METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPORTING SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTIONS IN A SOFTWARE PROVISIONING ENVIRONMENT

• US 20100058330A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: DeHaan, Michael Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,793,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A provisioning server can import a software distribution and determine the type of distribution in order to integrate the software distribution in the software provisioning environment. The provisioning server can be configured to determine a type for the software distribution. Once determined, the provisioning server can be configured to locate a configuration template that matches the type of the software distribution. The configuration template can allow the generation of a configuration file that enables the software distribution to be incorporated into software provisioning processes, automatically. Once located, the provisioning server can be configured to generate a profile for the imported software distribution.

Claims

1. A method of providing software provisioning in a software provisioning environment, comprising:

importing at least one software distribution;

determining a type of the at least one software distribution;

determining a configuration template associated with the type of the at least one software distribution, wherein the configuration template comprises information for performing software provisioning with the at least one software distribution; and

generating a profile for the at least one software distribution, wherein the profile associates the configuration template with the at least one software distribution.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein importing the at least one software distribution, comprises:

retrieving the at least one software distribution or information about the at least one software distribution from an external source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein importing the at least one software distribution, comprises:

receiving the at least one software distribution or information about the at least one software distribution from an external source.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the type of the at least one software distribution, comprises:

examining components of the at least one software distribution to determine the type.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a set of configuration templates for possible software distributions.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the profile for use during software provisioning.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a record of the at least one software distribution, wherein the record comprises an identification of the at least one software distribution and details of the at Least one software distribution.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one software distribution comprises an operating system.

9. A system for monitor software provisioning in a software provisioning environment, comprising:

a network interface to a network comprises at least one target system; and

a provisioning server, communicating with the network interface, the provisioning server being configured to

import at least one software distribution;

determine a type of the at least one software distribution;

determine a configuration template associated with the type of the at least one software distribution, wherein the configuration template comprises information for performing software provisioning with the at least one software distribution; and

generate a profile for the at least one software distribution, wherein the profile associates the configuration template with the at least one software distribution.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein importing the at least one software distribution, comprises:

retrieving the at least one software distribution or information about the at least one software distribution from an external source.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein importing the at least one software distribution, comprises:

receiving the at least one software distribution or information about the at least one software distribution from an external source.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein determining the type of the at least one software distribution, comprises:

examining components of the at least one software distribution to determine the type.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the provisioning server is further configured to

maintain a set of configuration templates for possible software distributions.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the provisioning server is further configured to

store the profile for use during software provisioning.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the provisioning server is further configured to

generate a record of the at least one software distribution, wherein the record comprises an identification of the at least one software distribution and details of the at least one software distribution.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one software distribution comprises an operating system.

17. A provisioning application, the provisioning application being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising instructions for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:

importing at least one software distribution;

determining a type of the at least one software distribution;

determining a configuration template associated with the type of the at least one software distribution, wherein the configuration template comprises information for performing software provisioning with the at least one software distribution; and

generating a profile for the at least one software distribution, wherein the profile associates the configuration template with the at least one software distribution.

18. The provisioning application of claim 17, wherein importing the at least one software distribution, comprises:

retrieving the at least one software distribution or information about the at least one software distribution from an external source.

19. The provisioning application of claim 17, wherein importing the at least one software distribution, comprises:

receiving the at least one software distribution or information about the at least one software distribution from an external source.

20. The provisioning application of claim 17, wherein determining the type of the at least one software distribution, comprises:

examining components of the at least one software distribution to determine the type.

21. The provisioning application of claim 17, the method further comprising:

maintaining a set of configuration templates for possible software distributions.

22. The provisioning application of claim 17, the method further comprising:

storing the profile for use during software provisioning.

23. The provisioning application of claim 17, the method further comprising:

generating a record of the at least one software distribution, wherein the record comprises an identification of the at least one software distribution and details of the at least one software distribution.

24. The provisioning application of claim 17, wherein the at least one software distribution comprises an operating system.