Database for facilitating software installation and testing for a build-to-order computer system

• US 5,963,743 A
• Filed: 08/29/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Brundridge, Michael A., Amberg, Richard D., Wong, Roger W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hefiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHEN, WEI Y
• Application Number:
  US08/921,438
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 395/712, 395/651, 395/652, 395/653, 707/104
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2247 Verification or detection of system hardware configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

An apparatus for installing software onto a computer system includes a step table and a component table. The step table contains a set of software installation steps shared among different components of substantially all computer systems being manufactured. The component table contains a set of substantially all possible components that are included within computer systems being manufactured. The computer system corresponds to a family of computer systems and the apparatus further includes a family relation table, a family relation table and a family component relation table. The family relation table identifies the relationship between a set of software installation steps and each family of computer system being manufactured. The family component relation table identifies the relationship between the family of computer systems and the set of components. The family step relation table identifies the relation between a component and a set of software installation steps appropriate for the corresponding component.

Claims

1. A database for use by a system database in the manufacturing of a build-to-order computer system comprising:

a step table containing a set of software installation and testing steps shared among different components of substantially all computer systems being manufactured, wherein a prescribed software installation or testing step is executed by the system database during the manufacturing of the build-to-order computer system to facilitate a corresponding software installation or testing for the build-to-order computer system, the step table including an aftercode attribute identifying whether a halt or reboot is required after a corresponding step is executed; and

a component table coupled to the step table, the component table containing a set of substantially all possible components that are included within the computer systems being manufactured, wherein the prescribed software installation or testing step executed by the system database is determined in accordance with a corresponding component included in the build-to-order computer system.

2. The database of claim 1, wherein the step table includes a step identification attribute, the step identification attribute being a unique identification for each software installation or testing step.

3. The database of claim 1, wherein the step table includes a phase attribute, the phase attribute designating in which phase of manufacture a step is to be executed.

4. The database of claim 1, wherein the step table includes a command attribute, the command attribute conforming to an executable command line for performing a software installation step.

5. The database of claim 1, wherein the step table includes a maximum instance attribute, the maximum instance attribute indicating a maximum number of times that a corresponding step runs.

6. The database of claim 1, wherein the step table includes a class identification attribute, the class identification attribute identifying a class of components which is associated with a software installation or testing step.

7. The database of claim 1, wherein the component table includes a component identification attribute, the component identification attribute identifying each component within the component table.

8. The database of claim 1, wherein the component table includes a class identification attribute, the class identification attribute identifying a class of component.

9. The database of claim 1 wherein the computer system corresponds to a family of computer systems;

and further comprising;

a family relation table coupled to the step table, the family relation table identifying the relationship between a set of software installation steps and each family of computer system being manufactured;

a family component relation table coupled to the step table, the family component relation table identifying the relationship between the family of computer systems and the set of components; and

,

a family step relation table coupled to the step table, the family step relation table identifying the relation between a family of computer systems and a set of software installation steps appropriate for the corresponding component.

10. The database of claim 9, wherein the family relation table includes a family identification attribute identifying a particular family of computer systems.

11. The database of claim 9, wherein the family step relation table includes a step identification attribute identifying a particular set of steps appropriate for a particular family.

12. The database of claim 9, wherein the family relation table includes a sequence number corresponding to each family, the sequence number representing a predetermined order in which steps associated with a family are to be executed.

13. The database of claim 9, wherein the family component relation table defines the relationship between an attribute identifying a computer family and an attribute identifying a component.

14. The database of claim 9, wherein the family component relation table defines the relationship between a component identification attribute and a step identification attribute.

15. The database of claim 9 further comprising:

a family table coupled to the step table, the family table identifying the family of computer systems with a name.

16. A database for use by a system apparatus in the manufacturing of a build-to-order computer system comprising:

a step table containing a set of software installation and testing steps shared among different components of substantially all computer systems being manufactured, wherein a prescribed software installation or testing step is executed by the system apparatus during the manufacturing of the build-to-order computer system to facilitate a corresponding software installation or testing for the build-to-order computer system, the step table including a maximum instance attribute indicting a maximum number of times that a corresponding step runs; and

a component table coupled to the step table, the component table containing a set of substantially all possible components that are included within the computer systems being manufactured, wherein the prescribed software installation or testing step executed by the system database is determined in accordance with a corresponding component included in the build-to-order computer system.

