Method and apparatus for dynamic network configuration of an alert-based client

• US 6,922,722 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1999
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Vasudevan, Anil, Mann, Eric K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARTON, KEVIN S
• Application Number:
  US09/409,627
• Time in Patent Office: 2,126 Days
• Field of Search: 709221-225, 709217-219, 709/220, 717171-173, 717176-178, 701/220, 701/223, 701/224
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing network-based control functions on an alert-enabled managed client. An alert proxy translates generic, management-based command data received from a management application/agent into specific client-based hardware control data. The alert proxy transmits a data packet containing the hardware control data over a network to an alert-enabled managed client. Alert hardware within the alert-enabled managed client parses the hardware control data into control bits and utilizes the control bits to set or clear registers within the alert-enabled managed client so as to effectuate the specified control operations. The control operations may be performed on the alert-enabled managed client independent of the operational status of the alert-enabled managed client'"'"'s operating system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

dynamically sending, by a client alert module integrated with a client device, a request within an options field of a network bootstrap protocol packet for at least one alert detection parameter and an alert destination address from a first server;

receiving, by the client alert module, the requested alert detection parameters and alert destination address within the options field of a network bootstrap protocol packet;

using a received alert detection parameter to detect alerts during and after boot-up of the client device;

sending, by the client alert module, information regarding detected alerts to a remote alert proxy at the alert destination address;

receiving, by the client alert module, configuration data from the remote alert proxy with which to configure the client device in response to the detected alert; and

automatically configuring the client device using the configuration data obtained from the remote alert proxy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the client alert module is enabled to detect alerts while the client device is in a reduced functional state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reduced functional state includes an operating system unavailable state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network bootstrap protocol is dynamic host control protocol (DHCP).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically obtaining by the client alert module the at least one alert detection parameter further comprises dynamically obtaining at least a watchdog interval or a heartbeat interval.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert destination address uniquely identifies the remote alert proxy on a network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration data is dynamically obtained from a remote alert proxy through a remote management and control protocol (RMCP).

8. An apparatus comprising logic to:

dynamically send a request within an options field of a network bootstrap protocol packet for at least one parameter for alert detection in a client device as well as an alert destination address from a first server;

receive the requested alert detection parameters and alert destination address within the options field of a network bootstrap protocol packet;

detect alerts in the client device using an obtained alert detection parameter;

dynamically obtain configuration data from a remote alert proxy at the alert destination address with which to configure the client device in response to the detected alert; and

configure the client device using the configuration data obtained from the remote alert proxy.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one obtained alert detection parameter includes at least a watchdog interval or a heartbeat interval.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the logic configures the apparatus to:

detect alerts while the client device is in an operating system unavailable state.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the network bootstrap protocol is Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP).

11. An article of manufacture comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions stored thereon, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions subscribe the processor to:

dynamically send a request within the options field of a network bootstrap protocol packet for at least one parameter for alert detection in a client device as well as an alert destination address from a first server;

receive the requested alert detection parameters and alert destination address within the options field of a network bootstrap protocol packet;

detect alerts in the client device using an obtained alert detection parameter;

dynamically obtain configuration data from a remote alert proxy at the alert destination address with which to configure the client device in response to the detected alert; and

configure the client device using the configuration data obtained from the remote alert proxy.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the instructions further subscribe the processor to configure the device to:

detect alerts while the client device is in a reduced functional state.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the at least one obtained alert detection parameter includes at least a watchdog interval or a heartbeat interval.

15. The article of claim 11 wherein the network bootstrap protocol is Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP).