Method and Apparatus to Customize and Configure Multiple Operating Systems on a Server

• US 20080120613A1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Dandekar, Shree A., Goodwin, Tad S., Beelitz, Alan E., Maia, Paul J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,898,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded

Abstract

A fixed image factory installation system which enables installation and launching of additional partitions or volumes. The fixed image factory installation system further enables customization and configuration of additional operating systems with corresponding drivers and software applications stack. The additional partitions can be hidden and do not require a visible descriptor.

Claims

1. A fixed image factory installation system for installing a fixed image onto an information handling system comprising:

an operating system installation module, the operating system installation module installing an operating system onto the information handling system;

a fully integrated system test (FIST) module, the FIST module starting the information handling system after the operating system is installed and installing drivers and applications for the installed operating system;

an additional operating system installation module, the additional operating system installation module installing an additional operating system onto an additional partition of the information handling system when a multiple operating system indication is set; and

,

an additional FIST, the additional FIST module accessing the additional partition of the information handling system after the additional operating system is installed and installing drivers and applications for the installed additional operating system.

2. The fixed image factory installation system of claim 1 wherein:

the additional partitions may be hidden and does not require a visible descriptor.

3. The fixed image factory installation system of claim 1 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a MediaDirect operating system.

4. The fixed image factory installation system of claim 1 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a customized and configured version of a new operating system and the operating system is an established operating system.

5. The fixed image factory installation system of claim 1 wherein:

the additional FIST module starts a windows based installation process and qualifies results of the installation of the additional operating system.

6. The fixed image factory installation system of claim 1 wherein:

the additional operating system installation module includes a cleanup module, the cleanup module removing unneeded driver folders and registries from the additional partition after successful installation of drivers and applications.

7. The fixed image factory installation system of claim 1 wherein:

the additional FIST module includes a debug failure mode, the debug failure mode enabling booting into the additional partition to perform root cause analysis on failures.

8. A method for installing a fixed image onto an information handling system comprising:

installing an operating system onto the information handling system;

starting the information handling system after the operating system is installed and installing drivers and applications for the installed operating system via a fully integrated system test (FIST) module;

determining whether a multiple operating system indication is set;

installing an additional operating system onto an additional partition of the information handling system when the multiple operating system indication is set; and

,

accessing the additional partition of the information handling system after the additional operating system is installed via an additional FIST module; and

,

installing drivers and applications for the installed additional operating system via the additional FIST module.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the additional partitions may be hidden and does not require a visible descriptor.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a MediaDirect operating system.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a customized and configured version of a new operating system and the operating system is an established operating system.

12. The method claim 8 wherein:

the additional FIST module starts a windows based installation process and qualifies results of the installation of the additional operating system.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein:

installing the additional operating system includes removing unneeded driver folders and registries from the additional partition after successful installation of drivers and applications.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the additional FIST module includes a debug failure mode, the debug failure mode enabling booting into the additional partition to perform root cause analysis on failures.

15. An apparatus for installing a fixed image onto an information handling system comprising:

means for installing an operating system onto the information handling system;

means for starting the information handling system after the operating system is installed and installing drivers and applications for the installed operating system;

means for determining whether a multiple operating system indication is set;

means for installing an additional operating system onto an additional partition of the information handling system when the multiple operating system indication is set; and

,

means for accessing the additional partition of the information handling system after the additional operating system is installed; and

,

means for installing drivers and applications for the installed additional operating system.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the additional partitions may be hidden and does not require a visible descriptor.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a MediaDirect operating system.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a customized and configured version of a new operating system and the operating system is an established operating system.

19. The apparatus claim 15 wherein:

the means for installing drivers and applications for the installed additional operating system starts a windows based installation process and qualifies results of the installation of the additional operating system.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the means for installing the additional operating system includes means for removing unneeded driver folders and registries from the additional partition after successful installation of drivers and applications.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the means for installing drivers and applications on the additional operating system includes means for enabling a debug failure mode, the debug failure mode enabling booting into the additional partition to perform root cause analysis on failures.