SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING OPERATING SYSTEM COMPONENT VERSION VERIFICATION

• US 20080010246A1
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: CURTIS, BRYCE A., MERIWETHER, VINCENT J.
• Application Number:
  US11/428,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20080010246A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44536 Selecting among different versions

Abstract

The present invention is a method for providing operating system component version verification for a computer system. The method includes storing operating system component version data. The method further includes receiving a query requesting the operating system component version data. The method further includes processing the query. The method further includes accessing the operating system component version data. The method further includes communicating the operating system component version data. The operating system component version data is stored in non-volatile memory of the computer system, the non-volatile memory being accessible to each operating system installed on the computer system.

Claims

1. A method of providing operating system component version verification for a computer system, comprising:

storing operating system component version data;

receiving a query requesting the operating system component version data;

processing the query;

accessing the operating system component version data; and

communicating the operating system component version data,

wherein the operating system component version data is stored in non-volatile memory of the computer system, the non-volatile memory being accessible to each operating system installed on the computer system.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

updating the operating system component version data.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the operating system component version data provides at least one of:

identification of software updates which have been applied to an operating system of the computer system and identification of service patches which have been applied to an operating system of the computer system.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory includes memory of a network adapter.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the query is received from a source system, the source computer system being communicatively coupled with the computer system via a network.

6. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer useable medium including computer usable program code for performing a method for providing operating system component version verification for a computer system, the computer program product including;

computer usable program code for storing operating system component version data;

computer usable program code for receiving a query requesting the operating system component version data;

computer usable program code for processing the query;

computer usable program code for accessing the operating system component version data;

computer usable program code for communicating the operating system component version data,

wherein the operating system component version data is stored in non-volatile memory of the computer system, the non-volatile memory being accessible to each operating system installed on the computer system.

7. A computer program product as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

computer usable program code for updating the operating system component version data.

8. A computer program product as claimed in claim 7, wherein the operating system component version data provides at least one of:

identification of software updates which have been applied to an operating system of the computer system and identification of service patches which have been applied to an operating system of the computer system.

9. A computer program product as claimed in claim 6, wherein the non-volatile memory includes memory of a network adapter.

10. A computer program product as claimed in claim 6, wherein the query is received from a source system, the source computer system being communicatively coupled with the computer system via a network.

11. A system for providing operating system component version verification, comprising:

a first computer system configured for storing operating system component version data in non-volatile memory of the first computer system, the operating system component version data providing at least one of identification of software updates which have been applied to an operating system of the first computer system and identification of service patches which have been applied to an operating system of the first computer system; and

a second computer system communicatively coupled to the first computer system via a network, the second computer system configured for directing a query to the first computer system requesting the operating system component version data of the first computer system,

wherein the first computer system is configured for retrieving the operating system component version data and communicating the operating system component version data to the second computer system in response to receiving the query, the operating system component version data being accessible to each operating system installed on the first computer system.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first computer system is further configured for updating the operating system component version data when at least one of a service patch and a software update is installed on the first computer system.

13. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the non-volatile memory of the first computer system includes memory of a network adapter.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the network adapter includes a traffic processor for processing the query directed to the first computer system.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the traffic processor of the network adapter is configured for retrieving operating system component version data from the memory of the network adapter.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first computer system is configured for retrieving and communicating the operating system component version data to the second computer system in response to receiving the query when the first computer system is in one of:

a hibernating mode and a powered off mode.

17. A computer system for providing operating system component version verification, comprising:

non-volatile memory configured for storing operating system component version data of the computer system, the operating system component version data providing at least one of identification of software updates which have been applied to an operating system of the first computer system and identification of service patches which have been applied to an operating system of the first computer system,

wherein the computer system is configured for retrieving and providing the operating system component version data in response to receiving a query for said data, the operating system component version data being accessible to each operating system installed on the computer system.

18. A computer system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the query originates from the computer system.

19. A computer system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the computer system is further configured for updating the operating system component version data when at least one of a service patch and a software update is installed on the computer system.

20. A computer system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the query is received from a source system communicatively coupled via a network.