System and method for remediating a computer

• US 6,789,215 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2000
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Robinette, Randall W., Harvey, Darline A., Rupp, Vaughn E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Baderman, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCarthy, Christopher S
• Application Number:
  US09/557,046
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 714/38, 717/172, 717/168, 717/173
• US Class Current: 714/38.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A system and method for remediating a computer includes a diagnostics manager configured to analyze a computer to determine the configuration of the computer and to determine software packages that can be installed, upgraded, or deleted according to a remediation configuration. A software package manager is configured to install or upgrade software packages. A script manager is configured to monitor software packages being installed and to transmit commands to the software packages when a prompt is detected. The commands are required to complete the installation or upgrade of the software packages. A process monitoring manager monitors the progress of the remediation processes and reports the process to a log file or to a display. An optional user interface can be generated to display information relating to the remediation processes and to enable selection of options for the remediation processes.

Claims

1. A system operable for remediating at least one second computer according to a remediation configuration upon connecting the second computer to a first computer, the system comprising:

a diagnostics manger configured to analyze the second computer to determine a configuration of the second computer, to determine if the second computer configuration complies with the remediation configuration, and, if not in compliance, to determine at least one process for at least one software package for placing the second computer configuration into compliance, the process comprising at least one member of a group comprising installing, upgrading, and deleting the at least one software package;

a software package manager configured to automatically initiate the process for the at least one software package upon determination of the process by the diagnostics manager;

a script manager configured to monitor the process and, upon detecting at least one prompt generated for the at least one software package requiring at least one command for completing the process, automatically generating the at least one command; and

a distribution manager configured to automatically load the software package manager and the script manager to the second computer after connecting the second computer to the fist computer so that the software package manager and the script manager are operable on the second computer.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured to remediate the second computer and at least one third computer concurrently.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the diagnostics manager is configured to determine if the second computer configuration complies with the remediation configuration by identifying at least one version identification of the at least one software package and by comparing the at least one version identification to the remediation configuration, the at least one version identification comprising at least one member of a group comprising a registry entry on the second computer identifying the at least one software package, a text (.TXT) file on the second computer identifying the at least one software package, a version number for the at least one software package, a size of the at least one software package, and a date of the at least one software package.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a process monitoring manager configured to monitor the process and to vary whether or not the process is successful.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a connection manager configured to connect the second computer to the first computer and to initiate remediation of the second computer.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the connection manager further is configured to determine an optimal time to connect the second computer to the first computer to initiate remediation and to connect the second computer to the first computer at the optimal time.

7. A method operable for at least one remediation system remediating at least one non-compliant computer according to a remediation configuration, the method comprising:

connecting the non-compliant computer to the remediation system;

analyzing the non-compliant computer to determine a configuration of the non-complian;

computer,

determining if the non-compliant computer configuration complies with the remediation configuration, and, if not in compliance, determining at least one process for at least one software package for effecting compliance for the non-compliant computer configuration, the process comprising at least one member of a group comprising installing, upgrading, and deleting the at least one software package;

automatically loading a script manager comprising at least one script from the remediation system to the non-compliant computer for the process after connecting the non-compliant computer to the remediation system;

initiating the process; and

monitoring the process with the script manager and, upon detecting at least one prompt generated for the at least one software package requiring at least one command for completing the process, automatically executing the at least one script for generating the at least one command.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising generating a user interface for display, the user interface identifying the non-compliant computer configuration and enabling selection of the process.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein generating the at least one command comprises generating a plurality of key strokes that operate as an entry for the prompt to the at least one software package for completing the process.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising deleting the script manager comprising the at least one script from the non compliant computer when the process is complete.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising remediating the non-compliant computer and at least one second non-compliant computer concurrently.

12.The method of claim 7 wherein determining if the non-compliant computer configuration complies with the remediation configuration comprises:

identifying at least one version identifier for the at least one software package selected from at least one member of a group comprising a registry entry on the non-compliant computer identifying the at least one software package, a text (.TXT) file on the non-compliant computer identifying the at least one software package, a version number for the at least one software package, a size of the at least one software package, and a date of the at least one software package; and

comparing the version identifier with the remediation configuration.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the connecting step comprises determining an optimal time to connect the non-compliant computer to the remediation system to initiate radiation and connecting the non-compliant computer to the remediation system at the optimal time.

13. A method for remediating at least one non-compliant computer according to a remediation configuration, the method comprising:

identifying a device configured with remediate software, wherein the remediating software comprises a diagnostics manager, a software package manager, a script manager comprising at least one script, and an identification of the remediation configuration, and wherein the device is selected from at least one member of a group comprising a remediating computer and a media operable for a media device of the non-compliant computer;

making a connection between the device and the non-compliant computer and operating the remediating software from the device;

analyzing the non-compliant computer with the diagnostics manager to determine a configuration of the non-compliant computer;

determining if the non-compliant computer configuration complies with the remediation configuration, and, if not in compliance, determining at least one process for at least one software package for effecting compliance for the non-compliant computer configuration the process comprising at least one member of a group comprise installing, upgrading, and deleting the at least one software package;

automatically loading the at least one script from the device to the non-compliant computer for completing the process;

initiating the process from the software package manager upon determination of the process by the diagnostics manager; and

monitoring the process with the script manager and, upon detecting at least one prompt generated for the at least one software package requiring at leas one command for completing the process, automatically executing the at least one script for generating the at least one command.

14. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining a plurality of processes for a plurality of software packages for effecting compliance of the non-compliant computer, initiating the plurality of processes, and executing a plurality of scripts for generating a plurality of commands required for completion of the plurality of processes for the software packages.

15. The method of claim 15 further comprising loading the plurality of scripts to the non-compliant computer before initiating the plurality of processes, executing the plurality of scripts from the non-compliant computer, and deleting the plurality of scripts from the non-compliant computer after the plurality of processes are complete.