Generating client qualification to execute package update manager

• US 9,367,302 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Vidal, Seth Kelby, Antill, James
• Primary Examiner(s): TECKLU, ISAAC TUKU
• Application Number:
  US12/788,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20110296395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,210 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3466 Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44589 Program code verification, e.g. Java bytecode verification, proof-carrying code high-level semantic checks G06F8/43; testing and debugging software G06F11/36

Abstract

A compatibility tool can certify compliance between software packages managers, used by or known to a user, and software packages to be updated or installed on a computing system. Additionally, the compatibility tool can identify a software package manager that is compatible with the software packages to be updated or installed, if the user does not have or know of a compatible software package manager. To certify software package managers or identify compatible software package managers, the compatibility tool can maintain a database of software package managers associated with software packages that are compatible with the software package managers.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to certify compatibility of a first software package manager with a software package to be installed on a computing system;

certifying, by a processor, that the first software package manager is not compatible with the software package in view of the request by executing at least one of logic, commands, instructions or protocols to facilitate;

accessing a compatibility database in which software packages are mapped to software repositories and corresponding compatible software package managers; and

determining that a format of the software package is not compatible with one or more formats of a first software repository to which the first software package manager corresponds, wherein the first software repository is available over a network;

identifying, by the processor, a second software package manager that is compatible with the software package when the first software package manager is certified as not compatible with the software package, wherein identifying comprises;

extracting, from the compatibility database, a plurality of software packages associated with the second software manager;

comparing names and formats of the plurality of software packages, after extraction, with those of the software package; and

verifying the software package matches one of the plurality of software packages; and

sending, to the computing system, a notification indicating that the second software package manager is compatible with the software package and identifying a second software repository from which to download the second software manager.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a request, through a user interface, to certify compatibility of the first software package manager with the software update package; and

receiving, through the user interface, an identification of the first software package manager.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the software package by receiving an identification of the software package through a user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the second software package manager is compatible with the software package by searching a database to identify software packages that are compatible with the second software package manager.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing a location of the second software repository from which to retrieve the second software package manager.

6. The method of claim 5, the method further comprising:

providing the second software package manager through a user interface.

7. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing the processor to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A method comprising:

identifying, by a processor, a plurality of software package managers located on different software repositories that are compatible with a software package to be installed on a computing system;

receiving a request to certify compatibility of a first software package manager with the software package;

certifying, by the processor, that the first software package manager is not compatible with the software package in view of the request by executing at least one of logic, commands, instructions or protocols to facilitate;

accessing a compatibility database in which software packages are mapped to software repositories and corresponding compatible software package managers; and

determining that a format of the software package is not compatible with one or more formats of a first software repository to which the first software package manager corresponds, wherein the first software repository is available over a network;

identifying, by the processor, a second software package manager that is compatible with the software package when the first software package manager is certified as not compatible with the software package, wherein identifying comprises;

extracting, from the compatibility database, a plurality of software packages associated with the second software manager;

comparing names and formats of the plurality of software packages, after extraction, with those of the software package; and

verifying the software package matches one of the plurality of software packages; and

sending, to the computing system, a notification indicating that the second software package manager is compatible with the software package and identifying a second software repository from which to download the second software manager.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising identifying the software package by receiving an identification of the software package through a user interface.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying the software package comprises:

searching a computer readable storage medium of the computing system to identify the software package.

11. The method of claim 8, the method further comprising:

receiving a request, through a user interface, to certify compatibility of the software package manager with the software package; and

providing, through the user interface, a location of the second software repository from which to retrieve the second software package manager.

12. The method of claim 8, the method further comprising providing the second software package manager through a user interface.

13. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing the processor to perform the method of claim 8.

14. A system comprising:

a network interface; and

a processor operatively coupled to communicate with the network interface, the processor to execute at least one of logic, commands, instructions or protocols to;

receive a request to certify compatibility of a first software package manager with a software package to be installed on a computing device,

certify that the first software package manager is not compatible with the software package in view of the request by;

accessing a compatibility database in which software packages are mapped to software repositories and corresponding compatible software package managers; and

determining that a format of the software package is not compatible with one or more formats of a first software repository to which the first software package manager corresponds, wherein the first software repository is available over a network,

identify a second software package manager that is compatible with the software package when the first software package manager is certified as not compatible with the software package, wherein to identify comprises to;

extract, from the compatibility database, a plurality of software packages associated with the second software manager;

compare names and formats of the plurality of software packages, after extraction, with those of the software package; and

verify the software package matches one of the plurality of software packages, and

send, to the computing device, a notification indicating that the second software package manager is compatible with the software package and identifying a second software repository from which to download the second software manager.

15. The system of claim 14, the system further comprising a storage device in which to store the compatibility database, and the processor further to search the compatibility database to identify software packages that are compatible with the second software package manager.

16. A computing system comprising:

a network interface; and

a processor operatively coupled to communicate with the network interface, the processor to execute at least one of logic, commands, instructions or protocols to;

identify a plurality of software package managers located on different software repositories that are compatible with a software package to be installed on a computing system,

receive a request to certify compatibility of a first software package manager with the software package,

certify that the first software package manager is not compatible with the software package in view of the request by;

accessing a compatibility database in which software packages are mapped to software repositories and corresponding compatible software package managers; and

determine that a format of the software package is not compatible with one or more formats of a first software repository to which the first software package manager corresponds, wherein the first software repository is available over a network;

identify a second software package manager that is compatible with the software package when the first software package manager is certified as not compatible with the software package, wherein to identify comprises to;

extract, from the compatibility database, a plurality of software packages associated with the second software manager;

compare names and formats of the plurality of software packages, after extraction, with those of the software package; and

verify the software package matches one of the plurality of software packages; and

send, to the computing system, a notification indicating that the second software package manager is compatible with the software package and identifying a second software repository from which to download the second software manager.

17. The computing system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further to:

receive a request, through a user interface, to identify software package managers that are compatible with the software package, and

search, via the network interface, a computer readable storage medium of the computing system to identify the software package.

18. The computing system of claim 16, further comprising a storage device in which to store the compatibility database, and the processor further to search the compatibility database to determine the second software package manager that is compatible with the software package.