RU2799736C2 - Method and system for making a decision about the readiness of computers in a local area network for work - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: computer technology.

SUBSTANCE: invention can be used to check the readiness of local area network (LAN) computers for operation. At the same time, such readiness is determined both by the fact that the LAN computers are in working condition, and by the presence of the necessary programs ready for use in them. The technical result provided by the above set of features is to increase the efficiency of the system to make a decision about the readiness of the LAN computers and the entire LAN to work by reducing unproductive time spent on checking the readiness of its computers for work. The essence of the invention: a sequence of actions is set, the implementation of which allows solving the specified task, and a system is proposed that, being connected to a LAN signal distribution environment, implements the mentioned sequence of actions. At the same time, the system implementing such a sequence contains a data input device, a criteria block, a data processing and analysis device, a data acquisition unit, a generalized decision making device, a computer used for data output, and a control action unit.

EFFECT: increase the efficiency of the system to make a decision about the readiness of the LAN computers and the entire LAN to work by reducing unproductive time spent on checking the readiness of its computers for work.

6 cl, 2 dwg

Description

The field of technology to which the invention belongs

The present invention relates to the field of computer technology and can be used to check the readiness of local area network (LAN) computers for operation. At the same time, such readiness is determined both by the fact that the LAN computers are in working condition, and by the presence of the necessary programs ready for use in them.

State of the art regarding the system

An analogue is known from the existing prior art - "Decision-making system in crisis situations of the social sphere of the region" [patent RU 2305319, C1, G06Q 50/00, G06F 17/30, 27.08.2007]. Such a system contains a unit for receiving records of typical plans, the information and synchronizing inputs of which are the first information and synchronizing inputs of the system, while the information input of the block for receiving records of typical plans is designed to receive records of typical plans from the information outputs of automated workstations of users, and the synchronizing input of the block for receiving records of typical plans is designed to receive synchronizing pulses from the synchronizing outputs of typical plans of automated workstations of users, the first output of the block for receiving records of typical plans is the information output of the system, designed to output data to the information input of the database server, the block for receiving requests users, the information and synchronizing inputs of which are the second information and synchronizing inputs of the system, while the information input of the block for receiving user requests is designed to receive user requests from user workstations, and the synchronizing input of the block for receiving user requests is intended to receive synchronizing pulses from the synchronizing outputs of the request of workstations of users, the block for receiving records of server database plans, the information and synchronizing inputs of which are the third information and synchronizing inputs of the system, while the information input of the block for receiving records of records of the server database is intended for receiving records of plans from the server database, and the synchronizing input of the block for receiving records of the server database plans is designed to receive synchronizing pulses of the server, the user address selection block, the information input of which is connected to one output of the user request receiving block, the synchronizing input of the user address selection block is connected to the third synchronizing input of the system, the data output unit, one information input of which is connected to the information output of the user address selection block, the other information input of the data output block is connected to the output of the block for receiving records of server database plans, the synchronizing input of the data issuing block is connected to the synchronizing output of the selector block of the user address, and the outputs of the data issuing unit are information outputs of the system group, designed to issue records of plans to the information inputs of the corresponding automated places of system users, the server database data recording and reading control unit, the address output of which is the system address output, designed to issue write and read addresses to the database server address input, the first synchronizing output of the server database data recording and reading control unit is the first synchronizing output of the system, designed to issue synchronizing signals to the input of the first interrupt channel of the database server, and the second synchronizing output of the control block for writing and reading data of the server database is the second synchronizing output of the system, intended for issuing synchronizing signals to the input of the second interrupt channel of the database server, characterized in that the system contains a plan reference address selection block, the information input of which is connected to the second output of the block for receiving records of standard plans, and the synchronizing input of the plan reference address selection block is connected to the first synchronizing input of the system, the block for generating the current plan address, the control inputs of which are connected to the corresponding control outputs of the plan reference address selection block, the reading inputs of the plan current address selection block are connected to the corresponding plan reference address selection block reading outputs, the first adder, one information input of which is connected to the information output of the plan reference address selection block, the other information input of the first adder is connected to the output of the current plan address generation block, the synchronizing input of the first adder is connected to the synchronizing output of the plan reference address selection block, the time period address generation block, the information input of which is connected to the third by the output of the block for receiving records of typical plans, the synchronizing input of the block for generating the address of the time period is connected to the synchronizing output of the block for selecting the reference address of the plan, and the synchronizing output of the block for generating the address of the time period is connected to the first synchronizing input of the control block for writing and reading data from the server database, the second adder, the information inputs of which are connected to the information outputs of the first adder and the block for generating the address of the time period, the synchronizing input of the second adder is connected to the synchronizing output of the block for generating the address of the time period, and the output of the second adder is connected to one information input of the block for controlling the recording and reading of server database data, a block for selecting the reference reading address, the information input of which is connected to another output of the block for receiving user requests, the synchronizing input is connected to the second synchronizing input of the system, one information output of the block for selecting the reference reading address is connected to another information input of the block for controlling the recording and reading of server database data, the synchronizing output of the block for selecting the reference reading address is connected to the second synchronizing input of the recording control block and with reading the server database data, and a server database address generating unit, the information input of which is connected to another information output of the reading reference address selection unit, the synchronizing input is connected to the synchronizing output of the reading reference address selection unit, the control inputs of the server database address generating unit are the control inputs of the system, while one output of the reading reference address selection unit is connected to the third synchronizing input of the server database recording and reading control unit, and the other output of the block selection of the reference address of reading is connected to the fourth synchronizing input of the control unit for writing and reading data from the server database.

