Server and computer network that permit a client to be easily introduced into the computer network

• US 6,108,779 A
• Filed: 07/17/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dean, Jeffrey Randell, Rodriguez, Ingrid Milagros
• Primary Examiner(s): Palys, Joseph E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTIN, WILLIE R
• Application Number:
  US09/118,292
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/200, 713/201, 713/100, 710/18, 710/34
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]

Abstract

A computer network includes a plurality of clients coupled to a server. The server includes data storage that stores network administration software and a shared client operating system. In response to detection of a new client attached to the computer network that has not previously been attached, the network administration software boots the shared client operating system on the new client. In one embodiment, the network administration software boots the shared client operating system on the new client in response to obtaining user logon information, where the user logon information is the only user input required for the network administration software to boot the shared client operating system on the new client.

Claims

1. A server for a computer network, that supports a plurality of clients, said server comprising:

data storage that stores;

network administration software and a shared client operating system, wherein said network administration software, in response to detection of a client attached to the computer network that has not previously been attached, boots said shared client operating system on said client; and

a plurality of client directories that are each associated with a respective one of the plurality of clients, each of said plurality of client directories containing one or more files utilized to boot said shared client operating system on an associated client, said one or more files including at least one data file utilized to build a run-time registry for said shared client operating system; and

execution resources capable of executing said network administration software.

2. The server of claim 1, said server further comprising a plurality of user directories that each store software preferences of a respective one of a plurality of users of said computer network.

3. The server of claim 2 said software preferences including a desktop configuration for said shared client operating system.

4. The server of claim 1, wherein said network administration software boots said shared client operating system on said client in response to obtaining user logon information, wherein said user logon information is the only user input required for said network administration software to boot said shared client operating system on said client.

5. A program product, comprising:

a computer-usable medium; and

network administration software encoded within said computer-usable medium, said network administration software including instruction means for creating a plurality of client directories on a server of the computer network, wherein said plurality of client directories are each associated with a respective one of a plurality of clients and each contains one or more files utilized to boot a shared client operating system on an associated client, said one or more files including at least one data file utilized to build a run-time registry for said shared client operating system, wherein, in response to detection of a client attached to a computer network that has not previously been attached to the computer network, said network administration software boots said shared client operating system on said client.

6. The program product of claim 5, said program product further comprising instruction means for establishing a plurality of user directories that each store software preferences of a respective one of a plurality of users of said computer network.

7. The program product of claim 6, said software preferences including a desktop configuration for said shared client operating system.

8. The program product of claim 5, wherein said network administration software boots said shared client operating system on said client in response to obtaining user logon information, wherein said user logon information is the only user input required for said network administration software to boot said shared client operating system on said client.

9. A computer network, comprising:

a plurality of clients; and

a server coupled to said plurality of clients, said server including;

data storage that stores network administration software, a shared client operating system, and a plurality of client directories that are each associated with a respective one of said plurality of clients, each of said plurality of client directories containing one of more files utilized to boot said shared client operating system on an associated client, said one or more files including at least one data file utilized to build a run-time registry for said shared client operating system, wherein said network administration software, in response to detection of a new client attached to the computer network that has not previously been attached, boots said shared client operating system on said new client; and

execution resources capable of executing said network administration software.

10. The server of claim 9, said server further comprising a plurality of user directories that each store software preferences of a respective one of a plurality of users of said computer network.

11. The server of claim 10, said software preferences including a desktop configuration for said shared client operating system.

12. The server of claim 9, wherein said network administration software boots said shared client operating system on said new client in response to obtaining user logon information, wherein said user logon information is the only user input required for said network administration software to boot said shared client operating system on said new client.