Workgroup organized network manager with workstation comparison system
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of analyzing files located at a first land a second workstation to determine the differences between the first and second workstations, each file located at the first and second workstation having attributes identifying the characteristics of the files including the file name and other attributes, said method comprising:
- at each workstation, and for each file on the workstation that is to be analyzed, computing a check value as an additional file attribute, the check value attribute for each file being computed from the entire file contents of each file, and being suitable for comparison use in determining whether a given file is identical in content to another file;
selecting a workstation to be a collection workstation;
retrieving said check value attributes of files located at the first workstation and storing the check value attributes on the collection workstation in a first workstation file attribute record;
retrieving said check value attributes of files located at the second workstation and storing the check value attributes on the collection workstation in a second workstation file attribute record;
comparing the file names and at least one check value attribute of each file in the first workstation file attribute record to the file names and the corresponding check value attribute in the second workstation file attribute record to determine if the same files exist at both workstations and whether the files located at the first and second workstation are different with respect to said check value attributes; and
producing an exception report indicating the existence of differences between corresponding files on the two workstations.
3 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A workgroup organized network manager for controlling the operation of individual workstations within a computer network. The workgroup organized network manager organizes workstations into workgroups and controls the distribution of information to each of the workstations within a defined workgroup. The tasks each workstation performs are defined by a specification consisting of programs. A library of programs is maintained on a host workstation designated as a controlling workstation within the workgroup. The host workstation keeps track of activity occurring on the individual workstations within the workgroup. A file maintenance and inventory system compares the attributes of files, directories, and software located on the workstation to check for discrepancies between files, directories, or software intended to be identical and for locating missing or extra files, directories, and software.
124 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method of analyzing files located at a first land a second workstation to determine the differences between the first and second workstations, each file located at the first and second workstation having attributes identifying the characteristics of the files including the file name and other attributes, said method comprising:
-
at each workstation, and for each file on the workstation that is to be analyzed, computing a check value as an additional file attribute, the check value attribute for each file being computed from the entire file contents of each file, and being suitable for comparison use in determining whether a given file is identical in content to another file; selecting a workstation to be a collection workstation; retrieving said check value attributes of files located at the first workstation and storing the check value attributes on the collection workstation in a first workstation file attribute record; retrieving said check value attributes of files located at the second workstation and storing the check value attributes on the collection workstation in a second workstation file attribute record; comparing the file names and at least one check value attribute of each file in the first workstation file attribute record to the file names and the corresponding check value attribute in the second workstation file attribute record to determine if the same files exist at both workstations and whether the files located at the first and second workstation are different with respect to said check value attributes; and producing an exception report indicating the existence of differences between corresponding files on the two workstations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of analyzing files in a computer network comprising a plurality of computer workstations to determine the differences between the workstations, each file located at the individual workstations having attributes identifying the characteristics of the files including the file name and other attributes, said method comprising:
-
at each workstation, and for each file on the workstation that is to be analyzed, computing a check value as an additional file attribute, the check value attribute for each file being computed from the entire file contents of each file, and being suitable for comparison use in determining whether a given file is identical in content to another file; selecting a workstation to be a collection workstation; retrieving said check value attributes of files located at the individual workstations and storing the check value attributes on the collection workstation in workstation file attribute records; comparing the file names and at least one check value attribute of each file in each workstation file attribute record to those in the other workstation file attribute records to determine if the same files exist at all workstations and whether the files located at the individual workstations are different with respect to said at least one check value attribute; and producing an exception report indicating the existence of differences between corresponding files on the individual workstations. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A system for analyzing files located on plural workstations to determine any differences in such files, each file having attributes identifying characteristics including the file name and other attributes, said system comprising;
-
a first workstation having first files located thereon; a second workstation having second files located thereon; first means for computing a first set of check values as additional file attributes, at said first workstation for each file to be analyzed, the check value attributes being computed from the entire file contents of each of said files; second means for computing a second set of check values as additional file attributes, at said second workstation for each file to be analyzed, the check value attributes being computed from the entire file contents of each of said files, said first and second check value attributes being suitable for comparison use in determining whether two of said files are identical in content; a workstation selected as a collection workstation for retrieving said check value attributes of files located at the first workstation and storing the check value attributes on the collection workstation in a first workstation file attribute record, and for retrieving said check value attributes of files located at the second workstation and storing the check value attributes on the collection workstation in a second workstation file attribute record; collection workstation means for comparing the file names and the check value attribute of each file in the first workstation file attribute record to the file names and the corresponding check value attribute in the second workstation file attribute record to determine if the same files exist at both workstations and whether the files located at the first and second workstation are different with respect to said check value attributes; and collection workstation means indicating the existence of differences between corresponding files on said first and second workstations for adjusting the files on the second workstation to match those on the first workstation, thereby correcting the differences to bring the files in said workstations into substantial agreement with each other. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
Specification