System and method for server customization

• US 8,621,455 B1
• Filed: 11/26/2012
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• 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:
  US13/684,942
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/175
• 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

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, comprising:

installing a server customizer module on at least one server, the server customizer module comprising a server customizer initialization file comprising a plurality of arguments to populate and run a plurality of standardized applications, scripts, and utilities on the at least one server;

receiving a plurality of initialization file inputs;

installing a server unattended install launch module on at least one server, the server unattended install launch module comprising an unattended install launch initialization file to launch a plurality of standardized processes on the at least one server, wherein the unattended install launch initialization file is generated from the plurality of initialization file inputs; and

executing the server customizer module and the server unattended install launch module on the at least one server;

wherein the execution of the server unattended install launch module is launched from the server customizer module

wherein the server unattended install launch module comprises a functional section comprising a plurality of functions, each function representing a specific process, and an application settings section.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the execution of the server unattended install launch module is performed independently of the server customizer module.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the server customizer initialization file comprises a functional section and an application settings section.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the functional section comprises at least one of a build section, a customize section, an install section, and a utilities section.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the server customizer module further comprises a user interface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the users interface for the server customizer module comprises a plurality of tabs that are created by the server initialization file.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each tab comprises a plurality of selectable functions, with each selectable function comprising 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.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the set of keys further provides a value for an update path associated with the selectable function.

9. The method of claim 7, 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.

10. The method of claim 9, 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.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the server customizer module further comprises a domain list and a plurality of application settings.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the domain list comprises each domain that is managed by the server customizer module.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein

the plurality of application settings comprises identification of a central network location storing a most current version of the server customizer module and initialization files, and

the server customizer module and server customer initialization file are automatically updated from the corresponding centrally stored versions.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of processes launched by the server unattended launch module on the at least one server comprise 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.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause the at least one processor to:

install a server customizer module on at least one server, the server customizer module comprising a server customizer initialization file comprising a plurality of arguments to populate and run a plurality of standardized applications, scripts, and utilities on the at least one server;

receive a plurality of initialization file inputs;

install a server unattended install launch module on the at least one server, the server unattended install launch module comprising an unattended install launch initialization file to launch a plurality of standardized processes on the at least one server, wherein the unattended install launch initialization file is generated from the plurality of initialization file inputs; and

execute the server customizer module and the server unattended install launch module on the at least one server;

wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one processor to launch the server unattended install launch module from the server customizer module;

wherein the server unattended install launch module comprises a functional section comprising a plurality of functions, each function representing a specific process, and an application settings section.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one processor to generate a functional section and an application settings section.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the functional section comprises at least one of a build section, a customize section, an install section and a utilities section.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the least one processor to generate a user interface for the server customizer module.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the users interface comprises a plurality of tabs on the user interface.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein each tab comprises a plurality of selectable functions, with each selectable function comprising 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.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the set of keys further provides a value for an update path associated with the selectable function.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, 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.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, 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.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the server customizer module further comprises a domain list and a plurality of application settings.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the domain list comprises each domain that is managed by the server customizer module.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein

the plurality of application settings identifies a central network location storing a most current version of the program instructions for the server customizer module and initialization files, and

the computer program instructions are further configured to cause the server customizer module and server customer initialization file to automatically be updated from the corresponding centrally stored versions.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the server unattended launch module on the at least one server comprises 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.

28. A system, comprising:

a plurality of servers comprising processors;

a server unattended install launch module comprising an unattended install launch initialization file to launch a plurality of standardized processes on each server, the unattended install launch initialization file generated from a plurality of initialization file inputs; and

a server customizer module, cooperative with the server unattended install launch module, comprising a server customizer initialization file comprising a plurality of arguments to populate and run a plurality of standardized applications, scripts, and utilities on each server;

wherein the execution of the server unattended install launch module is launched from the server customizer module

wherein the server unattended install launch module comprises a functional section comprising a plurality of functions, each function representing a specific process, and an application settings section.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the server customizer initialization file comprises a functional section and an application setting section.

30. The system of claim 29, 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 a utilities section.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein each selectable function comprises 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.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the set of keys further provides a value for an update path associated with the selectable function.

33. The system of claim 32, 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.

34. The system of claim 31, 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.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the server customizer module further comprises a domain list and a plurality of application settings.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the domain list comprises each domain that is managed by the server customizer module.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein

the plurality of application settings comprises identification of a central network location storing a most current version of the server customizer module and initialization files, and

the server customizer module and server customer initialization file are automatically updated from the corresponding centrally stored versions.

38. The system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of processes launched by the server unattended launch module on each server comprises 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.