Component upgrading with dependency conflict resolution, knowledge based and rules

• US 7,140,013 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aduva, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Shufer, Ilan, Te'eni, Moddy
• Primary Examiner(s): INGBERG, TODD D
• Application Number:
  US10/013,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 717/173, 717/178
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44552 Conflict resolution, i.e. enabling coexistence of conflicting executables

Abstract

An improved method to set up automatically a computer system configuration in association with a system upgrade that involves the installation of a set of operative elements necessary for the reliable operation of the same. The correct, operative combination of hardware, system and application software components is accomplished by inter-component dependency checking and improved conflict resolving procedures in association with specific dependency rules tables and an ordered database that stores definitions of components and relationships thereof.

Claims

1. A method of updating upgrading a computer system comprising a central processing unit, a storage device and a communication device by automatically establishing an operatively correct combination of a set of components in a computing environment of said computer system, said method comprising:

obtaining control tables from a storage device of a computer system, said control tables comprising information necessary for execution of an upgrade of said computer system, said obtaining control tables comprising;

obtaining a system information table comprising a set of operative components installed in said computer system;

obtaining a system upgrade table comprising a required set of operative components to be installed in said computer system;

obtaining a component objects table comprising a set of installation-related components;

obtaining a component database that contains a structured index of said component objects table; and

obtaining a rules table comprising installation-related dependency rules referring to said components to be installed in said computer system;

setting up result tables on said storage device, to hold information resulting from said automatic establishing, said setting up result tables comprising;

building a resolved system upgrade actions table for storing dependency conflict-free system upgrade actions;

building a second system upgrade table for storing unexamined system upgrade actions, wherein said second system upgrade table comprises unexamined system upgrade actions;

building a third system upgrade table; and

copying said system upgrade table into said second system upgrade table;

examining said control tables for dependency conflicts arising among said components in said control tables;

identifying said dependency conflicts arising among said components in said control tables; and

resolving said dependency conflicts among said components in said control tables, thereby creating result-related actions.

2. A method of updating upgrading a computer system comprising a central processing unit, a storage device and a communication device by automatically establishing an operatively correct combination of a set of components in a computing environment of said computer system, said method comprising:

obtaining control tables from a storage device of a computer system, said control tables comprising information necessary for execution of an upgrade of said computer system;

setting up result tables on said storage device, to hold information resulting from said automatic establishing;

examining said control tables for dependency conflicts arising among said components in said control tables;

identifying said dependency conflicts arising among said components in said control tables;

resolving said dependency conflicts among said components in said control tables, thereby creating result-related actions; and

determining installation preferences according to pre-determined values assigned to recommended upgrade actions.

3. A method of updating upgrading a computer system comprising a central processing unit, a storage device and a communication device by automatically establishing an operatively correct combination of a set of components in a computing environment of said computer system, said method comprising:

obtaining control tables from a storage device of a computer system, said control tables comprising information necessary for execution of an upgrade of said computer system;

setting up result tables on said storage device, to hold information resulting from said automatic establishing;

examining said control tables for dependency conflicts arising among said components in said control tables;

identifying said dependency conflicts arising among said components in said control tables;

resolving said dependency conflicts among said components in said control tables, thereby creating result-related action; and

determining a necessity for the presence of specific software modules by utilizing installation-specific handler rules.

4. A method of updating upgrading a computer system comprising a central processing unit, a storage device and a communication device by automatically establishing an operatively correct combination of a set of components in a computing environment of said computer system, said method comprising:

obtaining control tables from a storage device of a computer system, said control tables comprising information necessary for execution of an upgrade of said computer system;

setting up result tables on said storage device, to hold information resulting from said automatic establishing;

examining said control tables for dependency conflicts arising among said components in said control tables;

identifying said dependency conflicts arising among said components in said control tables;

resolving said dependency conflicts among said components in said control tables, thereby creating result-related actions; and

ordering a result list in accordance with dependencies and type of said components.