GB2357169A - An automatic monitoring system for software installation in computers on a production line - Google Patents
An automatic monitoring system for software installation in computers on a production line Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2357169A GB2357169A GB9929369A GB9929369A GB2357169A GB 2357169 A GB2357169 A GB 2357169A GB 9929369 A GB9929369 A GB 9929369A GB 9929369 A GB9929369 A GB 9929369A GB 2357169 A GB2357169 A GB 2357169A
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- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- computers
- control server
- software installation
- command
- product line
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
- G06F11/30—Monitoring
- G06F11/3055—Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
- G06F11/30—Monitoring
- G06F11/3003—Monitoring arrangements specially adapted to the computing system or computing system component being monitored
- G06F11/302—Monitoring arrangements specially adapted to the computing system or computing system component being monitored where the computing system component is a software system
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
- G06F11/30—Monitoring
- G06F11/3051—Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Computing Systems (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Quality & Reliability (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mathematical Physics (AREA)
- Control By Computers (AREA)
Abstract
An automatic monitoring system for software installation on to computers 11 on the product line performs, through a unified control server 12, automatic remote control on a plurality of client computers 11 via a local area network (LAN). The control server dynamically follows the conditions of each computer during the installation of software, collects statistical data in the process and automatically analyses them. This can reduce the number of on-line test persons and repeated uses of hardware equipment so as to increase test efficiency and save costs.
Description
2357169 AUTOMATIC MONITORING SYSTEM ON SOFTWARE INSTALLATION FOR COMPUTERS
ON THE PRODUCT LINE The present invention relates to an automatic monitorin(2 svstem on software installation for computers on the product line and. more particularly, to a management operation system that performs monitoring, of the status of computers for software installation on the product line to ensure the consistency of production quality.
Currently. the procedure of monitoring the software installation and testing on each computer on the product line taken by most computer manufacturers is as follows. For each computer on the product line it does not only need to be installed with software individually but also, when necessary, requires monitoring of the production conditions.
The production crew has to connect each computer to a monitor for checking individually and records the results of all checks and the data of test items. This does not only waste human resources but also wastes natural resources. This method could not realize the centralized monitoring and management in the automatic production; it also could not dynamically follow the conditions of each computer on the product line. Furthermore, since many resources (such as the monitor) are repeatedly used, the production cost is thus increased. Also since the test procedure purely relies upon human monitoring, a good production quality is then hard to guarantee.
In observation of the previous problems, traditionally there is also a set of monitoring 1 system for software installation on a computer. The hardware structure is shown in Fig. 1.
The operator interface (01) is equipped with the functions of control and display. The server on the roduct line controls each computer through this 01 and displays the control p result on a display terminal. Although this system can slightly improve the result, get a better efficiency and ensure the consistency of product quality than the conventional method that totally relies upon human monitoring, it still has the following defects:
The control and display processes are completed together without password protection; 2 The 01 needs to display data on one hand and also has to control the system on the other, therefore the efficiency is low.: and The operation procedure is too complicated for the operator.
In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages. the present invention provides an automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line. one of whose main object is to perform remote control over the status of software installation on computers on the product line. collectively obtain statistical data. and automatically enforce password protection to ensure the safety of this svstem.
Another object of the present invention is to automate the monitoring system for the software installation on computers on the product line and to realize automatic monitoring of the conditions of all computers in production and testing.
Yet, the present invention provides a unified control server with simple operations.
Therefore, the number of on-line test persons and the repeated uses of testing hardware equipment can be reduced so as to lower the cost and save human resources.
The features and effects obtained from the instant invention are:
statistical data can be collectively obtained and automatically analyzed. Password protection can be enforced to ensure the safety of the system; the conditions of computer software installation on the product line can be automatically monitored; and a unified control server with simple operations is provided to reduce the number of people in the on-line testing crew and repeated uses of testing hardware (such as the monitor) on the product line, and the cost and human resources can be saved.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed descnption given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples. while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, -since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more Mly understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only. and thus are not limitative of the present invention. and wherein:
F ic 'or art, , 1 is a schematic view of the pri Fia. 2 shows the whole structure of the present invention:
Fir".3 is a flow chart of sending a message from the client end to the operator interface (01); Fig. 4 is an operation flow chart of sending a message from the 01 to the control server; Fig. 5 is a flow chart of sending a control command from the control server to the client end when the client end sends out a command request.
This invention is an automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line. The main technologies rest on three aspects with the structure shown in Fig. 2. One is the client end 10, which represents each of the computers I I on the product line that needs to be monitored. Each of these computers 11 sends out its current status and related data through a local area network (LAN) to a control server 12, and makes a request thereto for a command to be executed at this moment. The control server 12 sends relevant messages obtained from each monitored computer I I to a monitor 133, through which the monitoring result is displayed in the form of an operator interface (01) 14. The operator can send commands such as reset, skip, and retry to the control server 12 through this 01 14, the control server 12 then sends the feedback message to the monitored computer I I on the client end 10 so as to ensure that each monitored 4 computer I I can correctly perform operations according to the commands from the control server 12.
According to the message flows sent out from each par of the hardware. the present invention can be classified into the following two aspects:
1. Send the client end 10 messa,-,-e to the Of 14 via the control server 12.
Each computer I I on the client end 10 is booted with a floppy disc, the procedure is downloaded via the server. This procedure is abbreviated as SUV (system under Verification) hereinafter. Through this procedure. each computer I I can complete the software installation operation. It is ensured that the computer I I on the client end 10 can communicate with the control server 12 through a local area network (LAN) 15 and send relevant messages to the control ser-ver 12. The control server 12 then sends the received messaores to the 01 14. As shown in Figg. 33, first the SUV collects messaaes from the client end (step 301) and sends them to the control server (step 302). After the control server receives the message ftom the client end (step 303), it would determine whether the message is a status message (step 304). If it is a status message, then it is written to a self defined status message table (step 305); otherwise, it would be determined whether the received messaae is a data message (step -3)06 If it is a data massage, then the data message is written into the Of (step 308). The 01 analyses the obtained message (step 309) to determine whether it is a status message (step -3)10). If it is a status message, then a corresponding image is displayed via the 01 (step -3) 11); otherwise, it is far-ther determined whether the message is a data message (step 312). If it is adata message, then the data are stored (step 3) 1 3)). If the message is not a data message either, then the Of waits for new messages (step 3) 14).
0 2. Send a command from the Of 14 to the control server 12.
First, the 01 sends a command to the control server (step 401). After the control server receives the command (step 402), it would be determined whether the command is a reset command (step 403). If it is. then the status is set to reset (step 404). If it is not a reset command, then it is determined if it is a retry command (step 405). If it is. then the status is set to retry (step 406). Otherwise. it is determined if it is a skip command (step 407). If it is, then the status is set to skip (step 408) and waits for the client end to send a command request (step 409).
3. The control server sends a control command to the client end.
As shown in Fig. 5, when the client end sends a command request through the SUV (step 501) the control server analyses the control command (step -502) to determine whether the current status is set to reset (step 503). If it is, then the computer on the client end is sen t back to execute the initial com-mand (step 504). Otherwise. it is further determined if the current status is set to retry (step 505). If it is, then the client end repeats the current command. Otherwise, it is determined if the current status is set to skip. If it is, then the client end skips the current cornmand and continues to the next command (step 508). If it is not a skip command either, then the control server waits for the client end to send out the next request (step 509).
An embodiment is given below to explicitly explain this invention. Suppose there is a C) product line on which five computers are in the process of software installation. All the relevant messages of these five monitored computers have to be sent to the 01 via the control server so that the operator can monitor all the computers on the product line with a single monitor, and send out control commands to them at the same time. The method of 0 sending data is as follows:
The DOS procedure SUV is performed to install software to each computer on the product line. Each computer thereon is connected to the control server through the LAN.
C Messages from the product line are sent to a managing server through the SUV procedure.
After the managing server receives the messages from each monitored computer they would I be analyzed, and the status messages and data messages would be written to self-defined 6 status message structure and data message structure. respectively. All other messages would be ignored. The fidished message structures are sent to the 01. After receiving the messages. the Of would analyze whether they are status message. At this moment.
there usually exists two statuses: one is the time out error. which occurs when the control server does not receive any message from the monitored computer within a predetermined time, the other is the error code. that is. the installation procedure is abnormal or other procedural errors occur in the installation process. The Of displays this status and stores the receipt got in this process.
After the above receiving and analysis processes., the Of sends a control command to the control server. which immediately analyzes whether the command is a reset, retrv or skip command and sets the status to reset, retry or skip, respectively.
At this moment, the monitored computer on the product line sends out a monitoring request. Suppose an error code occurs in the software installation process for the first computer, the computer would send out a command request. The control server would generate a corresponding control command and analyze the command. If the analysis result indicates that the status of the first computer is reset, then the control server asks to perform software reinstallation on the computer on the product line.
Suppose a time out error occurs in the software installation process for the second computer, the computer would send out a command request. The control server would generate a corresponding control command and analyze the command. If the analysis result indicates that the status of the second computer is retry, then the control ser-ver asks to perform software reinstallation on the computer on the product line. All the computers on the product line are monitored according to the above procedures.
