Generic remote boot for networked workstations by creating local bootable code image
First Claim
1. A method for booting a local data processing system from a remote data processing system over a network, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a network communications link between the local data processing system and the remote data processing systme in resposne to powering-up the local data processing system;
issuing a request from the local to the remote data processing system over the network communications link for a task image code module for providing a network interface between the local data processing system and a remote disk on the remote data processing system;
downloading the task image code module form the remote to the local data processing system in response to the request for the task image code module;
invoking the task image code module by the local data processing system to establish a network interface between the local data processing system and the remote disk storing bootable code on the remote data processing system;
copying an image of the bootable code over the network to the local data processing system to create a local bootable code image stored in the local data processing system, the bootable code including an operating system; and
inactivating communications over the network;
booting the local data processing system from the local bootable code image stored in the local data processing system and loading the operating system while not protecting a memory space containing the task image code module to thereby leave the memory space available to the operating system.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for booting a client workstation from a remote data processing system over a network includes initializing the client workstation sufficiently to establish network communications with a remote disk on the remote data processing system, establishing a network communications link between the local and remote systems, issuing a request from the client workstation to the remote data processing system over the network communications link for a task image code module for providing a network interface between the client workstation and the remote disk on the remote data processing system, downloading the task image code module from the remote to the client workstation in response to the request for the task image code module, invoking the task image code module by the client workstation to establish a network interface between the client workstation and the remote disk, copying an image of the remote disk over the network to the client workstation to create a local disk image stored in the client workstation, disconnecting the client workstation from the network, booting the client workstation from the disk image stored in the client workstation, including loading an operating system module from the disk image into the client workstation, invoking the operating system module to control the client workstation, loading network environment modules from the disk image into the client workstation under control of the operating system module, and invoking the network environment modules to establish a network communication link between the client workstation and the remote data processing system.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1. A method for booting a local data processing system from a remote data processing system over a network, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a network communications link between the local data processing system and the remote data processing systme in resposne to powering-up the local data processing system; issuing a request from the local to the remote data processing system over the network communications link for a task image code module for providing a network interface between the local data processing system and a remote disk on the remote data processing system; downloading the task image code module form the remote to the local data processing system in response to the request for the task image code module; invoking the task image code module by the local data processing system to establish a network interface between the local data processing system and the remote disk storing bootable code on the remote data processing system; copying an image of the bootable code over the network to the local data processing system to create a local bootable code image stored in the local data processing system, the bootable code including an operating system; and inactivating communications over the network; booting the local data processing system from the local bootable code image stored in the local data processing system and loading the operating system while not protecting a memory space containing the task image code module to thereby leave the memory space available to the operating system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for booting a local data processing system from a remote data processing system over a network, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a network communications link between the local data processing system and the remote data processing system in response to powering-up the local data processing system; issuing a request from the local to the remote data processing system over the network communications link for a task image code module for providing a network interface between the local data processing system and a remote disk on the remote data processing system; downloading the task image code module from the remote to the local data processing system in response to the request for the task image code module; invoking the task image code module by the local data processing system to establish a network interface between the local data processing system and the remote disk storing bootable code on the remote data processing system; copying an image of the remote disk over the network to the local data processing system to create a local disk image stored in the local data processing system; after finishing the copying of the image of the remote disk, disconnecting the local data processing system from the network; booting the local data processing system from the local disk image stored in the local data processing system including the steps of loading an operating system module from the disk image into the local data processing system while not protecting a memory space containing the task image code module to thereby leave the memory space available to the operating system; invoking the operating system module to control the local data processing system; loading network environment modules from the disk image into the local data processing system under control of the operating system module; and invoking a last-loaded one of the network environment modules to reestablish a client PC network environment. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for booting a client workstation from a remote data processing system over a network, comprising the steps of:
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initializing the client workstation sufficiently to establish network communications with a remote disk on the remote data processing system in response to powering up the client workstation and then establishing a network communications link between the client workstation and remote system; issuing a request from the client workstation to the remote data processing system over the network communications link for a task image code module for providing a network interface between the client workstation and the remote disk on the remote data processing system; downloading the task image code module from the remote system to the client workstation in response to the request for the task image code module; invoking the task image code module by the client workstation to establish a network interface between the client workstation and the remote disk; copying an image of the remote disk over the network to the client workstation to create a local disk image stored in the client workstation; disconnecting the client workstation from the network; booting the client workstation from the disk image stored in the client workstation, including loading an operating system module from the disk image into the client workstation while not protecting a memory space containing the task image code module to thereby leave the memory space available to the operating system; invoking the operating system module to control the client workstation; loading network environment modules from the disk image into the client workstation under control of the operating system module; and invoking a last-loaded one of the network environment modules to reestablish a client workstation network environment. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A data processing system having a local data processing system booted from a remote data processing system over a network, comprising
networking means for establishing a network communications link between the local data processing system and the remote data processing system; -
request means for issuing a request from the local data processing system to the remote data processing system over the network communications link for a task image code module for providing a network interface between the local data processing system and a remote disk storing bootable code on the remote data processing system; downloading means for downloading the task image code module from the remote to the local data processing system in response to the request for the task image code module; invoking means for invoking the task image code module by the local data processing system to establish a network interface between the local data processing system and the remote disk; copying means for copying an image of the bootable code over the network to the local data processing system to create a local bootable code image stored in the local data processing system, the bootable code including an operating system; and booting means for booting the local data processing system from the local bootable code image after it has been completely stored in the local data processing system while the network communications link is inactivated, the booting means loading the operating system while not protecting a memory space containing the task image code module to thereby leave the memory space available to the operating system. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A workstation for connection to a network comprising
networking means for establishing a network communications link between a local data processing system and remote data processing system; -
request means for issuing a request from the local data processing system to the remote data processing system over the network communications link for a task image code module for providing a network interface between the local data processing system and a remote disk storing bootable code on the remote data processing system; downloading means for downloading the task image code module from the remote to the local data processing system in response to the request for the task image code module; invoking means for invoking the task image code module by the local data processing system to establish a network interface between the local data processing system and the remote disk; copying means for copying an image of the bootable code over the network to the workstation to create a local bootable code image stored in the workstation, the bootable code including an operating system; and booting means for booting the workstation from the local bootable code image only after the bootable code includinq the operating system has been stored in the workstation and while the network link is inactivated, the booting means loading the operating system while not protecting a memory space containing the task image code module to thereby leave the memory space available to the operating system.
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Specification