JP2002222106A - Device and method for setting client environment in client/server system, program storage medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and automatically recover a client environment after replacement of a hard disk on a client side in a client/server system. SOLUTION: An environment setting device is provided with a means recognizing replacement of the hard disk on the client side 200 and a means installing hard disk backup contents, which are previously stored inside a server 100 in compliance with the replacement of the hard disk for the client replacing the hard disk, to the client 200. A plurality of kinds of backup contents are prepared in the server 100, and one kind of the backup contents is selected to be installed to the client 200. One kind of the backup contents is that in the environment of the client 200 just before the replacement of the hard disk.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method, a program recording medium, and a program for setting a client environment in a client / server system, and more particularly, to a client / server for easily and automatically restoring a client environment after replacing a client hard disk. The present invention relates to a client environment setting device, method, program recording medium, and program in a server system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a client / server system comprising a client such as a personal computer and a server for providing and managing resources to the client via a network, various functions for managing the client by the server have been devised. ing. For example, environment construction on the client side is performed by installing software one by one in a stand-alone manner, or by selecting and installing software to be installed one by one from a server.

Recently, a configuration in which the power of a client is turned on according to an instruction from a server side, for example, a configuration such as Wake On LAN (WoL) in which a client is turned on by sending a packet to a remote client, or a power is turned on Immediately after the client is connected to the server, for example, a PXE (Preboot eXecut) in which the client connects to the server before the operating system starts on the client of the server / client system.
The configuration of an ion environment (however, in this case, a dedicated ROM is required for the network adapter of the client) has been put to practical use.

[0004] By using such a WoL configuration or a PXE environment configuration, when a single piece of software is installed, it is possible to perform remote loading without operating the client. However, when installing software that requires a reboot (restart) during installation (including when installing multiple software), the client needs to be manually operated after the reboot, and the above configuration is required. Even if it is used, it becomes impossible to perform remote loading.

[0005] As a case where this kind of remote loading operation is required, a case where the client side goes down and the recovery is required is considered, and it is desired that the recovery can be achieved automatically by the operation from the server side. Therefore, the present applicant filed a patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-210078) on a convenient software installation technology on July 26, 1999. More specifically, this technology prepares all operating environments of the client on the server side, even if there is software that requires a reboot at the time of installation, automatically installs the software according to the instruction from the server side, This implements remote loading that enables construction of a client environment in a client / server system.

[0006]

However, in the remote loading of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-210078,
If the hard disk on the client side is physically damaged, the administrator or user replaces the hard disk on the client side, and then the client environment before the hard disk replacement is unknown. It is necessary to restore the client-side environment from via. Therefore, the remote loading requires manual operation at two places, the management console and the client, and there is a problem that the environment of the client cannot be easily and automatically restored after replacing the hard disk of the client.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention solves the above problem, and when the client power is turned on after replacing the hard disk on the client side, or when the client power is automatically turned on from the server side by the WoL configuration, Hereinafter, there is provided a client environment setting apparatus, method, program recording medium, and program in a client / server system that can easily and automatically restore a client environment without an operation from a server side by an administrator. Aim.

[0008]

A client environment setting device in a client / server system according to the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problem is that the client hard disk is replaced in the client environment setting device in the client / server system. Means for recognizing the hard disk, and means for installing, in the client, backup contents of the hard disk for the client whose hard disk has been exchanged previously stored in the server in response to the exchange of the hard disk. It is characterized by having.

A method for setting a client environment in a client / server system according to the present invention, which solves the above problem, comprises a step of recognizing that the hard disk of the client has been replaced in the method for setting a client environment in a client / server system.
Installing the backup content of the hard disk for the client whose hard disk has been replaced stored in the server in advance in the client in response to the replacement of the hard disk. I do.

A computer readable program recording medium according to the present invention for solving the above problems is a program recording medium which records a program for causing a computer to execute a client environment setting in a client / server system. Recognizing that the hard disk has been replaced, and installing the hard disk backup content stored in the server in advance for the client whose hard disk has been replaced in the client in response to the replacement of the hard disk. And recording a program for executing the steps.

The client environment setting device, method, program recording medium and program in the client / server system make it possible to easily and automatically restore the client environment after replacing the client hard disk.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a client environment setting device in a client / server system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The client / server system shown in FIG.
Clients 200, 200a, 200b connected to this by a local area network (LAN) 300,
, 200n and the server 100 connected to the LAN 300
And a management console 150 for manually operating each of the clients from the side.
Note that, for simplicity of description in the following description, it is assumed that the client 200 is all clients 200, 200a, and 2a.
00b,... 200n will be described.

The management console 150 may be incorporated in the server 100, and is used when selecting backup data to be downloaded to the client 200 stored on the hard disk 105 of the server 100. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the server shown in FIG. The server 100 is connected to the C
PU 102, RAM 103, ROM 104, HD
It comprises a D (hard disk drive) 105, an FDD (flexible disk drive) 106, a communication control board 107 for providing a LAN communication environment, and input / output devices such as a display device 108 and a keyboard 109.

The HDD 105 has a client 2
00, a management record file 10 for recording (logging) the execution status of the installation on the client 00, a script file 11 as a control file storing an execution script S as execution control information for defining an installation execution process on the client 200, and a script. An agent 12 for executing installation on the client 200 in accordance with the execution script S stored in the file 11;
Installation file 1 to be installed on 00
3 are stored.

The execution script S is executed by the client 2
00 is definition information in which an execution command (setup command) necessary for installation on the client 200 is read out and executed by the agent 12 on the 00 side, and is defined according to the order of the installation file 13 to be set up. Each setup command is set.

The agent 12 is an independent program that performs a process in accordance with an execution command specified in the execution script S at a destination where the agent 12 has been downloaded.
3 is installed. The agent 12 always accesses the management record file 10 to check the installation progress status of the client 200 before performing the installation, and then continues the installation according to the execution script S. The agent 12 accesses the management record file 10 after each installation or every time a reboot request is issued, and updates the progress of the installation.

The installation file 13 includes a DOS boot image file (including a DOS and a LAN manager, which will be described later) which is started first by the client 200.
13a, an OS installation image file 13b of an operating system also started on the client 200, an application installation image file 13c of an application program to be installed on the client 200, and a document of a document to be installed on the client 200. There is an install image file 13d. These are provided in the client environment setting device in the client / server system in order to start up the client 200 from the beginning or perform recovery after the client 200 goes down.

Further, a program which is read from the HDD 105 and executed by the CPU 102 is started in the server 100. During this program, HDD10
5 is provided with a manager 14 for managing reading and writing (including updating) of the management record file 10 and reading of the script file 11. Further, the manager 14 executes the process when the installation of the client 200 is executed and a reboot request is made, and when the installation of the client 200 is completed and a reboot request is made (exactly, the update of the management record file 10 by the reboot request is performed). In response to the request sent by the agent 12 in accordance with the description of the execution script S, the remote boot from the PXE on the client 200 side to the local boot (start from the reading of the hard disk by booting up the client alone). Function to issue a switching command (boot switch command). When this switching is performed, the setting of the boot flag provided for each client 200 in the management record file 10 is also performed (1 is set at the time of local boot and 0 is set at the time of remote boot).

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the client shown in FIG. The client 200 has substantially the same configuration as the server 100, and has a CPU 202, a RAM 203, and a ROM 204 connected via a bus 201.
, HDD (hard disk drive) 205, and FD
D (flexible disk drive) 206 and LAN
A communication control board 207 for providing a communication environment;
08 and a keyboard 209.

Further, the client 200 has a Wake On LAN (WoL) configuration 210 in which an environment is realized by a ROM (not shown) provided on the communication control board 207.
And a configuration 211 of a PXE (Preboot eXecution Environment). The configuration 211 of the PXE defines the order of activation of the operating system (OS) of the client 200. Communication control board 207
The ROM provided above determines whether or not to exhibit the above functions and configurations according to the BIOS (Basic I / O System) setting of the client 200. The setting information is stored in a flash memory (not shown) on the communication control board 207 or the like.

The WoL 210 has a function of turning on the power of the client 200 by sending a packet from the server 100 to the target client 200. Further, the PXE 211 is a client 200
Is immediately connected to the server 100 from the client 200 immediately after the power is turned on.
If the boot flag of the corresponding client 200 in the management record file 10 on the 0 side is set for remote boot (by default, remote boot is set), the server 100 first sends a DOS boot image. Thus, the client 200 starts in a DOS (disk operating system) environment. Further, by being connected to the server 100 by the LAN manager in the DOS environment, the agent 12 is sent from the server 100 to the RAM 203 of the client 200. Even if the operating system can be started on the client 200 side,
If the PXE 211 becomes valid when the power is turned on, the client 200 is started by the server 100 before the operating system is started.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a client database stored in the server. The server 100 stores a database composed of information as shown in FIG. 3 for each of the clients 200, 200a,..., 200n. The database includes a computer name or an identification number for identifying the client, an operating system, an application program, and a document stored in the hard disk of the client as the installation file 13 (created using the application program or via a communication line). This includes backup contents of documents, bitmaps, sounds, and the like obtained by installation or the like, version information of application programs stored as the management record file 10, and a hard disk serial number.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a client environment setting procedure when replacing a hard disk in the client / server system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a client and a server when replacing a hard disk in the client / server system shown in FIG. It is an explanatory view of a communication processing procedure between servers. Restoration of the client environment is performed according to the following procedure shown in steps S1 to S14 in FIGS.

