METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING HARDWARE UPDATES IN A SOFTWARE PROVISIONING ENVIRONMENT

• US 20100138526A1
• Filed: 11/28/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Likins, Adrian Karstan, Vidal, Seth Kelby, DeHaan, Michael Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration

Abstract

A provisioning server can remotely determine target machines, requiring a hardware update, and remotely provide the hardware updates to the target machines. The provisioning server can identify hardware updates for target machines in a network it serves. The provisioning server can operate in conjunction with a network management server in order to identify the target machines, requiring the hardware update. The provisioning server can generate the hardware update for the target machines and provide the hardware update to the target machines.

Claims

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

identifying, at a provisioning server, a hardware update for a network of target machines;

determining at least one target machine in the network of target machines that requires the hardware update, wherein the at least one target machine is determined utilizing a network management server;

receiving, from the network management server, an identification of the at least one target machine; and

providing the hardware update to the at least one target machine over a network connection in the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one target machine comprises:

instructing the network management server to query the network of target machines to determine the at least one target machine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hardware update comprises at least one of a device firmware update and a basic input/output system (BIOS) update.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification comprises at least one of a network identifier of the at least one target machine and a network address of the at least one target machine.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

generating the hardware update from an image of the hardware update.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the hardware update comprises:

instructing the network management server to generate a command for a helper client, wherein the command causes the helper client to retrieve the hardware update from the provisioning server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the hardware update comprises:

transmitting the hardware update to the at least one target machine over the network connection; and

sending instructions to alter a power state of the at least one target machine after transmitting the hardware update.

8. A system for providing hardware updates in a software provisioning environment, comprising:

a network interface to a network of target machines; and

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

identify a hardware update for the network of target machines;

determine at least one target machine in the network of target machines that requires the hardware update, wherein the at least one target machine is determined utilizing the network management server;

receive, from the network management server, an identification of the at least one target machine; and

provide the hardware update to the at least one target machine over a network interface in the network.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein determining the at least one target machine comprises:

instructing the network management server to query the network of target machines to determine the at least one target machine.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the hardware update comprises at least one of a device firmware update and a basic input/output system (BIOS) update.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the identification comprises at least one of a network identifier of the at least one target machine and a network address of the at least one target machine

12. The system of claim 8, the provisioning server being further configured to

generate the hardware update from an image of the hardware update.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein providing the hardware update comprises:

instructing the network management server to generate a command for a helper client, wherein the command causes the helper client to retrieve the hardware update from the provisioning server.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein providing the hardware update comprises:

transmitting the hardware update to the at least one target machine over the network interface; and

sending instructions to alter a power state of the at least one target machine after transmitting the hardware update.

15. 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:

identifying, at a provisioning server, a hardware update for a network of target machines;

determining at least one target machine in the network of target machines that requires the hardware update, wherein the at least one target machine is determined utilizing a network management server;

receiving, from the network management server, an identification of the at least one target machine; and

providing the hardware update to the at least one target machine over a network connection in the network.

16. The provisioning application of claim 15, wherein determining the at least one target machine comprises:

instructing the network management server to query the network of target machines to determine the at least one target machine.

17. The provisioning application of claim 15, wherein the hardware update comprises at least one of a device firmware update and a basic input/output system (BIOS) update.

18. The provisioning application of claim 15, wherein the identification comprises at least one of a network identifier of the at least one target machine and a network address of the at least one target machine.

19. The provisioning application of claim 15, the method further comprising:

generating the hardware update from an image of the hardware update.

20. The provisioning application of claim 15, wherein providing the hardware update comprises:

instructing the network management server to generate a command for a helper client, wherein the command causes the helper client to retrieve the hardware update from the provisioning server.

21. The provisioning application of claim 15, wherein providing the hardware update comprises:

transmitting the hardware update to the at least one target machine over the network connection; and

sending instructions to alter a power state of the at least one target machine after transmitting the hardware update.

22. A method of providing hardware updates in a software provisioning environment, comprising:

identifying, at a provisioning server, a hardware update for a network of target machines;

generating a modified hardware update, wherein the modified hardware update is configured to examine the target machines to determine whether the target machines require the hardware update; and

providing the modified hardware update to the target machines over a network connection in the network.