Method and system for automatic detection, inventory, and operating system deployment on network boot capable computers

• US 7,376,823 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Iszlai, Sorin Silviu, Iszlai, Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao; Chun
• Application Number:
  US11/116,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20060248328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]

Abstract

A system for the automatic detection and inventory of a network boot capable computer and for the automatic deployment of an appropriate operating system to the network boot capable computer. First, an initial broadcast packet from the network boot capable computer is received. In response to receiving the initial broadcast packet, a discovery kernel is sent to the network boot capable computer. The discovery kernel generates a hardware details file. The hardware details file is received from the network boot capable computer and is analyzed. After the hardware details file is analyzed, an appropriate operating system is deployed to the network boot capable computer.

Claims

1. A method in a central boot server for automatic detection and inventory of a network boot capable computer and for automatic deployment of an appropriate operating system to the network boot capable computer, the method comprising:

receiving an initial broadcast packet from the network boot capable computer, wherein the initial broadcast packet includes basic system hardware information regarding the network boot capable computer;

sending an appropriate discovery kernel to the network boot capable computer based on the basic system hardware information included in the initial broadcast packet, wherein the appropriate discovery kernel is specific to system hardware for the boot capable computer;

receiving a hardware details file generated by the discovery kernel from the network boot capable computer;

analyzing the hardware details file; and

upon receiving the initial broadcast packet again after analyzing the hardware details file, deploying an appropriate operating system from a plurality of operating systems available from the central boot server to the network boot capable computer, wherein the appropriate operating system is customized specifically for the network boot capable computer by the central boot server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network boot capable computer is a client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the basic system hardware information included in the initial broadcast packet is one of a manufacturer name or a platform type.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hardware details file comprises at least one of a serial number, a manufacturer name, a platform type, a media access control address, a global unique identifier, a central processing unit type and speed, a network interface card name, and a hard disk type.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step comprises:

determining the appropriate operating system for the network boot capable computer using a predetermined deployment policy.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the hardware details file from the network boot capable computer in a database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, sending and deploying steps are performed in at least one of a preboot execution environment and a dynamic host configuration protocol/bootstrap protocol.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, sending, analyzing, and deploying steps are performed by the central boot server for a plurality of network boot capable computers simultaneously.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the deploying step is performed using at least one of a serial number, a manufacturer name, a platform type, a media access control address, a global unique identifier, a central processing unit type and speed, a network interface card name, and a hard disk type.