S1: The server 100 periodically stores the data of the backup contents of the client 200 on a hard disk (HD) in advance. S2: The HD of the client 200 is damaged. S3: Replace the HD of the client 200 with a good one. S4: The power of the client 200 is turned on and the HD is updated to the one whose HD serial number has been exchanged. Step S4
Then, after updating the HD serial number, instead of the administrator or user turning on the power on the client 200 side, the power may be turned on by the WoL configuration as described above.

S5: The client 200 starts booting from the network according to the configuration of the PXE environment. That is, the PXE 211 is started when the power of the client 200 is turned on. S6-1: The client 200 adds the information obtained by exchanging the HD, that is, the serial number after the HD exchange to the network boot packet, and transmits the packet to the server 100 together with the request from the PXE 211. Client 200
Issue an IDENTIFY DEVICE command in an ATA command specified as an ATA command at the time of network boot.

S6-2: The server 100 receives the transmission data from the client 200 by the manager 14, and acquires the HD serial number (20-character ASCII code) described in Word Bit 10-19 of the IDENTIFY DEVICE command. . S6-3: By default, since the boot flag of the corresponding client 200 in the management record file 10 is set to the remote side, the manager 14 causes the client 200 to remotely boot and from the server 100 to the RAM 203 of the client 200. The DOS boot image file 13a is downloaded. At this time, the LAN manager is downloaded to the client 200 side, and is activated together with the DOS.

S6-4: By this LAN manager,
In the DOS environment, the client 200 connects to the server 100 (up to this point is the remote boot processing by the PXE 211). And at the same time as this remote boot,
The agent 12 is downloaded from the server 100 to the RAM 203 of the client 200. S7: The server 100 stores the serial number acquired after the HD exchange of the client 200 transmitted to the server 100 and stored in the server 100.
When the serial number obtained before the HD change is changed, it is determined that the HD of the client 200 has been replaced, and the steps S8 to S11 are executed. It is determined that there is not, and step S12 is executed.

S8: The server 100 is connected to the client 20
Specify the contents of the backup to be downloaded to 0. This designation means that since the backup contents are stored in the plural types of server 100 as described later, which of the plural types of backup contents is to be installed on the client is selected. S9: Since the server 100 has recognized that the HD of the client 200 has been replaced, the server 100 downloads the backup content of the HD of the client 200 specified in step S8 to the client 200 and restores the environment of the client 200 before the replacement of the HD. I do.

S10: The client 200 notifies the server 100 that the download for environment recovery has been completed. The details of steps S9 and S10 are described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-210078 described above with reference to FIGS. Step S9 corresponds to (5) to (9) in FIG. 4, and step S10 corresponds to (10) in FIG.

S11: The server 100 is connected to the client 2
Confirm that download to 00 has been completed. S12: The startup of the client 200 is switched from the startup from the network in step S5 to the startup from the HD in step S13 and restarted. This defines the order of booting the operating system (OS) of the client 200 by setting the BIOS, that is, step S5.
Then, OS in the order of network boot, FDD, HDD
Is activated in step S13.
Switching is performed so that the OS is started in the order of D and HDD.

S13: The client 200 starts up from the HD. S14: The client 200 starts normal work.
By performing the above processing between the server 100 and the target client 200, even if there is an operating system, an application program, or a document that requires a reboot at the time of installation, there is no instruction from the server 100 side. By automatically installing these, the environment of the client 200 in the client / server configuration can be constructed.
Therefore, in addition to starting the client 200 from the beginning, when the client 200 goes down and the HD is replaced and its recovery is necessary, the administrator can easily and automatically start the client 200 without operating the server. The environment can be restored. In particular, even if the user does not have technical knowledge, there is no need for manual work on the client 200 side, so that improvement in serviceability can be expected.
There is no need to dispatch workers, and management becomes easier.
Further, since the server 100 can grasp the status of the installation on the client 200 side, the reliability of the client environment construction in the client / server configuration is also improved.

