Method and system for installing software on multiple computing systems

• US 7,840,961 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• 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): Chen; Qing
• Application Number:
  US11/322,403
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

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 computer implemented 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 said 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 said processor of said first computing system for a first reference to said first computing system;

replacing with said processor of said first computing system said first reference with a generic reference;

creating with said processor of said first computing system an installation template of said software application, said installation template containing said directories and said files for said software application, said directories and said files having said generic reference;

transferring from said first computing system said installation template of said software application to a memory of a second computing system;

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

searching said directories and said files for said generic reference with said processor of said second computing system; and

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

2. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein said installation template comprises at least one of the following for said software application:

patch, fix, modification, and customization.

3. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein said installation template contains a validated instance of said software application.

4. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein said replacing is performed by executing one or more scripting routines.

5. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein said installation template comprises a compressed version of said directories and said files for said software application.

6. The computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein said installation template comprises a backed up version of said directories and said files for said software application.

7. 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 a memory of a first computing system having a processor, said installing causing directories to be created in said 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 said processor of said first computing system for a first reference to said first computing system;

replace with said processor of said first computing system said first reference with a generic reference;

create with said processor of said first computing system an installation template of said software application, said installation template containing said directories and said files for said software application, said directories and said files having said generic reference;

transfer from said first computing system said installation template of said software application to a memory of a second computing system;

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

search said directories and said files for said generic reference with said processor of said second computing system; and

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

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said installation template comprises at least one of the following for said software application:

patch, fix, modification, and customization.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein said installation template contains a validated instance of said software application.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein said at least one subsystem performs said replace by executing one or more scripting routines.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein said installation template comprises a compressed version of said directories and said files for said software application.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein said installation template comprises a backed up version of said directories and said files for said software application.

13. A computer-readable non-volatile medium or volatile medium comprising computer-readable instructions for installing a software application on multiple computing systems stored on said computer-readable non-volatile medium or volatile medium and executable by a computing apparatus, 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 said 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 said processor of said first computing system for a first reference to said first computing system;

replacing with said processor of said first computing system said first reference with a generic reference;

creating with said processor of said first computing system an installation template of said software application, said installation template containing said directories and said files for said software application, said directories and said files having said generic reference;

transferring from said first computing system said installation template of said software application to a memory of a second computing system;

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

searching said directories and said files for said generic reference with said processor of said second computing system; and

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

14. The computer-readable non-volatile medium or volatile medium according to claim 13, wherein said installation template comprises at least one of the following for said software application:

patch, fix, modification, and customization.

15. The computer-readable non-volatile medium or volatile medium according to claim 13, wherein said installation template contains a validated instance of said software application.

16. The computer-readable non-volatile medium or volatile medium according to claim 13, wherein said computer-readable instructions for said replacing comprises one or more scripting routines.

17. The computer-readable non-volatile medium or volatile medium according to claim 13, wherein said installation template comprises a compressed version of said directories and said files for said software application.

18. The computer-readable non-volatile medium or volatile medium according to claim 13, wherein said installation template comprises a backed up version of said directories and said files for said software application.