Method and apparatus for the automatic migration of applications and their associated data and configuration files

• US 7,028,079 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chefalas, Thomas E., Mastrianni, Steve J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Application Number:
  US09/865,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 707/704, 709/232, 711/161, 711/162
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for the automatic migration of applications and their associated data and configuration files from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system. A data store containing meta data regarding files associated with the application is queried in which the data store includes meta data describing the files accessed by the application. A result is received in response to querying the data store in which the associations are maintained. Copying of the files from the source data processing system to the destination data processing system using the result is initiated.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for migrating an application from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system, the method comprising:

responsive to receiving a request to migrate an application from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system, querying a data store at the source data processing system containing meta data regarding files associated with the applications, wherein the meta data describes associations between the files and applications that have accessed the files;

receiving a result in response to querying the data store, wherein the result includes meta data for each file associated with the application;

identifying a list of files associated with the application from the meta data; and

initiating copying of files in the list of files from the source data processing system to a location on the destination data processing system, wherein the location is determined by examining system configuration of the destination data processing system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

presenting the list of files to a user in a user interface; and

responsive to receiving a user selection of a set of files from the list of files, storing the set of files selected by the user at the destination data processing system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step comprises:

identifying from the meta data a file name and a file location for each file associated with the application; and

building a list of files associated with the application using the file name and file location for each file associated with the application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the meta data comprises a last update date of each file, a last access time of each file, a name of each file, a location of each file, an application associated with each file, and a user associated for each file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying and initiating steps are performed by an agent at the destination data processing system, and wherein the agent performs the identifying and initiating steps at a specified time when normal daily operations are not impacted.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the source data processing system records, in the data store, all files accessed by the application while the application was on the source data processing system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the-initiating copying step comprises:

copying files in the list of files from the source data processing system to a management server for temporary storage; and

copying the files from the management server to the destination data processing system.

8. A method in a data processing system for migrating an application, the method comprising:

responsive to receiving a request to migrate an application from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system, querying a data store at the source data processing system containing meta data regarding files associated with the application, wherein the data store includes the meta data describing associations between the files and applications that have accessed the files;

receiving a result in response to querying the data store, wherein the result includes meta data for each file associated with the application;

identifying a list of files associated with the application from the meta data;

presenting the list of files to a user in a user interface;

responsive to receiving a user selection of a set of files from the list of files, requesting the set of files selected by the user from the source data processing system; and

responsive to receiving the set of files selected by the user from the source data processing system, storing the set of files selected by the user in a location on the destination data processing system, wherein the location is determined by examining system configuration of the destination data, processing system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifying step comprises:

identifying front the meta data a file name and a file location for each file associated with the application; and

building a list of files associated with the application using the file name and file location for each file associated with the application.

10. The method of claim 8, storing step comprises:

copying the set of files from the source data processing system to a management server for temporary storage; and

copying the set of files from the management server to the destination data processing system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the meta data comprises a last update date of each file, a last access time of each file, a name of each file, a location of each file, an application associated with each file, and a user associated for each file.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifying and initiating steps are performed by an agent at the destination data processing system, and wherein the agent performs the identifying and initiating steps at a specified time when normal daily operations are not impacted.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising-presenting a verification of transfer of the files to the user.

14. A method for migrating files from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system, the method comprising:

receiving an access request from a program at the source data processing system to access a file, wherein the request is received at an operating system level;

storing an association between the file and the program in a data store;

querying the data store at the source data processing system for files associated with the program;

receiving a result in response to querying the data store, wherein the result includes a list of file names and file locations of files associated with the program; and

initiating copying of the files from a source data processing system on which the files are located to a location on a destination data processing system using the result, wherein the location is determined by examining system configuration of the destination data processing system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the association includes a file name for the file and a program name for the program.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the association further includes at least one of a location of the file, a time of file access, a date of file access, an extension for the file, and an identification of a user of the program.

17. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein to processing unit executes the set of instructions to query a data store at a source data processing system containing meta data regarding files associated with the application, wherein the data store includes meta data that describes associations between the files and the application that has accessed the files, responsive to receiving a request to migrate an application from the source data processing system to a destination data processing system;

receive a result in response to querying to data store, wherein the result includes meta data for each file associated with the application;

identify a list of files associated with the application from the meta data; and

initiate copying of files in the list of files from the source data processing system to a location on the destination data processing system, wherein the location is determined by examining system configuration of the destination data processing system.

18. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to query a data store at the source data processing system containing meta data regarding files associated with the application, wherein the meta data describes associations between the files and the application that has accessed the files, responsive to receiving a request to migrate an application from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system;

receive a result in response to querying the data store, wherein the result includes meta data for each file associated with the application;

identify a list of files associated with the application from the meta data;

present the list of files to a user in a user interface;

request a set of files selected by the user from the source data processing system responsive to receiving a user selection of the set of files from the list of files and store the set of files selected by the user in a location on the destination data processing system, responsive to receiving the set of files selected by the user from the source data processing system, wherein the location is determined by examining system configuration of the destination data processing system.

19. A data processing system for migrating an application from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

responsive to receiving a request to migrate an application from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system, querying means for querying a data store at the source data processing system containing meta data regarding files associated with the application, wherein the meta data describes associations between the files and applications that have accessed the files;

receiving means for receiving a result in response to querying the data store, wherein the result includes meta data for each file associated with the application;

identifying means for identifying a list of files associated with the application from the meta data; and

initiating means for initiating copying of files in the list of files from the source data processing system to a location on the destination data processing system, wherein the location is determined by examining system configuration of the destination data processing system.

20. The data processing system of claim 19, further comprising:

presenting means for a list of files to a user in a user interface; and

responsive to receiving a user selection of a set of files from the list of files, storing means for storing the set of files selected by the user at the destination data processing system.

21. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the identifying means comprises:

identifying means for identifying from the meta data a file name and a file location for each file associated with the application; and

building means for building a list of files associated with the application using the file name and file location for each file associated with the application.

22. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the meta data comprises a last update date of each file, a last access time of each file, a name of each file, a location of each file, an application associated with each file, and a user associated for each file.

23. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein identifying and initializing means are performed by an agent at the destination data processing system, and wherein the agent performs the identifying and initializing means at a specified time when normal operations are not impacted.

24. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the source data processing system records, in the data store, all files accessed by the application while the application was on the source data processing system.

25. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the initiating copying means comprises:

copying means for copying files in the list of files from the source data processing system to a management server for temporary storage; and

copying means for copying the files from the management server to the destination data processing system.

26. A data processing system for migrating an application, the data processing system comprising:

responsive to receiving a request to migrate an application from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system, querying means for querying a data store at the source data processing system containing meta data regarding files associated with the application, wherein the meta data describes associations between the files and applications that have accessed the files;

receiving means for receiving a result in response to querying the data store, wherein the result includes meta data four each file associated with the application;

identifying means for identifying a list of files associated with the application from the meta data;

presenting means for presenting the list of files to a user in a user interface;

responsive to receiving a user selection of a set of files from the list of files, requesting means for requesting the set of files selected by the user from the source data processing system; and

responsive to receiving the set of files selected by the user from the source data processing system, storing means for storing the set of files in a location on the destination data processing system, wherein the location is determined by examining system configuration of the destination data processing system.

27. The data processing system of claim 26, wherein the identifying means comprises:

identifying means for identifying from the meta data a file name and a file location for each file associated with the application; and

building means for building a list of files associated with the application using the file name and file location for each file associated with the application.

28. The data processing system of claim 26, wherein the storing means comprises:

copying means for copying the set of files from the source data processing system to a management server for temporary storage; and

copying mean for copying the set of files from the management server to the destination data processing system.

29. The data processing system of claim 26, wherein the meta data comprises a last update date of each file, a last access time of each file, a name of each file, a location of each file, an application associated with each file, and a user associated for each file.

30. The data processing system of claim 26, wherein the identifying and initiating means are performed by an agent at the destination data processing system, and wherein the agent performs the identifying and initiating means at a specified time when normal daily operations are not impacted.

31. The data processing system of claim 26, further comprising-presenting means for presenting a verification of transfer of the files to the user.

32. A network data processing system for migrating files from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system, the network data processing system comprising:

first receiving means for receiving an access request from a program at the source data processing system to access a file, wherein the request is received at an operating system level;

storing means for storing an association between the file and the program in a data store;

querying means for querying the data store at the source data processing system for files associated with the program;

second receiving means for receiving a result in response to querying the data store, wherein the result includes a list of files names and file locations of files associated with the program; and

initiating means for initiating copying of the files from a source data processing system on which the files are located to a location on a destination data processing system using the result, wherein the location is determined by examining system configuration of the destination data processing system.

