Methods, systems, and computer readable media for dynamically modifying and utilizing a software package description for software installation

• US 8,719,812 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Myers, Brandon, Vook, Eric, Kan, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, Jr., Lewis A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Tina
• Application Number:
  US12/165,001
• Time in Patent Office: 2,136 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for dynamically modifying and utilizing a software package description for software installation are disclosed. According to one method, a software package that includes a software description file is loaded on a hardware platform. The software description file is dynamically modified based on the software package and the hardware platform. The method also includes utilizing the modified software description file to install the software package on the hardware platform.

Claims

1. A method for installing a software package on a hardware platform, the method comprising:

loading a software package that includes a software description file on a hardware platform, wherein the software package includes a plurality of attribute information sections corresponding to a plurality of hardware platform types;

determining a hardware platform type from among the plurality of hardware platform types that is associated with the hardware platform;

dynamically modifying the software description file based on the software package and the hardware platform, wherein the software description file is modified by selecting an attribute information section that corresponds to the determined hardware platform type from the software package and appending the selected attribute information section to the software description file, and wherein appending the selected attribute information section includes appending a portion of variable platform description data and a portion of executable content data structure to the software description file, wherein each of the portions is associated with the determined hardware platform type; and

utilizing the modified software description file and the one of the plurality of appended attribute information section to install the software package on the hardware platform, wherein utilizing the modified software description file include comparing the modified description file to a preexisting software description file on the hardware platform to determine whether to perform at least one operational action during the installation process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the software description file includes a table of contents (TOC) file.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the software package includes a script file, an executable file, and the software description file.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one operational action includes at least one of:

rebooting the hardware platform;

disabling a cache memory on the hardware platform; and

downgrading software protection.

5. A system for installing a software package on a hardware platform, the system comprising:

a host server for storing at least one software package that includes a software description file;

a hardware platform for receiving the at least one software package; and

a software installer for loading the at least one software package on the hardware platform, wherein the software package includes a plurality of attribute information sections corresponding to a plurality of hardware platform types, determining a hardware platform type from among the plurality of hardware platform types that is associated with the hardware platform, dynamically modifying the software description file based on the software package and the hardware platform, wherein the software description file is modified by selecting an attribute information section that corresponds to the determined hardware platform type from the software package and appending the selected attribute information section to the software description file, wherein appending the selected attribute information section includes appending a portion of variable platform description data and a portion of executable content data structure to the software description file, wherein each of the portions is associated with the determined hardware platform type, and utilizing the modified software description file and the one of the plurality of appended attribute information section to install the software package on the hardware platform, wherein utilizing the modified software description file include comparing the modified description file to a preexisting software description file on the hardware platform to determine whether to perform at least one operational action during the installation process.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the software package includes a script file, an executable file, and the software description file.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one operational action includes at least one of:

rebooting the hardware platform;

disabling a cache memory on the hardware platform; and

downgrading software protection.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the software description file includes a table of contents (TOC) file.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the software installer includes a non-disruptive upgrade module.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer performs steps comprising:

loading a software package that includes a software description file on a hardware platform, wherein the software package includes a plurality of attribute information sections corresponding to a plurality of hardware platform types;

determining a hardware platform type from among the plurality of hardware platform types that is associated with the hardware platform;

dynamically modifying the software description file based on the software package and the hardware platform, wherein the software description file is modified by selecting an attribute information section that corresponds to the determined hardware platform type from the software package and appending the selected attribute information section to the software description file, and wherein appending the selected attribute information section includes appending a portion of variable platform description data and a portion of executable content data structure to the software description file, wherein each of the portions is associated with the determined hardware platform type; and

utilizing the modified software description file and the one of the plurality of appended attribute information section to install the software package on the hardware platform, wherein utilizing the modified software description file include comparing the modified description file to a preexisting software description file on the hardware platform to determine whether to perform at least one operational action during the installation process.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the at least one operational action includes at least one of:

rebooting the hardware platform;

disabling a cache memory on the hardware platform; and

downgrading software protection.