Remote software installation and maintenance

• US 6,725,453 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Pope, Wesley N. T., Lucas, Paul J., Hillery, Chris J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAVIS, JOHN Q
• Application Number:
  US09/645,013
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 717/178, 717/173, 703/22
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A human engineer using a computer system can maintain numerous software services and packages installed on a number of servers through a single master server and a computer network. Each software service and package is represented in a package and service template datastore in a templatized form in which server-specific information is represented by placeholder data. To install a service or package on a destination server computer, data specific to the destination server is substituted for the corresponding placeholder data in program modules, configuration data files, and installation scripts and the program modules, configuration data files, and installation scripts are transported to the destination server where the installation scripts are executed. To support simultaneous installations of multiple versions of a software package, a given software package includes a first directory which is version-independent and additional, separate directories for each version of the software package installed on the destination server computer.

Claims

1. A method for installing software in a computer system, the method comprising:

(a) installing a first version of the software in the computer system by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the first version of the software in a first location within the computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the first version of the software in a second location, which is different from the first location, within the computer system; and

(b) installing a second version of the software in the computer system by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the second version of the software in the first location within the computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the second version of the software in a third location, which is different from the first and second locations, within the computer system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first location is a first directory.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second location is a second directory.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the third location is a third directory.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second and third locations are second and third directories, respectively.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first, second, and third locations are first, second, and third directories, respectively.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein execution of the first version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location and accesses version-dependent data from the second location.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein execution of the second version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location and accesses version-dependent data from the third location.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein execution of the first version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location and execution of the second version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the first version of the software provides a first service and the second version of the software provides a second service not provided by the first version of the software.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the first service and the second service are provided and can execute concurrently on the computer system.

10. A computer-readable storage medium on which is stored computer code which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to install software in a computer system by:

(a) installing a first version of the software in the computer system by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the first version of the software in a first location within the computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the first version of the software in a second location, which is different from the first location, within the computer system; and

(b) installing a second version of the software hi the computer system by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the second version of the software in the first location within the computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the second version of the software in a third location, which is different from the first and second locations, within the computer system.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the first location is a first directory.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the second location is a second directory.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the third location is a third directory.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the second and third locations are second and third directories, respectively.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the first, second, and third locations are first, second, and third directories, respectively.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein execution of the first version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location and accesses version-dependent data from the second location.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein execution of the second version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location and accesses version-dependent data from the third location.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein execution of the first version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location and execution of the second version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the first version of the t he provides a first service and the second version of the software provides a second service not provided by the first version of the software.

31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 30 wherein the first service and the second service are provided and can execute concurrently on the computer system.

19. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

an installation module which executes in the processor from the memory and which, when executed, installs software in a second computer system by;

(a) installing a first version of the software in the second computer system by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the first version of the software in a first location within the second computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the first version of the software in a second location, which is different from the first location, within the second, computer system; and

(b) installing a second version of the software in the second computer system by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the second version of the software in the first location within the second computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the second version of the software in a third location, which is different from the first and second locations, within the second computer system.

20. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the first location is a first directory.

21. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the second location is a second directory.

22. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the third location is a third directory.

23. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the second and third locations are second and third directories, respectively.

24. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the first, second, and third locations are first, second, and third directories, respectively.

25. The computer system of claim 19 wherein execution of the first version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location and accesses version-dependent data from the second location.

26. The computer system of claim 19 wherein execution of the second version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location and accesses version-dependent data from the third location.

27. The computer system of claim 19 wherein execution of the first version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location and execution of the second version of the software accesses the version-independent data from the first location.

32. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the first version of the software provides a first service and the second version of the software provides a second service not provided by the first version of the software.

33. The computer system of claim 32 wherein the first service and the second service are provided and can execute concurrently on the second computer system.

34. A method for installing software in a computer system, the method comprising:

(a) installing a first version of the software in the computer system by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the first version of the software in a first location within the computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the first version of the software in a second location, which is different from the first location, within the computer system; and

(b) installing a second version of the software in the computer system, the second version being subsequent to the first version, by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the second version of the software in the first location within the computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the second version of the software in a third location, which is different from the first and second locations, within the computer system.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the first version of the software provides a first service and the second version of the software provides a second service.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the first service and the second service are available simultaneously, the first service continuing to be provided without change while the second service is added to the computer system.

37. A computer-readable storage medium on which is stored computer code which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to install software in a computer system by:

(a) installing a first version of the software in the computer system by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the first version of the software in a first location within the computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the first version of the software in a second location, which is different from the first location, within the computer system; and

(b) installing a second version of the software in the computer system, the second version being subsequent to the first version, by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the second version of the software in the first location within the computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the second version of the software in a third location, which is different from the first and second locations, within the computer system.

38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37 wherein the first version of the software provides a first service and the second version of the software provides a second service.

39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 38 wherein the first service and the second service are available simultaneously, the first service continuing to be provided without change while the second service is added to the computer system.

40. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

an installation module which executes in the processor from the memory and which, when executed, installs software in a second computer system by;

(a) installing a first version of the software in the second computer system by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the first version of the software in a first location within the second computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the first version of the software in a second location, which is different from the first location, within the second, computer system; and

(b) installing a second version of the software in the second computer system, the second version being subsequent to the first version, by;

(i) storing version-independent data of the second version of the software in the first location within the second computer system; and

(ii) storing version-specific data of the second version of the software in a third location, which is different from the first and second locations, within the second computer system.

41. The computer system of claim 40 wherein the first version of the software provides a first service and the second version of the software provides a second service.

42. The computer system of claim 41 wherein the first service and the second service are available simultaneously, the first service continuing to be provided without change while the second service is added to the computer system.