Update system, update client apparatus, update server apparatus, and programs

• US 7,203,723 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ogawa, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): An; Meng-Al T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kang; Insun
• Application Number:
  US10/101,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-173, 713/1, 713/100, 709/223, 709/220, 347/19, 711/114
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

An update client sends to an update server which is connected to the update client via a communication line, identification information of a driver and firmware which are included in a disk array system, and identification information of an error event which has occurred in the disk array system. The update server determines whether update of the driver and the firmware is necessary or not in accordance with a combination of the supplied identification information of the driver, the firmware, and the error event. In a case where it is determined that update is necessary, the update server sends to the update client, update data corresponding to the combination of the supplied identification information of the driver, the firmware, and the error event. The update client updates both of the driver and the firmware using the supplied update data.

Claims

1. An update system comprising:

an update client which updates a driver and firmware which are included in a disk array system; and

an update server which is connected to said update client via a communication line, wherein the update server determines whether updating said driver and said firmware is necessary based on driver identification information, firmware identification information and error event information, which are received from said update client,

wherein the update client detects error events that occur in said disk array system and stores identification information identifying an error event that is detected as the error event information, and the update client transmits the error event information, the firmware identification information, and the driver identification information to the update server if the error event is detected in the disk array system,

wherein the update server selects update data for the driver and the firmware based on the driver identification information, the firmware identification information and the error event information received from said update client and sends the update data which is selected to the update client if updating the driver and the firmware is determined to be necessary,

wherein said update client updates both of said driver and said firmware with the update data which is received from said update server.

2. The update system according to claim 1, wherein:

said update client comprises;

an information sending unit which sends the driver identification information, the firmware identification information and the error event information to said update server; and

an update unit which updates both of said driver and said firmware using the update data which is received from said update server, and

said update server comprises;

a necessity determination unit which determines whether updating the driver and the firmware is necessary based on the driver identification information, the firmware identification information, and the error event information which are received from the information sending unit;

a data determination unit which selects the update data based on the driver identification information, the firmware identification information and the error event information which are received from the information sending unit if said necessity determining unit determines that the update is necessary; and

a data sending unit which sends the update data which is determined by said data determination unit to said update client.

3. The update system according to claim 2, wherein:

said update server further comprises a storage unit which stores a determination table which indicates whether the update is necessary, and specifies update data which corresponds to a combination of the driver identification information, the firmware identification information and the error event information;

said necessity determination unit determines whether the update is necessary by referring to said determination table using the driver identification information, the firmware identification information and the error event information; and

said data determination unit selects the update data by referring to said determination table using the driver identification information, the firmware identification information and the error event information.

4. The update system according to claim 3, wherein:

said storage unit stores a plurality of update data for updating both of said driver and said firmware;

said update server further comprises a data retrieving unit which retrieves the update data which is selected by said data determination unit; and

said data sending unit sends the update data which is retrieved by said data retrieving unit to said update client.

5. The update system according to claim 4, wherein

said update client is provided in said disk array system.

6. The update system according to claim 1, wherein

the error event information identifies a type of error event which occurs in the disk array system.

7. The update system according to claim 1, wherein the update client further comprises a determination request unit which sends a determination request signal to the update server for requesting determination of whether the update of the firmware and the driver is necessary, wherein the determination request signal includes the driver identification information, the firmware identification information and the error event information.

8. The update system according to claim 3, wherein the determination table includes update numbers which specify update data that corresponds to a plurality of combinations of driver identification information, firmware identification information and error event information, and the data determination unit selects the update data based on an update number which corresponds to the combination of the driver identification information, the firmware identification information and the error event information which is received from the update client.

9. The update system according to claim 8, wherein:

said storage unit further stores a plurality of update data for updating both of said driver and said firmware;

said update server further comprises a data retrieving unit which retrieves from said storage unit, the update data determined by said data determination unit; and

said data sending unit sends the update data retrieved by said data retrieving unit to said update client.

10. The update system according to claim 9, wherein

said update client is provided in said disk array system.

11. A method of updating a driver and firmware, the method comprising:

determining, at an update server, whether updating the driver and the firmware which are included in a disk array system is necessary based on driver identification information, firmware identification information and error event information, which are received from an update client, wherein the update client detects error events that occur in said disk array system and stores identification information identifying an error event that is detected as the error event information, and the update client transmits the error event information, the firmware identification information, and the driver identification information to the update server if the error event is detected in the disk array system;

selecting update data for the driver and the firmware based on the driver identification information, the firmware identification information and the error event information received from said update client and sending the update data which is selected from the update server to the update client if updating the driver and the firmware is determined to be necessary; and

updating both of said driver and said firmware with the update data which is received from the update client.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said determining comprises referring to a determination table which indicates whether the update is necessary and specifies update data which corresponds to a combination of the driver identification information, the firmware identification information and the error event information, and said selecting comprises selecting the update data by referring to said determination table using the driver identification information, the firmware identification information, and the error event information.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the update client is provided in the disk array system.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the error event information identifies a type of error event which occurs in the disk array system.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending, from the update client, a determination request signal to the update server for requesting determination of whether the update of the firmware and the driver is necessary, wherein the determination request signal includes the driver identification information, the firmware identification information, and the error event information.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the determination table includes update numbers which specify update data that corresponds to a plurality of combinations of driver identification information, firmware identification information, and error event information, and

said selecting comprises selecting the update data based on an update number which corresponds to the combination of driver identification information, firmware identification information, and error event information which is received from the update client.

17. A computer readable medium storing a program which executes a method of updating a driver and firmware, the method comprising:

determining, at an update server, whether updating the driver and the firmware which are included in a disk array system is necessary based on driver identification information, firmware identification information and error event information, which are received from an update clients, wherein the update client detects error events that occur in said disk array system and stores identification information identifying an error event that is detected as the error event information, and the update client transmits the error event information, the firmware identification information, and the driver identification information to the update server if the error event is detected in the disk array system;

selecting update data for the driver and the firmware based on the driver identification information, the firmware identification information, and the error event information received from said update client and sending the update data which is selected from the update server to the update client if updating the driver and the firmware is determined to be necessary; and

updating both of said driver and said firmware using the update data which is received from the update client.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein said determining comprises referring to a determination table which indicates whether the update is necessary and specifies update data which corresponds to a combination of the driver identification information, the firmware identification information and the error event information, and said selecting comprises selecting the update data by referring to said determination table using the driver identification information, the firmware identification information, and the error event information.