Parallel installation

• US 20080250405A1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hilerio, Israel, Farhangi, Alireza
• Granted Patent: US 8,484,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/62 Uninstallation

Abstract

Installation of multiple servers with interdependencies is done in parallel steps, with each server advancing in sequence with other servers. When a second server is dependent on a first server during the installation process, the first server may finish a task and send a message to the second server to attempt an installation step that depends on the first server. If a problem occurs, the second server may revert to a configuration state before the attempted step and the first server may reattempt the installation step on which the second server depends.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

beginning a distributed installation master process;

sending a proceed message to at least one client device to proceed with an installation action, said at least one client device having a first configuration state;

receiving a results message from each of said at least one client device; and

if said results message comprises a failed message, sending a revert message to each of said at least one client device to rollback to said configuration state.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

broadcasting an invite message across a network; and

receiving a response from a specific number of clients.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a confirmation message from each of said at least one client indicating that said client is processing said proceed message.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a status message from said at least one client device, said status message comprising a degree of completion.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

displaying an overall status, said overall status comprising status from at least one client device.

6. The method of claim 1, said distributed installation master process comprising at least a portion of at least one of a group composed of a network installation, a directory system installation, and a messaging system installation.

7. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions adapted to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A method comprising:

beginning a distributed installation client process;

pausing said distributed installation client process at a first checkpoint, said first checkpoint having a first configuration state;

receiving a proceed message from a master device;

attempting a configuration process to a second checkpoint, said second checkpoint defining a second configuration state;

if said configuration process is successful, sending a completion message to said master device; and

if said configuration process is unsuccessful;

sending a failed message to said master device;

receiving a revert message from said master device; and

reverting to said first configuration state.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving a broadcast message from said master device requesting participants in a distributed installation process; and

sending a participate message to said master device.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

sending a registration message to said master device registering for a distributed installation process.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

sending a working message to said master device in response to said proceed message.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

sending a status message to said master device, said status message comprising a degree of completion.

13. The method of claim 8, said distributed installation client process comprising at least a portion of at least one of a group composed of a network installation, a directory system installation, and a messaging system installation.

14. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions adapted to perform the method of claim 8.

15. A system comprising:

a network;

a master device connected to said network and adapted to perform a method of;

beginning a distributed installation master process;

sending a proceed message to a client device to proceed with an installation action, said client device having a first configuration state;

receive a results message from said client device; and

if said results message comprises a failed message, sending a revert message to said client device to rollback to said configuration state;

said client device connected to said network and adapted to perform a method of;

beginning a distributed installation client process;

pausing said distributed installation client process at a first checkpoint, said first checkpoint having a first configuration state;

receiving a proceed message from said master device;

attempting a configuration process to a second checkpoint, said second checkpoint defining a second configuration state;

if said configuration process is successful, sending a completion message to said master device; and

if said configuration process is unsuccessful;

sending a failed message to said master device;

receiving a revert message from said master device; and

reverting to said first configuration state.

16. The system of claim 15, said master device being further adapted to:

broadcasting an invite message across a network; and

receiving a response from said client.

17. The system of claim 15, said master device being further adapted to:

receiving a confirmation message from said client indicating that said client is processing said proceed message.

18. The system of claim 15, said master device being further adapted to:

receiving a status message from said client device, said status message comprising a degree of completion.

19. The system of claim 15, said master device being further adapted to:

displaying an overall status, said overall status comprising status from said client device.

20. The system of claim 15, said distributed installation master process comprising at least a portion of at least one of a group composed of a network installation, a directory system installation, and a messaging system installation.