Server configuration management and tracking

• US 6,868,444 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2000
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Web.com Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Interland, Inc. (Web.com Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, Steven D., Elazary, Lior
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/678,170
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/085 Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5022 by giving priorities, e.g. assigning classes of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5083 wherein the managed service relates to web hosting

Abstract

A web hosting system comprises a plurality of geographically separate web hosting facilities with a plurality of servers located at each of the facilities having internet resources hosted thereon. A network accessible centralized database remote from at least some of the web hosting facilities contains information comprising one or more of server serial number, server model, server facility location, server location within a facility, server speed, server memory capacity, server traffic, and server software configuration for at least some of the servers. In some embodiments, different users are allowed to access different information in the database.

Claims

1. A web hosting system comprising:

a plurality of geographically separate web hosting facilities associated with a web hosting provider;

a plurality of servers located at each of said facilities having internet resources hosted thereon; and

a server inventory database remote from at least some of said geographically separate web hosting facilities, said database configured to allow access to a first portion of the database by first user and access to a second distinct portion by a second user.

2. The web hosting system of claim 1, additionally comprising a database access program.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said server inventory database contains information comprising one or more of server serial number, server model, server facility location, server location within a facility, server speed, server memory capacity, server traffic, and server software configuration for at least some of said plurality of servers.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said server software configuration information comprises information regarding server operating system and server application programs.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said portion is identified by login information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first user is a customer of the web hosting provider.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first portion corresponds to information related to a first one of said servers, wherein said first one of said servers is a server providing hosting services to said customer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said information is determined by a class of service provided to said customer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said class of service comprises a dedicated server.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said class of service comprises a shared server.

11. A computer implemented method of managing the configuration of a plurality of geographically separated servers, said method comprising:

storing, in a database, information related to the inventory of said servers, wherein each of said servers is used to host internet resources, said database configured to allow access to a first portion of the database by first user and access to a second distinct portion by a second user;

routing a predefined subset of said information to a user in a server information web page;

in response to said routing, receiving from a user a request for a configuration change of at least one of said servers; and

in response to said request, modifying said server configuration.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said server information web page includes information related to configuration of an application program.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said entering a request comprises entering said request onto said server information web page, and wherein said modification is performed automatically without human intervention.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said server information web page includes information related to server hardware configuration.

15. The method of claim 14, additionally comprising linking, prior to entering said request, to a service provider contact web page, and wherein said modification is performed manually.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said first user is a customer of a web hosting provider associated with at least one of said servers.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said first portion corresponds to information related to a first one of said servers, wherein said first one of said servers is a server providing hosting services to said customer.

18. An information processing system comprising:

a plurality of servers hosting internet resources;

a first database storing server hardware inventory information regarding said plurality of servers, said first database configured to allow access to a first portion of the database by first user and access to a second distinct portion by a second user; and

a second database storing parameter information for application programs, said application programs running on said plurality of servers.

19. The information processing system of claim 18, wherein said first database and said second database are remote from at least some of said plurality of servers.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said first user is a customer of a web hosting provider associated with at least one of said servers.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said first portion corresponds to information related to a first one of said servers, wherein said first one of said servers is a server providing hosting services to said customer.

22. A method of managing web hosting resources comprising:

storing server hardware inventory information regarding a plurality of servers in a first centralized database, said first centralized database configured to allow access to a first portion of the database by first user and access to a second distinct portion by a second user;

storing, in a second centralized database, parameter information for application programs, said application programs running on said plurality of servers;

routing information from both of said databases to users of said web hosting resource;

receiving requests to modify one or both of server hardware or application program parameters from said users; and

modifying one or both of said server hardware or application program parameters in response to said requests.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said databases are separate.

24. The method of claim 22, comprising updating said database, and in response thereto, automatically modifying said parameter information.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein said first user is a customer of a web hosting provider associated with at least one of said servers.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said first portion corresponds to information related to a first one of said servers, wherein said first one of said servers is a server providing hosting services to said customer.