JPH11296351A - System for generating parameter for constructing environment, method therefor and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a parameter generation system for automatic environment construction for shortening a backup time without necessitating a huge backup capacity. SOLUTION: A client 11 is provided with an environment file preparing part 133 for preparing an environment file 19 at the time of installation. A server 1 is provided with an environmental parameter format 10 in which the correspondence of whole environmental parameters necessary to install to the described content of an environment file 19 is described, environmental file read part 31 for reading the environment file 19, environmental parameter generating part 32 for simplifying, generating, and preserving the environmental parameter necessary for the next installation based on the environmental parameter format 10 from the described content of the read environment file 19, and environmental parameter transmitting part 33 for transmitting the generated environmental parameters to the client 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic environment construction method for backing up a computer environment and installing the environment as necessary, and more particularly to a client server system and the like which is applied to a client server system and the like and is required for installation via a network. The present invention relates to an automatic environment construction parameter generation method and an environment construction parameter generation method for backing up construction parameters and reinstalling them as necessary.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to cope with accidental destruction of a computer environment, backup of all environment parameters of a computer, such as an OS (operating system), device drivers, applications, and data, has been performed. When it is necessary to construct an environment similar to these backed-up environment parameters in a new installation, operations such as environment setting have been performed manually.

[0003]

An OS as described above,
In the case of backing up all the environment parameters of the computer such as the device driver, the application, and the data, there is a problem that a large backup capacity is required and also that a backup time is long. Furthermore, if the entire environment is backed up as it is in a state where the computer environment is partially destroyed, there is a problem in that the inconvenience associated with the partial destruction of the environment occurs at the time of restoration.

[0004] In the client-server system, there has been an issue of developing a technology that does not cause the above-described problems and that can automatically generate environment-building parameters at the time of client installation.

[0005] Recently, there has been proposed a computer device that automatically installs an application using environmental parameters prepared in advance (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-222910). The computer device stores a pre-installed class description file, a subsequently installed class description file, and an installation class parameter file on a remote installation medium or remote storage device in a default or customized collection. These files are used during installation.

However, in the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-222910, each installation class description file prepared beforehand (pre-install class, install class, post-install class)
The technology that automatically executes the installation and automatically prepares the operating environment by executing the operation according to the assignment is disclosed, and the technology for backing up each parameter of the environment built at each installation is disclosed. Does not disclose any specific means. Therefore, it is difficult to solve the above-mentioned problem by applying such a technology to a client-server system.

In addition to the above, there has been proposed a product automatic installation system in which an application is automatically upgraded using environment parameters prepared in advance (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-34017). In this product automatic installation method, a parameter for installing the product and version range information in which the parameter is valid are stored in the product, and when the product is upgraded, the effective version information of the environment parameter of the product to be upgraded is stored. Is compared with the installed product version information in the product management information created at the time of installing the previous version, and if the parameter is within the parameter effective range, the parameter used in the previous version is used. This eliminates the need for parameter redefinition.

[0008] However, even in the technology disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-34017, no specific means is disclosed for the technique of backing up each parameter of the environment constructed at each installation, so that the technology is not disclosed. It is difficult to apply such a technique to a client-server system to solve the above-described problem that a large backup capacity is required and the backup time is long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a parameter generation method for automatic environment construction and an environment construction method capable of not only requiring a large backup capacity, shortening the backup time, but also coping with accidental destruction of the client environment. It is to provide a parameter generation method.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic environment construction parameter generation method and an environment construction parameter generation method capable of performing recovery by re-installing the client environment and upgrading the client environment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatic environment construction parameter generation method and an environment construction parameter generation method that can restore individually created data and convert the data in response to version upgrade.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium on which a program for realizing the above-described method and method is recorded.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an automatic environment construction parameter generation method according to the present invention provides an environment construction parameter for a client in a system in which a server and a client are connected via a network. In the automatic generation method, the client includes an installation unit that executes installation, and an environment file creation unit that creates an environment file describing environment parameters set at the time of the execution of the installation. An environment parameter format in which correspondence between all environment parameters necessary for installation of the client and the contents of the environment file is described,
An environment file reading unit for reading an environment file created by the environment file creating unit; and an environment parameter necessary for the next installation from the description contents of the environment file read by the environment file reading unit. Environment parameter generating means for generating and storing the environment parameters in a simplified manner, and environment parameter sending means for sending the environment parameters generated by the environment parameter generating means to the client. The next installation is executed using the environment parameters sent from the sending means.

