Techniques for performing operating system installation on a headless device

• US 20080189398A1
• Filed: 02/05/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Solyanik, Sergey
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Techniques are provided for performing software installation on a headless device. A first device is used to interactively obtain answers in connection with installation processing performed on the first device regarding the software installation for the headless device. The answers are communicated to the headless device. The answers are used in connection with executing installation software on the headless device to perform the software installation on the headless device.

Claims

1. A method for performing software installation on a headless device comprising:

using a first device to interactively obtain answers in connection with installation processing performed on the first device regarding the software installation for the headless device;

communicating the answers to the headless device; and

using the answers in connection with executing installation software on the headless device to perform the software installation on the headless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the software installation is to perform installation of an operating system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the software installation is to perform installation of an application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the software installation is to perform installation of a software upgrade.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the headless device is a router.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the headless device is a gateway.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the headless device is a printer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the headless device is a server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein there is no connectivity between the headless device and the first device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recording the answers on a storage device of the first device; and

connecting the storage device to the headless device making the answers available to the headless device during the software installation on the headless device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

performing hardware examination processing on the headless device;

recording hardware-related information on the storage device; and

performing processing on the first device to determine whether the headless device meets minimum installation requirements and whether additional information is needed for the software installation on the headless device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the additional information includes device drivers and the additional information is obtained using the first device and copied to the storage device for use by the headless device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

recording installation progress in a log file on the storage device when performing processing on the headless device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing audio feedback regarding the software installation on the headless device using components of the headless device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a success message and address of the headless device as audio feedback if the software installation completes successfully, and otherwise providing an unsuccessful message.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and headless device have connectivity over a connection and the method comprising:

communicating the answers to the headless device over the connection.

17. A method for performing software installation on a headless device comprising:

using a first device to interactively obtain answers in connection with the software installation on the headless device;

using the answers in connection with the software installation on the headless device; and

providing audio feedback during processing for the software installation on the headless device using components of the headless device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

recording the answers information regarding the software installation on a storage device on the first device;

connecting the storage device to the headless device;

performing hardware examination processing on the headless device using the answers;

storing, on the storage device, updated answers including hardware-related information obtained from said performing; and

performing processing on the first device using the updated answers to determine whether the headless device meets minimum installation requirements and whether additional information is needed for the software installation on the headless device.

19. A computer readable medium comprising code stored thereon for performing software installation on a headless device, the computer readable medium comprising code for:

recording answers interactively using input and output means of a first device for use in connection with the software installation on the headless device;

communicating the answers to the headless device; and

providing audio feedback during processing for the software installation on the headless device regarding the software installation using components of the headless device.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the first device does not have connectivity to the headless device.