System and method for creating and maintaining a CD ROM client in a computer network

• US 5,799,187 A
• Filed: 05/28/1996
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McBrearty, Gerald Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Kriess, Kevin A.
• Application Number:
  US08/656,992
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 395/651, 395/652, 395/653, 395/200.5, 395/200.51, 395/200.52, 395/712
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system

Abstract

During an initial install process for CD ROM client machines in a computer network, a local client hard drive file system is set up and populated from the CD ROM with client-specific files. Subsequent network-generic and client-specific updates are distributed on CD ROM. Upon subsequent boots from these CD ROMs, the client determines which code on the CD ROM is network-generic and which is client-specific, loading only the latter on the client hard drive(s) and accessing the network-generic code from the CD ROM only.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a client machine including a CD ROM drive and a local hard drive in a computer network, comprising:

booting said client machine from said CD ROM drive;

detecting from information stored on said local hard drive whether a version of said client machine was previously installed on said client machine;

installing on said local hard drive in response to said detecting indicating that said version was not previously installed, client machine-specific program code from said CD ROM drive; and

accessing network-generic operating system program code and said client machine-specific program code from said CD ROM drive and said local hard drive, respectively; and

wherein, during said installing and accessing steps, said CD ROM drive includes said network-generic program code; and

wherein said network-generic program code is precluded from being installed on said local hard drive during said installing.

2. The method of claim 1 further including:

re-booting said client machine from said CD ROM drive;

detecting that said version of said client machine has been previously installed; and

installing on said local hard drive, in response to said detecting indicating that said version was previously installed, additional client machine-specific program code from said CD ROM drive.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said client machine-specific program code is resident on a first CD ROM installed in said CD ROM drive during said booting.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said additional client machine-specific program code is resident on a second CD ROM installed in said CD ROM drive after said first CD ROM is installed.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said network-generic operating system program code is comprised of first operating system program code, and wherein said method further includes the steps of:

detecting from said CD ROM drive presence of network-generic operating system program code comprised of second operating system program code; and

wherein said method further includes the steps of;

installing on said local hard drive in response to said detecting presence of said second operating system program code further client machine-specific program code from said CD ROM drive with said second operating system program code being precluded from being installed on said local hard drive during said installing of said further client machine-specific program code.

6. An apparatus for configuring a client machine including a read only memory drive and a local hard drive in a computer network, comprising:

means for booting said client machine;

means for detecting whether a version of said client machine was previously installed on said client machine;

means for installing on said local hard drive in response to said detecting indicating that said version was not previously installed, client machine-specific program code from said read only memory drive; and

means for accessing network-generic program code and said client machine-specific program code from said read only memory drive and said local hard drive, respectively.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said booting is from said read only memory drive.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said detecting is from information stored on said local hard drive.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein, during said installing and accessing, said read only memory drive means includes said network-generic program code;

and wherein said apparatus further includes means for precluding said network-generic program code from being installed in said local hard drive means during said installing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said network-generic program code is network-generic operating system program code.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said read only memory drive means includes a CD ROM drive.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further including:

means for re-booting said client machine from said ROM drive;

means for detecting that said version of said client machine has been previously installed; and

means for installing on said local hard drive, in response to said means for detecting indicating that said version was previously installed, additional client machine-specific program code from said read only memory drive.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said client machine-specific program code is resident on a first CD ROM installed in said read only memory drive means during said booting.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said additional client machine-specific program code is resident on a second CD ROM installed in said read only memory drive after said first CD ROM is installed.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said network-generic operating system program code is comprised of first operating system program code, and wherein said apparatus further includes:

means for detecting from said read only memory drive presence of network-generic operating system program code comprised of second operating system program code; and

wherein said apparatus further includes;

means for installing on said local hard drive means in response to said means for detecting presence of said second operating system program code further client machine-specific program code from said read only memory drive means with said second operating system program code being precluded from being installed on said local hard drive means during said installing of said further client machine-specific program code.