SUITE-BASED INTEGRATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF BUSINESS PRODUCTS

• US 20100131942A1
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nannenga, John R., Hammond, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US12/276,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20100131942A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

Architecture having a single (or workbench) application via which a user can select and integrate products for deployment to machines. The user can interact with the workbench application to define an ERP (enterprise resource planning) system, for example. Products are added to the workbench where the user has the option to configure product settings. Product dependencies are automatically resolved such that settings previously input and that apply as passed to subsequent products. The user then maps these product settings into roles which are assigned to individual machines. The workbench then determines and ultimately queues up the actual deployment tasks which need to occur on individual machines to configure each machine to match its associated role(s). The user can then select which tasks (or all) to execute at which point the workbench invokes remote configuration of said machines. Live progress and logging information is returned through the workbench.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented application integration and deployment system, comprising:

a selection component for selecting a first product and a second product from a set of compatible products for integration;

a settings component for applying first product settings to the first product;

a configuration component for automatically configuring the second product according to relevant settings that are relevant to the second product, the relevant settings obtained from the first product settings; and

a deployment component for installing the first product and the second product as a product suite on destination machines.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration component requests additional settings not included in the relevant settings for configuration of the second product.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mapping component for mapping the configured first product settings and second product settings into roles for deployment to the destination machines according to machine roles.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a task component for queuing tasks to be executed on the destination machines, the tasks defining a role of a destination machine as a client or a server.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the deployment component facilitates selection of some or all of the tasks, the selection of which initiates remote installation of the product suite on one or more of the destination machines according to an assigned role.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a status component for providing installation progress information and logging information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of compatible products are related to enterprise resource planning (ERP) products.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a dependency component for identifying and resolving dependencies between the first product and the second product.

9. A computer-implemented application integration and deployment system, comprising:

a selection component for selecting a first product and a second product from a set of compatible products for integration;

a settings component for applying first product settings to the first product;

a configuration component for automatically configuring the second product according to relevant settings that are relevant to the second product, the relevant settings obtained from the first product settings;

a dependencies component for identifying and resolving dependencies between the first product and the second product;

a mapping component for mapping the configured first product settings and second product settings into roles for deployment to destination machines according to machine roles;

a deployment component for installing the first product and the second product as a product suite on the destination machines; and

a status component for providing installation progress information and logging information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the configuration component requests additional settings not included in the relevant settings for configuration of the second product.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a task component for queuing tasks to be executed on the destination machines, the tasks defining a role of a destination machine, and the deployment component facilitates selection of some or all of the tasks, the selection of which initiates remote installation of the product suite on one or more of the destination machines according to an assigned role.

12. A computer-implemented method of deploying an application, comprising:

receiving a workbench application for defining integration of products as a suite;

adding a first product to the workbench application;

configuring the first product via the workbench application using first product settings;

adding a second product to the workbench application;

resolving dependencies between the first product and the second product;

passing relevant settings of the first product settings to the second product for automatic setup of the second product based on the resolved dependencies;

automatically configuring the second product using the relevant settings; and

deploying the first product and the second product to destination machines in an orderly manner.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising prompting for additional settings not provided in the relevant settings, the additional settings and relevant settings forming second product settings for configuring the second product.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising mapping each of the first product settings and the second product settings to same or different roles.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising assigning a role to a destination machine and deploying tasks to the destination machine for configuring the destination machine to the assigned role.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising updating a role using the workbench application and updating destination machines currently operating in that role.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising enqueuing tasks in the workbench application for deployment to a destination machine to automatically configure the destination machine.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting, some or all of the enqueued tasks to execute for remote installation on a destination machine.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving progress information back from the destination machine related to remote installation of a product.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving logging information back from the destination machine related to remote installation of a product.