Method and a system for managing shell script file development and execution

• US 6,904,424 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1999
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Gusler, Carl Phillip, Woods, Stephanie Elise
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Anh
• Application Number:
  US09/422,370
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707/201
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Initially, “libraying” text is inserted on all scripts executed on the computer, allowing administrators to discern at a glance every script that has been executed. Furthermore, administrators can easily ascertain the results of all automatically run programs (such as overnight batch jobs) by looking in a common location rather than all over the computer. All scripts installed on a computer system are required to have the ability to generate uniform output. This output includes the script name, the time it was run, the user name and the script execution results. When a script is executed, it will write this detailed output into a predefined directory. There, a file is generated which lists all the parameters associated with the script execution. The parameters are then available for future review by administrators. Additionally, an executed script writes a summary output to a common file. This file provides a single point of reference and further provides a summary description for all activities.

Claims

1. A data processing system implemented method for implementing a central point-of-reference for script execution results, comprising:

establishing a script;

including a library command in said script, said library command specifying a predetermined location;

executing said script;

generating a record in response to said executing said script, wherein the record contains data concerning said script and execution of said script;

during said execution of said script, executing said library command included in said script; and

in response to executing said library command said script, writing the record to said predetermined location.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a second script;

including a library command in said second script, said library command specifying said predetermined location;

executing said second script;

generating a second record in response to executing said second script, wherein the second record contains data concerning said second script and execution of the second script;

during said execution of said second script, executing said library command included in said second script; and

in response to executing said library command included in said second script, writing the second record to the predetermined location.

3. The method recited in claim 2, further comprising:

generating a second execution summary; and

adding the second execution summary to the execution summary file.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the record comprises one of an identity of the script, a time the script was executed, a user who executed the script, and results of the execution of the script.

5. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

generating an execution summary; and

adding the execution summary to an execution summary file.

6. The method recited in claim 5, wherein the execution summary is located at the predetermined location.

7. The method recited in claim 6, wherein information available at the predetermined location comprises a record of at least a last script executed on the data processing system and the execution summary of each script executed during a predefined time period.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein executing the script is performed in response to one of a filesystem backup, removal of a temporary file, a security inspection script, an application-driven script, or shutting down or starting up an application.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

accessing information at said predefined location, wherein the information comprises data related to said script executed on the data processing system in a predefined time period.

10. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the information containing data related to the script further comprises one of an identity of the script, a time the script was executed, a user who executed the script, and results of the execution of the script.

11. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the information containing data related to the script further comprises information related to all scripts executed on the data processing system during the predefined time period.

12. A data processing system for implementing a central point-of-reference for script execution results, comprising:

means for establishing a script;

means for including a library command in said script, said library command specifying a predetermined location;

executing means for executing said script;

generating means for generating a record in response to said executing said script, wherein the record contains data concerning said script and execution of said script;

during said execution of said script, means for executing said library command included in said script; and

in response to executing said library command said script, writing means for writing the record to said predetermined location.

13. The system recited in claim 12, further comprising:

means for establishing a second script;

means for including a library command in said second script, said library command specifying said predetermined location;

executing means for executing said second script;

generating means for generating a second record in response to executing said second script, wherein the second record contains data concerning said second script and execution of the second script;

during said execution of said second script, means for executing said library command included in said second script; and

in response to executing said library command included in said second script, writing means for writing the second record to the predetermined location.

14. The system recited in claim 13, further comprising:

generating means for generating a second execution summary; and

adding means for adding the second execution summary to the execution summary file.

15. The system recited in claim 12, wherein the record comprises one of an identity of the script, a time the script was executed, a user who executed the script, and results of the execution of the script.

16. The system recited in claim 12, further comprising:

generating means for generating an execution summary; and

adding means for adding the execution summary to an execution summary file.

17. The system recited in claim 16, wherein the execution summary is located at the predetermined location.

18. The system recited in claim 17, wherein information available at the predetermined location comprises a record of at least a last script executed on the data processing system and the execution summary of each script executed during a predefined time period.

19. The system recited in claim 12, wherein the executing means for executing the script executes the script in response to one of a filesystem backup, removal of a temporary file, a security inspection script, an application-driven script, or shutting down or starting up an application.

20. The data processing system according to claim 12, comprising:

accessing means for accessing information at said predefined location, wherein the information comprises data related to said script executed on the data processing system in a predefined time period.

21. The system recited in claim 20, wherein the information containing data related to the script further comprises one of an identity of the script, a time the script was executed, a user who executed the script, and results of the execution of the script.

22. The system recited in claim 20, wherein the information containing data related to the script further comprises information related to all scripts executed on the data processing system during the predefined time period.

23. A data processing system implemented computer program product for implementing a central point-of-reference for script execution results, comprising:

instruction means for establishing a script;

instruction means for including a library command in said script, said library command specifying a predetermined location;

executing instructions for executing said script;

generating instructions for generating a record in response to said executing said script, wherein the record contains data concerning said script and execution of said script;

during said execution of said script, instruction means for executing library command included in said script; and

in response to executing said library command said script, writing instructions for writing the record to said predetermined location.

24. A data processing system implemented method for implementing a central point-of-reference for script execution results, comprising:

establishing a plurality of scripts;

including a library command in each one of said plurality of scripts, each one of said library commands specifying a predetermined location;

executing said plurality of scripts;

generating a record in response to said executing said plurality of scripts, wherein the record contains data concerning said each one of said plurality of scripts and execution of said each one of said plurality of scripts;

during said execution of each one of said plurality of scripts, executing said library command included in each one of said plurality of scripts; and

in response to executing said library command included in each one of said plurality of scripts, writing the record for each one of said plurality of scripts to said predetermined location.

25. A data processing system for implementing a central point-of-reference for script execution results, comprising:

means for establishing a plurality of scripts;

means for including a library command in each one of said plurality of scripts, each one of said library commands specifying a predetermined location;

means for executing said plurality of scripts;

means for generating a record in response to said executing said plurality of scripts, wherein the record contains data concerning said each one of said plurality of scripts and execution of said each one of said plurality of scripts;

means during said execution of each one of said plurality of scripts, for executing said library command included in each one of said plurality of scripts; and

in response to executing said library command included in each one of said plurality of scripts, means for writing the record for each one of said plurality of scripts to said predetermined location.