17. The database of claim 16, wherein the computer system corresponds to a family of computer systems and further comprising:

a family relation table coupled to the step table, the family relation table identifying the relationship between a set of software installation steps and a family of computer system being manufactured;

a family component relation table coupled to the step table, the family component relation table identifying the relationship between the family of computer systems and the set of components;

a family step relation table coupled to the step table, the family step relation table identifying the relation between a family of computer systems and a set of software installation steps appropriate for the corresponding component.

18. The database of claim 17, wherein the family relation table includes a family identification attribute identifying a particular family of computer systems.

19. The database of claim 17, wherein the family step relation table includes a step identification attribute identifying a particular set of steps appropriate for a particular family.

20. The database of claim 17, wherein the family relation table includes a sequence number corresponding to each family, the sequence number representing a predetermined order in which steps associated with a family are to be executed.

21. The database of claim 17, wherein the family component relation table defines the relationship between an attribute identifying a computer family and an attribute identifying a component.

22. The database of claim 17, wherein the family component relation table defines the relationship between a component identification attribute and a step identification attribute.

23. The database of claim 16, wherein the step table includes a step identification attribute, the step identification attribute being a unique identification for each software installation or testing step.

24. The database of claim 16, wherein the step table includes a phase attribute, the phase attribute designating in which phase of manufacture a step is to be executed.

25. The database of claim 16, wherein the step table includes a command attribute, the command attribute conforming to an executable command line for performing a software installation step.

26. The database of claim 16, wherein the step table includes an aftercode attribute, the aftercode attribute identifying whether a halt or reboot is required after a corresponding step is executed.

27. The database of claim 16, wherein the step table includes a class identification attribute, the class identification attribute identifying a class of components which is associated with a software installation or testing step.

28. The database of claim 16, wherein the component table includes a component identification attribute, the component identification attribute identifying each component within the component table.

29. The database of claim 16, wherein the component table includes a class identification attribute, the class identification attribute identifying a class of component.

30. A database for use by a system database in the manufacturing of a build-to-order computer system comprising:

a step table containing a set of software installation and testing steps shared among different components of substantially all computer systems being manufactured, wherein a prescribed software installation or testing step is executed by the system apparatus during the manufacturing of the build-to-order computer system to facilitate a corresponding software installation or testing for the build-to-order computer system, the step table including a phase attribute designating in which phase of manufacture a step is to be extended; and

a component table coupled to the step table containing a set of substantially all possible components that are included within computer systems being manufactured, wherein the prescribed software installation or testing step executed by the system apparatus is determined in accordance with a corresponding component included in the build-to-order computer system.

31. The database of claim 30, wherein the step table includes a step identification attribute, the step identification attribute being a unique identification for each software installation or testing step.

32. The database of claim 30, wherein the step table includes a command attribute, the command attribute conforming to an executable command line for performing a software installation step.

33. The database of claim 30, wherein the step table includes an aftercode attribute, the aftercode attribute identifying whether a halt or reboot is required after a corresponding step is executed.

34. The database of claim 30, wherein the step table includes a maximum instance attribute, the maximum instance attribute indicating a maximum number of times that a corresponding step runs.

35. The database of claim 30, wherein the step table includes a class identification attribute, the class identification attribute identifying a class of components which is associated with a software installation or testing step.

36. The database of claim 30, wherein the component table includes a component identification attribute, the component identification attribute identifying each component within the component table.

37. The database of claim 30, wherein the component table includes a class identification attribute, the class identification attribute identifying a class of component.

38. The database of claim 30, wherein the computer system corresponds to a family of computer systems;

and further comprising;

a family relation table coupled to the step table, the family relation table identifying the relationship between a set of software installation steps and each family of computer system being manufactured;

a family component relation table coupled to the step table, the family component relation table identifying the relationship between the family of computer systems and the set of components; and

,

a family step relation table coupled to the step table, the family step relation table identifying the relation between a family of computer systems and a set of software installation steps appropriate for the corresponding component.

39. The database of claim 38, wherein the family relation table includes a family identification attribute identifying a particular family of computer systems.

40. The database of claim 38, wherein the family step relation table includes a step identification attribute identifying a particular set of steps appropriate for a particular family.

41. The database of claim 38, wherein the family relation table includes a sequence number corresponding to each family, the sequence number representing a predetermined order in which steps associated with a family are to be executed.

42. The database of claim 38, wherein the family component relation table defines the relationship between an attribute identifying a computer family and an attribute identifying a component.

43. The database of claim 38, wherein the family component relation table defines the relationship between a component identification attribute and a step identification attribute.

44. The database of claim 38 further comprising:

a family table coupled to the step table, the family table identifying the family of computer systems with a name.

