System and method for launching generic download processing in a computer build-to-order environment

• US 6,550,062 B2
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Barajas, Gaston M., Nix, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki, Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chavis, John Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/302,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20030018965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 717/11, 717/178
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order

Abstract

A system and method for installing and/or testing software for a build-to-order computer system having a plurality of components includes a plurality of elements. The computer system has an associated step sequence. The step sequence includes a plurality of steps where each step includes at least one command and a step is associated with a respective software component descriptor. The at least one command can be in more than one computer software language. A software component descriptor corresponds to installing a respective software component on the computer system. The method includes accessing the at least one command within the step sequence; determining a corresponding computer software language associated with the at least one command; executing the at least one command in the corresponding computer software language to install the respective software component; and repeating the accessing, determining and executing for the plurality of steps.

Claims

1. A method of software installation for a computer system having a plurality of components, the computer system having an associated step sequence, the step sequence including a plurality of steps, each step including at least one command of a plurality of computer software languages, a step being associated with a respective software component descriptor which corresponds to installing a respective software component on the computer system, the method comprising:

accessing the at least one command within the step sequence;

creating a process file to allow for launching complex scripts in multiple scripting languages and provide for the computer software languages;

determining a corresponding computer software language associated with the at least one command;

executing the at least one command in the corresponding computer software language to install the respective software component; and

repeating the accessing, determining and executing.

2. The method of claim 1 further including:

creating a beginning time stamp indicating when the execution of the command began; and

creating an ending time stamp indicating when the execution of the command ended.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer software language of the command is Perl™

.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the command is a Windows™

Based Installation executable.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the command is a PKZip™

file to be unzipped with a file specification passed as a parameter.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the command is a batch file and at least one parameter is passed to the batch file.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the command is an executable file and at least one parameter is passed to the executable file.

8. The method of claim 1 further including reading a configuration file defining specific commands according to specific computer software languages and interpreters.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step further includes reading a process file defining specific environments with corresponding commands.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the accessing at least one command further includes selecting the at least one command based on operating system, operating system language, line of business, and manufacturing site of the computer system.

11. A method of software installation for a computer system having a plurality of components, the computer system having an associated step sequence, the step sequence including a plurality of steps, each step including at least one command of a plurality of computer software languages, a step being associated with a respective software component descriptor which corresponds to installing a respective software component on the computer system, the method comprising:

reading a configuration file defining specific commands according to specific computer software languages and interpreters;

accessing the at least one command within the step sequence;

creating a process file to allow for launching complex scripts in multiple scripting languages and provide for the computer software languages;

determining a corresponding computer software language associated with the at least one command;

executing the at least one command in the corresponding computer software language to install the respective software component; and

repeating the accessing, determining and executing.

12. The method of claim 11 further including:

creating a beginning time stamp indicating when the execution of the command began; and

creating an ending time stamp indicating when the execution of the command ended.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the computer software language of the command is Perl™

.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the command is a Windows™

Based Installation executable.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the command is a PKZip™

file to be unzipped with a file specification passed as a parameter.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the command is a batch file and at least one parameter is passed to the batch file.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the command is an executable file and at least one parameter is passed to the executable file.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the determining step further includes reading a process file defining specific environments with corresponding commands.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the accessing at least one command further includes selecting the at least one command based on operating system, operating system language, line of business, and manufacturing site of the computer system.

20. A method of software installation for a computer system having a plurality of components, the computer system having an associated step sequence, the step sequence including a plurality of steps, each step including at least one command of a plurality of computer software languages, a step being associated with a respective software component descriptor which corresponds to installing a respective software component on the computer system, the method comprising:

reading a configuration file defining specific commands according to specific computer software languages and interpreters;

reading a process file defining specific environments with corresponding commands;

accessing the at least one command within the step sequence;

creating a process file to allow for launching complex scripts in multiple scripting languages and provide for the computer software languages;

determining a corresponding computer software language associated with the at least one command;

executing the at least one command in the corresponding computer software language to install the respective software component; and

repeating the accessing, determining and executing.

21. A system of computer programs stored on a storage medium for software installation for a computer system having a plurality of components, the computer system having an associated step sequence, the step sequence including a plurality of steps, each step including at least one command of a plurality of computer software languages, a step being associated with a respective software component descriptor which corresponds to installing a respective software component on the computer system, the system comprising:

instructions for accessing the at least one command within the step sequence;

instructions for creating a process file to allow for launching complex scripts in multiple scripting languages and provide for the computer software languages;

instructions for determining a corresponding computer software language associated with the at least one command;

instructions for executing the at least one command in the corresponding computer software language to install the respective software component; and

instructions for repeating the accessing, determining and executing.

22. The system of claim 21 further including:

instructions for creating a beginning time stamp indicating when the execution of the command began; and

instructions for creating an ending time stamp indicating when the execution of the command ended.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the computer software language of the command is Perl™

.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the command is a Windows™

Based Installation executable.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the command is a PKZip™

file to be unzipped with a file specification passed as a parameter.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the command is a batch file and at least one parameter is passed to the batch file.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the command is an executable file and at least one parameter is passed to the executable file.

28. The system of claim 21 further including instructions for reading a configuration file defining specific commands according to specific computer software languages and interpreters.

29. The system of claim 21 wherein the instructions for determining further includes instructions for reading a process file defining specific environments with corresponding commands.

30. The system of claim 21 wherein the instructions for accessing at least one command further includes instructions for selecting the at least one command based on operating system, operating system language, line of business, and manufacturing site of the computer system.