to a storage device in the target computer comprises the steps of:

capturing a partition layout;

capturing disk space usage;

writing an image label;

capturing configuration management information;

dumping file system information;

compressing the file system information;

writing the file system information; and

generating hash data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer image contains:

an archive of files on a source computer system;

image lineage information; and

configuration management information.