Method and apparatus for configuring a computer using scripting

• US 6,256,635 B1
• Filed: 05/08/1998
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Guittet, Michel, Nebel, Chris, Ford, Richard, Arrouye, Yan, Comiskey, John, Li, Alice
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Application Number:
  US09/074,705
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/102, 707/103, 707/200, 707/201, 709/220, 709/221, 709/223, 709/226, 713/1, 717/11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for configuring a computer. One embodiment of the invention combines all of the prior art control panels related to networking into a consolidated Network Setup Control Panel. In addition, the invention provides for computer configuration by scripting. The configuration may be for a type of system setting or for network configurations and protocols. Through scripting, a computer may be configured locally or remotely on a network. One embodiment of the invention provides for a centralized database or Configuration Library consisting of collected data relating to available configuration settings. This database is not limited to configuration information and can be used as a general database containing information the user desires to store. To modify a configuration by scripting, the invention provides for a Scripting Interface consisting of a Scripting Server and Scripting Plug-In. The Scripting Server receives the script forwarded from a user or network administrator, parses the script and determines the appropriate Scripting Plug-In to forward the desired action to. The Scripting Plug-In receives the commands and executes the appropriate actions to modify the configuration as directed.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a computer comprising:

obtaining a dictionary of scriptable commands;

programming a script using scriptable commands from said dictionary;

launching said script on a scripting server;

parsing said script;

forwarding commands contained in said script to at least one Scripting PlugIn; and

modifying configuration settings using said Scripting Plug-In.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said dictionary of scriptable commands is external to said script.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said scripting server is located on a remote computer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said configuration settings are located on a remote computer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said modifying step comprises:

obtaining a database of configuration settings; and

modifying said configuration settings in said database.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said obtaining a database of configuration settings in said database step comprises:

retrieving configuration settings from existing files;

obtaining a database capable of storing configuration information; and

storing said configuration settings from said existing files into said database of configuration settings.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said modifying said configuration settings step further comprises:

determining if said existing files have been altered;

if said existing files have been altered, performing the following steps;

determining if said existing files support multiple configurations;

obtaining a configuration in said database for each multiple configuration if said files support multiple configurations;

obtaining a configuration in said database for said existing file'"'"'s configuration if said configuration does not support multiple configurations;

modifying said configurations in said database.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining if said existing files support multiple configurations;

writing said configurations from said database into said existing files if said existing files support multiple configurations; and

writing a currently active configuration from said database to said existing file if said existing files do not support multiple configurations.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

capturing a date stamp from said existing file;

recording said date stamp in said database;

said determining if said configuration has been altered step comprising comparing said date stamp in said existing file to said recorded date stamp in said database.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

determining if other users were accessing said database; and

notifying said other users of said modification.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said coinfguration settings are network configuration settings.

12. A system comprising

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor;

object code executed by said processor for providing at least one method for configuring a computer;

said object code comprising;

a method obtaining a dictionary of scriptable commands;

a method programming a script using scriptable commands from said dictionary

a method launching said script on a scripting server;

a method parsing said script;

a method forwarding commands contained in said script to at least one Scripting Plug-In;

a method modifying configuration settings using said Scripting Plug-In.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said dictionary of scriptable commands is external to said script.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said scripting server is located on a remote computer.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said configuration settings are located on a remote computer.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said method modifying comprises:

a method obtaining a database of configuration settings; and

a method modifying said configuration settings in said database.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said method obtaining a database of configuration settings in said database comprises:

a method retrieving configuration settings from existing files;

a method obtaining a database capable of storing configuration information; and

a method storing said configuration settings from said existing files into said database of configuration settings.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said method modifying said configuration settings further comprises:

a method determining if said existing files have been altered;

if said existing files have been altered, object code configured to performing the following;

a method determining if said existing files support multiple configurations;

a method obtaining a configuration in said database for each multiple configuration if said files support multiple configurations;

a method obtaining a configuration in said database for said existing file'"'"'s configuration if said configuration does not support multiple configurations;

a method modifying said configurations in said database.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

a method determining if said existing files support multiple configurations;

a method writing said configurations from said database into said existing files if said existing files support multiple configurations; and

a method writing a currently active configuration from said database to said existing file if said existing files do not support multiple configurations.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

a method capturing a date stamp from said existing file;

a method recording said date stamp in said database;

said determining if said configuration has been altered method comprising a method comparing said date stamp in said existing file to said recorded date stamp in said database.

21. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a method determining if other users were accessing said database; and

a method notifying said other users of said modification.

22. The system of claim 12 wherein said coinfguration settings are network configuration settings.

23. A computer program product comprising

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for configuring a computer, said computer program product comprising:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to obtain a dictionary of scriptable commands external to said script;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to program a script using scriptable commands from said dictionary;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to launch said script on a scripting server;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to parse said script;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to forward commands contained in said script to at least one Scripting PlugIn;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to modify configuration settings using said Scripting Plug-In.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said computer readable code configured to cause a computer to obtain a dictionary of scriptable commands further comprises:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to obtain a dictionary of scriptable commands external to said script.

25. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said scripting server is located on a remote computer.

26. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said computer code configured to cause a computer to modify comprises:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to modify configuration settings located on a remote computer.

27. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said computer code configured to cause a computer to modify comprises:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to obtain a database of configuration settings; and

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to modify said configuration settings in said database.

28. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein said computer code configured to cause a computer to obtain a database of configuration settings in said database comprises:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to retrieve configuration settings from existing files;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to obtain a database capable of storing configuration information; and

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to store said configuration settings from said existing files into said database of configuration settings.

29. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein said computer code configured to cause a computer to modify said configuration settings further comprises:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to determine if said existing files have been altered;

if said existing files have been altered, computer readable code configured to cause a computer to;

determine if said existing files support multiple configurations;

obtain a configuration in said database for each multiple configuration if said files support multiple configurations;

obtain a configuration in said database for said existing file'"'"'s configuration if said configuration does not support multiple configurations;

modify said configurations in said database.

30. The computer program product of claim 29 further comprising:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to determine if said existing files support multiple configurations;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to write said configurations from said database into said existing files if said existing files support multiple configurations; and

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to write a currently active configuration from said database to said existing file if said existing files do not support multiple configurations.

31. The computer program product of claim 30 further comprising:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to capture a date stamp from said existing file;

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to record said date stamp in said database;

said computer code configured to cause a computer to determine if said configuration has been altered comprising computer readable code configured to cause a computer to compare said date stamp in said existing file to said recorded date stamp in said database.

32. The computer program product of claim 27 further comprising:

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to determine if other users were accessing said database; and

computer readable code configured to cause a computer to notify said other users of said modification.

33. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein said coinfguration settings are network configuration settings.

34. An apparatus for configuring a computer comprising:

means for obtaining a dictionary of scriptable commands;

means for programming a script using scriptable commands from said dictionary;

means for launching said script on a scripting server;

means for parsing said script;

means for forwarding commands contained in said script to at least one Scripting Plug-In;

means for modifying configuration settings using said Scripting Plug-In.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said means for obtaining further comprises:

means for obtaining a dictionary of scriptable commands external to said script.

36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said scripting server is located on a remote computer.

37. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said means for modifying comprises:

means for modifying configuration settings located on a remote computer.

38. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said means for modifying comprises:

means for obtaining a database of configuration settings; and

means for modifying said configuration settings in said database.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said means for obtaining a database of configuration settings in said database comprises:

means for retrieving configuration settings from existing files;

means for obtaining a database capable of storing configuration information; and

means for storing said configuration settings from said existing files into said database of configuration settings.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein said means for modifying said configuration settings further comprises:

means for determining if said existing files have been altered;

means for determining if said existing files support multiple configurations if said existing files have been altered;

means for obtaining a configuration in said database for each multiple configuration if said files support multiple configurations;

means for obtaining a configuration in said database for said existing file'"'"'s configuration if said configuration does not support multiple configurations;

means for modifying said configurations in said database.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 further comprising:

means for determining if said existing files support multiple configurations;

means for writing said configurations from said database into said existing files if said existing files support multiple configurations; and

means for writing a currently active configuration from said database to said existing file if said existing files do not support multiple configurations.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 further comprising:

means for capturing a date stamp from said existing file;

means for recording said date stamp in said database;

said means for determining if said configuration has been altered comprising means for comparing said date stamp in said existing file to said recorded date stamp in said database.

43. The apparatus of claim 38 further comprising:

means for determining if other users were accessing said database; and

means for notifying said other users of said modification.

44. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said coinfguration settings are network configuration settings.