Next, the server 100 in step S1
The types of data of the backup contents of the client 200 which are periodically collected in advance and stored in the HDD 105 will be described. There are a plurality of types of this backup content. For example, the following three types of backup data are stored in the HDD 105 of the server 100, and the operation of the management console 150 determines which of the following three options is to be installed on the client 200. Selected.

Option 1: Under the environment immediately before the HD exchange of the client. Option 2: An environment that includes the operating system and application programs installed during the initial setup of the client. Option 3: In Option 2, the application program is the latest version updated before replacing the HD of the client.

In order to store the option 1 in the server 100 as backup data, the server 100 may periodically go to the client 200 to collect the contents of the HD of the client. To store Option 2 as backup data in the server 100, the client 20
The operating system and application programs installed during the initial setting of 0 may be stored in the server.

In order to store option 3 in the server 100 as backup data, each time an application program installed in the client 200 is updated, the version of the application program is recorded, and installation is performed with reference to this record. I just need. Also, as backup data, the contents of each HD of a plurality of clients are directly stored in
D, but if the number of clients is large,
Since the server requires a large capacity HD, in order to save this capacity, the operating system and application programs commonly used by a plurality of clients, and the application programs and documents unique to each client are individually tagged with the server. And download it to the target client by referring to the tag.

Next, other features of the client environment setting device in the client / server system of the present invention will be described below. The server takes a log of the processing that the server automatically performed on the client, and stores the log on the server's hard disk. The log includes, for example, a download start time and a download end time.
With this log, the history of the processing that the server automatically performed on the client can be viewed later, and can be used for troubleshooting.

The automatic installation of the backup data from the server to the client can be simultaneously performed for a plurality of clients. Document data that is newly created or updated by the client or installed on the communication line and stored in the hard disk is periodically transmitted from the client to the server and transmitted to the server hard disk. By storing, when the hard disk of the client is damaged and replaced, it can be restored to the environment immediately before the hard disk replacement.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a method of installing a program recording medium used in a client environment setting device in a client / server system in the client / server system of the present invention in the client or server, and FIG. It is a block diagram, (B) is a block diagram inside the same main body. A client or server (hereinafter, referred to as a computer system) 7 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 00 denotes a main body 701, a display 702 for displaying information such as images on a display screen 702a in accordance with instructions from the main body 701, a keyboard 703 for inputting various information to the computer system 700, and a display 70.
Mouse 704 for designating an arbitrary position on the display screen 702a of the second and the modem 70 connected to the public line
5 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the main body 701
Are an I / O interface 717 connected to a CPU 711, a RAM 712, a ROM 713, a disk drive (HDD 714, a CD-ROM drive 715, an FDD 716), a display 702, a keyboard 703, a mouse 704, and the like, and a database connected by a communication line. And a LAN interface 718 for accessing the PC. These are connected via a bus 719.

A CD-ROM 710a, a floppy disk (FD) 710b, a portable recording medium such as a DVD disk (not shown), a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, etc., and a modem 7
The program of the present invention stored in a database connected via a communication line using the LAN 05 or the LAN interface 718 is installed in the computer system 700 and executed by the computer system 700. The installed program of the present invention is an HDD
714 is stored on the hard disk (HD) in the RAM
The processing is executed by the CPU 711 using 712 or the like.

Here, the program recording medium of the present invention includes a CD-ROM 710a, a floppy disk (F
D) 710b, DVD disk, magneto-optical disk, IC
A portable recording medium such as a card or a computer system 70
In addition to a storage device such as a hard disk provided inside and outside the storage device 0, a database holding the program of the present invention as an installation source connected via a communication line, for example, a reference numeral 720 connected to the computer system 700 via a LAN Other computer system (PC) indicated by
Alternatively, it also includes a server database and a transmission medium on a communication line. Computer system 700 also includes another computer system (PC), indicated by reference numeral 730.
It can be connected to a server or a printer via LAN / WAN.

(Supplementary Note 1) In the client environment setting device in the client / server system, means for recognizing that the hard disk of the client has been replaced, and means for storing in the server in response to the replacement of the hard disk. Means for installing in the client backup contents of the hard disk for the client whose hard disk has been replaced in advance, the client environment setting device in the client / server system.

