MANAGING CLIENT CONFIGURATION SETTINGS IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a client system comprising:
- receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, the set of configuration files are identical to the set of configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set of configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without a need to create client specific logon scripts, and the set of configuration files contains at least one defined configuration setting; and
in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a user name and a workstation name being validated, executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies the defined configuration setting to the client system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for at least one user on the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
24 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A GUI (Graphical User Interface) Manager is used by a network administrator to fill-in predefined templates. The administrator does not need to compile, debug or write a single line of scripting code. The GUI manager has a “select the box” and “point and click” and “fill-in the blank” approach for selecting computer settings. The predefined configuration and/or template(s) are used by a logon script program on a client system to manage the configuration of resources on at least one client. There are three levels of resources that can be managed. The first type of resource is an operating system. The second type of resource is an application resource. And the third type of resource is to redirect a resource on the client to a resource on a network such as a drive letter mapping. Resources include configurations from the group of configuration settings consisting of drive mappings, shell folders, printer deployment, proxy server access, application paths, service packs, anti-virus updates, policies and automatic mail profile creation. In another embodiment, validation logic is used on the clients'"'"' system during the execution of an application program that takes the template and applies the defined configuration settings in the template to the clients'"'"' system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for a user if the combination of one or more predefined conditions for a selected group, a selected operating system and a selected connection method are met. In still another embodiment, an interpretive engine is used on the client'"'"'s system to permit the administration of client resources with a template while also allowing network administrators to build their own custom logon scripts.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a client system comprising:
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receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, the set of configuration files are identical to the set of configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set of configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without a need to create client specific logon scripts, and the set of configuration files contains at least one defined configuration setting; and
in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a user name and a workstation name being validated, executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies the defined configuration setting to the client system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for at least one user on the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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2. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a client system comprising:
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receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, the set of configuration files are identical to the set of configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set of configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without a need to create client specific logon scripts, and the set of configuration files contains at least one defined configuration setting; and
in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a MAC address, a TCP/IP address, and a host address being validated, executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies the defined configuration setting to the client system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for at least one user on the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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3. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a client system comprising:
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receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, the set of configuration files are identical to the set of configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set of configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without a need to create client specific logon scripts, and the set of configuration files contains at least one defined configuration setting; and
in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a site and a domain being validated, executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies the defined configuration setting to the client system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for at least one user on the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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4. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a client system comprising:
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receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, the set of configuration files are identical to the set of configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set of configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without a need to create client specific logon scripts, and the set of configuration files contains at least one defined configuration setting; and
in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of an operating system version being validated, executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies the defined configuration setting to the client system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for at least one user on the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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5. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a client system comprising:
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receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, the set of configuration files are identical to the set of configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set of configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without a need to create client specific logon scripts, and the set of configuration files contains at least one defined configuration setting; and
in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of a connection method being validated, executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies the defined configuration setting to the client system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for at least one user on the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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6. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a server system comprising:
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presenting a graphical user interface to a user containing user selectable items representing one or more configuration settings for at least one user on at least one client system and wherein the settings are customized without a need to create client specific logon scripts;
receiving one or more user selections on the graphical user interface;
storing the one or more user selections in a set of one or more configuration files so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, wherein the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to a server; and
transferring the set of one or more configuration files from the server over to the client system so at to cause an application program to take the set of one or more configuration files and apply at least one of the configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a user name and a workstation name being validated, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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7. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a server system comprising:
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presenting a graphical user interface to a user containing user selectable items representing one or more configuration settings for at least one user on at least one client system and wherein the settings are customized without a need to create client specific logon scripts;
receiving one or more user selections on the graphical user interface;
storing the one or more user selections in a set of one or more configuration files so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, wherein the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to a server; and
transferring the set of one or more configuration files from the server over to the client system so at to cause an application program to take the set of one or more configuration files and apply at least one of the configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a MAC address, a TCP/IP address, and a host address being validated, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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8. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a server system comprising:
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presenting a graphical user interface to a user containing user selectable items representing one or more configuration settings for at least one user on at least one client system and wherein the settings are customized without a need to create client specific logon scripts;
receiving one or more user selections on the graphical user interface;
storing the one or more user selections in a set of one or more configuration files so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, wherein the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to a server; and
transferring the set of one or more configuration files from the server over to the client system so at to cause an application program to take the set of one or more configuration files and apply at least one of the configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a site and a domain being validated, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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9. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a server system comprising:
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presenting a graphical user interface to a user containing user selectable items representing one or more configuration settings for at least one user on at least one client system and wherein the settings are customized without a need to create client specific logon scripts;
receiving one or more user selections on the graphical user interface;
storing the one or more user selections in a set of one or more configuration files so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, wherein the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to a server; and
transferring the set of one or more configuration files from the server over to the client system so at to cause an application program to take the set of one or more configuration files and apply at least one of the configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a user name and a workstation name being validated, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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10. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a server system comprising:
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presenting a graphical user interface to a user containing user selectable items representing one or more configuration settings for at least one user on at least one client system and wherein the settings are customized without a need to create client specific logon scripts;
receiving one or more user selections on the graphical user interface;
storing the one or more user selections in a set of one or more configuration files so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, wherein the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to a server; and
transferring the set of one or more configuration files from the server over to the client system so at to cause an application program to take the set of one or more configuration files and apply at least one of the configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of an operating system version being validated, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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11. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a server system comprising:
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presenting a graphical user interface to a user containing user selectable items representing one or more configuration settings for at least one user on at least one client system and wherein the settings are customized without a need to create client specific logon scripts;
receiving one or more user selections on the graphical user interface;
storing the one or more user selections in a set of one or more configuration files so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, wherein the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to a server; and
transferring the set of one or more configuration files from the server over to the client system so at to cause an application program to take the set of one or more configuration files and apply at least one of the configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a user name and a workstation name being validated, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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12. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a server system comprising:
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presenting a graphical user interface to a user containing user selectable items representing one or more configuration settings for at least one user on at least one client system and wherein the settings are customized without a need to create client specific logon scripts;
receiving one or more user selections on the graphical user interface;
storing the one or more user selections in a set of one or more configuration files so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, wherein the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to a server; and
transferring the set of one or more configuration files from the server over to the client system so at to cause an application program to take the set of one or more configuration files and apply at least one of the configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a connection method being validated, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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13. A client system to manage the configuration of at resource in a client-server environment comprising:
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means for receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set configuration files containing one or more defined configuration settings, wherein the configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without a need to create client specific logon scripts; and
in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a user name and a workstation name being validated, means for executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies the defined configuration setting to the client system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for at least one user on the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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14. A client system to manage the configuration of at resource in a client-server environment comprising:
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means for receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set configuration files containing one or more defined configuration settings, wherein the configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without a need to create client specific logon scripts; and
in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a MAC address, a TCP/IP address, and a host address being validated, means for executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies the defined configuration setting to the client system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for at least one user on the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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15. A client system to manage the configuration of at resource in a client-server environment comprising:
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means for receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set configuration files containing one or more defined configuration settings, wherein the configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without a need to create client specific logon scripts; and
in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of a site and a domain being validated, means for executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies the defined configuration setting to the client system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for at least one user on the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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16. A client system to manage the configuration of at resource in a client-server environment comprising:
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means for receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set configuration files containing one or more defined configuration settings, wherein the configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without a need to create client specific logon scripts; and
in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of at least one of an operating system version being validated, means for executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies the defined configuration setting to the client system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for at least one user on the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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17. A client system to manage the configuration of at resource in a client-server environment comprising:
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means for receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set configuration files containing one or more defined configuration settings, wherein the configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without a need to create client specific logon scripts; and
in response to a logon authentication and at least one predefined runtime condition of a connection method being validated, means for executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies the defined configuration setting to the client system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for at least one user on the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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Specification