Method and system for client/server and peer-to-peer disk imaging

• US 6,144,992 A
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gen Digital Inc.
• Original Assignee: Altiris Incorporated (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Turpin, Kevin J., Clark, Christopher P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/854,262
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.5, 395/200.51, 395/200.52, 395/200.83, 395/200.38, 395/200.41, 395/200.67, 395/712, 395/653, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/253, 709/208, 709/211, 709/237, 713/100
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order

Abstract

A method and system for imaging data between two or more digital computers across a computer network is described, where the digital computers transfer data in a peer-to-peer mode and/or a client/server mode upon command of the operator. This invention address the problem of managing, updating and installing executable software, such as operating systems, utilities and application software packages on a large number of networked computer systems. By using this invention properly, a system operator can transfer data stored on a single computer system to all or some of the computer system connected to the first system over a computer network and can do so without expensive electronic server equipment. Moreover, this invention provides the capability of transferring data as files, sectors or cylinders of disk media, thereby permitting a single operator to, through a generally automated procedure, simultaneously install new system software, configuration files and executive files on many computers. This invention provides an important improvement in the operation, maintenance and control of large computer networks, although it applies and works equally well in small network applications. In its best mode of operation this invention is performed on standard digital computer systems through the use of special purpose computer software.

Claims

1. A method for imaging data between two or more digital computer systems across a computer network the method steps comprising:

(A) networking a master computer to a first slave computer and a second slave;

(B) initiating the imaging of data on said master computer; and

(C) responding to the requests for data imaging from said master computer on said first slave computer and said second slave computer.

2. A method for imaging data between two or more digital computer systems across a computer network, as recited in claim 1, where said initiating the imaging of data step further comprises the steps of:

(1) determining the type of imaging which is desired between the computer systems;

(2) transferring the image data between said slave computer and said master computer; and

(3) broadcasting the transferred image data from a single master computer system to more than one slave computer system.

3. A method for imaging data between two or more digital computer systems across a computer network, as recited in claim 1, wherein said initiating the imaging of data step further comprises the steps of:

(1) receiving computer system information from said master computer;

(2) transmitting said received computer system information, wherein said computer system information includes handshaking information, to said master computer;

(3) downloading said transferred image data from said master computer and to said slave computer and for storing the image data in a digital computer system; and

(4) handling errors incurred in the downloading of the image data from said master computer.

4. A method for imaging data between two or more digital computer systems across a computer network, as recited in claim 2, wherein said determining the type of imaging step which is desired between the computer systems, further comprises the steps of:

(a) processing command line information from the system operator; and

(b) processing menu information for gathering necessary information from the system operator and the digital computer systems.

5. A method for imaging data between two or more digital computer systems across a computer network, as recited in claim 2, wherein said transferring image data between said slave computer and said master computer step, further comprises the steps of:

(a) opening a file containing the data to be imaged;

(b) writing an image header for recording the image header data;

(c) retrieving image data into a computer system; and

(d) minimizing the data storage requirements of the retrieved image data.

6. A method for imaging data between two or more digital computer systems across a computer network, as recited in claim 2, wherein said broadcasting the transferred image data step, further comprises the steps of:

(a) packaging digital computer system sector data; and

(b) sending said packaged digital computer system sector data across a network to one or more digital computer systems.

7. A system for performing peer-to-peer imaging of information stored in a digital computer storage media across a digital computer network comprising:

(A) a first digital computer system having a first disk drive;

(B) a second digital computer system having a second disk drive and a third digital computer system having a third disk drive;

(C) a network communication device electrically connecting said first digital computer system to said second digital computer system; and

(D) a means for simultaneously imaging data stored on said first digital computer system to said second digital computer system and said third digital computer system thereby duplicating all data stored on said first disk drive of said first digital computer system to said second disk drive on said second digital computer system and to said third disk drive on said third digital computer system.

8. A system for performing peer-to-peer imaging of information stored in a digital computer storage media across a digital computer network, as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

(F) a third digital computer system; and

(G) a means for broadcasting image data stored on said first computer system to said second digital computer system and said third digital computer system.

9. A system for performing peer-to-peer imaging of information stored in a digital computer storage media across a digital computer network, as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

(H) a means for compressing the volume of information to be imaged.

10. A system for performing peer-to-peer imaging of information stored in a digital computer storage media across a digital computer network, as recited in claim 7, wherein said system is operable in a client/server network environment.

11. A system for performing peer-to-peer imaging of information stored in a digital computer storage media across a digital computer network, as recited in claim 7, wherein said system is operable in a network without electronic server hardware.

12. A networked computer system comprising:

(A) a means for initializing variables for use by a software program for performing data imaging on digital computers across a computer network;

(B) a means for selecting the type of imaging of the digital computer data;

(C) a means for uploading to simultaneously transfer digital computer data from one digital computer to two or more other digital computers, wherein each digital computer operates in a peer-to-peer mode;

(D) a means for downloading to receive data from a digital computer to another digital computer; and

(E) a means for error detection and reporting for identifying and reporting any errors that occur during said upload or said download routines.