System for managing the configuration of multiple computer devices
DCFirst Claim
1. A system for managing the configuration of one or more computers of a network system via a network, said system comprising:
- at least one first computer storing first information for configuring said first computer;
a second computer storing second information for configuring said first computer;
means for establishing a connection via said network between said first and second computers;
means for comparing data characterizing said first information with data characterizing said second information which is stored at said second computer to determine if said first and second information is different from each other when said first and second computers are connected without sending said second information to said first computer;
means for sending at least one component of said second information from said second computer to said first computer when said first and second information are determined different from each other by said comparing means; and
means for configuring said first computer in accordance with said sent second information.
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Abstract
A system for managing the configuration of multiple computer devices over a network is provided in which each of the computer devices has memory for storing local configuration information and is configurable in accordance with its stored local configuration information. A file server in the system is connectable to each of the computer devices via the network. The file server has memory storing master configuration information for each of the computer devices. Each of the computer devices periodically connects via the network to the file server to provide a connected computer device. The connected computer device compares data characterizing its master configuration information at the file server with data characterizing its local configuration information to determine if its master and local configuration information are different. When one or more components of the master configuration information are determined different, such components are transferred from the file server to the connected computer device. The connected computer device revises its configuration in accordance with the transferred master configuration information. The computer devices may be part of a network system where such computer devices inter-operate with each other. This network system is properly configured for inter-operation when the local configuration information at each of the computer devices corresponds to their respective master configuration information at the file server. Local configuration information may be changed at the computer device, such changes are sent to the file server for review to determine whether to revise the master configuration in accordance with such changes.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. A system for managing the configuration of one or more computers of a network system via a network, said system comprising:
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at least one first computer storing first information for configuring said first computer; a second computer storing second information for configuring said first computer; means for establishing a connection via said network between said first and second computers; means for comparing data characterizing said first information with data characterizing said second information which is stored at said second computer to determine if said first and second information is different from each other when said first and second computers are connected without sending said second information to said first computer; means for sending at least one component of said second information from said second computer to said first computer when said first and second information are determined different from each other by said comparing means; and means for configuring said first computer in accordance with said sent second information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for managing the configuration of one or more computers of a network system via a network comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one first computer storing first information for configuring said first computer; providing a second computer storing second information for configuring said first computer; establishing a connection via said network between said first and second computers; comparing data characterizing said first information with data characterizing said second information which is stored at said second computer to determine if said first and second information is different from each other when said first and second computers are connected without said second information being sent to said first computer; sending at least one component of said second information to said first computer when said first and second information are determined different from each other by said comparing step; and configuring said first computer in accordance with said sent second information. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for managing the configuration of a plurality of first computers via a network comprising:
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a plurality of first computers, each of said first computer having memory for storing local configuration information in which each of said first computers is configurable in accordance with said stored local configuration information; a second computer connectable to each of said first computers via said network, said second computer having memory for storing master configuration information for each of said first computers; means for connecting said first computers to said second computer via said network in which each of said first computers when connected defines a connected first computer; means for comparing data characterizing said master configuration information for said connected first computer with data characterizing said local configuration information for said connected first computer to determine if the master and local configuration information for said connected first computer are different; means for transferring at least one component of said master configuration information different from said local configuration information of said connected first computer, when said master and local configuration information are determined different by said comparing means, from said second computer to said connected first computer; and means for revising the configuration of said connected first computer when said master configuration information transferred to said connected computer in accordance with said transferred master configuration information. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for managing the configuration of a system having a plurality of first computers comprising the steps of:
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providing a second computer connectable to each of said first computers via a network; storing master configuration information for each of said first computers at said second computer; storing local configuration information at each of said first computers in which each of said first computers is configured in accordance with said stored local configuration information at the first computer; connecting one of said first computers to said second computer over said network; comparing data characterizing said master configuration information for said connected first computer with data characterizing said local configuration information for said connected first computer to determine if said master and local configuration information for said connected first computer are different; transferring at least one component of said master configuration information different from said local configuration information of said connected first computer, when said master and local configuration information are determined different by said comparing step, from said second computer to said connected first computer; and revising the configuration of said connected first computer when said master configuration information transferred to said connected computer in accordance with said transferred master configuration information. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A computer system having stored files which is connectable via a network to a file server having stored files, said system comprising:
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means for connecting said system via said network to said file server; means for comparing data characterizing said files stored on said system with similar files stored on said file server to determine if any of said files are different; means for requesting files from said file server which were determined different for transmission to said system; means for receiving and storing said requested files from said file server; and means for configuring said system in accordance with one or more received files.
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60. A network file server having stored files representing configuration information for multiple computer systems comprising:
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means for establishing a network connection to one of said computer systems; means, responsive to said one computer system, for sending to said one computer system data characterizing said stored files for said one computer system; means, responsive to said one computer system, for sending files stored on said server requested by said one computer system; means, responsive to said one computer system, for receiving at least one file representing a changed version of one of said stored files; means for storing said received file; and means for revising said stored files in accordance with said received file when said received file does not adversely effect configuration of said one computer system.
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61. A configuration management system for one or more computer systems of a network-based system comprising:
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a network-based system having a plurality of managed computer systems in which each of said managed computer systems stores first information for configuring the managed computer system; a server storing second information for configuring each of said managed computer systems, in which at least one component of said first information stored at each of said managed computer systems is associated with a component of said second information stored at said server; means for sending to each of said managed computer systems from said server at least one component of said second information for configuring the managed computer system when said component of said second information differs from the associated component of said first information at the managed computer system in one or more characteristics or when the associated component of said first information is absent at said managed computer system; means for updating the configuration of each of said managed computer systems in accordance with said sent second information from said server; means at each of said managed computer systems for sending a message to said server indicating whether the configuration of said managed computer system by said updating mean was successful; and means for replacing any components of said first information associated with said sent component of said second information to enable said first information at the managed computer system to correspond to said second information at the server associated with the managed computer system. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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63. A system for managing the configuration of one or more computers of a network system via a network, said system comprising:
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at least one first computer storing first information for configuring said first computer; a second computer storing second information for configuring said first computer; means for periodically establishing a temporary connection via said network between said first and second computers; means for comparing said first and second information to determine if said first and second information is different from each other when said first and second computers are connected; means for sending at least one component of said second information from said second computer to said first computer when said first and second information are determined different from each other by said comparing means; and means for configuring said first computer in accordance with said sent second information.
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Specification