[0014] In the above case, the client may further include version upgrade means for upgrading the version using the environment parameters sent from the environment parameter sending means. In this case, the client further includes a hard disk unit that stores specific data in a predetermined directory, and a data conversion unit that converts data transferred to the predetermined directory of the hard disk unit into data corresponding to the upgrade. The server has a data storage means for periodically reading and storing data stored in a predetermined directory of the hard disk means, and the data stored by the data storage means for storing the data as necessary. The data transfer means for transferring the data to a predetermined directory on the hard disk means of the client may be further provided.

An environment construction parameter generation method according to the present invention is a method for generating an environment construction parameter for a client, which is performed in a client server system, wherein the environment parameter set when the client is installed is described. A file is created, and the environment parameters required for the next installation are converted from the description contents of the environment file into an environment parameter format in which correspondence between all environment parameters required for installation of the client and the description contents of the environment file is described. A method for generating parameters for environment construction, characterized in that the environment parameters are generated in a simplified manner based on the generated environment parameters and the next installation is executed using the generated environment parameters.

In the above case, the method may further include a processing step of upgrading the version using the environment parameters generated based on the environment parameter format. In this case, a process of periodically reading and storing specific data stored in a predetermined directory of a hard disk provided in the client, and transferring the stored data to a predetermined directory of the hard disk as needed And a process of converting data transferred to a predetermined directory of the hard disk means into data corresponding to the version upgrade.

Further, the recording medium of the present invention is a recording medium for recording a program used in a system in which a server and a client are connected via a network,
An installation is performed, an environment file creation process for creating an environment file describing environment parameters set at the time of execution of the installation, and re-installation using environment parameters received via the network and necessary for the next installation. A program for causing the client to execute a re-installation execution process to be executed; an environment file reading process for reading an environment file created by the client; and environment parameters necessary for the next installation from the description contents of the read environment file. An environment parameter generation process for simplifying and generating based on an environment parameter format in which correspondence between all environment parameters required for installation of the client and description contents of an environment file created by the client is described; Environmental parameters has been made, characterized in that the environmental parameter sender processing means for sending to the client via the network to record the program to be executed by the server.

[0018] In the above case, a program for causing the client to execute a version upgrade process of performing a version upgrade using an environment parameter necessary for the next installation received via the network may be further recorded. In this case, the client performs a data saving process of saving specific data in a predetermined directory of the hard disk and a data conversion process of converting data transferred to the predetermined directory of the hard disk into data corresponding to the version upgrade. A program to be executed, a data storage process for periodically reading and storing data stored in a predetermined directory of the hard disk, and transferring the stored data to a predetermined directory of the client hard disk as needed. A program that causes the server to execute the data transfer process may be further recorded.

(Operation) In the present invention as described above, the client creates an environment file in which environment parameters set at the time of execution of installation are described. On the other hand, the server side has an environment parameter format in which correspondence between all environment parameters necessary for installation of the client and the description contents of the environment file is described. Based on this environment parameter format, the server side creates the environment parameter format. Generates and saves the environment parameters required for the next installation in a simplified form from the contents of the environment file. Since the generated environment parameters do not include data such as environment setting items, a large backup capacity is not required and the backup time is reduced. Further, since the environment parameters are stored on the server side, even if the client environment is accidentally destroyed, it is possible to recover the environment upon reinstallation.

Also, in the present invention, specific data (individual data) stored in a predetermined directory of the hard disk on the client side is also read and stored on the server side, so that accidental destruction of the client environment is caused. Even if there is, it is possible to recover the individual data at the time of reinstallation. Furthermore, the individual data transferred from the server to the client at the time of reinstallation is converted into data corresponding to the version upgrade, so that the individual data is not invalidated by the version upgrade.

[0021]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a client server system to which the automatic environment construction parameter generation method of the present invention is applied. In this client-server system, a server 1 and a client 11 are connected to a network 20.
And are connected to each other via.

