Automatic server configuration using a storage configuration database

• US 7,797,404 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Knight, Margaret E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Nghi V
• Application Number:
  US10/305,651
• Time in Patent Office: 2,848 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/223, 709/224, 709/221, 709/22, 709/222
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates

Abstract

A method for configuring a new server with a server configuration, such as a storage configuration, backup configuration, etc. The method may automatically detect presence of a new server coupled to a network and then automatically determine one or more attributes, such as available storage, of the new server. The method may then automatically determine one or more server configurations for the new server. For example, software may examine existing server configurations stored in a repository or database to determine if one or more of the existing server configurations are usable for configuring the server, e.g., based at least in part on the determined attributes of the new server. If the user accepts a server configuration, software may then operate to automatically configure the new server accordingly. Embodiments are included for adding server configurations to the repository. A global server configuration repository is also contemplated.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for configuring a new server with a server configuration, the method comprising:

using a computer system to perform;

automatically detecting a presence of the new server coupled to a network;

automatically determining one or more attributes of the new server;

automatically determining at least one server configuration for the new server by selecting the at least one server configuration from a plurality of existing server configurations, wherein said automatically determining comprises examining the plurality of existing server configurations to determine if the existing server configurations are usable for configuring the new server, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of existing server configurations have been previously used for server configuration, wherein said examining is based at least in part on the determined one or more attributes of the new server;

wherein the determined at least one server configuration is usable in configuring the new server.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising using the computer system to perform:

receiving user input specifying configuration of the new server with a first server configuration of the determined at least one server configuration; and

automatically configuring the new server with the first server configuration.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising using the computer system to perform:

displaying the determined at least one server configuration for the new server on a display;

receiving user input selecting a first server configuration of the at least one server configuration; and

automatically configuring the new server with the first server configuration.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3,

wherein said displaying comprises displaying a graphical user interface element comprising the determined at least one server configuration.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising using the computer system to perform:

generating a notification to a user of the determined at least one server configuration.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5,

wherein said generating a notification comprises generating an email to the user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising using the computer system to perform:

receiving user input specifying configuration of the new server with a first server configuration of the determined at least one server configuration; and

automatically configuring the new server with the first server configuration.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising using the computer system to perform:

receiving user input declining configuration of the new server with any of the at least one server configuration; and

automatically initiating a server configuration wizard program in response to said user input declining configuration, wherein the server configuration wizard program is executable to guide the user through a configuration process to generate a server configuration.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising using the computer system to perform:

maintaining a repository of existing server configurations;

wherein said examining the plurality of existing server configurations comprises examining the repository.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9,

wherein the repository is located in a memory medium on the network.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9,

wherein the new server is coupled to a first network;

wherein the repository is located in a memory medium on a second network, wherein the second network is coupled to the first network.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising using the computer system to perform:

configuring a first server with a first server configuration;

storing the first server configuration in a repository;

wherein said automatically determining comprises examining the first server configuration in the repository.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising using the computer system to perform:

configuring a first server on the network with a first server configuration;

automatically storing the first server configuration in the repository in response to said configuring.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said one or more attributes comprise available storage in the new server;

wherein the server configuration comprises a storage configuration.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,

wherein the server configuration comprises a backup configuration.

16. A system for configuring a new server with a server configuration, the system comprising:

a computer system, wherein the computer system comprises a processor and a memory medium, wherein at least one memory medium stores one or more existing server configurations;

wherein the memory medium stores a software program that is executable to;

automatically detect a presence of the new server coupled to a network;

automatically determine one or more attributes of the new server;

automatically determine at least one server configuration for the new server by selecting the at least one server configuration from a plurality of existing server configurations, wherein said automatically determining comprises examining the plurality of existing server configurations to determine if the existing server configurations are usable for configuring the new server, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of existing server configurations have been previously used for server configuration, wherein said examining is based at least in part on the determined one or more attributes of the new server;

wherein the determined at least one server configuration is usable in configuring the new server.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising program instructions that are executable to

configure a new server with a server configuration, wherein the program instructions are executable implement:

