Distributed state model for system configuration synchronization

• US 9,559,902 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Payette, Bruce G., Lakshmanan, Narayanan, Gupta, Nitin, Pan, Xuejian, Gopalappa, Sharath
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THU HA T
• Application Number:
  US13/921,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20140359096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 709/220, 709/227, 709/229, 709/222, 370/254, 712/15, 707/617, 707/620, 340/681, 340/3.2, 340/4.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/52 Program synchronisation; Mutual exclusion, e.g. by means of semaphores
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play

Abstract

Systems and methods for configuring applications and resources on distributed nodes or machines are disclosed. A node exposes a synchronization resource that corresponds to a desired state on a remote resource. The node evaluates a state of the remote resource. A test function may be defined to check whether the remote resource is in the desired state. A set function may also be defined to set a state of the synchronization resource when the remote resource is in the desired state. The node configures the synchronization resource when the remote resource is in the desired state. The synchronization resource may be configured, for example, using a resource provider. The node may evaluate the states of a plurality remote resources. The synchronization resource may be configured when one or more of the remote resources are in the desired state or when all of the remote resources are in the desired state.

Claims

1. At a computing device including a processor and system memory, a method for configuring the computing device, the method comprising:

initiating a local configuration process;

suspending the local configuration process when a specific state of a remote resource is required by the local configuration process;

specifying a local synchronization resource to serve as a proxy for the state of the remote resource;

configuring, by a local resource provider, a test function to determine whether the remote resource is in the specific state;

configuring, by the local resource provider, a set function that configures the local synchronization resource when the test function determines the remote resource is in the specific state; and

resuming the local configuration process when the local synchronization resource has been configured to indicate the remote resource is in the specific state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating, by the local resource provider, a state for each of a plurality remote resources; and

configuring, by the local resource provider, the local synchronization resource when one or more of the remote resources is in the specific state.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating, by the local resource provider, a state for each of a plurality remote resources; and

configuring, by the local resource provider, the local synchronization resource when all of the remote resources are in the specific state.

4. A method for configuration of a computing device comprising:

initiating a local configuration process on a first node;

suspending the local configuration process when a specific state of one or more second nodes is required by the local configuration process;

maintaining a local synchronization resource on the first node, the synchronization resource serving as a proxy for the state of the one or more second nodes;

configuring, by a local resource provider, a test function to determine whether the one or more second nodes are in the specific state;

configuring, by the local resource provider, a set function that configures the local synchronization resource when the test function determines the one or more second nodes are in the specific state; and

resuming the local configuration process when the local synchronization resource has been configured to indicate the one or more second nodes are in the specific state.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

moving through a hierarchy of local states while the local configuration process is suspended.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

waiting in a designated local state until the one or more second nodes are in a specific state; and

moving from the designated local state to a next local state when the local synchronization resource indicates that the one or more second nodes are in a specific state.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the state of the one or more second nodes indicates whether or not a resource has been configured on the second nodes.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the first node and the second nodes are hosted on a single machine.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the first node and the second nodes are hosted on separate machines.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the first node and the second nodes are hosted on a distributed computing network.

11. A computer-readable storage device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing system, perform a method for configuring the device to perform steps comprising:

initiating a configuration process on a first node;

suspending the configuration process when a specific state of a second node is required by the configuration process;

providing a synchronization resource on the first node, wherein the synchronization serves as a proxy for the state of the second node;

configuring, by a resource provider on the first node, a test function to determine whether the second node is in the specific state;

configuring, by the resource provider, a set function that configures the synchronization resource when the test function determines the second node is in the specific state; and

resuming the configuration process when the synchronization resource has been configured to indicate the second node is in the specific state.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is further configured to perform steps comprising:

moving through a hierarchy of local states while the configuration process is suspended.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is further configured to perform steps comprising:

waiting in a designated local state until the second node is in a desired state; and

moving from the designated local state to a next local state when the synchronization resource indicates that the second node is in a desired state.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the state of the second node indicates whether or not a resource has been configured on the second node.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is further configured to perform steps comprising:

configuring the state of the synchronization resource when the remote resource is in the specific state.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is further configured to perform steps comprising:

evaluating a state for each of a plurality remote resources; and

configuring the synchronization resource when one or more of the remote resources is in specific state.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is further configured to perform steps comprising:

evaluating, by the local resource provider, a state for each of a plurality remote resources; and

configuring, by the local resource provider, the synchronization resource when all of the remote resources are in the specific state.