Method and apparatus for managing boot images in a distributed data processing system

• US 6,421,777 B1
• Filed: 04/26/1999
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pierre-Louis, Marc-Arthur, Radhakrishnan, Sockalingam, Paul, Chakkalamattam Jos
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/299,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 709/203, 709/220, 709/222
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A method and apparatus for booting a client data processing system from a set of boot images stored on a server data processing system. At power up of the client data processing system, an image request is sent to the server data processing system from the client data processing system. According to a state of the client data processing system, an initial boot image is selected and sent to the client data processing system. The state of the client data processing system is monitored. Responsive to an indication that the client data processing system needs to be rebooted, a new boot image is selected, if needed depending on the state, and sent to the client data processing system. This selection is made according to the state of the client data processing system at the time the indication is identified. The client data processing system is rebooted using the boot image from the server data processing system.

Claims

1. A method for booting a client data processing system from a set of boot images stored on a server data processing system, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

at client data processing system power up, sending a image request to the server data processing system from the client data processing system;

according to a state of the client data processing system, selecting and sending an initial boot image to the client data processing system;

monitoring the state of the client data processing system;

responsive to an indication that the client data processing system needs to be rebooted, selecting and sending a new boot image to the client data processing system according to the state of the client data processing system at the time the indication is identified; and

rebooting the client data processing system using the new boot image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of boot images includes a local boot image, wherein sending of the local boot image to the client data processing system causes the client data processing system to boot from a local image located within the client data processing system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the local boot image is sent to the client data processing system when the state of the client data processing system is local.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the state of the client data processing system is stored in a data structure located in the server data processing system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the data structure is a data file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring step comprises:

receiving the state of the client data processing system from the client data processing system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the new boot image is one of a full operating environment, instructions to redirect the boot from another device, or instructions to perform maintenance tasks on the client data processing system.

8. A method in a server data processing system for booting a client data processing system from a set of boot images stored on the server data processing system, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

according to a state of the client data processing system, assigning a boot image from the set of boot images to the client data processing system to form an assigned boot image;

receiving a boot image request from the client data processing system;

sending the assigned boot image to the client data processing system;

monitoring the state of the client data processing system; and

responsive to an indication that the state of the client data processing system has changed, assigning a new boot image from the set of boot images, if needed for the state, to the client data processing system, wherein the new image becomes the assigned boot image.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein when the initial state of the client data processing system is new, an installation of an operating system on the client data processing system is initiated using boot images from the set of boot images.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the set of boot images includes a local boot image, wherein sending the local boot image to the client data processing system causes the client data processing system to boot from a local operating system located within the client data processing system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein assignments of set of boot images to client data processing systems are stored in a data structure in the server data processing system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data structure is a data file.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

maintaining a log of events occurring in response to receiving boot image requests.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the new boot image is one of a full operating environment, instructions to redirect the boot from another device, or instructions to perform maintenance tasks on the client data processing system.

15. A method in a data processing system for managing boot images, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

identifying a state of a client of the data processing system;

responsive to receiving a request from the client for a boot image, selecting the boot image from a set of boot images based on the state of the client to form a selected boot image; and

sending the selected boot image to the client.

16. A server data processing system for booting a client data processing system from a set of boot images stored on a server data processing system, the server data processing system comprising:

sending means, at client data processing system power up, for sending a image request to the server data processing system from the client data processing system;

first selecting means, according to a state of the client data processing system, for selecting and sending an initial boot image to the client data processing system;

monitoring means for monitoring the state of the client data processing system;

second selecting means, responsive to an indication that the client data processing system needs to be rebooted, for selecting and sending a new boot image to the client data processing system according to the state of the client data processing system at the time the indication is identified; and

rebooting means for rebooting the client data processing system using the new boot image.

17. The server data processing system of claim 16, wherein the set of boot images includes a local boot image, wherein sending of the local boot image to the client data processing system causes the client data processing system to boot from a local image located within the client data processing system.

18. The server data processing system of claim 16, wherein the local boot image is sent to the client data processing system when the state of the client data processing system is local.

19. The server data processing system of claim 16, wherein the state of the client data processing system is stored in a data structure located in the server data processing system.

20. The server data processing system of claim 19, wherein the data structure is a data file.

21. The server data processing system of claim 16, wherein the monitoring means comprises:

receiving means for receiving the state of the client data processing system from the client data processing system.

