Method and system for image management in a computing system

• US 7,831,638 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Hubbard, Edward A., Glynn, Sean D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US12/564,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20100011204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 707/809, 707/912, 707/915, 707/999.107, 713/2, 715/748, 715/749
• US Class Current: 707/809
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0614 Improving the reliability of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A method and system for migrating data to a build-to-order computing system is provided. The method comprises storing an image at a remote site. The image comprises data stored on a computing system. An order is received to provide a second computing system to a customer. Access to the image is provided to the second computing system such that the second computing system can store the image.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

booting a computing system from a partition installed on the computing system;

establishing communication between the computing system and a remote site, wherein the remote site includes an image comprising data stored on the computing system; and

transferring the image from the remote site to a storage medium of the computing system.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the booting, establishing, and downloading steps is performed in response to a failure of the computing system.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the image comprises a last known good software state of the computing system.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transferring of the image from the remote site returns the computing system to a last known good software state of the computing system.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein transferring the image includes transferring the image via the World Wide Web.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein transferring the image includes transferring the image via an intranet.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein transferring the image includes transferring the image via the Internet.

8. A method for upgrading a computing system comprising:

storing an image at a remote site, the image comprising data stored on the computing system; and

storing the image to a second computing system communicatively coupled to the remote site.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising communicatively coupling the remote site to the second computing system via an intranet.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising communicatively coupling the remote site to the second computing system via the Internet.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising communicatively coupling the remote site to the first computing system.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein storing the image at a remote site comprises transferring the image from the first computing system to the remote site.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the first computing system and second computing system are located at a site remote from the remote site.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein storing the image to the second computing system comprises transferring the image from the remote site to the second computing system.

15. A computing system comprising:

a processor;

a computer readable medium coupled to the processor and having stored thereon a partition having executable instructions configured to, when executed by the processor;

boot the computing system;

establish communication between the computing system and a remote site communicatively coupled to the computing system, wherein the remote site includes an image comprising data stored on the computing system; and

transfer the image from the remote site to the computer-readable medium.

16. A computing system according to claim 15, wherein the executable instructions are further configured to perform at least one of the booting, establishing, and downloading steps in response to a failure of the computing system.

17. A computing system according to claim 15, wherein the image comprises a last known good software state of the computing system.

18. A computing system according to claim 15, wherein the remote site is communicatively coupled to the computing system via the World Wide Web.

19. A computing system according to claim 15, wherein the remote site is communicatively coupled to the computing system via an intranet.

20. A computing system according to claim 15, wherein the remote site is communicatively coupled to the computing system via the Internet.