The server 1 has a configuration in which a processing unit 3 to which a storage device 4, a hard disk device 5, a display 6, a keyboard 7, and a mouse 8 are connected is connected to a network 20 via a network I / O device 2. Has become. The client 11 has a configuration in which a processing unit 13 to which a storage device 14, a hard disk device 15, a display 16, a keyboard 17, and a mouse 18 are connected is connected to a network 20 via a network I / O device 12. . In the hard disk device 5 of the server 1, an environment parameter format 10 in which correspondence between all environment parameters required for installing a client such as an OS, a device driver, and an application and contents described in an environment file described later is prepared in advance. ing. For example, as shown in FIG.
"Y = Transfer, n = No transfer" for "Do you want to transfer?", "1 = 1,2 = 2, ... 5 = 5" for Option 2 "Time interval?", Option An environment parameter format 10 having description contents such as "y = On, n = Off" is prepared for "Do you want to count?"

The processing section 3 of the server 1 has an environment file reading section 31, an environment parameter generation section 32, an environment parameter transmission section 33, a data file storage section 34, and a data file transfer section 35.

The environment file reading section 31 reads the environment file 19 stored in the hard disk device 15 of the client 11. Environment parameter generator 32
Generates the environment parameters necessary for the installation based on the description contents of the environment file 19 read by the environment file reading unit 31 based on the environment parameter format 10 stored in the hard disk device 5, and generates this. 9 and stored in the hard disk drive 5. The environment parameter transmission unit 33 transmits the environment parameter file 9 generated on the hard disk device 5 by the environment parameter generation unit 32 to the client 1.
1 to the processing unit 13.

The data file storage 34 periodically reads a data file stored in a predetermined directory of the hard disk device 15 of the client 11 and stores the data file in the hard disk device 9. The data file transfer unit 35 transfers the data file stored in the hard disk device 9 by the data file storage unit 34 to the hard disk device 15 of the client 11 as necessary.
To a predetermined directory.

The processing unit 13 of the client 11 includes an installation processing unit 131, an upgrade processing unit 132,
Environment file creation unit 133 and data conversion unit 134
Having.

The installation processing unit 131 is an environment parameter necessary for installation of an OS, a device driver, an application, etc., which is input by the user using the keyboard 17 or the mouse 18 of the client 11, or the processing unit 3 of the server 1. The installation is performed using the environment parameters sent from the environment parameter sending unit 33. Similarly, the version upgrade processing unit 132 uses an environment parameter input by the user using the keyboard 17 or the mouse 18 of the client 11 or an environment parameter sent from the environment parameter sending unit 33 of the processing unit 3 of the server 1. Upgrade the version.

The environment file creation unit 133 creates an environment file 19 on the hard disk device 15 that describes environment parameter conditions based on the environment parameter format 10 set at the time of installation. The data conversion unit 134 converts the data affected by the version upgrade of the application or the like, that is, the data transferred from the data file transfer unit 35 of the processing unit 3 of the server 1 to a predetermined directory of the hard disk device 15. Conversion is performed so as to correspond to the version upgrade.

Next, the operation of the client server system configured as described above will be described. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a process chart showing a procedure for generating parameters for automatic environment construction at the time of re-installation in the client server system shown in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIG.

The user operates the keyboard 1 of the client 11
When the installation execution command is input using the mouse 7 or the mouse 18, the installation processing unit 131 executes the installation processing according to a prepared program (step S10).

When the installation process is executed and the user sets environment parameters necessary for installing the OS, device driver, application, and the like of the client 11 using the keyboard 17 or the mouse 18 of the client 11, the environment file creation unit 133 By
An environment file 19 describing the set environment parameters is created on the hard disk device 15 (step S11). In this installation process, for example, FIG.
An environment file 19 having description contents as shown in FIG. 3B is created based on the environment parameter format 10 having description contents as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to know what environmental conditions are set from the description contents of the environment file 19 based on the description contents of the environment parameter format 10.

