Importing software distributions in a software provisioning environment

• US 8,793,683 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: DeHaan, Michael Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORTIZ, DERIC OMAR
• Application Number:
  US12/200,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20100058330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

A provisioning server can import a software distribution and determine the type of distribution in order to integrate the software distribution in the software provisioning environment. The provisioning server can be configured to determine a type for the software distribution. Once determined, the provisioning server can be configured to locate a configuration template that matches the type of the software distribution. The configuration template can allow the generation of a configuration file that enables the software distribution to be incorporated into software provisioning processes, automatically. Once located, the provisioning server can be configured to generate a profile for the imported software distribution.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

importing a software distribution to be incorporated into a software provisioning process;

determining, by a provisioning server, a type of the software distribution in view of a plurality of components of the software distribution, wherein the type comprises a distributor of the software distribution or a creator of the software distribution;

determining a configuration template in view of the determined type of the software distribution, wherein the configuration template comprises information to perform software provisioning with the software distribution and facilitates incorporation of the software distribution into the software provisioning process;

generating a profile for the software distribution, wherein the profile associates the configuration template with the software distribution;

receiving a customized template in view of the configuration template and user input; and

generating an additional profile, associated with the customized template, for the software distribution.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein importing the software distribution comprises:

retrieving the software distribution or information about the software distribution from an external source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein importing the software distribution comprises:

receiving the software distribution or information about the software distribution from an external source.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a plurality of configuration templates for possible software distributions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the profile for use during software provisioning.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a record of the software distribution, wherein the record comprises an identification of the software distribution and details of the software distribution.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the software distribution comprises an operating system.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the provisioning server, a resource associated with a target machine;

determining, by the provisioning server, a function to be performed by the target machine based on the identified resource associated with the target machine; and

generating, by the provisioning server, a profile for a software distribution, wherein the profile associates the software distribution with the function to be performed by target machines utilizing the software distribution.

8. A system comprising:

a network interface to a network comprising a target system; and

a provisioning server to communicate with the network interface, the provisioning server to;

import a software distribution to be incorporated into a software provisioning process;

determine a type of software distribution in view of a plurality of components of the software distribution, wherein the type comprises a distributor of the software distribution or a creator of the software distribution;

determine a configuration template in view of the determined type of the software distribution, wherein the configuration template comprises information to perform software provisioning with the software distribution and facilitates incorporation of the software distribution into the software provisioning process;

generate a profile for the software distribution, wherein the profile associates the configuration template with the software distribution;

receive a customized template in view of the configuration template and user input; and

generate an additional profile, associated with the customized template, for the software distribution.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein importing the software distribution comprises:

retrieving the software distribution or information about the software distribution from an external source.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein importing the software distribution comprises:

receiving the software distribution or information about the software distribution from an external source.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the provisioning server is further to:

maintain a plurality of configuration templates for possible software distributions.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the provisioning server is further to:

store the profile for use during software provisioning.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the provisioning server is further to:

generate a record of the software distribution, wherein the record comprises an identification of the software distribution and details of the software distribution.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one software distribution comprises an operating system.

23. The system of claim 8, the provisioning server being further to:

identify a resource associated with the target machine;

determine a function to be performed by the target machine based on the identified resource associated with the target machine; and

generate a profile for a software distribution, wherein the profile associates the software distribution with the function to be performed by target machines utilizing the software distribution.

15. A provisioning application, the provisioning application being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising instructions to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

importing a software distribution to be incorporated into a software provisioning process;

determining, by the processor, a type of the software distribution in view of a plurality of components of the software distribution;

determining a configuration template in view of the determined type of the software distribution, wherein the configuration template comprises information to perform software provisioning with the software distribution and facilitates incorporation of the software distribution into the software provisioning process;

generating a profile for the software distribution, wherein the profile associates the configuration template with the software distribution;

receiving a customized template in view of the configuration template and user input; and

generating an additional profile, associated with the customized template, for the software distribution.

16. The provisioning application of claim 15, wherein importing the software distribution comprises:

retrieving the software distribution or information about the software distribution from an external source.

17. The provisioning application of claim 15, wherein importing the software distribution comprises:

receiving the software distribution or information about the software distribution from an external source.

18. The provisioning application of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

maintaining a plurality of configuration templates for possible software distributions.

19. The provisioning application of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

storing the profile to use during software provisioning.

20. The provisioning application of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

generating a record of the software distribution, wherein the record comprises an identification of the software distribution and details of the software distribution.

21. The provisioning application of claim 15, wherein the software distribution comprises an operating system.

24. The provisioning application of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

identify a resource associated with a target machine;

determine a function to be performed by the target machine based on the identified resource associated with the target machine; and

generate a profile for a software distribution, wherein the profile associates the software distribution with the function to be performed by target machines utilizing the software distribution.