(Supplementary note 2) The client environment setting device in the client / server system according to supplementary note 1, wherein a plurality of types of the backup contents are prepared in the server, and the types are selected and installed in the client. (Supplementary note 3) The client environment setting device in the client / server system according to supplementary note 2, wherein one type of the backup content is under an environment immediately before the hard disk replacement of the client.

(Supplementary note 4) The client environment setting device in the client / server system according to supplementary note 2, wherein one type of the backup contents is under the environment at the time of initial setting of the client. (Supplementary note 5) The client environment setting device in the client / server system according to supplementary note 4, wherein the application program included in the environment at the time of the initial setting is of the latest version updated before the replacement of the hard disk.

(Supplementary note 6) The client environment setting device in the client / server system according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 5, further comprising means for collecting a log of the processing performed on the client by the server. . (Supplementary note 7) The client environment setting device in the client / server system according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein the client periodically transmits document data to the server.

(Supplementary Note 8) In the client environment setting method in the client / server system, the step of recognizing that the hard disk of the client has been replaced, and the step of: Installing in the client the backup contents of the hard disk for the client whose hard disk has been replaced in advance, the method for setting the client environment in the client / server system.

(Supplementary Note 9) On a program recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the environment setting of the client in the client / server system, a step of causing the computer to recognize that the hard disk of the client has been replaced, Installing the backup contents of the hard disk for the client whose hard disk has been replaced stored in the server in advance in the server in accordance with the replacement of the hard disk in the server. A computer-readable program recording medium characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Supplementary Note 10) In order to set the environment of the client in the client / server system, a step of recognizing that the hard disk of the client has been replaced and a step of recognizing that the hard disk has been replaced. Installing on the client the backup contents of the hard disk for the client whose hard disk has been exchanged, which is stored in advance in the client.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention,
If the client is turned on after replacing the hard disk on the client side, or if the client is turned on from the server side according to the WoL configuration, then the administrator can easily and automatically operate without operating from the server side. It is possible to provide a client environment setting device, method, program recording medium, and program in a client / server system that can restore the client environment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a client environment setting device in a client / server system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a server shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a client shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a client database stored in a server.

5 is an explanatory diagram of a client environment setting procedure when replacing a hard disk in the client / server system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a communication processing procedure between a client and a server when a hard disk is replaced in the client / server system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a method of installing a program recording medium used in a client environment setting device in a client / server in the client / server system of the present invention, and FIG. 7A is a specific configuration diagram of the client or server; FIG. 2B is a configuration diagram of the inside of the main body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 management record file 11 script file 12 agent 13 installation file 13a DOS boot image file 13b OS installation image file 13c application installation image file 13d document installation image file 14 manager 100 server 101, 201 Buses 102, 202 CPU 103, 203 RAM 104, 204 ROM 105, 205, 205a HDD 106, 206 FDD 107, 207 Communication control board 108, 208 Monitor 109, 209 Keyboard 150 Management console 200 , 200a, 200b, 200n ... client 210, 210a ... WoL configuration 211, 211a ... PXE configuration 300 ... local Rear network

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B065 BA01 EA33 5B076 AA01 AB20 BB17 CA06 5B082 DC12 DE06

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A client environment setting device in a client / server system, comprising: means for recognizing that the hard disk of the client has been replaced; and storing in the server in advance in response to the replacement of the hard disk. Means for installing, in the client, backup contents of the hard disk for the client whose hard disk has been replaced, the client environment setting device in the client / server system. 2. The client environment setting device in the client / server system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of the backup contents are prepared in the server, and the types are selected and installed on the client. 3. One type of the backup content is:
3. The client environment setting device in the client / server system according to claim 2, wherein the client environment setting device is under an environment immediately before replacing the hard disk of the client. 4. A method for setting a client environment in a client / server system, comprising: a step of recognizing that the hard disk of the client has been replaced; and a step of storing the hard disk in advance in the server in response to the replacement of the hard disk. Installing the backup contents of the hard disk for the client whose hard disk has been replaced in the client, in the client / server system. 5. A program recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to execute the environment setting of a client in a client / server system is provided, wherein the computer recognizes that the hard disk of the client has been replaced, and the replacement of the hard disk. Installing, in the client, backup contents of the hard disk for the client whose hard disk has been replaced in advance stored in the server in response to the execution of the program. Computer-readable program recording medium. 6. A step of recognizing that the hard disk of the client has been replaced in order to set the environment of the client in the client / server system, and in advance, in the server, in response to the replacement of the hard disk. Installing the backup contents of the hard disk for the client whose stored hard disk has been replaced in the client, on the client.