Automated software installation and operating environment configuration for a computer system based on classification rules
First Claim
1. In a computer system, a computer implemented method for automatically installing a plurality of software products on said computer system and configuring said computer system'"'"'s operating environment, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) booting said computer system, loading a first install control module for locating install media and starting installation from a boot device into said computer system'"'"'s memory, and transferring control to said first install control module loaded into said memory;
b) said first install control module locating an install media comprising a second install control module for setting up and controlling automatic installation, and giving execution control to said second install control module;
c) said second control module locating a collection of installation files comprising a classification rules file and a plurality of install script files, said classification rules file having a plurality of classification rules for classifying a computer system, each of said install script file having a plurality of install commands for performing certain installation and/or configuration tasks;
d) said second install control module determining at least one classification for said computer system using said located classification rules file; and
e) said second install control module installing said plurality of software products on said computer system, and configuring said computer system'"'"'s operating environment automatically by selectively executing said install script files based on the classification determined for said computer system, wherein said first install control module comprises an operating system with minimal functions, a plurality of initialization and related processes, a command-like language interpreter, a set of system reconfiguration files, and an install media locator and starter routine;
said step a) comprises the steps of;
a.1) booting said computer system, loading said operating system into said memory, and transferring control to said operating system loaded into said memory;
a.2) said operating system loading said initialization and related processes and said command-like language interpreter into memory, and starting execution of said initialization and related processes;
a.3) said operating system further loading said system reconfiguration files into said memory and starting execution of said system reconfiguration files using said command-like language interpreter;
enda.4) said operating system further loading said install media locator and starter routine into said memory and starting execution of said install media locator and starter routine using said command-like language interpreter.
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Abstract
A boot device, a local or remote install media, and a local or remote storage device are provided to a computer system. The boot device comprises an install media locator and starter module. The local or remote install media comprises an install set up and control module and an install module. The local or remote storage device comprises a defaulted or a customized collection of installation files. The defaulted/customized collection of install files comprise a classification rules file, a number of pre-install class class script files, a number of install class parameter files, and a number of post-install class script files. Together, these elements cooperate to automatically install software products on the computer system, and configure the operating environment of the computer system.
436 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a computer system, a computer implemented method for automatically installing a plurality of software products on said computer system and configuring said computer system'"'"'s operating environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) booting said computer system, loading a first install control module for locating install media and starting installation from a boot device into said computer system'"'"'s memory, and transferring control to said first install control module loaded into said memory; b) said first install control module locating an install media comprising a second install control module for setting up and controlling automatic installation, and giving execution control to said second install control module; c) said second control module locating a collection of installation files comprising a classification rules file and a plurality of install script files, said classification rules file having a plurality of classification rules for classifying a computer system, each of said install script file having a plurality of install commands for performing certain installation and/or configuration tasks; d) said second install control module determining at least one classification for said computer system using said located classification rules file; and e) said second install control module installing said plurality of software products on said computer system, and configuring said computer system'"'"'s operating environment automatically by selectively executing said install script files based on the classification determined for said computer system, wherein said first install control module comprises an operating system with minimal functions, a plurality of initialization and related processes, a command-like language interpreter, a set of system reconfiguration files, and an install media locator and starter routine; said step a) comprises the steps of; a.1) booting said computer system, loading said operating system into said memory, and transferring control to said operating system loaded into said memory; a.2) said operating system loading said initialization and related processes and said command-like language interpreter into memory, and starting execution of said initialization and related processes; a.3) said operating system further loading said system reconfiguration files into said memory and starting execution of said system reconfiguration files using said command-like language interpreter;
enda.4) said operating system further loading said install media locator and starter routine into said memory and starting execution of said install media locator and starter routine using said command-like language interpreter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a computer system, an apparatus for automatically installing a plurality of software products on said computer system and configuring said computer system'"'"'s operating environment, said apparatus comprising:
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a) booting means coupled to said computer system'"'"'s processor and memory for loading a first install control module into said memory, and giving execution control to said first install control module loaded into said memory, said first install control module being used for locating install media and starting installation; b) install media coupled to said computer system'"'"'s processor and memory comprising a second install control module for setting up and controlling automatic installation, said second install control module being loaded into said memory and given execution control by said first install control module booted into said memory upon locating said install media; and c) file subsystem means coupled to said computer system'"'"'s processor and memory for storing a collection of installation files comprising a classification rules file and a plurality of install script files, said classification rule file having a plurality of classification rules for classifying a computer system, said install script files being organized by computer system classifications, each of said install script files having a plurality of install commands for performing certain installation and configuration tasks, said classification file being used to determine at least one classification for said computer system by said second install control module loaded in said memory upon locating said file subsystem; said second install control module automatically causing said plurality of software products to be installed on said computer system and said computer system'"'"'s operating environment to be configured by selectively executing said install script files based on the classification determined for said computer system under its control, wherein, said first install control module comprises an operating system with minimal functions, a plurality of initialization and related processes, a command-like language interpreter, a set of system reconfiguration files, and an install media locator and starter routine; said booting means boots said install media locator and starter module into said memory and gives it control by booting said operating system into said memory, and giving control to said operating system booted into said memory, loading said initialization and related processes into said memory and executing said loaded initialization and related processes under the control of said operating system, loading said system reconfiguration files into said memory and executing said loaded system reconfiguration files under the control of said operating system and said command-like language interpreter, and loading said install media locator and starter routine into said memory and executing said loaded install media locator and starter routine under the control of said operating system and said command-like language interpreter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a computer system, a computer implemented method for automatically installing a plurality of software products on said computer system and configuring said computer system'"'"'s operating environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) booting said computer system, loading a first install control module for locating install media and starting installation from a boot device into said computer system'"'"'s memory, and transferring control to said first install control module loaded into said memory; b) said first install control module locating an install media comprising a second install control module for setting up and controlling automatic installation, and giving execution control to said second install control module; c) said second control module locating a collection of installation files comprising a classification rules file and a plurality of install script files, said classification rules file having a plurality of classification rules for classifying a computer system, each of said install script file having a plurality of install commands for performing certain installation and/or configuration tasks; d) said second install control module determining at least one classification for said computer system using said located classification rules file; and e) said second install control module installing said plurality of software products on said computer system, and configuring said computer system'"'"'s operating environment automatically by selectively executing said install script files based on the classification determined for said computer system, wherein said software products include application programs and operating system programs.
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20. In a computer system, an apparatus for automatically installing a plurality of software products on said computer system and configuring said computer system'"'"'s operating environment, said apparatus comprising:
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a) booting means coupled to said computer system'"'"'s processor and memory for loading a first install control module into said memory, and giving execution control to said first install control module loaded into said memory, said first install control module being used for locating install media and starting installation; b) install media coupled to said computer system'"'"'s processor and memory comprising a second install control module for setting up and controlling automatic installation, said second install control module being loaded into said memory and given execution control by said first install control module booted into said memory upon locating said install media; and c) file subsystem means coupled to said computer system'"'"'s processor and memory for storing a collection of installation files comprising a classification rules file and a plurality of install script files, said classification rule file having a plurality of classification rules for classifying a computer system, said install script files being organized by computer system classifications, each of said install script files having a plurality of install commands for performing certain installation and configuration tasks, said classification file being used to determine at least one classification for said computer system by said second install control module loaded in said memory upon locating said file subsystem; said second install control module automatically causing said plurality of software products to be installed on said computer system and said computer system'"'"'s operating environment to be configured by selectively executing said install script files based on the classification determined for said computer system under its control, wherein said software products include application programs and operating system programs.
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Specification