45. A database for use by a system apparatus in the manufacturing of a build-to-order computer system, the database comprising:

a step table containing a set of software installation and testing steps shared among different components of substantially all computer systems being manufactured, wherein a prescribed software installation or testing step is executed by the system apparatus during the manufacturing of the build-to-order computer system to facilitate a corresponding software installation or testing for the build-to-order computer system;

a component table coupled to the step table, the component table containing a set of substantially all possible components that are included within computer systems being manufactured, wherein the prescribed software installation or testing step executed by the system apparatus is determined in accordance with a corresponding component included in the build-to-order computer system;

a family relation table coupled to the step table, the family relation table identifying the relationship between a set of software installation steps and each family of computer systems being manufactured;

a family component relation table coupled to the step table, the family component relation table identifying the relationship between the family of computer systems and the set of components; and

a family step relation table coupled to the step table, the family step relation table identifying the relation between a family of computer systems and a set of software installation steps appropriate for the corresponding component.

46. The database of claim 45, wherein the family relation table includes a family identification attribute identifying a particular family of computer systems.

47. The database of claim 45, wherein the family step relation table includes a step identification attribute identifying a particular set of steps appropriate for a particular family.

48. The database of claim 45, wherein the family relation table includes a sequence number corresponding to each family, the sequence number representing a predetermined order in which steps associated with a family are to be expected.

49. The database of claim 45, wherein the family component relation table defines the relationship between an attribute identifying a computer family and an attribute identifying a component.

50. The database of claim 45, wherein the family component relation table defines the relationship between a component identification attribute and a step identification attribute.

51. The database of claim 45, further comprising:

a family table coupled to the step table, the family table identifying the family of computer systems with a name.

52. A system database including a database for use in the manufacturing of a build-to-order computer system comprising:

a step table containing a set of software installation and testing steps shared among different components of substantially all computer systems being manufactured by the system apparatus, wherein a prescribed software installation or testing step is executed by the system apparatus during the manufacturing of the build-to-order computer system to facilitate a corresponding software installation or testing for the build-to-order computer system, the step table including an aftercode attribute identifying whether a halt or reboot is required after a corresponding step is executed; and

a component table coupled to the step table, the component table containing a set of substantially all possible components that are included within the computer systems being manufactured, wherein the prescribed software installation or testing step executed by the system apparatus is determined in accordance with a corresponding component included in the build-to-order computer system.

53. A system apparatus including a database for use in the manufacturing of a build-to-order computer system comprising:

a step table containing a set of software installation and testing steps shared among different components of substantially all computer systems being manufactured by the system apparatus, wherein a prescribed software installation or testing step is executed by the system apparatus during the manufacturing of the build-to-order computer system to facilitate a corresponding software installation or testing for the build-to-order computer system, the step table including a maximum instance attribute indicting a maximum number of times that a corresponding step runs; and

a component table coupled to the step table, the component table containing a set of substantially all possible components that are included within the computer systems being manufactured, wherein the prescribed software installation or testing step executed by the system apparatus is determined in accordance with a corresponding component included in the build-to-order computer system.

54. A system apparatus including a database for use in the manufacturing of a build-to-order computer system comprising:

a step table containing a set of software installation and testing steps shared among different components of substantially all computer systems being manufactured by the system apparatus, wherein a prescribed software installation or testing step is executed by the system apparatus during the manufacturing of the build-to-order computer system to facilitate a corresponding software installation or testing for the build-to-order computer system, the step table including a phase attribute designating in which phase of manufacture a step is to be extended; and

a component table coupled to the step table containing a set of substantially all possible components that are included within computer systems being manufactured, wherein the prescribed software installation or testing step executed by the system apparatus is determined in accordance with a corresponding component included in the build-to-order computer system.

55. A system apparatus including a database for use in the manufacturing of a build-to-order computer system comprising:

a step table containing a set of software installation and testing steps shared among different components of substantially all computer systems being manufactured by the system apparatus, wherein a prescribed software installation or testing step is executed by the system apparatus during the manufacturing of the build-to-order computer system to facilitate a corresponding software installation or testing for the build-to-order computer system;

a component table coupled to the step table, the component table containing a set of substantially all possible components that are included within computer systems being manufactured, wherein the prescribed software installation or testing step executed by the system apparatus is determined in accordance with a corresponding component included in the build-to-order computer system;

a family relation table coupled to the step table, the family relation table identifying the relationship between a set of software installation steps and each family of computer systems being manufactured;

a family component relation table coupled to the component table, the family component relation table identifying the relationship between a family of computer systems and a set of components; and

a component step relation table coupled to the step table and the component table, the component step relation table identifying the relationship between a set of software installation and testing steps and a set of components.