Method and apparatus to manage network client logon scripts using a graphical management and administration tool
DCFirst Claim
1. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a client system comprising:
- receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, over a previously configured network interface, the set of configuration files are identical to the set of configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set configuration files containing one or more defined configuration settings, wherein the configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without the need to create client specific text edit logon scripts; and
in response to the user logging on and authenticated to the server, executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies at least one of the defined configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for a user on the client system, zero or more configuration settings, wherein the application program excutes so as to validates at least one of the configuration settings in the configuration based on logon authentication and validates one or more of run-time environmental variables of the client system, the variables consisting of at least one of (i) an IP subnet address, (ii) a LAN group membership, and (iii) at least one registry entry, before applying the configurations settings to the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user.
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Abstract
A GUI (Graphical User Interface) Manager is used by a network administrator to fill-in predefined templates. The administrator does not need to compile, debug or write a single line of scripting code. The GUI manager has a “select the box” and “point and click” and “fill-in the blank” approach for selecting computer settings. The predefined configuration and/or template(s) are used by a logon script program on a client system to manage the configuration of resources on at least one client. There are three levels of resources that can be managed. The first type of resource is an operating system. The second type of resource is an application resource. And the third type of resource is to redirect a resource on the client to a resource on a network such as a drive letter mapping. Resources include configurations from the group of configuration settings consisting of drive mappings, shell folders, printer deployment, proxy server access, application paths, service packs, anti-virus updates, policies and automatic mail profile creation. In another embodiment, validation logic is used on the clients'"'"' system during the execution of an application program that takes the template and applies the defined configuration settings in the template to the clients'"'"' system so as to automatically configure at least one configuration setting for a user if the combination of one or more predefined conditions for a selected group, a selected operating system and a selected connection method are met. In still another embodiment, an interpretive engine is used on the client'"'"'s system to permit the administration of client resources with a template while also allowing network administrators to build their own custom logon scripts.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a client system comprising:
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receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, over a previously configured network interface, the set of configuration files are identical to the set of configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set configuration files containing one or more defined configuration settings, wherein the configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without the need to create client specific text edit logon scripts; and
in response to the user logging on and authenticated to the server, executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies at least one of the defined configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for a user on the client system, zero or more configuration settings, wherein the application program excutes so as to validates at least one of the configuration settings in the configuration based on logon authentication and validates one or more of run-time environmental variables of the client system, the variables consisting of at least one of (i) an IP subnet address, (ii) a LAN group membership, and (iii) at least one registry entry, before applying the configurations settings to the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method in a client-server environment, to manage a configuration of resources on at least one client, the method on a server system comprising:
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presenting a graphical user interface to a user containing user selectable items representing one or more configuration settings for at least one user on at least one client system and wherein the settings are customized without the need to create client specific text edit logon scripts;
receiving one or more user selections on the graphical user interface;
storing the one or more user selections in a set of one or more configuration files so as to automatically configure for at least one user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, wherein the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to a server; and
transferring the the set of one or more configuration files from the server over a previously configured network interface to the client system so at to cause an application program to take the set of one or more configuration files and apply at least one of the defined configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for the user on the client system, at least one configuration setting, wherein the application program is loaded and validates at least one of the configuration settings based on logon authentication and validates one or more run-time environmental variables of the client system, the variables consisting of an IP subnet address, a LAN group membership, and a registry entry, before applying the configurations settings to the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions on a client system in a client-server environment, the programming instructions for managing a configuration of resources on at least one client, the computer readable medium comprising the instructions of:
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receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, over a previously configured network interface, the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached;
to the server, and wherein the set configuration files containing one or more defined configuration settings, wherein the configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without the need to create client specific text edit logon scripts; and
in response to the user logging on and authenticated to the server, executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies at least one of the defined configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for a user on the client system, zero or more configuration settings, wherein the application program executes so as to validates at least one of the configuration settings in the configuration based on logon authentication and validates one or more of run-time environmental variables of the client system, the variables consisting of at least one of (i) an IP subnet address, (ii) a LAN group membership, and (iii) at least one registry entry, before applying the configurations settings to the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A client system to manage the configuration of at resource in a client-server environment comprising:
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means for receiving a set of one or more configuration files from a server, over a previously configured network interface, the set of configuration files are identical to configuration files received by other client systems attached to the server, and wherein the set configuration files containing one or more defined configuration settings, wherein the configuration files were previously built through use of a graphical interface, and without the need to create client specific text edit logon scripts; and
in response to the user logging on and authenticated to the server, means for executing an application program that takes the set of one or more configuration files and applies at least one of the defined configuration settings to the client system so as to automatically configure for a user on the client system, zero or more configuration settings, wherein the application program executes so as to validates at least one of the configuration settings in the configuration based on logon authentication and validates one or more of run-time environmental variables of the client system, the variables consisting of at least one of (i) an IP subnet address, (ii) a LAN group membership, and (iii) at least one registry entry, before applying the configurations settings to the client system, and wherein the application executes after the client system boots-up, loads an operating system and before an operating system shell is presented to the user. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification