Method and system for automatically associating an address with a target device

• US 7,831,692 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: French, Steven M., Ullmann, Lorin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/731,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,624 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/224, 709/223, 717/175, 717/147, 711/147, 713/7, 379/88.14
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]

Abstract

A method of generating a list of target devices to be configured in communication with a server is provided. A first list of target devices to be configured is created. At least one target device having an associated network address is identified and the first list of target devices is modified using the addressed target device. A modified list of target devices is then generated. Programs and systems of generating a list of target devices to be configured are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of generating a list of target devices to be configured in communication with a server, comprising:

creating a first list of target devices to be configured;

identifying at least one addressed target device having an associated network address;

modifying the first list of target devices using the addressed target device; and

generating a modified list of target devices to be configured, wherein the target devices are to be remotely booted by the server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the addressed target device is listed in at least one information source.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adding the associated network address of the addressed target device to the first list of target devices.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adding the addressed target device having an associated network address to the first list of target devices.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

removing the addressed target device having an associated network address from the first list of target devices.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

pre-configuring at least one preconfigured target device.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

adding the preconfigured target device to the first list.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if a target device has an associated network address; and

removing the target device from the modified list of target devices if it does not have an associated network address.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the modified list to the server.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

examining packet data to determine if a target device has an associated network address.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

examining log data to determine if a target device has an associated network address.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

creating a router list of target devices;

comparing the muter list and the first list of target devices, and wherein

modifying the first list of target devices using the addressed target device comprises modifying the first list of target devices based on the comparison.

13. A computer readable medium including computer readable code for generating a list of target devices to be configured in communication with a server comprising:

means for creating a first list of target devices to be configured;

means for identifying with an identification at least one addressed target device having an associated network address;

means for modifying, the first list of target devices using the addressed target device; and

means for generating a modified list of target devices to be configured, wherein the target devices are to be remotely booted by the server and wherein the target devices are persistently and concurrently in communication with the server by means of a network.

14. The medium of claim 13 further comprising:

means for storing the identification of the addressed target device.

15. The medium of claim 13 further comprising:

means for adding the associated network address of the addressed target device to the first list of target devices.

16. The medium of claim 13 further comprising:

means for adding the addressed target device having an associated network address to the first list of target devices.

17. The medium of claim 13 further comprising:

means for removing the addressed target device having an associated network address from the first list of target devices.

18. The medium of claim 13 further comprising:

means for preconfiguring at least one target device listed in the first list.

19. The medium of claim 13 further comprising:

means for removing a target device without an associated network address from the modified list of target devices.

20. The medium of claim 13 further comprising:

means for configuring the target devices listed in the modified list.

21. The medium of claim 13 further comprising:

means for examining packet data to determine if a target device has an associated network address.

22. The medium of claim 13 further comprising:

means for examining log data to determine if a target device has an associated network address.

23. A data processing system, the system including target devices and a server comprising:

means for creating a first list of target devices to be configured, wherein the target devices are to be remotely booted by the server;

means for identifying at least one addressed target device having an associated network address;

means for comparing the addressed target device to the target devices on the first list; and

means for generating a modified list of target devices to be configured based on the addressed target device and wherein the target devices are persistently and concurrently in communication with the server by means of a network.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

means for storing information about the addressed target device.

25. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

means for configuring at least one target device.

26. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

means for determining if a target device has an associated network address.