Method and apparatus to customize and configure multiple operating systems on a server

• US 8,898,659 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Dandekar, Shree A., Beelitz, Alan E., Goodwin, Tad S., Maia, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen, Li B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Hang
• Application Number:
  US11/562,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,926 Days
• Field of Search: 717/174
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded

Abstract

A fixed image factory installation system which enables installation and launching of additional partitions or volumes. The fixed image factory installation system further enables customization and configuration of additional operating systems with corresponding drivers and software applications stack. The additional partitions can be hidden and do not require a visible descriptor.

Claims

1. A fixed image factory installation system for installing a fixed image onto an information handling system comprising:

a computer system comprising at least one processor;

an operating system installation module, the operating system installation module executing on the computer system and installing an operating system onto the information handling system;

a fully integrated system test (FIST) module executing on the computer system, the FIST module starting the information handling system after the operating system is installed and installing drivers and applications for the installed operating system;

an additional operating system installation module executing on the computer system, the additional operating system installation module installing an additional operating system onto an additional partition of the information handling system when a multiple operating system indication is set; and

,

an additional FIST module executing on the computer system, the additional FIST module comprising code to trigger an additional FIST process, the additional FIST module accessing the additional partition of the information handling system after the additional operating system is installed and installing drivers and applications for the installed additional operating system; and

wherein

the additional FIST module tracks driver installation instructions to the additional partition and omits installing drivers which do not need to be enabled on the additional partition;

the additional operating system installation module includes a cleanup module, the cleanup module removing unneeded driver folders and registries from the additional partition after successful installation of drivers and applications; and

,

the additional FIST module includes a debug failure mode, the debug failure mode enabling booting into the additional partition to perform root cause analysis on failures.

2. The fixed image factory installation system of claim 1 wherein:

the additional partition is hidden and does not require a visible descriptor.

3. The fixed image factory installation system of claim 1 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a MediaDirect operating system.

4. The fixed image factory installation system of claim 1 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a customized and configured version of a new operating system and the operating system is an established operating system.

5. The fixed image factory installation system of claim 1 wherein:

the additional FIST module starts a windows based installation process and qualifies results of the installation of the additional operating system.

6. A method for installing a fixed image onto an information handling system comprising:

installing an operating system onto the information handling system;

starting the information handling system after the operating system is installed and installing drivers and applications for the installed operating system via a fully integrated system test (FIST) module;

determining whether a multiple operating system indication is set;

installing an additional operating system onto an additional partition of the information handling system when the multiple operating system indication is set; and

,

accessing the additional partition of the information handling system after the additional operating system is installed via an additional FIST module the additional FIST module comprising code to trigger an additional FIST process; and

,

installing drivers and applications for the installed additional operating system via the additional FIST module; and

wherein

the additional FIST module tracks driver installation instructions to the additional partition and omits installing drivers which do not need to be enabled on the additional partition;

installing the additional operating system includes removing unneeded driver folders and registries from the additional partition after successful installation of drivers and applications;

the additional FIST module includes a debug failure mode, the debug failure mode enabling booting into the additional partition to perform root cause analysis on failures.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the additional partition is hidden and does not require a visible descriptor.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a MediaDirect operating system.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a customized and configured version of a new operating system and the operating system is an established operating system.

10. The method claim 6 wherein:

the additional FIST module starts a windows based installation process and qualifies results of the installation of the additional operating system.

11. An apparatus for installing a fixed image onto an information handling system comprising:

means for installing an operating system onto the information handling system;

means for starting the information handling system after the operating system is installed and installing drivers and applications for the installed operating system;

means for determining whether a multiple operating system indication is set;

means for installing an additional operating system onto an additional partition of the information handling system when the multiple operating system indication is set; and

,

means for accessing the additional partition of the information handling system after the additional operating system is installed; and

,

means for installing drivers and applications for the installed additional operating system; and

wherein

the additional FIST module tracks driver installation instructions to the additional partition and omits installing drivers which do not need to be enabled on the additional partition;

the means for installing the additional operating system includes means for removing unneeded driver folders and registries from the additional partition after successful installation of drivers and applications;

the means for installing drivers and applications on the additional operating system includes means for enabling a debug failure mode, the debug failure mode enabling booting into the additional partition to perform root cause analysis on failures.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the additional partition is hidden and does not require a visible descriptor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a MediaDirect operating system.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the additional operating system includes a customized and configured version of a new operating system and the operating system is an established operating system.

15. The apparatus claim 11 wherein:

the means for installing drivers and applications for the installed additional operating system starts a windows based installation process and qualifies results of the installation of the additional operating system.