33. The network data processing system of claim 32, wherein the association includes a file name for the file and a program name for the program.

34. The network data processing system of claim 32, wherein the association further includes at least one of a location of the file, a time of file access, a date of file access, an extension for the file, and an identification of a user of the program.

35. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for migrating an application from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for querying a data store at the source data processing system containing meta data regarding files associated with the application responsive to receiving a request to migrate an application from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system, wherein the meta data describes associations between the files and applications that have accessed the files;

second instructions for receiving a result in response to querying the data store, wherein the result includes meta data for each file associated with the application; and

third instructions for identifying a list of files associated with the application from the meta data; and

fourth instructions for initiating copying of files in the list of files from the source data processing system to a location on the destination data processing system, wherein the location is determined by examining system configuration of the destination data processing system.

36. The computer program product of claim 35 further comprising:

fifth instructions for presenting the list of files to a user in a user interface;

sixth instructions for storing a set of files selected by the user at the destination data processing system responsive to receiving a user selection of the set of files from the list of files.

37. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the third instructions comprise:

first sub-instructions for identifying from the meta data a file name and a file location for each file associated with the application; and

second sub-instructions for building a list of files associated with the application using the file name and file location for each file associated with the application.

38. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the meta data comprises a last update date of each file, a last access time of each file, a name of each file, a location of each file, an application associated with each file, and a user associated for each file.

39. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the third and fourth instructions are performed by an agent at the destination data processing system, and wherein the agent performs the third and fourth instructions at a specified time when normal daily operations are not impacted.

40. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the source data processing system records, in the data store, all files accessed by the application while the application was on the source data processing system.

41. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the fourth instructions comprise:

first sub-instructions for copying the files in the list of flies from the source data processing system to a management server for temporary storage; and

second sub-instructions for copying the files from the management server to the destination data processing system.

42. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for migrating an application, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for querying a data store at a source data processing system containing meta data regarding files associated with the application responsive to receiving a request to migrate an application from the source data processing system to a destination data processing system, wherein the meta data describes associations between the files and applications that have accessed the files;

second instructions for receiving a result in response to querying the data store, wherein the result includes meta data for each file associated with the application;

third instructions for identifying a list of files associated with the application from the meta data;

fourth instructions for presenting a list of files to a user in a user interface;

fifth instructions for requesting a set of files selected by the user from the source data processing system, responsive to receiving a user selection of the set of files from the list of files; and

sixth instructions for storing the set of files in a location on the destination data processing system responsive to receiving the set of files selected by the user from the source data processing system, wherein the location is determined by examining system configuration of the destination data processing system.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the third instructions comprises:

first sub-instructions for identifying from the meta data a file name and a file location for each file associated with the application; and

second sub-instructions for building a list of files associated with the application using the file name and file location for each file associated with the application.

44. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the sixth instructions comprises:

first sub-instructions for copying the set of files from the source data processing system to a management server for temporary storage; and

second sub-instructions for copying the set of files from the management server to the destination data processing system.

45. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the meta data comprises a last update date of each file, a last access time of each file, a name of each file, a location of each file, an application associated with each file, end a user associated for each file.

46. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the third instructions are performed by an agent at the destination data processing system, and wherein the agent performs the third instructions at a specified time when normal daily operations are not impacted.

47. The computer program product of claim 42, further comprising:

seventh instructions for presenting a verification of transfer of the files to the user.

48. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for migrating files from a source data processing system to a destination data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving an access request from a program at the source data processing system to access a file, wherein the request is received at an operating system level;

second instructions for storing as association between the file and the program in a data store;

third instructions for querying the data store at the source data processing system for files associated with the program;

fourth instructions for receiving a result in response to querying the data store, wherein the result includes a list of file names and file locations of files associated with the program; and

fifth instructions for initiating copying of the files from a source data processing system on which the files are located to a location on a destination data processing system using the result wherein the location is determined by examining system configuration of the destination data processing system.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the association includes a file name for the file and a program name for the program.

50. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein the association further includes at least one of a location of the file, a time of file access, a date of file access, an extension for the file, and an identification of a user of the program.