State-based provisioning of a client having a windows-based embedded image

• US 8,495,183 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Marketing Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wyse Technology Incorporated (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Tukol, Sanmati Bahubali, Prabhala, Mohan
• Primary Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US13/035,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20120197972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/220, 709/223, 709/230, 709/246
• US Class Current: 709/220
• 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: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• 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

Examples of methods and apparatus are provided for state-based provisioning of a local client having a windows-based embedded image. The apparatus may include a retrieval module of the local client that facilitates locating a remote repository server containing a configuration file and that facilitates obtaining the configuration file from the remote repository server. The apparatus may include a reset check module of the local client that determines whether to reset a previous state of the image based on the configuration file. The apparatus may include an apply settings module of the local client that applies, to the image, one of a first configuration change and a second configuration change based on the determination. The first configuration change may include a configuration update to the previous state of the image. The second configuration change may include a change to the image independent of the previous state of the image.

Claims

1. An apparatus for state-based provisioning of a local client having a windows-based embedded image, the apparatus comprising:

a retrieval module of the local client configured to facilitate locating a remote repository server containing a configuration file, the retrieval module configured to facilitate obtaining the configuration file from the remote repository server;

a reset check module of the local client configured to determine whether to reset a previous state of the windows-based embedded image based on the configuration file; and

an apply settings module of the local client configured to apply, to the windows-based embedded image, one of a first configuration change and a second configuration change based on the determination, the first configuration change comprising a configuration update to the previous state of the windows-based embedded image, the second configuration change comprising a change to the windows-based embedded image independent of the previous state of the windows-based embedded image,

wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications,

wherein, if the reset check module determines that the previous state is to be reset, the apply settings module is configured to apply a default configuration to the windows-based embedded image and to apply a configuration based on the configuration file to the windows-based embedded image after the default configuration is applied, wherein the second configuration change comprises the default configuration and the configuration, and

wherein, if the reset check module determines that the previous state is not to be reset, the apply settings module is configured to apply the configuration based on the configuration file, to the windows-based embedded image, while disallowing the default configuration from being applied to the windows-based embedded image, wherein the first configuration change comprises the configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the windows-based embedded image comprises a write-filter that prevents one or more changes applied to the windows-based embedded image with the write-filter enabled, from persisting across a reboot of the local client.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the retrieval module is configured to facilitate obtaining the configuration file from the repository server while the write-filter is enabled, while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the local client.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apply settings module is configured to apply one of the first configuration change and the second configuration change to the windows-based embedded image while the write-filter is enabled.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apply settings module is configured to, while the write-filter is enabled, facilitate saving the configuration file into a storage area that is to be retained on the local client across a reboot of the local client.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein after each reboot of the local client is initiated, the apply settings module is configured to automatically apply one of the first configuration change and the second configuration change to the windows-based embedded image to allow one of the first configuration change and the second configuration change to appear, to a user of the local client, to be persistent across a reboot of the local client.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein after each reboot of the local client is initiated, the retrieval module is configured to automatically facilitate locating a repository server containing a configuration file and facilitate obtaining a configuration file.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first configuration change and the second configuration change comprises one or more of the following:

a configuration change to a remote desktop connection, a configuration change to a device of the local client, or a configuration change to the operating system of the local client.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein after a reboot of the local client is initiated, the apply settings module is configured to automatically apply, without a user'"'"'s intervention, one of the first configuration change and the second configuration change based on the configuration file saved in a storage area that is retained on the local client across a reboot of the local client, to allow one of the first configuration change and the second configuration change to appear, to the user of the local client, to be persistent across a reboot of the local client.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration file comprises an XML configuration file.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retrieval module is configured to obtain address information of the repository server using at least one of a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) or a domain name system (DNS).

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retrieval module is configured to obtain address information of the repository server from a local registry of the local client.

13. A method for state-based provisioning of a local client having a windows-based embedded image, the method comprising:

facilitating locating a remote repository server containing a configuration file;

facilitating obtaining, at the local client, the configuration file from the remote repository server;

determining whether to reset a previous state of the windows-based embedded image based on the configuration file; and

applying, to the windows-based embedded image, one of a first configuration change and a second configuration change based on the determination, the first configuration change comprising a configuration update to the previous state of the windows-based embedded image, the second configuration change comprising a change to the windows-based embedded image independent of the previous state of the windows-based embedded image,

wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications,

wherein, if it is determined that the previous state of the windows-based embedded image is to be reset, applying a default configuration to the windows-based embedded image and applying a configuration based on the configuration file to the windows-based embedded image after the default configuration is applied, wherein the second configuration change comprises the default configuration and the configuration, and

wherein, if it is determined that the previous state of the windows-based embedded image is not to be reset, the applying the configuration based on the configuration file, to the windows-based embedded image, while disallowing the default configuration from being applied to the windows-based embedded image, wherein the first configuration change comprises the configuration.

14. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processing system to perform a method for state-based provisioning of a local client having a windows-based embedded image, the instructions comprising code for:

facilitating locating a remote repository server containing a configuration file;

facilitating obtaining, at the local client, the configuration file from the remote repository server;

determining whether to reset a previous state of the windows-based embedded image based on the configuration file; and

applying, to the windows-based embedded image, one of a first configuration change and a second configuration change based on the determination, the first configuration change comprising a configuration update to the previous state of the windows-based embedded image, the second configuration change comprising a change to the windows-based embedded image independent of the previous state of the windows-based embedded image,

wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications,

wherein, if it is determined that the previous state of the windows-based embedded image is to be reset, applying a default configuration to the windows-based embedded image and applying a configuration based on the configuration file to the windows-based embedded image after the default configuration is applied, wherein the second configuration change comprises the default configuration and the configuration, and

wherein, if it is determined that the previous state of the windows-based embedded image is not to be reset, the applying the configuration based on the configuration file, to the windows-based embedded image, while disallowing the default configuration from being applied to the windows-based embedded image, wherein the first configuration change comprises the configuration.

15. An apparatus for state-based provisioning of a local client having a windows-based embedded image, the apparatus comprising:

means for facilitating locating a remote repository server containing a configuration file;

means for facilitating obtaining, at the local client, the configuration file from the remote repository server;

means for determining whether to reset a previous state of the windows-based embedded image based on the configuration file; and

means for applying, to the windows-based embedded image, one of a first configuration change and a second configuration change based on the determination, the first configuration change comprising a configuration update to the previous state of the windows-based embedded image, the second configuration change comprising a change to the windows-based embedded image independent of the previous state of the windows-based embedded image,

wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications,

wherein, if it is determined that the previous state of the windows-based embedded image is to be reset, applying a default configuration to the windows-based embedded image and applying a configuration based on the configuration file to the windows-based embedded image after the default configuration is applied, wherein the second configuration change comprises the default configuration and the configuration, and

wherein, if it is determined that the previous state of the windows-based embedded image is not to be reset, the applying the configuration based on the configuration file, to the windows-based embedded image, while disallowing the default configuration from being applied to the windows-based embedded image, wherein the first configuration change comprises the configuration.