When the environment file 19 is created on the hard disk device 15, the environment file reading unit 31 of the processing unit 3 of the server 1 accesses the hard disk device 15 via the network 20, and stores the stored environment file 19. Is read into the storage device 4 (step S1).
2). Then, the environment parameter generation unit 32 converts the description of the environment file 19 read by the environment file reading unit 31 into the environment parameters necessary for the next installation or version upgrade, in the environment parameter format stored in the hard disk device 5. 10 and stored in the hard disk device 5 as an environment parameter file 9 (step S
13). In the creation of the environment parameter file 9 by the environment parameter generation unit 32, for example, based on the environment parameter format 10 shown in FIG.
An environment parameter file 9 having description contents as shown in FIG. 3C is created from the environment file 19 shown in FIG.

Next, when the user inputs a command to execute a new installation using the keyboard 17 or the mouse 18 of the client 11, the environment parameter sending unit 33 transmits the environment parameter file 9 stored in the hard disk device 5 to the client 11. 11 to the processing unit 13 (step S14). When the processing unit 13 receives the environment parameter file 9, the installation processing unit 131
Performs reinstallation using the received environment parameter file 9 (step S15).

As described above, in the reinstallation,
A similar environment can be restored by using the same version as the OS, device driver, application, and the like set at the time of the previous installation.

The above is a description of the re-installation process.
After the processes in steps S10 to S13 shown above, the user inputs a command to execute the version upgrade using the keyboard 17 or the mouse 18 of the client 11.

When the upgrade execution instruction is input, the environment parameter sending unit 33 sends the environment parameter file 9 stored in the hard disk device 5 to the processing unit 13 of the client 11. In the processing unit 13 that has received the environment parameter file 9, the version upgrade processing unit 34 performs version upgrade using the received environment parameter file 9.

In the present embodiment, a data file individually created by the user (for example, a data file created by a simulator or a word processor) is stored as a data file in a predetermined directory of the hard disk device 15 of the client 11. The stored data file is read by the data file storage unit 34 of the processing unit 3 of the server 1 periodically (at a fixed time interval designated by the user) and is stored in the hard disk device 9. Will be kept. After the version upgrade is performed by the above-described version upgrade processing unit 34, the data file stored in the hard disk device 9 is transferred to a predetermined directory of the hard disk device 15 of the client 11 by the data file transfer unit 35. You. Data file transfer unit 35
When the data file is transferred from the client 11,
In the processing unit 13, the data conversion unit 134 converts the data content of the transferred data file so as to correspond to the version upgrade. As a result, the data created individually by the user can be converted into data corresponding to the version upgrade. Generally, the compatibility of data accompanying the version upgrade of an application or the like is upward compatible, and can be read by the application or the like after the version upgrade, and the data can be upgraded by saving.

In the client-server system described above, when the server 1 accesses the client 11 via the network 20, the network protocol is not particularly limited, but is generally TCP / IP or IP.
Use a network protocol such as X. The environment file differs depending on the OS. For example, UNIX (“UN
In “IX System Laboratories” (registered trademark), environment files are various files existing under / etc, and device drivers are installed package options. Environment files such as "Windows 95" (manufactured by Microsoft) are ini files and registry files.

Further, in step S12, the environment file reading unit 31 of the processing unit 3 of the server 1 accesses the hard disk device 15 via the network 20 and reads the stored environment file 19 into the storage device 4. Processing is performed, but such a network 20
The reading and writing of the file via the file can be generally performed by “ftp”, remote copy, or the like.

In each process of the client-server system as shown in FIG. 2, a program for executing such a process is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a semiconductor memory. The program recorded on the recording medium may be read and executed by the client and the server, respectively.

[0042]

According to the present invention configured as described above, the environment parameters generated when the client is installed are simplified based on the environment parameter format without including data such as environment setting items. Since the data is stored on the server side, it can be restored when reinstallation is performed even if the client environment is accidentally destroyed, and a large backup capacity is not required, and the backup time can be shortened. And a low-cost server system can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a client-server system to which an automatic environment construction parameter generation method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a process chart showing a procedure for generating an automatic environment construction parameter at the time of re-installation in the client server system shown in FIG. 1;