I The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in tD 1 many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are I- - - r - 7 intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
CLAUVIS I An automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line for performing installation and automatic monitoring operati ions on computers over the client end through a local area network (LAN), which system comprises:
a control server, which stores software to be downloaded for installation; .
a client end. which downloads software from the control server through the LAN, sends out the current status and related data to the control server, and makes a request for a command to be executed; a monitoring end, which displays the messages obtained by the control server from each of the computer over the client end through the LAN; and an operator interface (01), which displays the request command obtained by the control server from the client end and sends out a response command to the control server, the control server then sends the feedback message to the client end to make each computer over the client end perform operations according to the control server command.
2. The automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line of claim 1, wherein the control server is a server.
I -). The automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line of claim 1, wherein the monitoring end is a monitor.
4. The automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line of claim 1, wherein the computer over the client end is booted with a floppy disc and downloads the software to be installed from the control server.
5. The automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line of claim 1, wherein the control server can determine whether the message ftom the client end is a status messaRe or a data messa!ze.
6. The automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line of claim 5. wherein the status message is a time out message.
Z- 7. The automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line of claim 5, wherein the status message is an error code messa-ac.
8. The automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line of claim 1, wherein the 01 can send out a reset, retry or skip command to the control server pursuant to different messages.
9. The automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or substantially as illustrated in any one of or any combination of the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9929369A GB2357169B (en) | 1999-12-10 | 1999-12-10 | Automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9929369A GB2357169B (en) | 1999-12-10 | 1999-12-10 | Automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9929369D0 GB9929369D0 (en) | 2000-02-09 |
| GB2357169A true GB2357169A (en) | 2001-06-13 |
| GB2357169B GB2357169B (en) | 2002-06-05 |
Family
ID=10866169
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9929369A Expired - Fee Related GB2357169B (en) | 1999-12-10 | 1999-12-10 | Automatic monitoring system on software installation for computers on the product line |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2357169B (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012168863A1 (en) * | 2011-06-10 | 2012-12-13 | International Business Machines Corporation | Processing operator message commands |
| US8560737B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2013-10-15 | International Business Machines Corporation | Managing operator message buffers in a coupling facility |
| US8689240B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2014-04-01 | International Business Machines Corporation | Transmitting operator message commands to a coupling facility |
| US8788719B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2014-07-22 | International Business Machines Corporation | Executing a start operator message command |
| US9037907B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2015-05-19 | International Business Machines Corporation | Operator message commands for testing a coupling facility |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5742829A (en) * | 1995-03-10 | 1998-04-21 | Microsoft Corporation | Automatic software installation on heterogeneous networked client computer systems |
| US5860012A (en) * | 1993-09-30 | 1999-01-12 | Intel Corporation | Installation of application software through a network from a source computer system on to a target computer system |
| GB2329050A (en) * | 1997-08-29 | 1999-03-10 | Dell Computer Corp | System for installing and/or testing software |
-
1999
- 1999-12-10 GB GB9929369A patent/GB2357169B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5860012A (en) * | 1993-09-30 | 1999-01-12 | Intel Corporation | Installation of application software through a network from a source computer system on to a target computer system |
| US5742829A (en) * | 1995-03-10 | 1998-04-21 | Microsoft Corporation | Automatic software installation on heterogeneous networked client computer systems |
| GB2329050A (en) * | 1997-08-29 | 1999-03-10 | Dell Computer Corp | System for installing and/or testing software |
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012168863A1 (en) * | 2011-06-10 | 2012-12-13 | International Business Machines Corporation | Processing operator message commands |
| US8560737B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2013-10-15 | International Business Machines Corporation | Managing operator message buffers in a coupling facility |
| US8689240B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2014-04-01 | International Business Machines Corporation | Transmitting operator message commands to a coupling facility |
| US8752068B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2014-06-10 | International Business Machines Corporation | Transmitting operator message commands to a coupling facility |
| US8788719B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2014-07-22 | International Business Machines Corporation | Executing a start operator message command |
| US8799522B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2014-08-05 | International Business Machines Corporation | Executing a start operator message command |
| US8918797B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2014-12-23 | International Business Machines Corporation | Processing operator message commands |
| US9037907B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2015-05-19 | International Business Machines Corporation | Operator message commands for testing a coupling facility |
| US9043643B2 (en) | 2011-06-10 | 2015-05-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Operator message commands for testing a coupling facility |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9929369D0 (en) | 2000-02-09 |
| GB2357169B (en) | 2002-06-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20101210 |