Distributed operating system management

• US 7,664,834 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maxsp Corporation
• Inventors: Keith, Jr., Robert O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mesfin, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US11/177,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 709/203, 709217-219, 709220-222
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A system and method are provided for a distributed operating system manager. In one example, the method includes retrieving an internet protocol address of a boot server connected to a client computer via a network; determining whether the boot server is available via the network; transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer; validating hardware credentials of the client computer; and determining whether to perform a remote boot process.

Claims

1. A method of managing an operating system over a network, wherein the network is configured to be connected to a boot server and to a client computer, the method comprising:

retrieving an internet protocol address of the boot server for the client computer;

determining whether the boot server is available via the network, wherein if the boot server is unavailable the client computer boots with a prior operating system image;

transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, wherein the description includes a current operating system version;

validating hardware credentials of the client computer;

determining whether to perform a remote boot process; and

after transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer;

moving an existing operating system directory on the client computer to a set-aside location;

downloading an operating system directory image from the boot server;

comparing cyclic redundancy check values of each file in the operating system directory with an existing file in the existing operating system directory; and

generating a new operating system directory based on the comparing of the cyclic redundancy check values by updating the operating system directory for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and by obtaining a compressed module from the boot server for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory do not match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving an internet protocol address is performed by a read-only memory embedded dynamic host configuration client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving an internet protocol address comprises retrieving the internet protocol address from an external device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the internet protocol address is provided by one of the client computer or an internet service provider.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the transferring of the description of the operating system, contacting the boot server via a domain name system name of the boot server, wherein the domain name system name is a parameter of a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor configuration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the description of the operating system further includes:

a license key; and

a universal unique identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring of the description includes using hypertext transfer protocol and extensible markup language.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after validating hardware credentials, receiving from the boot server an acknowledgment including the operating system image version, the directory image cyclic redundancy check value and the full image size.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether to perform the remote boot process comprises comparing a cyclic redundancy check value of a client directory image to a cyclic redundancy check value server directory image.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining that the cyclic redundancy check values are unequal; and

receiving the server directory image from the boot server.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining that the complimentary metal oxide semiconductor configuration is set to always load a fresh image; and

receiving the server directory image from the boot server.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

bypassing the remote boot process; and

using the operating system on the client computer.

13. The method of claim 4, further comprising performing the remote boot process including:

creating a random access memory based file system;

selecting a correct bootstrap program based on an operating system model coded in the complimentary metal oxide semiconductor configuration;

downloading the bootstrap program from the boot server; and

passing program control to the bootstrap program.

14. A system for managing an operating system over a network, the system comprising:

a boot server including an internet protocol address; and

a client computer connected to the boot server via the network, the client computer including;

a dynamic host configuration protocol client configured to retrieve the internet protocol address of the boot server for the client computer, wherein if the boot server is unavailable the client computer boots with a prior operating system image; and

an input-output bitmap client configured to transfer to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, wherein the boot server is configured to validate hardware credentials of the client computer, wherein the input-output bitmap client determines whether to perform a remote boot process, and wherein the description of the operating system includes a current operating system version and further wherein after transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, the input-output bitmap client moves an existing operating system directory on the client computer to a set-aside location, downloads an operating system directory image from the boot server, compares cyclic redundancy check values of each file in the operating system directory with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and generates a new operating system directory based on the comparing of the cyclic redundancy check values by updating the operating system directory for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and by obtaining a compressed module from the boot server for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory do not match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory.

15. A client computer for managing an operating system over a network, wherein the client computer is configured to be connected to a boot server via the network, the client computer comprising:

a memory device comprising one or more instructions, wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement;

a dynamic host configuration protocol client configured to retrieve an internet protocol address of the boot server for the client computer, wherein if the boot server is unavailable the client computer boots with a prior operating system image; and

an input-output bitmap client configured to transfer to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, wherein the boot server is configured to validate hardware credentials of the client computer, wherein the input-output bitmap client determines whether to perform a remote boot process, and wherein the description of the operating system includes a current operating system version and further wherein after transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, the input-output bitmap client moves an existing operating system directory on the client computer to a set-aside location, downloads an operating system directory image from the boot server, compares cyclic redundancy check values of each file in the operating system directory with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and generates a new operating system directory based on the comparing of the cyclic redundancy check values by updating the operating system directory for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and by obtaining a compressed module from the boot server for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory do not match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory.