3A is a diagram illustrating a description example of an environment parameter format, FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a description example of an environment file, and FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating a description example of an environment parameter file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 server 2, 12 network I / O device 3, 13 processing unit 4, 14 storage device 5, 15 hard disk device 6, 16 display 7, 17 keyboard 8, 18 mouse 9 environment parameter file 10 environment parameter format 11 client 19 environment file Reference Signs List 20 network 31 environment file reading unit 32 environment parameter generation unit 33 environment parameter transmission unit 34 data file storage unit 35 data file transfer unit 131 installation processing unit 132 version upgrade processing unit 133 environment file creation unit 134 data conversion unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method for automatically generating an environment configuration parameter of a client of a system in which a server and a client are connected via a network, wherein the client performs an installation, Environment file creation means for creating an environment file describing environment parameters set at the time, wherein the server describes correspondence between all environment parameters required for installation of the client and the description contents of the environment file. An environment parameter format, an environment file reading unit for reading the environment file created by the environment file creating unit, and an environment parameter required for the next installation based on the description content of the environment file read by the environment file reading unit. Environment parameter generating means for simplifying generation and storage based on the environment parameter format; and environment parameter transmission means for transmitting the environment parameters generated by the environment parameter generation means to the client; Wherein the next installation is executed using the environment parameters sent from the environment parameter sending means. 2. The automatic environment construction parameter generation method according to claim 1, wherein the client further includes a version upgrade unit for performing a version upgrade using an environment parameter transmitted from the environment parameter transmission unit. Characteristic automatic environment construction parameter generation method. 3. The parameter generation method for automatic environment construction according to claim 2, wherein the client is a hard disk unit that stores specific data in a predetermined directory, and data that is transferred to a predetermined directory of the hard disk unit. Further comprising: a data conversion unit that converts data stored in a predetermined directory of the hard disk unit into a data storage unit that periodically reads and stores data stored in a predetermined directory of the hard disk unit; A data transfer unit for transferring data stored by the data storage unit to a predetermined directory of the hard disk unit of the client as necessary. 4. A method for generating a parameter for constructing an environment of a client, which is performed in a client server system, comprising: creating an environment file describing environment parameters set at the time of executing the installation of the client; The environment parameters necessary for the next installation are generated in a simplified manner based on the environment parameter format in which the correspondence between all the environment parameters required for the installation of the client and the description contents of the environment file is described. An environment construction parameter generation method, wherein the next installation is executed using environment parameters. 5. The environment construction parameter generation method according to claim 4, further comprising a processing step of upgrading using an environment parameter generated based on said environment parameter format. Parameter generation method. 6. The environment construction parameter generation method according to claim 5, wherein a process of periodically reading and storing specific data stored in a predetermined directory of a hard disk provided in the client; A processing step of transferring the stored data to a predetermined directory of the hard disk as needed; and a processing step of converting the data transferred to a predetermined directory of the hard disk unit into data corresponding to the version upgrade. An environment construction parameter generation method, characterized in that: 7. A recording medium for recording a program for use in a system in which a server and a client are connected via a network, wherein the environment file describes installation, and describes environment parameters set at the time of execution of the installation. An environment file creation process for creating a program, and a program for causing the client to execute a reinstallation execution process for performing a reinstallation using environment parameters necessary for the next installation received via the network. Environment file reading processing for reading the created environment file, and environment parameters necessary for the next installation from the description contents of the read environment file, all environment parameters necessary for installation of the client and the client are created. Environment parameter generation processing for simplifying generation based on an environment parameter format in which correspondence with the description contents of the environment file is described, and environment parameter transmission processing for transmitting the generated environment parameters to the client via the network And a program for causing the server to execute the means. 8. The recording medium according to claim 7, further comprising: a program for causing the client to execute a version upgrade process of performing a version upgrade using environment parameters necessary for the next installation received via the network. A recording medium characterized by being recorded. 9. The recording medium according to claim 8, wherein a data saving process for saving specific data in a predetermined directory of a hard disk, and the data transferred to the predetermined directory of the hard disk correspond to the version upgrade. A program for causing the client to execute a data conversion process for converting data into data; a data storage process for periodically reading and storing data stored in a predetermined directory of the hard disk; And a program for causing the server to execute a data transfer process for transferring the data to a predetermined directory on the hard disk of the client.