System and method for server managed modification of operating system data stored within a network device

• US 6,742,025 B2
• Filed: 09/30/1999
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gotwald, Charles A., Jennery, Aidon P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US09/409,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20030105847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 717/11, 717/168, 717/169
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A network is described including a server and a network device remotely coupled to the server. The network device includes a non-volatile storage device having data stored therein, which is preferably modified solely in response to instructions generated by the server. During initialization, the network device performs a first portion of an operating system boot sequence then generates and forwards trigger data, which includes identification information for identifying the network device, to the server. In response, the server generates action data, which includes one or more data update instructions for modifying the data stored within the non-volatile storage device. Following a second portion of the operating system boot sequence, the action data is forwarded from the server to the network device. If the action data includes one or more data update instructions, the network device performs the one or more data update instructions and repeats the operating system boot sequence.

Claims

1. A network device, comprising a non-volatile storage device having data that can be modified during an operating system boot sequence, wherein the network device is adapted to;

generate and forward trigger data to a server located remote from the network device during the operating system boot sequence, wherein the trigger data includes identification information for identifying the network device;

modify the data during the operating system boot sequence solely in response to data update instructions if data update instructions are received from the server;

complete the operating system boot sequence if data update instructions are not received from the server;

generate and forward update data prior to repeating the operating system boot sequence for updating configuration data stored within the server, wherein the configuration data includes information about the data stored within the non-volatile storage device; and

repeat the operating system boot sequence if the data is modified.

2. The network device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory, wherein the operating system boor sequence loads an operating system into the memory.

3. The network device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a central processing unit (CPU) adapted to execute instructions, wherein the data stored within the non-volatile storage device includes instructions for loading an application into a memory of the network device.

4. The network device as recited in claim 1, wherein the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device is organized as a plurality of files each having a different file name.

5. The network device as recited in claim 4, wherein each data update instruction comprises a file name and a corresponding file update instruction, and wherein the file update instruction directs the network device to either:

(i) copy a file having the file name from the server to the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device, or (ii) delete a file having the fib name from the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device.

6. The network device as recited in claim 1, wherein the network device is adapted to receive the data update instructions from the server.

7. The network device as recited in claim 1, wherein the network device is adapted to fetch the data update instructions from the server.

8. A network, comprising:

a network device having a non-volatile storage device adapted to store data comprising operating system data; and

a server coupled to the network device and comprising configuration data including information about the data stored within the non-volatile storage device,

wherein the network device is adapted to;

generate trigger data daring an operating system boot sequence, wherein the trigger data includes identification information for identifying the network device;

update the data during the operating system boot sequence solely in response to action data conveyed from the server, wherein the action data includes at least one data update instruction for updating the operating system data;

generate and forward update data during the operating system boot sequence for updating the configuration data; and

repeat the operating system boot sequence.

9. The network as recited in claim 8, wherein the network device further comprises a memory, and wherein the operating system boot sequence loads an operating system into the memory.

10. The network as recited in claim 8, wherein the network device comprises a central processing unit (CPU) adapted to execute instructions, and wherein the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device includes instructions.

11. The network as recited in claim 8, wherein die data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device is organized as a plurality of files each having a different file name.

12. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one data update instruction comprises a file name and a corresponding file update instruction, and wherein the file update instruction directs the network device to either:

(i) copy a file having the file name from the server to the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device, or (ii) delete a file having the file name from the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device.

13. The network as recited in claim 12, wherein the data stored within the non-volatile storage device comprises a first file, and wherein die server comprises a second file stored within a storage device, and wherein the second file is an updated version of the first file such that the first and second files have the same file name.

14. The network as recited in claim 13, wherein the file name of the at least one data update instruction is the file name of the first file, and wherein the file update instruction directs the network device to copy a file having the file name of the first file from the server to the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device, and wherein the network device is adapted to respond to the file update instruction by copying the second file from the server to the data stored within the non-volatile storage device such that the first file is overwritten by the second file.

15. The network as recited in claim 8, wherein the server is adapted to determine if one or more files of the data is authorized to be stored within the network device before the action data is conveyed to the network device.

16. The network as recited in claim 15, wherein the server is further adapted to determine if the one or more data flies is present within the network device before the action data is conveyed to the network device.

17. The network as recited in claim 16, wherein the server is further adapted to determine if the one or more data files is identical to one or more modified data files stored within the server before the action data is conveyed to the network device.

18. The network as recited in claim 8, further comprising

transmission medium interposed between the network device and the server; and

communication adaptors respectively located within the network device and the server, wherein the communication adaptors are configured to transmit and receive data via the transmission medium, and wherein die transmission medium is configured to provide a relatively low speed communication uplink for data transmitted from the network device to the server and a relatively high speed communication down link for data transmitted from the server to the network device.

19. A method for updating data within a computer system, comprising:

forwarding trigger data from a network device to a server located remote from the network device during an operating system boot sequence, wherein the trigger data identifies the network device;

conveying action data front the server to the network device during the operating system boot sequence, wherein the action data includes at least one data update instruction for updating data stored within a non-volatile storage device of the network device, and wherein the data stored within the non-volatile storage device includes operating system data;

updating configuration data stored exclusively within the server to reflect the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device; and

repeating the operating system boot sequence.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device is updated by the network device only in response to the action data.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device is organized as a plurality of files each having a different file name.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one data update instruction includes a file name and a corresponding file update instruction, and wherein the file update instruction directs the network device to either:

(i) copy a file having the file name from the server to the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device, or (ii) delete a file having the file name front the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device.

23. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising performing the at least one data update instruction of the action data.

24. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the updating is accomplished subsequent to the performing the at least one data update instruction and prior to the repeating the operating system boot sequence.

25. A method for updating data within a non-volatile storage device of a network device, comprising:

forwarding trigger data during an operating system boot sequence, wherein the trigger data identifies the network device;

receiving action data during the operating system boot sequence, wherein the action data includes at least one data update instruction for updating data stored within a non-volatile storage device of the network device, and wherein the data stored within the non-volatile storage device includes operating system data;

completing the operating system boat sequence upon not receiving action data;

forwarding update data prior to repeating the operating system boot sequence for updating configuration data, wherein the configuration data includes information about the data stored within the non-volatile storage device; and

repeating the operating system boot sequence if the data stored within a non-volatile storage device or the network device is updated.

26. A method for updating data within a non-volatile storage device of a network device, comprising:

receiving trigger data from the network device following a first portion of an operating system boot sequence occurring within the network device, wherein the trigger data identifies the network device;

determining whether data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device needs to be based upon the trigger data;

generating action data comprising at least one data update instruction for updating the data stored within a non-volatile storage device of the network device if a determination is made that the data stored within the non-volatile storage device of the network device needs to be updated, wherein the data stored within the non-volatile storage device includes operating system data; and

forwarding the action data to the network device such that the network device receives the action data following a second portion of the operating system boot sequence.