System and method for expediting and automating mainframe computer setup

• US 20040068722A1
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frametech LLC (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: Infinity Systems Software Incorporated (Converge Technology Solutions Corp.)
• Inventors: Malitz, Robert, Wojtukiewicz, Michael, Amodio, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The present invention preferably automates mainframe computer operating system upgrades by automatically installing a base operating system on the mainframe system, performing information-gathering of an existing mainframe computer system, using the information to recreate the environment settings of the existing system, and providing a series of directives typically required of a skilled mainframe computer systems programmer for an IPL. By preparing a mainframe computer system to automatically perform an IPL, and, thereafter, automating a series of configuration process to install optional products, the present invention decreases the amount of time and operator skill-level requirements for prior art mainframe computer operating system upgrades.

Claims

1. A method for upgrading an operating system on a mainframe computer system, said method comprising:

automatically receiving source profile information, said source profile information representing an existing configuration of at least one of hardware and software on said mainframe computer system;

generating a base operating system, said base operating system comprising a configuration of operating system software components for said mainframe computer system;

transferring said base operating system to said mainframe computer; and

automatically customizing said base operating system comprising said mainframe computer system to incorporate elements in said source profile information, wherein after said base operating system is customized, said mainframe computer system is automatically adapted for an initial program load.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said base operating system provides functionality for at least one of security, printing, storage and retrieval, and user monitoring.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically installing optional products, said optional products including additional software programs on said mainframe computer system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said optional products include at least one of DB2, WEBSPHERE MQ application and TIVOLI.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating the completion of each operating system component being modified during said step of customizing said base operating system.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising repeating execution of said step of customizing said base operating system after said step of evaluating determines existence of an error.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of evaluating comprises evaluating output condition codes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said source profile information comprises volumes installed on said mainframe computer prior to installing said base operating system on said mainframe computer system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of customizing said base operating system further comprises receiving selections directed to said existing configuration identified in said source profile information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transferring said base operating system comprises compressing said base operating system, storing said compressed base operating system on a CD-ROM, transmitting said compressed base operating system to said mainframe computer system using the File Transfer Protocol, and decompressing said base operating system on said mainframe computer system.

11. A method to remotely upgrade at least one of an operating system and an optional product on a mainframe computer system using a personal computer over a communication network, said method comprising:

transferring a plurality of mainframe operating system components to said mainframe;

performing system discovery, said system discovery representing existing components installed on said mainframe computer system;

automatically combining said plurality of mainframe operating system components with said existing components to enable said mainframe to perform an initial program load;

performing said initial program load on said mainframe computer system;

receiving a selection of said optional components to be included in said upgrade;

installing said optional products identified in said selection in said mainframe computer system; and

performing a initial program load to implement said optional products.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said existing components include at least one a partition, volume, partitioned data set, and identifier of a user in a RACF directory.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said communication network is the Internet.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said mainframe computer system and said personal computer system communicate over a TCP/IP connection.

15. A system for upgrading an operating system on a mainframe computer system, said system comprising:

a base operating system, said base operating system comprising a predefined configuration of operating system software components for said mainframe computer system;

a base operating system transfer module, wherein said a base operating system transfer module transmits said base operating system to said mainframe computer;

a source profile information receiving module, said source profile information receiving module receives source profile information, said source profile information represents an existing configuration of at least one of hardware and software comprising said mainframe computer system; and

a customizing module, said customizing module modifies said base operating system on said mainframe computer system to incorporate elements in said source profile information, wherein after said base operating system is customized, said mainframe computer system is automatically adapted for an initial program load.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said base operating system is adapted to provide functionality for at least one of security, printing, storage and retrieval, and user monitoring.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising an optional products installing module, said optional products installing module automatically installs optional products, said optional products including additional software programs on said mainframe computer system.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said optional products include at least one of DB2, a WEBSPHERE MQ application and TIVOLI.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a component evaluating module, said component evaluating module evaluates the completion of each operating system component being modified.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said component evaluating module further directs said customizing module to repeat customizing said base operating system after discovering existence of an error.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said component evaluating module evaluates output condition codes.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein said source profile information comprises volumes existing on said mainframe computer prior to the installation of said base operating system on said mainframe computer system.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein said customizing module further receives selections directed to said existing configuration identified in said source profile information.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein said base operating system transfer module further compresses said base operating system, stores said compressed base operating system on a CD-ROM, transmits said compressed base operating system to said mainframe computer system using the File Transfer Protocol, and decompresses said base operating system on said mainframe computer system.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein said communication network is the Internet.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein said mainframe computer system and said personal computer system communicate over a TCP/IP connection.

25. A system for a remote upgrade of at least one of an operating system and an optional product on a mainframe computer system, said system comprising:

a personal computer, said personal computer interfacing with said mainframe computer system over a communication network;

an operating system transfer module, said operating system transfer module transfers a plurality of mainframe operating system components to said mainframe;

a system discovery module, said system discovery module retrieving system information directed to existing components on said mainframe computer system;

a component combining module, said component combining module automatically combining said plurality of mainframe operating system components to said mainframe;

an initial program load module, said initial program load module performs said initial program load on said mainframe computer system;

an optional components module, said optional components module receives a selection of said existing components to be included in said upgrade; and

a completion module, said completion module installs said existing components identified in said selection.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said existing components include at least one a partition, volume, partitioned data set, and identifier of a user in a RACF directory.