Method and system for remote client installation

• US 6,966,060 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2000
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Young, Jeff, Copeland, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US09/599,156
• Time in Patent Office: 1,973 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 709/203, 709/220, 709/223, 713 1- 2
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

A method and system to remotely install management software on client machines of a network without requiring user-intervention such as a logon. A data discovery manager determines which discovered machines in a network should be configured for client installation, and queues a client configuration request (CCR) for each such machine. A client configuration manager dequeues each CCR, and attempts to establish a connection with the remote machine corresponding to the CCR. If successful, a bootstrap install service is downloaded to the client machine from a server having administrative rights, after which the bootstrap service is run to install the remainder of the management software on the client machine from a client access point server. If unsuccessful, retries may be attempted. Client machines having users with sufficient security rights may install the management software via a logon or other process at the client machine.

Claims

1. In a computer network, a method for installing software onto a remote client machine, comprising:

initiating a connection at a server to the client machine;

transmitting an installation service that installs software, the installation service transmitted from the server to the client machine based on the connection initiated by the server; and

executing the installation service on the client machine, the executing independent of any installation program previously installed on the client machine, the executing further comprising;

running a bootstrap service to connect the client machine to a second server; and

transmitting additional software from the second server for installing on the client machine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating a connection to the client machine includes discovering the client machine.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising, evaluating a discovery information associated with the client machine.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the discovery information associated with the client machine is evaluated against a set of rules.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein evaluating the discovery information associated with the client machine includes determining whether the client machine is included or excluded with respect to a set that includes machines on which the installation service is installed.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein evaluating the discovery information associated with the client machine includes checking the operating system of the client machine.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein evaluating the discovery information associated with the client machine includes checking at least one property of the client machine.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein evaluating the discovery information associated with the client machine includes determining whether certain software is already installed on the client machine.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating a connection to the client machine includes creating a configuration request for the client machine.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein initiating a connection to the client machine includes processing the configuration request.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising queuing the configuration request.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein initiating a connection to the client machine includes dequeuing and processing the configuration request.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising, installing optional components on the client machine by executing the additional software.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

15. In a computer network, a system for selectively installing management software onto remote client machine, comprising:

a data manager for evaluating information associated with a plurality of discovered remote client machines, and for selecting one of the remote client machines as a selected client machine;

a configuration manager for initiating a connection to the selected client machine; and

an installation service transmitted by the configuration manager to the selected client machine, the installation service installing at least part of the management software on the selected client machine, the installing independent of any installation program previously installed on the client machine, wherein the installation service may be operable to execute a bootstrap service to connect the client machine to a second server and to coordinate transmission of additional software from the second server for installing on the client machine.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the data manager selects the client machine by evaluating a discovery information associated with the client machine against criteria.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein at least part of the discovery information associated with the client machine is maintained in a data discovery record.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the data manager produces a configuration request for the selected client machine, and wherein the configuration manager receives the configuration request.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the configuration request comprises a client configuration record.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the configuration request is placed in a queue by the data manager and removed from the queue by the configuration manager.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising a retry queue.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the additional software is downloaded from a client access point.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the bootstrap service is configured to connect the client machine to another server.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the other server transmits additional software for installing on the client machine, and wherein the additional software installs optional components on the client machine.

25. In a computer network, a method for installing management software onto a remote client machine, comprising:

attempting to initiate a connection at a server to the client machine, and if successful;

transmitting an installation service from the server to the client machine, and executing the installation service, the executing independent of any installation program previously installed on the client machine;

and if not successful;

secondarily attempting to initiate a connection at the server to the client machine, and if successful, transmitting an installation service from the server to the client machine, and executing the installation service, the executing independent of any installation program previously installed on the client machine,

wherein the installation service comprises a bootstrap service, such that executing the installation service includes running the bootstrap service to connect the client machine to another server, and transmitting additional software from the other server to installing on the client machine.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising, evaluating a discovery information associated with the client machine.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein attempting to initiate a connection to the client machine includes, associating a configuration request with the client machine.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein attempting to initiate a connection to the client machine includes queuing the configuration request, dequeuing the configuration request, and processing the configuration request.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the attempt to initiate a connection to the client machine is unsuccessful, and further comprising, secondarily queuing the configuration request.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein secondarily attempting to initiate a connection to the client machine includes dequeuing the secondarily queued configuration request.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising, modifying the configuration request by writing data thereto indicative of the installation service executing on the client machine.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising, queuing the configuration request having the data written thereto.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising, dequeuing the configuration request having the data written thereto, determining if the installation service executed successfully, and if not, reattempting execution of the installation service.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein reattempting execution of the installation service includes removing the data written to the configuration request.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising queueing the configuration request having the data removed therefrom.

36. The method of claim 25 further comprising, installing optional components on the client machine by executing the additional software.

37. The method of claim 25 wherein secondarily attempting to initiate the connection includes delaying for a period of time.

38. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 25.

39. A method for installing software onto a client machine, comprising:

determining whether a user that is logged out the client machine has sufficient security rights to have software installed on the client machine, and if so;

executing a process at the client machine to install the software;

and if not;

initiating a connection at a server to the client machine, transmitting an installation services from the server to the client machine based on the connection, and executing the installation service to install the software wherein the installation service comprises a bootstrap service, such that execution the installation service includes running the bootstrap service to connect the client machine to another server, and transmitting additional software from the other server for installing on the client machine, the executing the installation service independent of any installation program previously installed on the client machine.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising, evaluating a discovery information associated with the client machine.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein initiating a connection to the client machine includes associating a configuration request with the client machine.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein initiating a connection to the client machine includes, queuing the configuration request, dequeuing the configuration request, and processing the configuration request.

43. The method of claim 41 further comprising, modifying the configuration request by writing data thereto indicative of the installation service executing on the client machine.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising, queuing the configuration request having the data written thereto.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising, dequeuing the configuration request having the data written thereto, determining if the installation service executed successfully, and if not, reattempting execution of the installation service.

46. The method of claim 39 further comprising, installing optional components on the client machine by executing the additional software.

47. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 39.