JPH11195000A - Computer system and start control method for client computer in computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To flexibly determine a boot file and to easily realize high-safety booting. SOLUTION: In this system, when a DHCP(dynamic host configuration protocol) packet 16 for requesting a start file is transmitted to a DHCP server 13 at the time of starting a client 15, the packet is transmitted while adding a Jave agent 17. The Jave agent is transferred to the other server while copying itself, agents mutually perform communication, and the information required for start file preparation is acquired. The Jave agent 17 of a boot server 12 prepares the start file from the acquired information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a client computer, a server computer for providing various services in response to requests from the client computer, and a communication network such as a network connecting the server computer and the client computer. The present invention relates to a computer system pertaining to an activation control method for starting up the client computer, which is a computer such as a portable terminal, and a method for controlling activation of a client computer of the computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a client computer (client) such as a portable terminal in a client server system.
Boot (startup) method, BOOTP or DHCP (Dynamic Host Configurati
on Protocol) is widely used. In this boot method, a boot file to be transferred from a boot server to a client is determined as follows.

Fixed on the client side Fixed on the server (server computer) side Determined on the server side by the MAC address of the client

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional boot method, the boot file to be transferred from the boot server to the client is determined as described above. In these methods, there is a case where the MAC address of the client is known in advance or the file name is fixed, and the flexibility and security are lacking. Therefore, when many clients are connected to the server, it is not suitable for booting the clients.

As described above, the boot method using the BOOTP or DHCP protocol has a problem that it lacks flexibility and security.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and solves the above-mentioned problems, and provides a client computer (hereinafter referred to as a client) which is a computer such as a portable terminal.
A communication network including a network such as a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and a server computer (hereinafter, server) that provides various services in response to requests from clients connected through the communication network. In the computer system, the client adds a Java agent to the DHCP packet used at the time of booting, the Java agent transfers and copies itself to each server, and the agent communicates with each other to determine a boot file. It is another object of the present invention to provide a computer system having a highly reliable and flexible boot means that can access an authentication server, and a method of controlling the activation of a client computer of the computer system.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a computer system comprising a client computer, a server computer for providing various services to the client computer, the server computer, and the client computer. In a computer system including a communication network such as a connecting network, the server computer includes an address allocating unit that allocates an IP address to the client computer, a user authentication unit that authenticates a user of the client computer, and a user of the client computer. User information storage means for storing user-specific information to be used, and startup information creation means for creating startup information required when starting up the client computer,
The client computer includes an agent adding unit that adds an agent to a boot information request packet having user authentication information of the user, information on the client computer, and information requesting the server computer for the boot information. The client computer transmits the boot information request packet to the server computer, and the address allocating means identifies the client computer information from the boot information request packet and allocates an IP address to the client computer. The added agent is transferred to the activation information creating unit, and the transferred agent copies itself to the user authentication unit and the user information storage unit, and the agent copied to the user authentication unit is Based on the user authentication information of the user and the information on the client computer, the boot information creating means communicates with the client computer to perform authentication processing of the user and the client computer, and the agent copied to the user information storage means The agent of the user authentication means communicates with the client computer to create information relating to user-specific information stored therein, and the agent transferred to the activation information creation means transmits information relating to authentication processing from the agent of the user authentication means. , Information of user-specific information is received from the agent of the user information storage means, and startup information is created based on the information.

According to the above configuration, when a client computer is started up, when an activation file required for the start-up is requested to the server computer, an agent is added and transmitted.
This agent transfers and copies itself to each means of the server computer, and communicates with each other to obtain necessary information, thereby determining an activation file. Thus, a reliable and flexible boot means can be provided.

Further, each means of the server computer may be provided in another server computer, or the agent acquires all the information necessary for starting the client computer and deletes itself when the startup processing is completed. You may do it.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a general configuration of a client-server system employing a boot method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the client 15
Exists in the network 20, and the DHCP server 13,
The case where the boot server 12 and the user's home server 11 exist on the network 19 and the authentication server 10 exists on the network 18 will be described as an example.

First, each configuration in FIG. 1 will be described.

The client 15 is a computer such as a personal computer or a portable terminal, accesses each server through the network 20, and requests various services.

The authentication server 10 authenticates whether the client 15 accessing the network is a client who is previously permitted to receive various services from each server.

The home directory server 11 is a home server for the user of the client 15. User-specific information used by the user is managed.

The boot server 12 transfers a boot file, which is a file required when the client 15 is started up, to the client 15.

The DHCP server 13 has a client 15
Receives a DHCP packet transmitted at the time of startup, identifies client information, assigns an IP address, and transfers the IP address to the boot server 12.

The DHCP relay server 14 is a relay server for receiving a DHCP packet transmitted by the client 15 at the time of startup and transferring the packet to the DHCP server 14.

