Method and system for installing software

• US 7,770,167 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Weathersby, Richard Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nahar; Qamrun
• Application Number:
  US11/323,207
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 717174-178
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order

Abstract

Method and system are disclosed for providing multiple installations of a software application. The method/system creates an installation template from a single correct or “golden” installation of the software application and uses the installation template to produce additional installations of the software application. In one embodiment, any references to a specific host or computing system in the files or directories of the installed software application are replaced with a temporary variable in the installation template. The installation template may then be stored on a designated server and uploaded to any computing system needing a new installation of the software application. Once uploaded, the variable is replaced with system-specific references to complete the new installations. Since the installations are produced from the installation template and not from floppy disks or CD-ROMs, the process takes significantly less time.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of installing a software application on multiple computing systems, said method comprising:

installing said software application on a memory of a first computing system having a processor, said installing causing directories to be created in the memory of said first computing system and files to be placed in said directories;

searching said directories and said files of said software application with the processor of the first computer system for a first reference to said first computing system;

replacing with the processor said first reference with a generic reference;

creating with the processor an installation template of said software application from said directories and said files of said software application;

uploading from the first computing system said installation template to a memory of a second computing system via a network connection;

processing with a processor of the second computer system said installation template to place said directories and said files for said software application in the memory of said second computing system;

searching said directories and said files for said generic reference with the processor of the second computer; and

replacing said generic reference with a second reference specific to said second computing system with the processor of the second computer.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising uploading said installation template to a third computing system;

processing said installation template to place said directories and said files for said software application on said third computing system;

searching said directories and said files for said generic reference; and

replacing said generic reference with a third reference specific to said third computing system.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said installing of said software application on said first computing system comprises installing at least one of the following for said software application:

patch, fix, modification, and customization.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising testing said software application on said first computing system to ensure said installation template contains a validated instance of said software application.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said searching and said replacing are performed by executing one or more scripting routines.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said creating of said installation template comprises compressing said directories and files for said software application into at least one compressed file.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said creating of said installation template comprises backing up said directories and files for said software application into at least one backup file.

8. A system for installing a software application on multiple computing systems, said system comprising a processor, a memory and at least one subsystem to:

install said software application on the memory of a first computing system, said installing causing directories to be created in the memory of said first computing system and files to be placed in said directories;

search said directories and said files of said software application with the processor of the first computer system for a first reference to said first computing system;

replace with the processor said first reference with a generic reference;

creating with the processor an installation template of said software application from said directories and said files of said software application;

upload from the first computing system said installation template to a second computing system via a network connection;

process with a processor of the second computer system said installation template to place said directories and said files for said software application in the memory of said second computing system;

search said directories and said files for said generic reference with the processor of the second computer; and

replace said generic reference with a second reference specific to said second computing system with the processor of the second computer.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one subsystem is further to upload said installation template to a third computing system;

process said installation template to place said directories and said files for said software application on said third computing system;

search said directories and said files for said generic reference; and

replace said generic reference with a third reference specific to said third computing system.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said install of said software application on said first computing system comprises installing at least one of the following for said software application:

patch, fix, modification, and customization.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one subsystem is further to test said software application on said first computing system to ensure said installation template contains a validated instance of said software application.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein said search and said replace are performed by executing one or more scripting routines.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein said create of said installation template comprises compressing said directories and files for said software application into at least one compressed file.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein said create of said installation template comprises backing up said directories and files for said software application into at least one backup file.

15. A computer-readable non-volatile medium or volatile medium comprising computer-readable instructions for installing a software application on multiple computing systems, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for:

installing said software application on a memory of a first computing system having a processor, said installing causing directories to be created in the memory of said first computing system and files to be placed in said directories;

searching said directories and said files of said software application with the processor of the first computer system for a first reference to said first computing system;

replacing with the processor said first reference with a generic reference;

creating with the processor an installation template of said software application from said directories and said files of said software application;

uploading from the first computing system said installation template to a memory of a second computing system via a network connection;

processing with a processor of the second computer system said installation template to place said directories and said files for said software application in the memory of said second computing system;

searching said directories and said files for said generic reference with the processor of the second computer; and

replacing said generic reference with a second reference specific to said second computing system with the processor of the second computer.

16. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein said computer-readable instructions further comprise instructions for uploading said installation template to a third computing system;

processing said installation template to place said directories and said files for said software application on said third computing system;

searching said directories and said files for said generic reference; and

replacing said generic reference with a third reference specific to said third computing system.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein said instructions for installing said software application on said first computing system comprise instructions for installing at least one of the following for said software application:

patch, fix, modification, and customization.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein said computer-readable instructions further comprise instructions for testing said software application on said first computing system to ensure said installation template contains a validated instance of said software application.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein said instructions for searching and said replacing comprise one or more scripting routines.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein said instructions for creating said installation template comprise instructions for compressing said directories and files for said software application into at least one compressed file.

21. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein said instructions for creating said installation template comprise instructions for backing up said directories and files for said software application into at least one backup file.