System and method for remotely re-imaging a computer system

• US 20080010639A1
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ivanti, Inc. (Ivanti Software, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LANrev LP
• Inventors: Bestmann, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,234,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for remotely re-imaging a computer system. In one example, a method is provided for executing a re-imaging process for replacing an original image on an active system of a remote computer system with a new image. The method includes receiving a command to initiate the re-imaging process from a remote location and downloading the new image onto the active system. The re-imaging process is performed to replace the original image with the active image and remote location may be informed of the re-imaging process'"'"'s success. The computer system is rebooted.

Claims

1. A method for executing a re-imaging process for replacing an original image on an active system of a remote computer system with a new image comprising:

receiving a command to initiate the re-imaging process from a remote location;

downloading the new image onto the active system;

performing the re-imaging process to replace the original image with the active image;

informing the remote location of the re-imaging process'"'"'s success; and

rebooting the computer system, wherein no reboot is needed between the receiving the command and performing the re-imaging process.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising deleting files of the original image when rebooting the computer system.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating an agent resident on the computer system after receiving the command, wherein the agent executes the re-imaging process.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the re-imaging process includes:

stopping processes not needed to maintain an operating system running on the active system in an operable state;

moving files and settings in the original image from a top level space of the active system into a temporary directory using system level application programming interface (API) commands; and

moving files from a re-imaging directory in which files for the new image are stored on the active system into the top level space using system level API commands.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein stopping processes not needed to maintain the operating system running on the active system in an operable state includes logging off any user currently logged into the active system.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising preserving at least a portion of settings and files from the original image by copying the portion of the settings and files into an identical location in the re-imaging directory.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the copying the portion of the settings and files into an identical location in the re-imaging directory occurs prior to stopping processes not needed to maintain the operating system running on the active system in an operable state.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising identifying a plurality of files corresponding to the original image that are to be saved during the re-imaging process, wherein the files are available on the remote computer system after rebooting the computer system.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising identifying a plurality of settings corresponding to the original image that are to be saved during the re-imaging process, wherein the settings are available on the remote computer system after rebooting the computer system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein downloading the new image onto the active system includes accessing the new image on a remote storage device.

11. A method for executing a re-imaging process for replacing an original image on an active system of a remote computer system with a new image comprising:

defining a plurality of settings and files that are to be preserved from the original image during the re-imaging process;

issuing a command to execute an agent process on the remote computer system for initiating the re-imaging process;

instructing the agent process to save the defined plurality of setting and files that are to be preserved; and

waiting for a response from the agent indicating success or failure of the re-imaging process.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the command identifies a location of the new image to be used in the re-imaging process.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the agent is part of the original image.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising downloading the agent to the remote computer system before issuing the command.

15. A system for re-imaging a remote active system comprising:

a first computer;

a second computer coupled to the first computer, wherein the second computer includes the active system;

a plurality of instructions for execution on the first computer including;

instructions for issuing a command to execute an agent process on the second computer for initiating the re-imaging process; and

a plurality of instructions for execution on the second computer including;

instructions for receiving the command to initiate the re-imaging process;

instructions for copying a new image to the active system, wherein the new image is to replace an original image on the active system;

instructions for performing the re-imaging process to replace the original image with the active image; and

instructions for rebooting the computer system, wherein no reboot is needed between the receiving the command and performing the re-imaging process.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of instructions for performing the re-imaging process to replace the original image with the active image include instructions for:

stopping processes not needed to maintain an operating system running on the active system in a functional state;

moving files and settings in the original image from a top level space of the active system into a temporary directory using system level application programming interface (API) commands; and

moving files from a re-imaging directory in which files for the new image are stored on the active system into the top level space using system level API commands.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the instructions for stopping processes not needed to maintain the operating system running on the active system in a functional state include instructions for logging off any user currently logged into the active system.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of instructions for execution on the first computer include instructions for defining a plurality of settings and files that are to be preserved from the original image during the re-imaging process and instructing the agent process to preserve the defined plurality of setting and files.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of instructions for execution on the second computer include instructions for preserving the plurality of settings and files from the original image by copying the plurality of settings and files to an identical location in a re-imaging directory on the active system.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of instructions for execution on the second computer include instructions for notifying the first computer of whether the re-imaging was successful.