Simultaneous installation and configuration of programs and components into a network of server and client computers

• US 6,202,206 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dean, Jeffrey Randell, Rodriguez, Ingrid Milagros, Howard, Jeffrey Langdon
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US09/078,965
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 395/712, 709/220, 709/221, 709/203, 709/219, 345/349, 345/333, 717/11, 710/1
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A method for installing programs, settings and configurations in a network of a plurality of server and client computers is provided which involves the steps of designating one of said server computers having an interactive display interface to function as the primary server computer, preloading all of the programs to be installed in said server and client computers of the network into the primary server computer and running a sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to install said selected components and programs on said server and client computers as recorded in a data file representative of said sequence of entries stored in said primary server computer, whereby said programs and components are automatically loaded into the respective server and client computers in said network requiring said programs and components.

Claims

1. A method for installing programs, settings and configurations in a network of at least one server computer and a plurality of client computers comprising the steps of:

designating one of said server computers having an interactive display interface to function as a primary server computer;

preloading into said primary server computer all of the programs to be installed in said server and client computers of said network; and

running a sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to install selected components and programs on said server and client computers recorded in a data file stored in said primary server computer;

whereby said programs and components are automatically loaded into the respective server and client computers in said network requiring said programs and components.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a plurality of server computers.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the steps of:

preloading into the primary server, operating systems to be installed in said server and client computers of said network, and

running a sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to install said operating systems on said server and client computers recorded in a data file stored in said primary server computer.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of:

running a sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to select adapters used to support components for said server and client computers recorded in a data file stored in said primary server computer.

5. The method of claim 3 further including the step of:

running a sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to select network adapters used to support components for said server and client computers recorded in a data file stored in said primary server computer.

6. The method of claim 3 further including the step of:

running a sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to make settings for components and programs installed on said server and client computers recorded in a data file stored in said primary server computer.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein a plurality of the same programs, each of which is to be installed on one of a corresponding plurality of server and client computers are respectively installed by running the same sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to install the programs on said server and client computers.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein a plurality of the same components, each of which is to be installed on one of a corresponding plurality of server and client computers are respectively installed by running the same sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to install the components on said server and client computers.

9. A computer program having program code included on a computer readable medium for installing programs, settings and configurations in a network of at least one server computer and a plurality of client computers comprising:

means for designating one of said server computers having an interactive display interface to function as a primary server computer;

means for preloading into said primary server computer all of the programs to be installed in said server and client computers of said network; and

means for running a sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to install selected components and programs on said server and client computers recorded in a data file stored in said primary server computer;

whereby said programs and components are automatically loaded into the respective server and client computers in said network requiring said programs and components.

10. The computer program of claim 9 wherein said network comprises a plurality of server computers.

11. The computer program of claim 10 further including:

means for preloading into the primary server, operating systems to be installed in said server and client computers of said network, and

means for running a sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to install said operating systems on said server and client computers recorded in a data file stored in said primary server computer.

12. The computer program of claim 11 further including:

means for running a sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to select adapters used to support components for said server and client computers recorded in a data file stored in said primary server computer.

13. The computer program of claim 11 further including means for running a sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to select network adapters used to support components for said server and client computers recorded in a data file stored in said primary server computer.

14. The computer program of claim 11 further including means for running a sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to make settings for components and programs installed on said server and client computers recorded in a data file stored in said primary server computer.

15. The computer program of claim 9 further including means for respectively installing a plurality of the same programs, each of which is to be installed on one of a corresponding plurality of server and client computers, by running the same sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to install the programs on said server and client computers.

16. The computer program of claim 10 further including means for respectively installing a plurality of the same components, each of which is to be installed on one of a corresponding plurality of server and client computers, by running the same sequence of the keystroke and cursor entries required to install the components on said server and client computers.