Architecture And Protocol For Extensible And Scalable Communication

• US 20090070442A1
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quest Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: KACE Networks, Inc. (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Velline, Andrew, Gray, Michael, Kacin, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes

Abstract

A system performs information technology (IT) tasks using a computer. Examples of IT tasks include installing or configuring software, displaying alerts, executing programs or scripts on the endpoint, or logging activities. In an embodiment of the system, a connection initialization module receives a request for a persistent connection over a network from a managed endpoint. The request is accepted and a persistent connection is opened with the managed endpoint. A tier-1 module then receives configuration information from the managed endpoint over the persistent connection. The configuration information includes a list of functional plugins on the managed endpoint, where a functional plugin comprises a software module for performing an IT task. The tier-1 module stores this configuration information along with information describing the persistent connection and maintains the persistent connection in an open state.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for performing information technology (IT) tasks using a computer, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a persistent connection over a network from a managed endpoint;

accepting the request and opening the persistent connection with the managed endpoint;

receiving configuration information from the managed endpoint, the configuration information comprising a list of functional plugins on the managed endpoint, a functional plugin comprising a software module for performing an IT task;

storing information describing the persistent connection and the configuration information; and

maintaining the persistent connection in an open state.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the request from the managed endpoint traverses a firewall, the firewall configured to block connection requests directed to the managed endpoint.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to not receiving a heartbeat message within a predetermined period of time, closing the persistent connection and storing information indicating the persistent connection is closed.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification from a source functional plugin on the computer, the notification indicating a command for execution on a managed endpoint; and

sending a command message to the managed endpoint using the persistent connection, the command message comprising the command, the command message further comprising an indication of a type of a destination functional plugin at the managed endpoint.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement message from the managed endpoint that the command message was delivered, the acknowledgement received prior to the command completing execution on the managed endpoint.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

responsive at least in part to a sequence number in the acknowledgement message, notifying the source functional plugin that the message was delivered.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

placing the command message in a queue; and

removing the command message from the queue based at least in part on a relative priority of the source functional plugin.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving version information from the managed endpoint, the version information indicating a version of a functional plugin on the managed endpoint;

determining whether the version is a most recent version;

responsive to the version not being the most recent version, sending an upgrade message to the managed endpoint, the upgrade message including instructions for upgrading the functional plugin.

9. A system for performing information technology (IT) tasks using a computer, the system comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program modules comprising;

a connection initialization module for receiving a request for a persistent connection over a network from a managed endpoint, the connection initialization module further for accepting the request and opening the persistent connection with the managed endpoint; and

a tier-1 module for receiving configuration information from the managed endpoint, the configuration information comprising a list of functional plugins on the managed endpoint, a functional plugin comprising a software module for performing an IT task, the tier-1 module further for storing information describing the persistent connection and the configuration information, the tier-1 module further for maintaining the persistent connection in an open state.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the request from the managed endpoint traverses a firewall, the firewall configured to block connection requests directed to the managed endpoint.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a heartbeat module for, responsive to not receiving a heartbeat message within a predetermined period of time, closing the persistent connection and storing information indicating the persistent connection is closed.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a tier-2 module for receiving a notification from a source functional plugin on the computer, the notification indicating a command for execution on a managed endpoint, and wherein the tier-1 module is further configured for sending a command message to the managed endpoint using the persistent connection, the command message comprising the command, the command message further comprising an indication of a type of a destination functional plugin at the managed endpoint.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

an acknowledgement module for receiving an acknowledgement message from the managed endpoint that the command message was delivered, the acknowledgement received prior to the command completing execution on the managed endpoint.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a sequencing module for, responsive at least in part to a sequence number in the acknowledgement message, notifying the source functional plugin that the message was delivered.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a queuing module for placing the command message in a queue, and for removing the command message from the queue based at least in part on a relative priority of the source functional plugin.

16. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a plugin management module for receiving version information from the managed endpoint, the version information indicating a version of a functional plugin on the managed endpoint, the plugin management module further for determining whether the version is a most recent version, the plugin management module further for, responsive to the version not being the most recent version, sending an upgrade message to the managed endpoint, the upgrade message including instructions for upgrading the functional plugin.

17. A computer program product having a computer-readable storage medium having executable computer program instructions recorded thereon for performing information technology (IT) tasks using a computer, comprising:

a connection initialization module for receiving a request for a persistent connection over a network from a managed endpoint, the connection initialization module further for accepting the request and opening the persistent connection with the managed endpoint; and

a tier-1 module for receiving configuration information from the managed endpoint, the configuration information comprising a list of functional plugins on the managed endpoint, a functional plugin comprising a software module for performing an IT task, the tier-1 module further for storing information describing the persistent connection and the configuration information, the tier-1 module further for maintaining the persistent connection in an open state.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the request from the managed endpoint traverses a firewall, the firewall configured to block connection requests directed to the managed endpoint.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising:

a heartbeat module for, responsive to not receiving a heartbeat message within a predetermined period of time, closing the persistent connection and storing information indicating the persistent connection is closed.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising:

a tier-2 module for receiving a notification from a source functional plugin on the computer, the notification indicating a command for execution on a managed endpoint, and wherein the tier-1 module is further configured for sending a command message to the managed endpoint using the persistent connection, the command message comprising the command, the command message further comprising an indication of a type of a destination functional plugin at the managed endpoint.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, further comprising:

an acknowledgement module for receiving an acknowledgement message from the managed endpoint that the command message was delivered, the acknowledgement received prior to the command completing execution on the managed endpoint.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, further comprising:

a sequencing module for, responsive at least in part to a sequence number in the acknowledgement message, notifying the source functional plugin that the message was delivered.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, further comprising:

a queuing module for placing the command message in a queue, and for removing the command message from the queue based at least in part on a relative priority of the source functional plugin.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising:

a plugin management module for receiving version information from the managed endpoint, the version information indicating a version of a functional plugin on the managed endpoint, the plugin management module further for determining whether the version is a most recent version, the plugin management module further for, responsive to the version not being the most recent version, sending an upgrade message to the managed endpoint, the upgrade message including instructions for upgrading the functional plugin.