Dynamic mac allocation and configuration

• US 6,487,601 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1999
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sposato, Dennis, Hubacher, Kenneth, Theiller, Philip C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEURAUTER, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/409,592
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 709/222, 709/229, 709/203, 709/211, 709/220, 709/219, 713/2
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for Dynamic MAC Allocation and Configuration is based on the ability to remotely boot a client machine from a server machine and adds the capability to assign a Locally Administered Address (LAA) to override the Universally Administered Address (UAA). A set of programs at the workstation allows a remote boot and interaction the server. The client machine will send out a DMAC discovery frame. The discovery frame will be intercepted by a DMAC program installed on the server which will be running and listening for the request. Once the DMAC program intercepts the request it analyzes the request and takes one of two actions. If necessary, the server will run an “initialization” script. For workstations that have already been initialized, the server will send an LAA to the client workstation from a table or pool. The client workstation will then request an operating system with its new LAA. The boot options will be a table or pool corresponding to an LAA or range of LAA'"'"'s. In order to achieve the override of the UAA, the DMAC will assign an LAA to the workstation. Once the LAA is assigned the boot will proceed based on the package that will be shipped to that address.

Claims

1. A method for booting one or more workstation computers from one or more server computers comprising the steps of:

sending a first request for a Locally Administered Address from the workstation to a server;

receiving the Locally Administered Address from the server at the workstation;

sending a second request for at least one program from the server;

receiving at least one program addressed to the Locally Administered Address from the server in response to said second request;

booting said workstation from said program.

2. A programmable apparatus for presenting pre-selected choices for booting a workstation to a user of the workstation comprising,

programmable hardware comprising;

at least one server computer; and

a plurality of workstation computers;

a plurality of network interface cards connected to said programmable hardware;

a network connecting said server computer and said workstation computers;

a first program installed on said workstation computers;

a second program installed on said server computer for assigning one or more Locally Administered Addresses in response to one or more requests from one or more of the workstation computers;

a plurality of operating systems installed on said server computers;

wherein at least one of said workstation computers is directed by said first program to send a first request to said server computer;

responsive to said first request, said server computer sending a Locally Administered Address to said workstation computer;

responsive to receiving said Locally Administered Address, said workstation computer being directed by said first program to send a second request;

responsive to said second request, said server computer transmitting an operating system corresponding to said Locally Administered Address to said workstation.

3. A computer readable memory for causing a first computer to present a menu to a plurality of second computers comprising:

a first computer readable storage medium;

a computer program stored in said storage medium;

the storage medium, so configured by said computer program, responsive to a request from at least one second computer, causes the first computer to send a Locally Administered Address to said second computer; and

responsive to a request from said second computer, cause the first computer to transmit a program addressed to said Locally Administered Address to said second computer.

4. A computer implemented process to accomplish booting of a workstation computer from a server computer comprising:

using a first computer, performing the following series of steps;

powering the first computer;

obtaining control of the first computer by means of a first program;

executing, without an operating system, the first program to communicate with a network server;

communicating a first request to a second computer;

receiving a Locally Administered Address from a second computer;

responsive to receiving said Locally Administered Address requesting a boot program;

receiving a boot program corresponding to the Locally Administered Address;

booting the first computer;

using a second computer, performing the following series of steps;

responsive to the first request from the first computer, sending a Locally Administered Address to the first computer; and

responsive to the second request from the first computer, sending a boot program corresponding to the Locally Administered Address to the first computer.

5. A method for administering at a server computer, the booting of a client computer having a Universally Administered Address by assigning a Locally Administered Address to the client computer, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

executing instructions from a client computer first memory to load a boot code loader from a client computer second memory, wherein the client computer first memory is a BIOS ROM and the client computer second memory is a nonvolatile, read/write memory;

executing the boot code loader to load a control program from the client computer second memory;

executing the control program to load a set of programs from the client computer second memory without loading an operating system;

executing the set of programs to communicate a first message to a network server;

responsive to said first message, retrieving a Locally Administered Address from the network server;

executing the set of programs to communicate a second message to a network server;

responsive to said second message, receiving at least one program from the network server; and

executing the program at the workstation computer;

whereby the workstation computer is booted from the program.

6. A computer program product on a computer-readable medium for booting a client computer without an operating system by replacing the client computer'"'"'s Universally Administered Address with a Locally Administered Address, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions from a first memory for loading a set of programs from a second memory, wherein the first memory is a BIOS ROM and the second memory is a nonvolativle, read\write memory;

second instructions for communicating a first request for a Locally Administered Address to a network server;

responsive to receiving said Locally Administered Address, third instructions for communicating a second request for a second set of programs addressed to said Locally Administered Address; and

responsive to receiving said second set of programs, fourth instructions for initiating execution of the second set of programs;

wherein said second set of programs includes an operating system.