Graphical representation of setup state on multiple nodes

• US 20080046097A1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bukovec, Mai-lan Tomsen, Tremblay, Edward K.
• Application Number:
  US11/506,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046097A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to setting up nodes. In aspects, a setup process is started on a node to install software components to provide services to other nodes. The setup process may also install software components on other nodes to provide additional services. A management component displays a graphical representation of the setup state of the nodes. As the setup state changes, the management component changes the representation to correspond to the new setup state of the nodes. In addition, a user may hover a cursor over an icon representing a node to obtain information about the setup state of the node or other information about the node.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform actions, comprising:

executing a setup process, wherein the setup process installs software components on a plurality of nodes that are to communicate with each other;

displaying a graphical representation of a setup state of each of the nodes, the graphical representation indicating at least a node currently being setup, whether each node is configured to communicate with other nodes, and whether each node has been setup via the setup process; and

changing the graphical representation as the setup process proceeds.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises servers that provide services to other processes.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation indicating at least a node currently being setup comprises displaying an arrow pointing to an icon representing the node.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation indicating at least a node currently being setup comprises highlighting an icon representing the node.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation indicating whether each node is configured to communicate with other nodes comprises an animation of a graphic representing a network.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation indicating whether each node is configured to communicate with other nodes comprises at least one “

X”

graphic over a portion of a graphic representing a network, wherein the at least one “

X”

graphic is located next to each icon representing each node that is not configured to communicate with other nodes.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation indicating whether each node is configured to communicate with other nodes comprises at least one colored circle over a portion of a graphic representing a network, wherein the at least one colored circle is located next to each icon presenting each node that is configured to communicate with other nodes.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation indicating whether each node has been setup via the setup process comprises a shaded icon corresponding to each server that has not been setup via the setup process.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation indicating whether each node has been setup via the setup process comprises a colored area associated with each server that has been setup via the setup process.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising displaying text regarding a state of node when a cursor is hovered over an icon representing the node or the icon is selected.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the text includes a name, function, setup state of the node, and also includes a link to launch a document or website.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation includes a static picture element or a dynamic picture element that is visible based on an availability of an entity that the static or dynamic picture element represents.

13. A method implemented at least in part by a computer, the method comprising:

performing a setup of a plurality of nodes at least some of which are to provide services;

at least during the setup, displaying a graphical representation of a setup state of each node that is to provide a service; and

at least during the setup, changing the graphical representation to correspond to a current setup state of each node that is to provide a service.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a setup state comprises not setup, currently being setup, completely setup, and functioning correctly.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein performing a setup of a plurality of nodes at least some of which are to provide services comprises logging on to each of the nodes that is to provide at least one service and installing software thereon to cause the node to provide the at least one service in response to a request for the at least one service.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the graphical representation comprises an icon for each node that is to provide a service.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the graphical representation comprises a graphic corresponding to a network connection of each node that is to provide a service.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein changing the graphical representation to correspond to a current setup state of each node that is to provide a service comprises changing the graphical representation to indicate whether each node is setup, currently being setup, or not setup and whether each node is configured to communicate with the other nodes of the plurality of nodes.

19. In a computing environment, an apparatus, comprising:

a user interface component arranged to receive input from a user and provide output to the user;

a configuration tool arranged to obtain setup status from other nodes and to cause the user interface to display a representation of the setup status of the other nodes; and

a communication component arranged to communicate with the other nodes in response to requests from the configuration tool, wherein the other nodes and a node upon which the configuration tool resides are part of a set of nodes upon which a setup process executes to setup the nodes to provide services.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the configuration tool is arranged to periodically poll the other nodes to obtain current setup status and to cause the user interface to display a current representation corresponding to the current setup status of the other nodes.