Integrity verifying and correcting software

• US 6,023,586 A
• Filed: 02/10/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Brooks, Matthew G., Gaisford, Calvin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/021,691
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/100, 707/103, 707/203, 395/712, 395/701, 395/200.33, 395/200.49, 395/200.5
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

An apparatus and method for self-healing of software may rely on a distribution object in a directory services of a network to provide data for controlling distribution of software and installation of files associated therewith. A software object may represent a software product, system, data structure, application, or the like, from a single byte, to a complex program. A directory services system is responsible for maintaining a data store of inter-related logical entities (directory services objects), including software objects and a distribution object containing all distribution information associated with certain distribution processes. Maintenance methods may be programmed into a directory services object or some other executable to verify the existence of files required for particular software. Verification may be completed in association with a launch request, by explicit request, or in an ongoing maintenance procedure. Maintenance may include executables and data to control, complete, and record integrity of distributed files as a distinct activity or as an ongoing, routine, periodic process of verification and appropriate re-installation of files, operating transparently to a user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for implementing integrity verifying and correcting software, the apparatus comprising:

a memory device for storing data structures comprising operational data and executables;

a processor operably connected to the memory device for executing the executables;

a network operably connected to the processor for connecting a node to another node;

the node, hosting a directory services executable for maintaining a data store of directory services objects linked together, the directory services executable being programmed to maintain and search for the directory services objects in the data store;

the other node hosting a directory services client for using the directory services system by accessing the directory services objects;

the memory device, wherein the operational data further comprises a distribution object, an instance of a directory services object reflecting a configuration of files corresponding to software represented by a software object, corresponding thereto, distinct therefrom, stored in the directory services system, and containing controlling data, the controlling data controlling the processor in selectively verifying the presence and absence of links to files, finding absent links through the directory services system, and correcting the configuration proximate a run time remote from the installation time of the software.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the node and the other node are configured to operate using the processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directory services executable is a directory services server.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the processor is contained within the node;

the memory device is operably associated with the node for storing the directory services objects; and

the other node is further comprised of another processor programmed for executing a directory services client for receiving from the node selected data reflecting attributes from the directory services objects.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory device is operably associated with the node, and wherein the data structures include the directory services executable for execution by the processor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the data structures comprise operational data for use by the executable during execution thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the operational data comprises an attribute of an object.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the object is a directory services object in a directory services system.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the executable is a method in the directory services object.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the directory services object is selected from a software object, a distribution object, and a software maintenance object.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the attribute reflects distribution data for controlling distribution of files corresponding to a software object in the directory services system.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the executable is configured to be effective to monitor and maintain the files in accordance with the distribution data after an initial distribution thereof.

13. A computer readable medium containing executable and operational data structures, the data structures comprising:

a data store containing a plurality of searchable, hierarchical, directory services objects interrelated to one another;

a software object, of the directory services objects, corresponding to software installed at an installation time;

a directory services executable effective to provide directory services relating to the plurality of directory services objects, the directory services executable being programmed to maintain and search for the directory services objects in the data store;

a distribution executable for controlling distribution of files corresponding to the software object; and

a distribution object, an instance of a directory services object, containing verification data and controlling data for use by the distribution executable to control the selective verification of a distribution of the software in accordance with the software object over a network proximate a run time remote from the installation time of the software, and to find, through the directory services data store, links required to correctly configure the software.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein:

the objects are directory services objects related to one another in a hierarchy;

the directory services executable is programmed for managing attributes of the directory services objects and relationships therebetween in the hierarchy.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the data structures further comprise a heading executable for keeping installation of files corresponding to the software, and for reinstalling selected files not found properly linked at a time corresponding to the verification and remote from a previous intended installation time.

16. A computer implementable method for integrity verifying and correcting software, the method comprising:

providing network interconnecting nodes including a source node storing a software object corresponding to software;

providing a directory services system operably connected to the network and programmed to maintain and search a data store containing a hierarchical tree of searchable, directory services objects;

providing a workstation node operably connected to the network and programmed to receive from the directory services system a distribution object containing distribution-controlling data for controlling the directory services system to verify the configuration of the software, to find errors in the configuration thereof, and to redistribute portions of the software in accordance therewith at a time remote from the installation time of the software.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising programming the workstation node to distribute the software to the workstation node.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the distribution-controlling data further comprises distribution parameters, stored in a directory services object, for controlling verification of the distribution.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the distribution parameters include verification data as attributes of a distribution object.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the distribution parameters include scheduling data for controlling scheduling of the verification of the distribution.