Systems and methods for customizing boot disk images using prioritization

• US 8,146,076 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2007
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Broadhead, J. Dan, Shumway, Ken H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Thuy
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, XI DONALD
• Application Number:
  US11/864,985
• Time in Patent Office: 1,641 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to systems and methods for customizing boot disk images using prioritization. In one example, a series of source files are copied to a staging area. Earlier received files are overridden by later received files of the same name. Pre-boot operating system files are copied first, followed by a software manufacturer'"'"'s supplied files, then an original equipment manufacturer'"'"'s supplied files, and finally user supplied files. Since each file is overridden by a later one, the prioritizing of copies to the staging area presents a prioritized file structure to create a boot disk image. Commands are run to further modify the files. The files are compiled into a boot disk image.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for customizing boot disk images using prioritization, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

providing a staging area configured to receive files for creating a customized boot disk image, wherein the staging area is configured such that later received files override previously received files of the same name;

providing a nested folder structure;

assigning a prioritization order to the nested folder structure, wherein the prioritization order specifies that higher-level folders within the nested folder structure are to be processed before lower-level folders within the nested folder structure;

copying a plurality of sets of files from the nested folder structure into the staging area based on the prioritization order assigned to the nested folder structure such that files copied from lower-level folders within the nested folder structure into the staging area override files of the same name that were previously copied from higher-level folders within the nested folder structure into the staging area;

executing a set of modification commands to perform at least one modification to the contents of the staging area;

compiling the contents of the staging area to create the customized boot disk image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sets of files comprise at least one of:

a set of files corresponding to an operating system;

a set of files provided by a software manufacturer;

a set of files provided by an original equipment manufacturer;

a set of files provided by a user to perform user-customized functions;

a set of files corresponding to a single computer configuration;

a set of files corresponding to a plurality of computer configurations.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of:

the set of files provided by the software manufacturer are stored within the nested folder structure at a lower level than the set of files corresponding to the operating system;

the set of files provided by the original equipment manufacturer are stored within the nested folder structure at a lower level than the set of files provided by the software manufacturer;

the set of files provided by the user are stored within the nested folder structure at a lower level than the set of files provided by the original equipment manufacturer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein copying the plurality of sets of files comprises copying the plurality of sets of files from at least one network location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the staging area is located on a computer readable medium.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the prioritization order is provided by a user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of modification commands comprises at least one of:

a set of default commands;

a set of user-provided commands.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of modification commands comprises a switch with a parameter located in a command section.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to copying the plurality of sets of files from the nested folder structure into the staging area, enabling a user to specify at least one of:

files corresponding to an operating system that are to be used when creating the customized boot disk image;

files provided by a software manufacturer that are to be used when creating the customized boot disk image;

files provided by an original equipment manufacturer that are to be used when creating the customized boot disk image;

commands that are to be executed when creating the customized boot disk image;

files corresponding to a single computer configuration that are to be used when creating the customized boot disk image;

files corresponding to a plurality of computer configurations that are to be used when creating the customized boot disk image.

10. A system for customizing boot disk images using prioritization, the system comprising:

a staging area configured to receive files for creating a customized boot disk image, wherein the staging area is configured such that later received files override previously received files of the same name;

a nested folder structure to which a prioritization order has been assigned, wherein the prioritization order specifies that higher-level folders within the nested folder structure are to be processed before lower-level folders within the nested folder structure;

a copy module programmed to copy a plurality of sets of files from the nested folder structure into the staging area based on the prioritization order assigned to the nested folder structure such that files copied from lower-level folders within the nested folder structure into the staging area override files of the same name that were previously copied from higher-level folders within the nested folder structure into the staging area;

a modification module programmed to execute a set of modification commands to perform at least one modification to the contents of the staging area;

a compile module programmed to compile the contents of the staging area to create the customized boot disk image;

memory and at least one processor configured to execute the copy module, the modification module, and the compile module.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of sets of files comprise at least one of:

a set of files corresponding to an operating system;

a set of files provided by a software manufacturer;

a set of files provided by an original equipment manufacturer;

a set of files provided by a user to perform user-customized functions;

a set of files corresponding to a single computer configuration;

a set of files corresponding to a plurality of computer configurations.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of:

the set of files provided by the software manufacturer are stored within the nested folder structure at a lower level than the set of files corresponding to the operating system;

the set of files provided by the original equipment manufacturer are stored within the nested folder structure at a lower level than the set of files provided by the software manufacturer;

the set of files provided by the user are stored within the nested folder structure at a lower level than the set of files provided by the original equipment manufacturer.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the copy module is programmed to copy the plurality of sets of files by copying the plurality of sets of files from at least one network location.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the staging area is located on a computer readable medium.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the prioritization order is provided by a user.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of modification commands comprises at least one of:

a set of default commands;

a set of user-provided commands.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of modification commands comprises a switch with a parameter located in a command section.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising a control module programmed to enable a user to specify at least one of:

files corresponding to an operating system that are to be used when creating the customized boot disk image;

files provided by a software manufacturer that are to be used when creating the customized boot disk image;

files provided by an original equipment manufacturer that are to be used when creating the customized boot disk image;

commands that are to be executed when creating the customized boot disk image;

files corresponding to a single computer configuration that are to be used when creating the customized boot disk image;

files corresponding to a plurality of computer configurations that are to be used when creating the customized boot disk image.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

provide a staging area configured to receive files for creating a customized boot disk image, wherein the staging area is configured such that later received files override previously received files of the same name;

provide a nested folder structure;

assign a prioritization order to the nested folder structure, wherein the prioritization order specifies that higher-level folders within the nested folder structure are to be processed before lower-level folders within the nested folder structure;

copy a plurality of sets of files from the nested folder structure into the staging area based on the prioritization order assigned to the nested folder structure such that files copied from lower-level folders within the nested folder structure into the staging area override files of the same name that were previously copied from higher-level folders within the nested folder structure into the staging area;

execute a set of modification commands to perform at least one modification to the contents of the staging area;

compile the contents of the staging area to create the customized boot disk image.