The DHCP packet 16 is transmitted to the client 1
Reference numeral 5 denotes a transmission packet transmitted at the time of startup. The information contained in the DHCP packet 16 will be described with reference to FIG.

The IP 21 is IP (Internet Protocol) information necessary for communication between the client and the server.
The UDP 22 is UDP (User Datagram Protocol) information necessary for communication between the client and the server. DH
The CP packet 23 is information for requesting a boot file required when the client 15 starts up.

The Java agent 17 is a Java agent.
(Object-oriented language of Sun Microsystem, Inc.) Downloads programs from the server and executes them. In addition, Java agent 17
Is transmitted to the DHCP server 13 and then transferred to the boot server 12. After that, it copies itself and transmits it to the authentication server 10 and the home server 11, performs communication between the servers, and determines a boot file.

The client information 25 is information on the client 15 such as the client address.

The user information 26 is information such as a user name used on a network to identify a user.

The authentication information 27 is user authentication information such as a password for authenticating a user entering the network 18 by the authentication server 10.

Next, the processing operation until the Java agent 17 determines a boot file when the client 15 starts up will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

At startup (step A1), the client 15 adds a Java agent 17 to a DHCP packet 16 for requesting a boot file, and
The data is transmitted to the CP server 13 (step A2).

The DHCP packet 16 is transmitted to the DHCP server 13 via the relay of the DHCP relay server 14.

The DHCP server 13 recognizes the Java agent 17 from the DHCP packet 16, thereafter identifies the client information 25, and transfers the Java agent 17 to the boot server 12 (step A).
3).

[0029] The Java agent 17 transferred to the boot server 12 is executed there, and is executed by the authentication server 10.
It copies itself to each server of the home server 11 (step A4).

The Java agent 17 executes a process on each server (step A5).

Here, the processing in each server will be described.

The Java agent 17 sent to the authentication server 10 communicates with the boot server 12 and the client 15 to authenticate the client and the user. Also,
Java agent 17 sent to home server 11
Is executed there, and the authentication server 10 and the client 1
5 and provides information on the user's home directory.

Information provided by these servers is collected by the boot server 12 (step A6), and the boot server 1
2 exchanges information with the boot server process and determines the boot file (step A).
7), and transmits the boot file to the client 15 (step A8).

The client 15 activates the system using this boot file (step A9). This boot file communicates with the Java agent 17 of each server to acquire user information and authentication information (step A10).

After obtaining all the information, these Java agents 17 delete themselves. Thus, the boot file determination processing ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a client computer (hereinafter, a client), which is a computer such as a portable terminal, is connected to a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network).
network) and a server computer (hereinafter referred to as a server) that provides various services in response to requests from clients connected by the communication network. A Java agent is added to the DHCP packet used at the time of booting, and the Java agent transfers / copies itself to each server, and the agents communicate with each other to determine a boot file and to access the authentication server. did. As a result, it is possible to provide a computer system having a highly reliable and flexible boot means and a method of controlling the activation of a client computer of the computer system.

In the above embodiment, each function such as authentication and boot is performed by a computer for each server, but it is needless to say that one server computer may be used.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, an agent is added to a boot request packet from a client to a server, and the agent copies itself to each server such as an authentication server and a boot server. Since the copied agents communicate with each other and obtain necessary information, a boot file can be flexibly determined, and a highly secure boot can be easily realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing information of a DHCP packet according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart showing a processing operation until a boot file is determined when the client is started according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Authentication server 11 ... Home server 12 ... Boot server 13 ... DHCP server 14 ... DHCP relay server 15 ... Client 16 ... DHCP packet 17 ... Java agent 18,19,20 ... Network 21 ... IP 22 ... UDP 23 ... DHCP packet 25 ... client information 26 ... user information 27 ... authentication information