The disadvantage of such a system is that it does not allow the necessary collection of all the initial data for the subsequent installation of the necessary programs and the decision on the readiness of LAN computers for operation.

Closest to the claimed system is a well-known technical solution described in the patent "System and method for checking the feasibility of installing updates" [patent RU 2571726, C2, G06F 11/00, 12/20/2015].

This patent describes a system that contains:

a) at least one computer system on which devices and software for which updates are issued are installed;

b) a testing tool designed to:

- receive at least one update and information about the vulnerabilities fixed by this update;

- selecting a testing period and at least one computer system to test at least one received update based on at least one of: update testing difficulty rating, computer system configuration, frequency of use of installed software and devices, frequency of use of computer systems;

- generating a test result during testing of at least one received update during the selected testing period on the selected at least one computer system;

- transferring the test result of at least one received update and information about the vulnerabilities fixed by this update to the analysis tool;

c) an analysis tool designed to determine the appropriateness of installing at least one tested update, taking into account at least one of the severity level of the vulnerability, the frequency of exploitation of the vulnerability, the result of testing the received update.

Such a system has a relatively narrow functionality, which does not allow to carry out the necessary checks for the readiness of the LAN for operation and installation of software in full. This is due to the fact that such a system uses devices and software for which updates are released, contains a testing tool for only obtaining information about the update and transmitting information about the update. That is, this system is not designed to make software installation decisions and check for software.

Disclosure of the invention regarding the system

The problem to which the present invention is directed regarding the system is to provide a system for deciding on the readiness of LAN computers for operation, characterized by higher efficiency of operation, an indicator of which can be the time for which a reliable decision is made about the availability of LAN computers for operation.

The technical result provided by the above set of features is to increase the efficiency of the system to make a decision about the readiness of the LAN computers and the entire LAN to work by reducing unproductive time spent on checking the readiness of its computers for work.

The problem posed regarding the system is solved, and the required technical result is achieved by the fact that, according to the invention, the system for making a decision about the readiness of LAN computers for operation contains a data input device, a data processing and analysis device, a generalized decision making device, a criteria block, a data acquisition block, a computer used to output data, and a control action block, while the output of the data processing and analysis device is connected to the input of the generalized decision making device, the first output of which is connected to the input of the computer used for data output, the output of the data input device through the criteria block connected to the first input of the data processing and analysis device, the second input of which is connected to the output of the data collection unit, and the second output of the generalized decision making device is connected to the input of the control action block, the output of the control action block is the output of the system, and the input of the data collection block is its input.

State of the art regarding the method

In addition to the analogues of the proposed system described above, there is also a "Method for installing, configuring, administering and backing up software" [patent RU 2445686 C2 G06F 15/177, 03/20/2012]. This method implements the installation of enterprise IT infrastructure programs, including at least one target computer, wherein the enterprise IT infrastructure is connected via a global network to the service provider's IT infrastructure, including at least one or more virtual machine servers, a management server, a virtual machine image storage, which consists in creating a virtual machine image that includes a file system and a guest operating system; install the required software into the file system of the virtual machine image; perform software configuration; save information about changes in the file system associated with installing and configuring the software, then install the operating system on the target computer and repeat the specified changes on the target computer using the information about the changes obtained using the said virtual machine, characterized in that, in addition, in the mentioned image of the virtual machine, a repository of a distributed revision control system is created, including all or part of the files of the operating system, while after each significant stage (setting a separate subsystem or installing a separate application) form a snapshot of changes using the control system revisions and save it in the mentioned repository; form the first portable storage medium, which hosts the distribution of the guest operating system and the second portable storage medium, which hosts a copy of the mentioned repository; performing installation of the target operating system on the target computer using the operating system distribution on the first portable storage medium; copying said repository from the second portable medium to the permanent medium of the target computer; sequentially apply snapshots of changes from a copy of said repository to the file system of the target computer using a revision control system.

