Method and apparatus for controlling process dependencies
First Claim
1. A method for starting a dependent process in a network device, comprising:
- starting one or more processes in the network device;
registering the one or more processes with a process manager running in the network device;
receiving, after the one or more processes are running in the network device, a request to start a second process in the network device;
accessing a configuration file to determine if the second process is dependent on one or more prerequisite processes that must be running before the second process can be started, the configuration file further identifying a version of each prerequisite process required by the dependent process;
if there is a prerequisite process of the second process defined in the configuration file, comparing the one or more prerequisite processes with the one or more registered running processes to determine if each of the one or more prerequisite processes is running in the network device and whether the second process is compatible with the version identifier of each of the one or more running prerequisite processes; and
starting the second process only if every prerequisite process of the second process is running and the second process is compatible with the version identifier of each of the one or more running prerequisite processes.
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Abstract
A method and system is provided to control and check run-time process dependencies. When a process manager receives a request to start a new process, the process manager accesses a configuration file to check if the new process depends on any other processes to be running and what versions of these prerequisite processes are required. If an exact version is specified in the configuration file, the prerequisite process version must match the exact version specified to be compatible with the new process. If a range of acceptable versions is specified in the configuration file, the prerequisite process version must fall within the range of acceptable versions to be compatible with the new process. If a minimum acceptable version is specified in the configuration file, then the prerequisite process version must be greater than or equal to the minimum acceptable version specified. If a maximum acceptable version is specified in the configuration file, then the prerequisite process version must be less than or equal to the maximum acceptable version specified. If the prerequisite processes are not running or the versions of the running prerequisite processes are not compatible with the new process, then the new process is not started. If the new process does not depend on any processes or all the prerequisite are running with compatible versions, then the new process may be started.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for starting a dependent process in a network device, comprising:
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starting one or more processes in the network device; registering the one or more processes with a process manager running in the network device; receiving, after the one or more processes are running in the network device, a request to start a second process in the network device; accessing a configuration file to determine if the second process is dependent on one or more prerequisite processes that must be running before the second process can be started, the configuration file further identifying a version of each prerequisite process required by the dependent process; if there is a prerequisite process of the second process defined in the configuration file, comparing the one or more prerequisite processes with the one or more registered running processes to determine if each of the one or more prerequisite processes is running in the network device and whether the second process is compatible with the version identifier of each of the one or more running prerequisite processes; and starting the second process only if every prerequisite process of the second process is running and the second process is compatible with the version identifier of each of the one or more running prerequisite processes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for controlling process dependency in a network device comprising:
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a process manager to be run in the network device; one or more processes to be started in the network device and to be registered with the process manager; a second process to be run in the network device after the one or more processes are running in the network device; data in a configuration file identifying the second process as dependent on one or more prerequisite processes that must be running before the second process can be started the data also identifying a version of each prerequisite process required by the dependent process; and a processor to compare the data in the configuration file with the one or more running processes registered with the process manager to determine if each of the one or more prerequisite processes is running in the network device and that the second process is compatible with the version identifier of each of the one or more running prerequisite processes, and to start the second process only after determining that every prerequisite processes is running and each is of a compatible version. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable storage media with instruction stored thereon, which when executed, causes a computer to perform the method comprising:
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starting one or more processes in the network device; registering the one or more processes with a process manager running in the network device; receiving, after the one or more processes are running in the network device, a request to start a second process in the network device; accessing a configuration file to determine if the second process is dependent on one or more prerequisite processes that must be running before the second process can be started, the configuration file further identifying a version of each prerequisite process required by the dependent process; if there is a prerequisite process of the second process defined in the configuration file, comparing the one or more prerequisite processes with the one or more registered running processes to determine if each of the one or more prerequisite processes is running in the network device and whether the second process is compatible with the version identifier of each of the one or more running prerequisite processes; and starting the second process only if every prerequisite process of the second process is running and the second process is compatible with the version identifier of each of the one or more running prerequisite processes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification