Remote management of a client computer via a computing component that is a single board computer

• US 7,788,356 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bishop, David A., Darcy, Paul B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afolabi; Mark O
• Application Number:
  US10/990,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,112 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/201, 709/219, 709/217, 709/218, 709/249, 709/238, 709/232, 709/224, 709/226, 709/203, 708/501, 708/100, 715/215, 715/735, 715/736, 715/740, 370/230, 370/231, 370/232, 370/352, 370/389, 370/229, 370/254, 370/360, 370/338, 370/251, 705/5, 705/6, 705/1, 705/28, 705/26, 705/27, 705/56, 705/35, 705/37, 705/44, 705/10, 705/14, 705/30, 705/7, 455/33, 455/12
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2005 using redundant communication controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2007 using redundant communication media
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2012 and using different communication protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• 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 computing component is provided for use in a client computer which has a client processor. The computing component includes a remote management processor that is operable to selectively control the client computer independently of the client'"'"'s own processor or processors. The computing component also includes a network component that facilitates communication between the computing component and a remote management machine. A method of managing one or more clients in a computer system is also provided, where the clients have a client processor and a computing component installed on client. The computing component is independent of the client processor and is operable to selectively control the client. A network component is installed on the computing component. The method includes remotely controlling the client by communicating with the computing component through the network component utilizing a remote manager.

Claims

1. A client computer for use in connection with a client computer system and a remote management machine, the client computer comprising:

a client processor, in the client computer, operable to control the client computer, wherein the client computer is monitored by the remote management machine over a first communication path, the first communication path connecting the client computer with the remote management machine over a first network; and

a computing component, that is a single board computer, in the client computer, having a remote management processor operable to selectively control the client computer, independently of the client processor, in response to instructions received over a second distinct communication path from the remote management machine, the second distinct communication path connecting the computing component with the remote management machine over a second network distinct from the first network, wherein the computing component is installed in a priority slot on a system bus of the client computer connecting the client processor and the computing component, the priority slot allows the computing component to assume control over the client computer, to monitor specific applications, or to access information stored on the client computer.

2. The client computer of claim 1, further comprising a network component installed on the computing component, facilitating communication with the remote management machine.

3. The client computer of claim 2, wherein the client computer system includes two or more clients configured in a network environment.

4. The client computer of claim 3, wherein the computing component, network component, and the client networked environment are separate.

5. The client computer of claim 1, wherein the client computer is a server computer.

6. A computer-storage medium having computer-executable components, comprising:

a first communication component, that is a single board computer, in a client computer, for communicating with and operable to selectively control the client computer after receiving instructions over a first communication path from a remote manager in a client networked environment, wherein the client computer has an operating system and hardware components therein, and the first communication component is operable to control the operating system and hardware components of the client computer and the first communication component is installed in a priority slot on a system bus of the client computer connecting a client processor and the first computing component, the priority slot allows the first communication component to assume control over the client computer, to monitor specific applications, or to access information stored on the client computer; and

a second communication component, in the client computer, for communicating with the remote manager independently of the client networked environment over a second distinct communication path in an alternative networked environment.

7. The computer-storage medium of claim 6, further comprising an interface component for capturing and transferring client display information to the remote manager.

8. The computer-storage medium of claim 7, wherein the display information is graphical display information.

9. The computer-storage medium of claim 6, wherein the first communication component includes a client management component operable to request, collect and store client management data.

10. The computer-storage medium of claim 9, wherein the client management data includes capacity planning data.

11. The computer-storage medium of claim 9, wherein the client management data includes performance monitoring data.

12. A client computer, the client computer comprising:

a client processor, in the client computer, operable to control the client computer, wherein the client computer is monitored by a remote management machine over a first communication path, the first communication path connecting the client computer with the remote management machine over a first network;

a single board computing component (SBC), in the client computer, having a remote management processor operable to selectively control the client computer, independently of the client processor, in response to instructions received over a second distinct communication path from the remote management machine, the second distinct communication path connecting the computing component with the remote management machine over a second network distinct from the first network; and

a system bus, in the client computer, coupling the client processor and single board computing component, wherein the SBC is installed in a priority slot on the system bus, wherein the priority slot allows the SBC to assume control over the client computer, to monitor specific applications, or to access information stored on the client computer.

13. The client computer of claim 12, further comprising a network component installed in the SBC and a network component of the client computer independent and separate from the SBC network component.

14. The client computer of claim 13, wherein the a system bus couples the client computer network component to the client processor and the SBC.

15. The client computer of claim 14, wherein the SBC further contains an operating system and memory independent of the client computer.

16. The client computer of claim 12, wherein only one of the client processor and SBC are allowed to control the client computer at any time.

17. The client computer of claim 12, wherein the SBC is operable and reachable during failure of the client computer, failure of the first communication path, or failure of the first network.