Method and system for generating list of operating systems for a target device

• US 7,631,054 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ullmann, Lorin E., French, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/731,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,288 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/220, 709/245, 717/175, 717/167, 713/2
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]

Abstract

A method of dynamically creating a list of operating systems for a target device in communication with a server prior to executing an operating system on the target device is provided. The target device receives an available operating systems list from the server. A hardware configuration of the target device is then determined. It is also determined if the hardware configuration is compatible with each operating system from the available operating systems list. A list of compatible operating systems is then generated. Systems and programs for dynamically creating a list of operating systems for a target device are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically creating a list of operating systems for a target device in communication with a server, the target device to be remotely booted by the server, prior to executing an operating system on the target device, comprising:

receiving from the server, at the target device, an available operating systems list of at least one operating system available to the target device;

determining a hardware configuration of the target device;

determining if the hardware configuration is compatible with each operating system from the available operating systems list; and

generating a compatible operating systems list.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the hardware configuration is determined by a network discovery process.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

mapping a specific location of the target device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining at least one location-based operating system that is based on the specific location of the target device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

determining if the hardware configuration is compatible with the location-based operating system.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the compatible operating systems list does not include the location-based operating system, further comprising:

adding the location-based operating system to the compatible operating systems list.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the available operating systems list does not include the location-based operating system, further comprising:

adding the location-based operating system to the available operating systems list.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting, at the target device, a target operating system from the compatible operating system list.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving at the target device, the target operating system.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing an initial bootstrap to the target device; and

executing the initial bootstrap on the target device before the target operating system is selected.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

relocating the initial bootstrap after the target operating system is received.

12. Computer program product in a computer usable medium for dynamically creating a list of operating systems for a target device in communication with a server, the target device to be remotely booted by the server, comprising:

means for receiving at the target device an available operating systems list of at least one operating system available to the target device;

means for determining a hardware configuration of the target device;

means for determining if the hardware configuration is compatible with each operating system from the available operating systems list; and

means for generating a compatible operating systems list.

13. The program of claim 12 further comprising

means for discovering the hardware configuration via a network discovery process.

14. The program of claim 12 further comprising:

means for determining at least one location-based operating system based on the location of the target device.

15. The program of claim 14 further comprising:

means for adding the location-based operating system to the available operating systems list.

16. The program of claim 14 further comprising:

means for determining if the hardware configuration is compatible with the location-based operating system.

17. The program of claim 16 further comprising:

means for adding the location-based operating system to the compatible operating systems list if the hardware configuration is compatible with the location-based operating system.

18. The program of claim 12, further comprising:

means for receiving a selection of a target operating system from the compatible operating system list; and

means for sending the target operating system to the target device.

19. The program of claim 18 further comprising:

means for executing a network bootstrap on the target device before the target operating system is selected.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

means for relocating the network bootstrap after the target operating system is selected.

21. A network data processing system comprising:

means for sending an available operating systems list torn a server to a target device, the target device to be remotely booted by the server, prior to executing am operating system on the target device;

means for determining a hardware configuration of the target device;

means for determining if the hardware configuration is compatible with each operating system from the available operating systems list; and

means for generating a compatible operating systems list.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

means for determining a specific location of the target device;

means for determining at least one location-based operating system that is based on the specific location; and

means for determining if the location-based operating system is compatible with the hardware configuration.

23. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

means for executing a network bootstrap program on the target device before a target operating system is selected;

means for selecting the target operating system from the compatible operating systems list;

means for relocating the network bootstrap program after the target operating system is selected; and

means for sending the target operating system to the target device.

24. A method of dynamically creating a list of operating systems for a target device in communication with a server, the target device to be remotely booted by the server, prior to executing an operating system on the target device, comprising:

receiving from the server, at the target device, an available operating systems list of at least one operating system available to the target device;

determining a hardware configuration of the target device;

determining if the hardware configuration is compatible with each operating system from the available operating systems list; and

generating a compatible operating systems list;

selecting a preferred operating system for the target device from the compatible operating systems list; and

executing the preferred operating system on the target device.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein selecting a preferred operating system for the target device comprises an automatic selection.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein selecting a preferred operating system for the target device comprises a selection by a system administrator.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein selecting a preferred operating system for the target device comprises a selection by a user.