Apparatus, system, and method for autonomously preserving high-availability network boot services

• US 20070157016A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kekessie, Kofi, Dayan, Richard, Jennings, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/321,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157016A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for autonomously preserving high-availability network boot services. The apparatus includes a monitor module, a detection module, and a substitution module. The monitor module actively monitors a distributed logical linked list. The detection module detects a variation in a distributed logical linked list configuration. The substitution module substitutes a network boot service of a failed element of the distributed logical linked list. The apparatus, system, and method provide preservation of on-demand network services autonomously, maintaining a high-availability of network boot services.

Claims

1. An apparatus for autonomously preserving high-availability network boot services, the apparatus comprising:

a monitor module configured to actively monitor a distributed logical linked list;

a detection module coupled to the monitor module, the detection module configured to detect a variation in a distributed logical linked list configuration; and

a substitution module in communication with the detection module, the substitution module configured to substitute a network boot service of a failed element of the distributed logical linked list.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a configuration module coupled to the monitor module, the configuration module configured to configure the distributed logical linked list and to reconfigure the distributed logical linked list in response to receiving a signal from the detection module.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a validation module coupled to the configuration module, the validation module configured to validate a server contact list and/or a master table associated with the distributed logical linked list.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a deletion module coupled to the configuration module, the deletion module configured to delete a server contact list and/or a master table associated with the distributed logical linked list.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an update module coupled to the configuration module, the update module configured to update a server contact list and/or a master table associated with the distributed logical linked list.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an acknowledgement module coupled to the configuration module, the acknowledgement module configured to acknowledge a modification of a server contact list and/or a master table associated with the distributed logical linked list.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a replication module coupled to the monitor module, the replication module configured to replicate an active management resource associated with a master deployment server.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein active monitoring comprises periodically validating a server contact list and/or a master table associated with the distributed logical linked list within a predefined heartbeat interval.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an activation module configured to activate a management function associated with a master deployment server and/or to activate a network boot service associated with a deployment server.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a promotion module configured to promote a secondary deployment server to a primary backup deployment server and/or to promote the primary backup deployment server to a master deployment server.

11. A system for autonomously preserving high-availability network boot services, the system comprising:

a master deployment server configured to manage a process to preserve a service of a network boot server;

a primary backup deployment server coupled to the master deployment server, the primary backup deployment server configured to replicate a management function of the master deployment server;

a secondary deployment server coupled to the primary backup deployment server, the secondary deployment server configured to serve a network boot service to a plurality of connected computer clients; and

a service preservation utility in communication with the master deployment server, the service preservation utility configured to autonomously process operations to preserve the network boot service and maintain a distributed logical linked list.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the service preservation utility comprises:

a monitor module configured to actively monitor a distributed logical linked list;

a detection module coupled to the monitor module, the detection module configured to detect a variation in a distributed logical linked list configuration; and

a substitution module in communication with the detection module, the substitution module configured to substitute a network boot service of a failed element of the distributed logical linked list.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the master deployment server, the primary backup deployment server and/or the secondary deployment server comprises:

a preclusion indicator configured to indicate a preclusion of promoting a deployment server as a master deployment server; and

a priority indicator configured to indicate a priority to position a deployment server higher or lower in a distributed logical linked list.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the master deployment server comprises an active master table configured to record all members that are current elements of the distributed logical linked list.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the primary backup deployment server comprises an inactive master table configured to replicate all current elements of the active master table.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein a deployment server comprises a server contact list configured to record an element directly upstream and an element directly downstream from the deployment server on the distributed logical linked list.

17. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for autonomously preserving high-availability network boot services, the operations comprising:

autonomously monitoring a distributed logical linked list;

detecting a variation in the distributed logical linked list; and

substituting a failed element of the distributed logical linked list.

18. The signal bearing medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise configuring the distributed logical linked list and reconfiguring the distributed logical linked list in response to receiving a signal from the detection module.

19. The signal bearing medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise replicating an active management resource associated with a master deployment server.

20. A method for deploying computing infrastructure, comprising integrating computer readable code into a computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing the following:

determining a client hardware configuration comprises;

a distributed logical linked list of a plurality network boot servers;

a master deployment server configured to manage a process to preserve the service of the plurality of network boot servers and maintain a master table associated with the distributed logical linked list;

a primary backup deployment server configured to replicate all management functions of the master deployment server; and

a secondary deployment server configured to serve network boot services to a plurality of connected computer clients and maintain a server contact list associated with the distributed logical linked list;

executing a service preservation process for the hardware configuration configured to;

monitor a distributed logical linked list;

detect a variation in the distributed logical linked list;

substitute a failed element of the distributed logical linked list; and

upgrading a system network to provide a secure and high-availability deployment management network configured to;

prevent a rogue server from linking and connecting to the distributed logical linked list;

prevent an rogue server from providing network boot service to a client attached to the system network; and

prevent booting of a rogue operating system or a rogue image into the system network.