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A client computer, a server computer that provides various services to the client computer,
In a computer system comprising a communication network such as a network connecting the server computer and the client computer, the server computer authenticates a user of the client computer with an address allocating means for allocating an IP address to the client computer. User authentication means, user information storage means for storing user-specific information used by the user of the client computer, and start information creation means for creating start information required when starting up the client computer, The client computer has agent adding means for adding an agent to a boot information request packet having user authentication information of the user, information on the client computer, and information requesting the server computer for the boot information. Cry When starting up the client computer, the client computer sends the boot information request packet to the server computer, and the address allocating means identifies the information of the client computer from the boot information request packet and gives the client computer an IP address. Is transferred to the activation information creating means, and the transferred agent copies itself to the user authentication means and the user information storage means, and the agent copied to the user authentication means Communicating the activation information creation means and the client computer based on the user authentication information of the user and the information on the client computer to perform authentication processing of the user and the client computer, and the agent copied to the user information storage means The agent of the user authentication means and the client computer to create information relating to the user-specific information stored therein, and the agent transferred to the activation information creation means performs an authentication process from the agent of the user authentication means. A computer system that receives notification of information relating to user-specific information from the agent of the user information storage means, and generates startup information based on the information. 2. A computer system comprising a client computer, a plurality of server computers for providing various services to the client computer, and a communication network such as a network connecting the plurality of server computers and the client computer. The plurality of server computers include an address assignment server computer that assigns an IP address to the client computer, a user authentication server computer that authenticates a user of the client computer, and user-specific information used by a user of the client computer. A user information storage server computer for storing; and a startup information creation server computer for creating startup information necessary for starting up the client computer, wherein the client computer includes the user authentication information of the user and the client calculation. An agent adding means for adding an agent to a boot information request packet having information about the server and the boot information creation server computer requesting the boot information is provided. When starting up the client computer, the client computer A boot information request packet is transmitted to the address allocation server computer. The address allocation server computer identifies the information of the client computer from the boot information request packet, and allocates an IP address assigned to the client computer to the agent. Transferred to the boot information creation server computer, the transferred agent copies the agent itself to the user authentication server computer and the user information storage server computer, and copies the agent to the user authentication server computer. The client communicates to the boot information creation server computer and the client computer based on the user authentication information of the user and the information on the client computer to perform authentication processing of the user and the client computer, and to the user information storage server computer The copied agent communicates with the agent of the user authentication server computer and the client computer to create information relating to the stored user-specific information, and the agent transferred to the activation information creation server computer creates the information of the user. The agent of the authentication server computer receives notification of information on authentication processing, the agent of the user information storage server computer receives notification of information on user-specific information, and creates activation information based on the information. Feature Calculation system. 3. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the agent deletes itself after obtaining information necessary for starting the client computer. 4. A client computer, a server computer for providing various services to the client computer,
In a start control method for a client computer of a computer system including a communication network such as a network connecting the server computer and the client computer, the server computer includes: an address allocating unit that allocates an IP address to the client computer; User authentication means for authenticating the user of the client computer; user information storage means for storing user-specific information used by the user of the client computer; and activation for creating startup information required when starting up the client computer An information creating means, when starting up the client computer, the client computer has a boot information requesting parameter having user authentication information of the user, information on the client computer, and information for requesting the server computer for the boot information. An agent is added to the client computer and transmitted to the server computer. The address allocating means identifies the information of the client computer from the boot information request packet, allocates an IP address to the client computer, and identifies the agent added to the client computer. Transferred to the activation information creating means, the transferred agent copies itself to the user authentication means and the user information storage means, and the agent copied to the user authentication means stores the user authentication information of the user The boot information creating means and the client computer communicate with each other based on the information on the client computer to perform authentication processing of the user and the client computer, and the agent copied to the user information storage means is an agent of the user authentication means. And the above class The agent that communicates with the ant computer to create information relating to the stored user-specific information, the agent transferred to the activation information creating unit receives a notification of information about authentication processing from the agent of the user authentication unit, A start control method for a client computer, comprising: receiving notification of information relating to user-specific information from an agent of an information storage unit; and generating start information based on the information. 5. A client computer of a computer system comprising a client computer, a plurality of server computers for providing various services to the client computer, and a communication network such as a network connecting the plurality of server computers and the client computer. In the activation control method, the plurality of server computers are used by an address assignment server computer that assigns an IP address to the client computer, a user authentication server computer that authenticates a user of the client computer, and a user of the client computer. A user information storage server computer that stores user-specific information to be executed, and a startup information creation server computer that creates startup information required when starting up the client computer. The client computer adds an agent to a boot information request packet having user authentication information of the user, information on the client computer, and information for requesting the boot information from the boot information creation server computer, and transmits the packet to the address allocation server computer. The address assignment server computer identifies the information of the client computer from the activation information request packet, transfers an agent assigned an IP address to the client computer, and transfers the agent to the activation information creation server computer. The copied agent copies itself to the user authentication server computer and the user information storage server computer. The agent copied to the user authentication server computer stores the user authentication information of the user and the client computer. The boot information creation server computer communicates with the client computer based on the relevant information to perform authentication processing of the user and the client computer. The agent copied to the user information storage server computer is an agent of the user authentication server computer. And communicates to the client computer to create information relating to user-specific information stored therein. The agent transferred to the boot information creation server computer notifies the agent of the user authentication server computer of information regarding authentication processing. Receiving a notification of information relating to user-specific information from the agent of the user information storage server computer, and generating startup information based on the received information. 6. The activation control method for a client computer according to claim 4, wherein the agent deletes itself after obtaining information necessary for starting up the client computer.