22. A data processing system for managing boot images, the data processing system comprising:

identifying means for identifying a state of a client of the data processing system;

selecting means, responsive to receiving a request from the client for a boot image, for selecting the boot image from a set of boot images based on the state of the client to form a selected boot image; and

sending means for sending the selected boot image to the client.

23. A data processing system for booting a client from a set of boot images stored on the data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

assigning means, according to a state of the client, for assigning a boot image from the set of boot images to the client to form an assigned boot image;

receiving means for receiving a boot image request from the client;

sending means for sending the assigned boot image to the client;

monitoring means for monitoring the state of the client; and

assigning means, responsive to an indication that the state of the client has changed, for assigning a new boot image from the set of boot images, if needed for the state, to the client, wherein the new image becomes the assigned boot imaged.

24. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein when the initial state of the client is new, an installation of an operating system on the client is initiated using boot images from the set of boot images.

25. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein the set of boot images includes a local boot image, wherein sending the local boot image to the client data processing system causes the client to boot from a local operating system located within the client data processing system.

26. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein assignments of set of boot images to client are stored in a data structure in the server data processing system.

27. The data processing system of claim 26, wherein the data structure is a data file.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

maintaining means for maintaining a log of events occurring in response to receiving boot image requests.

29. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein the data processing system is one of a server or the server data process system.

30. A distributed data processing system comprising:

a network;

a plurality of client data processing systems connected to the network, wherein the plurality of client data processing systems send request boot images onto the network; and

a server data processing system connected to the network, the server data processing system including;

a set of boot images;

a data structure containing assignments of boot images in the plurality of boot images to the plurality of client data processing systems;

a boot image management process, wherein the boot image process, responsive to receiving boot requests from client data processing systems, sends boot images from the set of boot images to the client data processing systems based in the assignments;

a state process, wherein the state process monitors for changes in the state of the plurality of client data processing systems and makes changes to the assignments based on the changes in the state of the plurality client data processing systems.

31. The distributed data processing system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of client data processing systems send changes in states to the server data processing system.

32. A server data processing system for booting a client data processing system from a set of boot images stored on a server data processing system, the server data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to send a image request to the server data processing system from the client data processing system at client data processing system power up;

select and send an initial boot image to the client data processing system according to a state of the client data processing system;

monitor the state of the client data processing system;

select and send a new boot image to the client data processing system according to the state of the client data processing system at the time the indication is identified in response to an indication that the client data processing system needs to be rebooted; and

reboot the client data processing system using the new boot image.

33. A server data processing system for booting a client data processing system from a set of boot images stored on a server data processing system, the server data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to assign a boot image from the set of boot images to the client data processing system to form an assigned boot image according to a state of the client data processing system;

receive a boot image request from the client data processing system;

send the assigned boot image to the client data processing system;

monitor the state of the client data processing system; and

assign a new boot image from the set of boot images, if needed for the state, to the client data processing system, wherein the new image becomes the assigned boot image in response to an indication that the state of the client data processing system has changed.

34. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for booting a client data processing system from a set of boot images stored on a server data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions, at client data processing system power up, for sending a image request to the server data processing system from the client data processing system;

second instructions, according to a state of the client data processing system, for selecting and sending an initial boot image to the client data processing system;

third instructions for monitoring the state of the client data processing system;

fourth instructions, responsive to an indication that the client data processing system needs to be rebooted, for selecting and sending a new boot image to the client data processing system according to the state of the client data processing system at the time the indication is identified; and

fifth instructions for rebooting the client data processing system using the new boot image.

35. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for managing boot images, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for identifying a state of a client of the data processing system;

second instructions, responsive to receiving a request from the client for a boot image, for selecting the boot image from a set of boot images based on the state of the client to form a selected boot image; and

third instructions for sending the selected boot image to the client.

36. A computer program product in a computer readable medium in a server data processing system for booting a client data processing system from a set of boot images stored on the server data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions, according to a state of the client data processing system, for assigning a boot image from the set of boot images to the client data processing system to form an assigned boot image;

second instructions for receiving a boot image request from the client data processing system;

third instructions for sending the assigned boot image to the client data processing system;

fourth instructions for monitoring the state of the client data processing system; and

fifth instructions, responsive to an indication that the state of the client data processing system has changed, for assigning a new boot image from the set of boot images, if needed for the state, to the client data processing system, wherein the new image becomes the assigned boot image.