System and method for server customization

• US 8,327,347 B1
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Inventors: Feeser, Colin, Spreha, Craig A
• Primary Examiner(s): Das, Chameli
• Application Number:
  US12/832,297
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44578 Preparing or optimising for loading
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A method, system and program product for customization of a plurality of servers in a computer network. A server customizer module is generated that includes a server customizer initialization file containing a plurality of arguments for populating and running a plurality of standardized applications, scripts and utilities on each server. The server customizer module is installed on each of the plurality of servers for subsequent execution as part of the server build/customization process. A server unattended install launch module, cooperative with the server customizer module is generated that includes an unattended install launch initialization file for launching a plurality of standardized processes on each server. The server unattended install launch module is installed on each of the plurality of servers for subsequent execution as part of the server build/customization process. The server customizer module and server unattended install launch module are executed on each of the plurality of servers to complete customization of each server.

Claims

1. A method for customization of a plurality of servers in a computer network comprising the steps of:

generating a server customizer module including a server customizer initialization file containing a plurality of arguments for populating and running a plurality of standardized applications, scripts and utilities on each server;

installing the server customizer module on each of the plurality of servers;

receiving a plurality of initialization file inputs from the user;

generating a server unattended install launch module including an unattended install launch initialization file for launching a plurality of standardized processes on each server, wherein the unattended install launch initialization file is generated from the plurality of initialization file inputs;

installing the server unattended install launch module on each of the plurality of servers; and

executing the server customizer module and server unattended install launch module on each of the plurality of servers to complete customization of each server.

2. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 1 wherein execution of the server unattended install launch module is launched from the server customizer module.

3. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 1 wherein execution of the server unattended install launch module is performed independently of the server customizer module.

4. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 1 wherein the server customizer initialization file comprises a functional section and an application settings section.

5. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 4 wherein the functional section comprises at least one of a build section, a customize section, an install section, and an utilities section.

6. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 1 further comprising generating a user interface for the server customizer module.

7. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 6 wherein the user interface for the server customizer module comprises a plurality of tabs that are created by the server initialization file.

8. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 7 wherein each tab comprises a plurality of selectable functions, with each selectable function including a set of keys that provide a value for a name, a location, a plurality of arguments, and a log file associated with the selectable function.

9. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 8 wherein the set of keys further provides a value for an update path associated with the selectable function.

10. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 8 wherein the set of keys further comprises a key that instructs the server customizer module on an action to take upon completion of a launched process.

11. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 10 wherein the action to take is selected from the group comprising a reboot of the server, a prompt to reboot the server, a prompt to rename the server, a prompt to join a domain, and a deletion of a specified file.

12. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 1 wherein the server customizer module further comprises a domain list and a plurality of application settings.

13. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 12 wherein the domain list includes each domain that is managed by the server customizer module.

14. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 12 wherein the plurality of application settings includes identification of a central network location storing a most current version of the server customizer module and initialization files, the server customizer module and server customer initialization file being automatically updated from the corresponding centrally stored versions.

15. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 1 wherein the server unattended install launch module comprises a functional section including a plurality of functions, each function representing a specific process;

and an application settings section.

16. The method for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 15 wherein the plurality of processes launched by the server unattended launch module on each server includes at least one of a registry configuration;

a keyword substitution;

a file execution;

an executable file installation;

a local file update with a centrally maintained file;

a server reboot;

a customization service start, stop and restart;

a share file creation;

a share file deletion; and

an addition or removal of a local identifier or group from the server.

17. A non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers in a computer network comprising computer readable hardware having computer readable code embedded therein, the computer readable hardware comprising:

program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor generate a server customizer module including a server customizer initialization file containing a plurality of arguments for populating and running a plurality of standardized applications, scripts and utilities on each server;

program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor install the server customizer module on each of the plurality of servers;

program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor receive a plurality of initialization file inputs from the user;

program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor generate a server unattended install launch module including an unattended install launch initialization file for launching a plurality of standardized processes on each server, wherein the unattended install launch initialization file is generated from the plurality of initialization file inputs;

program instructions, when executed by the at least one processor that install the server unattended install launch module on each of the plurality of servers; and

program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor execute the server customizer module and server unattended install launch module on each of the plurality of servers to complete customization of each server.

18. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 17 wherein the program instructions that generate a server customizer module comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor launch the server unattended install launch module.

19. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 17 wherein the program instructions that generate the server customizer initialization file comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor generate a functional section and an application settings section.

20. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 19 wherein the program instructions that generate a functional section include program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor define at least one of a build section, a customize section, an install section and an utilities section.

21. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 17 further comprising program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor generate a user interface for the server customizer module.

22. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 21 wherein the program instructions that generate a server customizer initialization file comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor define a plurality of tabs on the user interface.

23. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 22 wherein the program instructions that define each tab comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor create a plurality of selectable functions, with each selectable function including a set of keys that provide a value for a name, a location, a plurality of arguments, and a log file associated with the selectable function.

24. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 23 wherein the set of keys further provides a value for an update path associated with the selectable function.

25. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 23 wherein the set of keys further comprises a key that instructs the server customizer module on an action to take upon completion of a launched process.

26. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 25 wherein the action to take is selected from the group comprising a reboot of the server, a prompt to reboot the server, a prompt to rename the server, a prompt to join a domain, and a deletion of a specified file.

27. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 17 wherein the program instructions that generate the server customizer module further comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor generate a domain list and a plurality of application settings.

28. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 27 wherein the domain list includes each domain that is managed by the server customizer module.

29. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 27 wherein the program instructions that generate the plurality of application settings include program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor identify a central network location storing a most current version of the program instructions for the server customizer module and initialization files, the program instructions for the server customizer module and server customer initialization file being automatically updated from the corresponding centrally stored versions.

30. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 17 wherein the program instructions that generate the server unattended install launch module comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor generate a functional section including a plurality of functions, each function representing a specific process;

and an application settings section.

31. The non-transitory computer program product for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 30 wherein the plurality of processes launched by the program instructions that generate the server unattended launch module on each server include at least one of a registry configuration;

a keyword substitution;

a file execution;

an executable file installation;

a local file update with a centrally maintained file;

a server reboot;

a customization service start, stop and restart;

a share file creation;

a share file deletion; and

an addition or removal of a local identifier or group from the server.

32. A system for customization of a plurality of servers in a computer network, the system comprising:

the plurality of servers including processors;

a server unattended install launch module including an unattended install launch initialization file for launching a plurality of standardized processes on each server, the unattended install launch initialization file is generated from a plurality of initialization file inputs received from a user;

a server customizer module, cooperative with the server unattended install launch module, including a server customizer initialization file containing a plurality of arguments for populating and running a plurality of standardized applications, scripts and utilities on each server; and

a server customizer module user interface including a plurality of tabs that are generated by the server customizer initialization file, wherein each tab includes a plurality of selectable functions.

33. The system for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 32 wherein the server customizer initialization file comprises a functional section and an application setting section.

34. The system for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 33 wherein the functional section of the server customizer initialization file comprises at least one of a build section, a customize section, an install section, and an utilities section.

35. The system for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 32 wherein each selectable function includes a set of keys that provide a value for a name, a location, a plurality of arguments, and a log file associated with the selectable function.

36. The system for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 35 wherein the set of keys further provides a value for an update path associated with the selectable function.

37. The system for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 36 wherein the action to take is selected from the group comprising a reboot of the server, a prompt to reboot the server, a prompt to rename the server, a prompt to join a domain, and a deletion of a specified file.

38. The system for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 35 wherein the set of keys further comprises a key that instructs the server customizer module on an action to take upon completion of a launched process.

39. The system for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 32 wherein the server customizer module further comprises a domain list and a plurality of application settings.

40. The system for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 39 wherein the domain list includes each domain that is managed by the server customizer module.

41. The system for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 39 wherein the plurality of application settings includes identification of a central network location storing a most current version of the server customizer module and initialization files, the server customizer module and server customer initialization file being automatically updated from the corresponding centrally stored versions.

42. The system for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 32 wherein the server unattended install launch module comprises a functional section including a plurality of functions, each function representing a specific process;

and an application settings section.

43. The system for customization of a plurality of servers of claim 32 wherein the plurality of processes launched by the server unattended launch module on each server includes at least one of a registry configuration;

a keyword substitution;

a file execution;

an executable file installation;

a local file update with a centrally maintained file;

a server reboot;

a customization service start, stop and restart;

a share file creation;

a share file deletion; and

an addition or removal of a local identifier or group from the server.