Using task sequences to manage devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- causing deployment of a full operating system to multiple target devices by;
causing download of a deployment agent loader to each of the multiple target devices, the deployment agent loader configured to gather information regarding hardware components of each respective target device when executed at each respective target device;
receiving the information regarding the hardware components of each respective target device from the deployment agent loader;
dynamically generating a deployment agent that is designed for each respective target device based on the information regarding the hardware components of each respective target device, the deployment agent dynamically generated to include one or more device drivers that are configured to control one or more of the hardware components of each respective target device when executed at the respective target device;
causing download of the deployment agent to each of the multiple target devices;
causing download of the full operating system to each of the multiple target devices; and
transmitting a command to each respective target device to cause the deployment agent to reboot the respective target device into the full operating system, the causing download of the deployment agent to the multiple target devices performed asynchronously, and the causing download of the full operating system to the multiple target devices performed concurrently, wherein an amount of data transferred to each of the multiple target devices concurrently to cause download of the full operating system is larger than an amount of data transferred to each of the multiple target devices asynchronously to cause download of the deployment agent.
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Abstract
Task sequences are used to manage devices. According to one aspect, a user-defined or user-selected task sequence is received. The task sequence is converted into an ordered series of steps, and the series of steps are performed, in accordance with their order, in managing a device over a network. In certain implementations, the ordered series of steps are steps for automatically deploying an operating system on the device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
causing deployment of a full operating system to multiple target devices by; causing download of a deployment agent loader to each of the multiple target devices, the deployment agent loader configured to gather information regarding hardware components of each respective target device when executed at each respective target device; receiving the information regarding the hardware components of each respective target device from the deployment agent loader; dynamically generating a deployment agent that is designed for each respective target device based on the information regarding the hardware components of each respective target device, the deployment agent dynamically generated to include one or more device drivers that are configured to control one or more of the hardware components of each respective target device when executed at the respective target device; causing download of the deployment agent to each of the multiple target devices; causing download of the full operating system to each of the multiple target devices; and transmitting a command to each respective target device to cause the deployment agent to reboot the respective target device into the full operating system, the causing download of the deployment agent to the multiple target devices performed asynchronously, and the causing download of the full operating system to the multiple target devices performed concurrently, wherein an amount of data transferred to each of the multiple target devices concurrently to cause download of the full operating system is larger than an amount of data transferred to each of the multiple target devices asynchronously to cause download of the deployment agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. One or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, perform a method comprising:
causing deployment of a full operating system to multiple target devices by; dynamically building a deployment agent that is designed for each respective target device based on information regarding hardware components of the respective target device, the deployment agent including one or more device drivers that are configured to control one or more of the hardware components of the respective target device when executed at the respective target device; causing download of the deployment agent to each of the multiple target devices asynchronously; causing download of the full operating system to each of the multiple target devices at least partially concurrently; and transmitting a command to each of the multiple target devices to cause the deployment agent to reboot each respective target device into the full operating system, wherein an amount of data transferred to each of the multiple target devices concurrently to cause download of the full operating system is larger than an amount of data transferred to each of the multiple target devices asynchronously to cause download of the deployment agent. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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a processor; and one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform a method of causing deployment of a full operating system to multiple devices, the method comprising; determining a hardware configuration of each of the multiple devices; causing download of a deployment agent to each of the multiple devices asynchronously, the deployment agent comprising a temporary operating system that is designed for the hardware configuration of each of the multiple devices and includes one or more device drivers that are configured to control hardware components on the multiple devices that can be used to cause deployment of the full operating system on each of the multiple devices; causing download of the full operating system to each of the multiple devices concurrently by causing copying of an operating system image file to each of the multiple devices; and transmitting a command to each of the multiple devices to cause each of the multiple devices to reboot into the full operating system, wherein an amount of data transferred to each of the multiple target devices concurrently to cause download of the full operating system is larger than an amount of data transferred to each of the multiple target devices asynchronously to cause download of the deployment agent. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification