Enhanced computer target groups

• US 20070240151A1
• Filed: 01/29/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Reus, Edward, Menzies, Derek, Hennessey, David, Shepard, Marc, Hou, Jianbo, Marl, Craig
• Application Number:
  US11/344,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20070240151A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

Performing software installation activities. A method may be practiced for example in a network computing environment including one or more targetable entities organized into target groups. The method includes beginning a rollout including installation activities to a first set of one or more target groups. At least a portion of the installation activities are evaluated in the first set of one or more target groups. A rollout, including installation activities, to a second set of one or more target groups is begun if the installation activities in the first set of one or more target groups meet predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. In a network computing environment including one or more targetable entities organized into target groups, a method of performing software installation activities, the method comprising:

beginning a rollout including installation activities to a first set of one or more target groups;

evaluating at least a portion of the installation activities in the first set of one or more target groups; and

if the installation activities in the first set of one or more target groups meet a predetermined criteria, beginning a rollout, including installation activities, to a second set of one or more target groups.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating at least a portion of the installation activities comprises evaluating the percentage of successful installations in the first set of one or more target groups.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein evaluating the percentage of successful installations comprises evaluating a percentage of successful installations for all targetable entities in the first set of one or more target groups.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the installation activities comprise installing updates, and wherein evaluating the percentage of successful installations comprises evaluating a percentage of successful installations for targetable entities in the first set of one or more target groups that have a need for a particular update.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein targetable entities in the first set of one or more target groups that have a need for a particular update have need for the update by virtue of hardware and/or software installed at the targetable entity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating at least of portion of the installation activities in the first set of one or more target groups comprises determining that a predetermined amount of time has expires since beginning the installation activities in the first set of one or more target groups.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the installation activities comprise at least one of installing a software application or update, uninstalling a software application or update, blocking, and/or scanning.

8. In a network computing environment including one or more targetable entities organized into target groups, a method of performing software installation activities, the method comprising:

beginning a rollout including installation activities to a first set of one or more target groups;

evaluating at least a portion of the installation activities in the first set of one or more target groups; and

if the installation activities in the first set of one or more target groups meet a predetermined criteria, halting the installation activities.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises a threshold of installation failures.

10. In a computer system, the computer system comprising a plurality of target groups, wherein the target groups comprise one or more targetable entities, a method of targeting entities, the method comprising:

organizing targetable entities into target groups on the computer system wherein one or more targetable entities belong to a plurality of target groups;

organizing the target groups in a hierarchy, wherein at least one targetable entity belongs to different branches in the hierarchy; and

beginning a rollout including installation activities to one or more of the target groups.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the installation activities comprise deploying software packages, software updates and/or one or more data sets.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein deploying one or more data sets comprises deploying configuration data.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the installation activities comprise performing scan operations to determine targetable entities that would perform an installation activity and/or evaluation operations to gather information at a targetable entity.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein beginning a rollout including installation activities comprises deploying installation activities according to a set of policy rules.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the policy rules comprise conflict resolution rules for resolving conflicts between conflicting installation activities.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the policy rules weight the strength of installation activities by how deep a targetable entity is in a hierarchy.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the policy rules weight the strength of installation activities by target group.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the policy rules weight the strength of installation activities by weighting the installation activities.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the policy rules weight the strength of installation activities by revision version of an installation activity.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein beginning a rollout including installation activities comprising scanning to determine installation activities that would be performed if available to targetable entities.