The disadvantage of this method is that it has limited functionality: this method does not provide for a procedure for making a decision on installing programs, that is, it does not provide for checking for the presence of programs. As a result, it cannot be used to make a decision about the readiness of the LAN for operation.

Also known is the decision-making method described in the aforementioned patent "System and method for checking the feasibility of installing updates" [patent RU 2571726, C2, G06F 11/00, 12/20/2015].

According to this method:

a) receive at least one update and information about the vulnerabilities addressed by this update;

b) selecting a testing period and at least one computer system to test at least one update based on at least one of: update testing difficulty rating, computer system configuration, usage frequency of installed software and devices, computer system usage frequency;

c) generating a test result by testing at least one received update during the selected testing period on the selected at least one computer system;

d) determine the appropriateness of installing at least one tested update, taking into account at least one of: the severity level of the vulnerability, the frequency of exploitation of the vulnerability, the result of testing the received update.

The disadvantage of this technical solution in relation to the method is that it does not allow the necessary collection of all initial data to make a decision about the readiness of LAN computers to work. This is due to the fact that such a technical solution provides for the system to work only with devices and software for which updates are released, testing tools designed only to obtain information about the update. That is, such a technical solution is not intended for making decisions about installing software and checking for the presence of software.

Disclosure of the invention regarding the method

It is an object of the present invention with respect to the method to develop a method for efficiently installing necessary programs on LAN computers and determining the readiness of the LAN for operation.

The required technical result regarding the method is to reduce unproductive time spent on installing the necessary programs and checking the readiness of LAN computers for operation, which ensures an increase in the efficiency of the LAN itself.

The problem posed regarding the method is solved, and the required technical result is achieved by the fact that, according to the invention, through the data input device, the necessary compliance criteria are entered into the criteria block containing the names of the programs,

in the data processing and analysis device, the name is interpreted into information about the installation of programs, being in the list of installation information,

the data processing and analysis device also checks the data received from the LAN signal distribution environment and received by the data acquisition unit for compliance with the criteria from the list of information about the installation,

if the names of the programs are not found or the information about the installation or activation does not match, then the process is sent to the device for making a generalized decision with a note about the absence of each program or the absence of their activation,

otherwise, information is transmitted to the generalized decision making device that the programs are installed,

the data processing and analysis device, through the data collection unit, collects data from the registers of computers connected to the LAN signal distribution environment, bypassing the register trees and forming numbered lists of all lines from them,

this information is stored in the data acquisition unit,

in the device for making a generalized decision, they perform the following function: if all programs are installed, information about this is fed to the data output device,

otherwise they decide to install: they form a list of uninstalled programs and numbers of LAN computers on which these programs are not installed,

and information about the installation is transmitted to the computer serving for data output,

said list is passed to the control action block,

the control action block contains program files,

which are intended and transmitted for installation on computers,

connected to the LAN signal distribution environment, as well as activation keys for these programs,

a generalized decision making device installs programs and enters activation keys on LAN computers under numbers from the list of uninstalled programs, finding files and activation keys in the control block,

then, from the LAN signal distribution environment, information about the correct installation of programs, the installation of programs with one or more errors or the impossibility of installing them with a text message of the reasons are transmitted to the computer that serves to output data,

when this information has not yet arrived, information indicating that the programs are in the process of installation is output to the computer serving for data output,

at a full cycle, information about the impossibility of installing programs with an explanation of the reasons or about the successful installation of programs can be submitted to the computer used to output data,

in an incomplete cycle, the output computer may be informed that all programs have been installed, or that programs are in the process of being installed.

In a particular case of the implementation of the method, the list of information about the installation contains a key - the name of the program and other information containing parameters: string value of the program name in the registry (node A) corresponding to the key; a string value indicating that the program is installed; the sequence number of this string value in the registry tree when traversing, starting from node A (node A is numbered zero, the tree is traversed in height); string value indicating that the program is activated; the sequence number of this string value in the registry tree when crawled starting from node A.