detect a presence of the new server coupled to a network;

determine one or more attributes of the new server;

determine at least one server configuration for the new server by selecting the at least one server configuration from a plurality of existing server configurations, wherein said determining comprises examining the plurality of existing server configurations to determine if the existing server configurations are usable for configuring the new server, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of existing server configurations have been previously used for server configuration, wherein said examining is based at least in part on the determined one or more attributes of the new server;

wherein the determined at least one server configuration is usable in configuring the new server.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

receiving user input specifying configuration of the new server with a first server configuration of the determined at least one server configuration; and

configuring the new server with the first server configuration.

19. A system for configuring a new server with a server configuration, the system comprising:

means for automatically detecting a presence of the new server coupled to a network;

means for automatically determining one or more attributes of the new server;

means for automatically determining at least one server configuration for the new server by selecting the at least one server configuration from a plurality of existing server configurations, wherein said means for automatically determining operates to examine the plurality of existing server configurations to determine if the existing server configurations are usable for configuring the server, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of existing server configurations have been previously used for server configuration, wherein said examining is based at least in part on the determined one or more attributes of the new server;

wherein the determined at least one server configuration is usable in configuring the new server.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for receiving user input specifying configuration of the new server with a first server configuration of the determined at least one server configuration; and

means for automatically configuring the new server with the first server configuration.

21. A computer-implemented method for configuring a new server with a storage configuration, the method comprising:

automatically detecting, by a computer system, a presence of a new server coupled to a network;

automatically determining, by the computer system, one or more attributes of the new server, wherein said one or more attributes include available storage of the new server;

automatically determining, by the computer system, at least one server configuration for the new server by selecting the at least one server configuration from a plurality of existing server configurations, wherein said automatically determining comprises examining the plurality of existing storage configurations to determine if the existing storage configurations are usable for configuring the server, wherein the plurality of existing server configurations are configured for server configuration without modification, wherein said examining is based at least in part on the available storage of the new server;

wherein the determined at least one server configuration is usable in configuring storage of the new server.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying configuration of the new server with a first storage configuration of the determined at least one server configuration; and

automatically configuring the new server with the first storage configuration.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

displaying the determined at least one server configuration for the new server on a display;

receiving user input selecting a first storage configuration of the at least one server configuration; and

automatically configuring the new server with the first storage configuration.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

generating a notification to a user of the determined at least one server configuration.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving user input declining configuration of the new server with any of the determined at least one server configuration; and

automatically initiating a storage configuration wizard program, wherein the storage configuration wizard program is executable to guide the user through a configuration process to generate a storage configuration.

26. The method of claim 21,

wherein said examining the plurality of existing storage configurations comprises examining a repository on the network.

27. The method of claim 21,

wherein the new server is coupled to a first network;

wherein said examining the plurality of existing storage configurations comprises examining a repository on a second network.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

configuring a first server with a first storage configuration;

storing the first storage configuration in a repository;

wherein said automatically determining comprises examining the first storage configuration in the repository.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising program instructions that are executable to:

configure a new server with a server configuration, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement;

detect a presence of the new server coupled to a network;

determine one or more attributes of the new server;

determine at least one server configuration for the new server by selecting the at least one server configuration from a plurality of existing server configurations, wherein said determining comprises examining the plurality of existing server configurations to determine if the existing server configurations are usable for configuring the new server, wherein said examining is based at least in part on the determined one or more attributes of the new server;

wherein the determined at least one server configuration is ace usable in configuring the new server without modification.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive user input specifying configuration of the new server with a first server configuration of the determined at least one server configuration; and

automatically configure the new server with the first server configuration.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

display the determined at least one server configuration for the new server on a display;

receiving user input selecting a first server configuration of the at least one server configuration; and

automatically configure the new server with the first server configuration.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive user input declining configuration of the new server with any of the at least one server configuration; and

automatically initiate a server configuration wizard program in response to said user input declining configuration, wherein the server configuration wizard program is executable to guide the user through a configuration process to generate a server configuration.