16. A boot server for managing an operating system over a network, wherein the boot server is configured to be connected to a client computer via the network, the boot server comprising:

an internet protocol address; and

a memory device comprising one or more instructions, wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement an operating system directory image for the operating system on the client computer, wherein the client computer includes a dynamic host configuration protocol client configured to retrieve an internet protocol address of the boot server for the client computer and an input-output bitmap client configured to contact the boot server, wherein if the boot server is unavailable the client computer boots with a prior operating system image, and further wherein the boot server is further configured to receive a description of an operating system, the description including a current operating system version, and to validate hardware credentials of the client computer, and wherein the input-output bitmap client determines whether to perform a remote boot process and further wherein after transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, the input-output bitmap client moves an existing operating system directory on the client computer to a set-aside location, downloads an operating system directory image from the boot server, compares cyclic redundancy check values of each file in the operating system directory with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and generates a new operating system directory based on the comparing of the cyclic redundancy check values by updating the operating system directory for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and by obtaining a compressed module from the boot server for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory do not match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory.

17. A memory device comprising one or more instructions for managing an operating system over a network, wherein the network is configured to be connected to a boot server and to a client computer, wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following:

retrieving an internet protocol address of the boot server for the client computer;

determining whether the boot server is available via the network, wherein if the boot server is unavailable the client computer boots with a prior operating system image;

transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, wherein the description includes a current operating system version;

validating hardware credentials of the client computer;

determining whether to perform a remote boot process; and

after transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer;

moving an existing operating system directory on the client computer to a set-aside location;

downloading an operating system directory image from the boot server;

comparing cyclic redundancy check values of each file in the operating system directory with an existing file in the existing operating system directory; and

generating a new operating system directory based on the comparing of the cyclic redundancy check values by updating the operating system directory for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and by obtaining a compressed module from the boot server for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory do not match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory.

18. A method of managing an operating system over a network, wherein the network is configured to be connected to a boot server and to a client computer, the method comprising:

retrieving an internet protocol address of the boot server for the client computer;

determining whether the boot server is available via the network;

transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, the description of the operating system comprising a license key;

validating hardware credentials of the client computer and the license key at the boot server;

determining whether to perform a remote boot process at the boot server; and

after transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer;

moving an existing operating system directory on the client computer to a set-aside location;

downloading an operating system directory image from the boot server;

comparing cyclic redundancy check values of each file in the operating system directory with an existing file in the existing operating system directory; and

generating a new operating system directory based on the comparing of the cyclic redundancy check values by updating the operating system directory for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and by obtaining a compressed module from the boot server for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory do not match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory.

19. A system for managing an operating system over a network, the system comprising:

a boot server including an internet protocol address; and

a client computer connected to the boot server via the network, the client computer including;

a dynamic host configuration protocol client configured to retrieve the internet protocol address of the boot server for the client computer; and

an input-output bitmap client configured to transfer to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, wherein the description includes a license key, wherein the boot server is configured to validate hardware credentials of the client computer and the license key provided by the client computer, and wherein the input-output bitmap client determines whether to perform a remote boot process and further wherein after transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, the input-output bitmap client moves an existing operating system directory on the client computer to a set-aside location, downloads an operating system directory image from the boot server, compares cyclic redundancy check values of each file in the operating system directory with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and generates a new operating system directory based on the comparing of the cyclic redundancy check values by updating the operating system directory for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and by obtaining a compressed module from the boot server for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory do not match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory.

20. A boot server for managing an operating system over a network, wherein the boot server is configured to be connected to a client computer via the network, the boot server comprising:

an internet protocol address; and

a memory device comprising one or more instructions, wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement an operating system directory image for the operating system on the client computer, wherein the client computer includes a dynamic host configuration protocol client configured to retrieve an internet protocol address of the boot server for the client computer and an input-output bitmap client configured to contact the boot server, wherein the boot server is further configured to receive a description of an operating system, the description including a license key, and to validate hardware credentials of the client computer and the license key provided by the client computer, and wherein the input-output bitmap client determines whether to perform a remote boot process and further wherein after transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, the input-output bitmap client moves an existing operating system directory on the client computer to a set-aside location, downloads an operating system directory image from the boot server, compares cyclic redundancy check values of each file in the operating system directory with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and generates a new operating system directory based on the comparing of the cyclic redundancy check values by updating the operating system directory for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and by obtaining a compressed module from the boot server for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory do not match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory.

21. A method of managing an operating system over a network, wherein the network is configured to be connected to a boot server and to a client computer, the method comprising:

retrieving an internet protocol address of the boot server for the client computer;

determining whether the boot server is available via the network;

transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer, wherein the description of the operating system includes a license key, a universal unique identifier and a current version;

validating hardware credentials of the client computer including replying with an acknowledgment, the acknowledgment including an operating system image version, a directory image cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and a full image size;

determining whether to perform a remote boot process; and

after transferring to the boot server a description of an operating system on the client computer;

moving an existing operating system directory on the client computer to a set-aside location;

downloading an operating system directory image from the boot server;

comparing cyclic redundancy check values of each file in the operating system directory with an existing file in the existing operating system directory; and

generating a new operating system directory based on the comparing of the cyclic redundancy check values by updating the operating system directory for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory and by obtaining a compressed module from the boot server for each file in which the cyclic redundancy check values in the operating system directory do not match with an existing file in the existing operating system directory.