Method and system for processing functionality of a configuration manager computer association tool to an operating system deployment computer association process

• US 9,336,009 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Inventors: Feeser, Colin Lee, Gilbert, Robert Moore, Paul, Richard A. Jr., Cahoon, Robert Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Prifti, Aurel
• Application Number:
  US13/454,904
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 713/1, 709/222, 709/223, 717/174, 455/419
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relates to processing functionality of a Configuration Manager Computer Association Tool (CMCA) to an Operating System Deployment (OSD) computer association process. The disclosure includes processing the Operating System Deployment (OSD) functionality of a Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to configure a server, wherein the OSD causes the server to a Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE Boot). The SCCM may be launched for the PXE boot process to be associated with the server and configure the SCCM to associate with a specific OSD Task Sequence. Boot from a Network Interface Card (NIC) that has an associated MAC address, using the PXE, wherein the PXE boot process then hands the operation over to the designated OSD Task Sequencer (TS) which handles the configuration process according to at least one variable.

Claims

1. A method for processing functionality of a Configuration Manager Computer Association Tool (CMCA) to an Operating System Deployment (OSD) computer association process, the method comprising:

processing the Operating System Deployment (OSD) functionality of a System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to configure a server, wherein the OSD causes the server to a Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE Boot), wherein the PXE Boot associates a Media Address Control (MAC) address with at least one of a Systems Management Server Unique Identifier and a Resource ID;

launching the SCCM for the PXE boot process to be associated with the server;

configuring the SCCM to associate with a specific OSD Task Sequence;

booting from a Network Interface Card (NIC) that has an associated MAC address, using the PXE, wherein the PXE boot process then hands the operation over to the designated OSD Task Sequencer (TS) which handles the configuration process according to at least one variable;

partitioning and formatting at least a drive based on at least one selected Task Sequencer (TS) variable; and

installing an operating system as designated by the at least one selected Task Sequencer (TS) variable.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the Configuration Manager Computer Association Tool (CMCA) activates a computer CMCA to a PXE boot using a Deployment Service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein once the computer PXE boots, OSD connects to a sequence of pre-configured tasks to run.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-configured task is configured in the SCCM OSD section.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the TS further runs a chained process based upon selected TS variables during the association process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the OSD requires the Deployment Service to be running in order for the PXE boot process to work.

7. The method of claim 1, combination of the SCCM may be established in order for the PXE boot process to be associated with a particular machine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the OSD functionality of the SCCM includes configuring the server from the Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE Boot), further including associating a computer name, the Media Access Address (MAC) and the at least on variables that identifies a processes to run in the Task Sequencer (TS).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the SCCM includes associating with a specific advertised OSD Task Sequence including the associated computer name, the MAC address, and the Task Sequence variable with the OSD.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the advertised OSD TS is associated with the MAC address, the boot process may be handed off to a Windows Pre-installation Environment (Windows PE) operating system to boot up the machine.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the SCCM OSD may cause the server to PXE boot and run through the TS following a path set by a passed variable.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the Configuration Manager Computer Association Tool (CMCA) is a utility that can be used to manage a computer association tasks for the System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) Operating System Deployment (OSD) Task Sequencer (TS).

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the CMCA surrounds the SCCM OSD and provides a pre processor graphical user interface.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the Media Access Address (MAC) address with a Systems Management Server (SMS) Unique Identifier and a Resource ID in the assigned Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE Boot) System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM).

15. The method of claim 1, wherein using the TS a user can configure every type of computer as desired and cause a process to branch by passing variables.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein using an application programming interface and windows management instrumentation where the user can import any information directly into the SCCM.

17. An apparatus to process functionality of a Configuration Manager Computer Association Tool (CMCA) to an Operating System Deployment (OSD) computer association process, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

process the Operating System Deployment (OSD) functionality of a System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to configure a server, wherein the OSD causes the server to a Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE Boot), wherein the PXE Boot associates a Media Address Control (MAC) address with at least one of a Systems Management Server Unique Identifier and a Resource ID;

launch the SCCM for the PXE boot process to be associated with the server;

configure the SCCM to associate with a specific OSD Task Sequence;

boot from a Network Interface Card (NIC) that has an associated MAC address, using the PXE, wherein the PXE boot process then hands the operation over to the designated OSD Task Sequencer (TS) which handles the configuration process according to at least one variable;

partition and format at least a drive based on at least one selected Task Sequencer (TS) variable;

install an operating system as designated by the at least one selected Task Sequencer (TS) variable; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the Configuration Manager Computer Association Tool (CMCA) activates a computer CMCA to a PXE boot using a Deployment Service.

19. A non-transitory computer-program product for functionality of a Configuration Manager Computer Association Tool (CMCA) to an Operating System Deployment (OSD) computer association process, the computer-program product comprising:

processing the Operating System Deployment (OSD) functionality of a System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to configure a server, wherein the OSD causes the server to a Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE Boot), wherein the PXE Boot associates a Media Address Control (MAC) address with at least one of a Systems Management Server Unique Identifier and a Resource ID;

launching the SCCM for the PXE boot process to be associated with the server;

configuring the SCCM to associate with a specific OSD Task Sequence;

booting from a Network Interface Card (NIC) that has an associated MAC address, using the PXE, wherein the PXE boot process then hands the operation over to the designated OSD Task Sequencer (TS) which handles the configuration process according to at least one variable;

partitioning and formatting at least a drive based on at least one selected Task Sequencer (TS) variable; and

installing an operating system as designated by the at least one selected Task Sequencer (TS) variable.

20. The non-transitory computer-program product of claim 19, wherein the Configuration Manager Computer Association Tool (CMCA) activates a computer CMCA to a PXE boot using a Deployment Service.