Method and apparatus for configuring a server

• US 20060168152A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Garg, Praerit, Gao, Yang, Raigandhi, Hitesh, Soluk, Kirk, McKay, Everett
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561

Abstract

A process identifies one or more roles associated with a target server. The process also identifies one or more services associated with each role and identifies one or more ports associated with each role. The identified ports associated with the role are presented to a user. The user is requested to select among the identified ports associated with the role.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying at least one role associated with a target server;

identifying one or more services associated with the role;

identifying one or more ports associated with the role;

presenting the identified services and ports associated with the role to a user; and

requesting the user to select among the identified ports for activation in the target server.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the identified services and ports are limited to those that are relevant based on information obtained from a knowledge base.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the identified services and ports are limited to those that are relevant based on information regarding a target server.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising activating the selected services and ports.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein services associated with the role are identified from a knowledge base.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein ports associated with the role are identified from a knowledge base.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising deactivating the unselected services and ports.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating an output file containing services and ports selected by the user.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising displaying details regarding the role in response to a request by the user.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising displaying a list of options for handling a service associated with the target server that is not defined in a knowledge base.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising requesting the user to select an option for handling the service.

12. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 1.

13. A method comprising:

identifying one or more roles associated with a target server;

identifying one or more services associated with the roles;

displaying the identified services associated with the roles;

allowing a user to modify the displayed services; and

identifying the selected services as active services and identifying the unselected services as inactive services.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein identifying services associated with the role includes retrieving data from a knowledge base.

15. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising generating an output file containing services modified by the user.

16. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the user is responsible for configuring the target server.

17. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising generating an output file identifying active ports and inactive ports.

18. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 13.

19. A method comprising:

identifying a role associated with a target server;

identifying one or more ports associated with the role;

presenting the identified ports associated with the role to a user;

requesting the user to select among the identified ports associated with the role; and

identifying the selected ports as active ports and identifying the unselected ports as inactive ports.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising generating an output file identifying ports selected by the user.

21. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein the one or more ports are identified using information contained in a knowledge base.

22. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein the user is responsible for configuring the target server.

23. A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising:

displaying one or more ports associated with the role; and

requesting the user to select among the one or more ports to activate in the target server.

24. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 19.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a pre-processor to receive information regarding server roles from a knowledge base and to receive characteristics of a target server, wherein the pre-processor generates a file containing server role information relevant to the target server, and wherein information in the file regarding services and ports associated with the server roles is presented to a user for selection; and

a configuration engine coupled to the pre-processor, wherein the configuration engine configures the target server based on the user'"'"'s selection of services and ports.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 25 further comprising a user interface application to generate an output file identifying services selected by the user.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 25 further comprising a user interface application to generate an output file identifying ports selected by the user.

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 26 wherein the configuration engine applies the output file when configuring the target server.

29. An apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein the configuration engine applies the output file when configuring the target server.

30. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

identify a role associated with a target server;

identify one or more services associated with the role;

identify one or more ports associated with the role;

display the identified services and ports associated with the role; and

receive selected services and ports to be activated on the target server.

31. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 30 wherein the one or more processors further activate the selected services and ports during configuration of the target server.

32. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 30 wherein the one or more processors further deactivate unselected services and ports during configuration of the target server.

33. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 30 wherein the one or more processors further identify the one or more services and the one or more ports associated with the role are identified from a knowledge base.

34. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 30 wherein the one or more processors further display one or more options for handling a service associated with the target server that is not defined in a knowledge base.