Method and System for Implementing a Diagnostic or Correction Boot Image Over a Network Connection

• US 20090217025A1
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paul, Chakkalamattam Jos, Guajardo, Javier A. JR., Pierre-Louis, Marc-Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system that initiates specific maintenance and diagnostic boot images on remote computers. The system is used to select a particular remote device over a network. A particular new boot image is also selected, and that boot image is tailored to operate a maintenance or diagnostic function on the target machine. The new boot image is downloaded to the target, and the target is rebooted with the new boot image. The new boot image is selected from other specific boot images. Upon reboot, the new boot image performs the diagnostic or maintenance routines on the remote target machine. At some predetermined point, the original boot image is swapped back, and the machine rebooted once again. This returns the machine to its original image.

Claims

1. A computing system aiding in maintenance functions of a remote computing device, the remote computing device coupled to a network and running under a first boot image, the computing system comprising:

a download director, communicatively coupled to a user interface of the computing system, that controls a download of a maintenance boot image to the remote computing device via the network;

a first reboot director that initiates a first reboot process of the remote computing device to reboot the remote computing device with the maintenance boot image;

a monitoring director that monitors the remote computing device for an occurrence of a predetermined event associated with the maintenance boot image being run by the remote computing device to perform a maintenance function on the remote computing device; and

a second reboot director that initiates a second reboot process of the remote computing device to reboot the remote computing device using the first boot image upon the occurrence of the predetermined event, wherein the predetermined event is a signal from the remote computing device indicating that function of an operational mode associated with the maintenance boot image has been completed.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a process initiator that selects a specific operational mode of the remote computing device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the selection of a specific operational mode results in a download of a particular new boot image from among a plurality of boot images.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of boot images is operable to perform a particular maintenance or diagnostic task on the remote computing device.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the plurality of boot images reside on a remote storage media.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an operation monitor, the operation monitor monitoring the remote computer for the occurrence of the predetermined event.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the process initiator is a user interface, and an operator specifies the remote computing system.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the process initiator is an independent diagnostic program, the independent diagnostic monitor initiating a selection of the remote computing device based upon specified criteria, the specified criteria of the remote computing device being monitored by the independent diagnostic program.

7. (canceled)

10. A method for maintaining a remote computing device by a first computing device, the remote computing device coupled to a network and running under a first boot image, the method comprising automated computer implemented steps of:

downloading, by the first computing device, a maintenance boot image to the remote computing device via the network;

initiating, by the first computing device, a first reboot process of the remote computing device to reboot the remote computing device with the maintenance boot image;

monitoring, by the first computing device, the remote computing device for an occurrence of a predetermined event associated with the maintenance boot image being run by the remote computing device to perform a maintenance function on the remote computing device; and

initiating, by the first computing device, a second reboot process of the remote computing device to reboot the remote computing device using the first boot image upon the occurrence of the predetermined event, wherein the predetermined event is a signal from the remote computing device indicating that function of an operational mode associated with the maintenance boot image has been completed.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

selecting a specific operational mode of the remote computing device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of selecting a specific operational mode results in downloading a particular new boot image from among a plurality of boot images.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of boot images is operable to perform a particular maintenance or diagnostic task on the remote computing device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of boot images reside on a remote storage media.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

monitoring the remote computer for the occurrence of the predetermined event.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of selecting is performed by a user through a user interface, and the user specifies the remote computing device.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of selecting is performed by a software program.

16. (canceled)

19. A computer program product in a computer usable medium for maintaining a remote computing device by a first computing device, the remote computing device coupled to a network and running under a first boot image, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for downloading, by the first computing device, a maintenance boot image to the remote computing device via the network;

instructions for initiating, by the first computing device, a first reboot process of the remote computing device to reboot the remote computing device with the maintenance boot image;

instructions for; and

instructions for initiating, by the first computing device, a second reboot process of the remote computing device to reboot the remote computing device using the first boot image upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, wherein the predetermined event is a signal from the remote computing device indicating that function of an operational mode associated with the maintenance boot image has been completed.

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

instructions for selecting a specific operational mode of the remote computing device.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, the instructions for selecting a specific operational mode resulting in downloading a particular new boot image from among a plurality of boot images.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of boot images is operable to perform a particular maintenance or diagnostic task on the remote computing device.

23. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the plurality of boot images reside on a remote storage media.

24. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising:

instructions for monitoring the remote computer for the occurrence of the predetermined event.

26. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the instructions for selecting allow for the interaction of a user, and the user specifies the remote computing device.

27. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the instructions for selecting are responsive to signals from a software program.

25. (canceled)