In another particular case of the implementation of the method, with the above check in the data processing and analysis device, a comparison is made: the name of the program is searched in each of the lists of registers from the data collection block, then the serial number of the string value is added to the name, which means that the program is installed from the list of information about the installation in the current list of the registry, after which the string in the current registry list is compared with this string value; the name of the found program is appended with the ordinal number of the string value, which means that the program is activated from the list of installation information in the current registry list, then the string in the current registry list is compared with the given string value.

In another particular case of the implementation of the method, the registry trees are bypassed in height.

In another particular case, the implementation of the method makes as many numbered lists of all lines as computers are connected to the LAN distribution environment, while the numbering of the lists of all lines starts from zero, the list is called the registry list.

Brief description of the drawings

The essence of the invention is illustrated by drawings, which show:

In FIG. 1 - Structural diagram of the proposed system and external LAN in relation to it.

In FIG. 2 - Block diagram of the algorithm explaining the proposed method.

The implementation of the invention regarding the system and method

The set technical problem regarding the system is solved by the system for making a decision about the readiness of the LAN computers for operation, which implements the proposed method, the block diagram of which (together with the LAN external to it) is shown in Fig. 1. This system contains a data acquisition unit 1, a data input device 2, a criteria block 3, a data processing and analysis device 4, a generalized decision making device 5, a computer 6 used to output data, and a control action block 7, while the data input device 2 connected through the criteria block 3 to the first input of the data processing and analyzing device 4, the second input of which is connected to the output of the data collection unit 1, and the output is connected to the input of the generalized decision making device 5, the first and second outputs of which connected respectively to the inputs of the computer 6, which serves to output data, and block 7 of the control action, the output of the block 7 of the control action is the output of the system, and the input of the block 1 of data collection is the input of the system. The said input and output of the system are connected to the LAN distribution environment, the readiness of the computers of which must be established.

The above system implements the above method and operates as follows.

The operator who administers the network and prepares it for operation, through the data input device 2, enters the necessary compliance criteria into the criteria block 3. Thus, block 3 of the criteria contains the names of programs.

In the data processing device 4, the name is interpreted into program installation information by being in the installation information list. The list of information about the installation contains a key - the name of the program and other information containing parameters: string value of the program name in the registry (node A) corresponding to the key; a string value indicating that the program is installed; the sequence number of this string value in the registry tree when traversing, starting from node A (node A is numbered zero, the tree is traversed in height); string value indicating that the program is activated; the serial number of this string value in the registry tree when crawling, starting from node A. Also, in the device 4 for processing and analyzing data, the data received in the data collection unit 1 is checked for compliance with the criteria from the list of information about the installation. When checking, a comparison is made: the name of the program is searched in each of the lists of registries from data collection block 1, then the serial number of the string value is added to the name, which means that the program is installed from the list of installation information in the current list of the registry, after which the string in the current list of the registry is compared with this string value. The same process during verification occurs with a string value indicating that the program is activated. If the names of the programs are not found or the information about the installation or activation does not correspond to the required ones, then the corresponding signal is sent to the device 5 for making a generalized decision with a note about the absence of any programs or the absence of their activation, otherwise information is transmitted to the device 5 for making a generalized decision that the programs are installed.

Data processing and analysis device 4 collects data from LAN computer registries by traversing the registry trees (the traversal is performed in height) and generates as many numbered lists of all lines from them (numbering starts from zero, the list is called a registry list), as LAN computers are connected to the signal propagation medium. This information is stored in block 1 data collection.

In the device 5 for making a generalized decision, the following function is performed: if all programs are installed, this information enters the computer 6, which serves to output data. Otherwise, a decision is made about the need for installation: a list is formed of uninstalled programs and numbers of LAN computers on which these programs are not installed, and information about the installation is transmitted to the computer 6, which serves to output data. This list is also transmitted to the control block 7 (through the second output of the device 5 for making a generalized decision).

Control action block 7 contains program files that have been entered and are contained in criteria block 3, as well as activation keys for these programs. The device 5 for making a generalized decision transfers installation files, files with activation keys and lists of uninstalled programs, preliminarily collecting them into packages, based on the information obtained from the list of uninstalled programs, to those LAN computers that are indicated in the list of uninstalled programs, with each package being formed based on this list.

At least one administrator or user of LAN computers, having received data on computers from the signal distribution environment, installs programs and enters activation keys on LAN computers with numbers from the list of uninstalled programs.

Then the cycle is closed and the data is collected using the device 4 data processing and analysis. With a full cycle of the device in the computer 6, which serves to output data, information can be submitted about the impossibility of installing programs with an explanation of the reasons or about the successful installation of programs; with an incomplete device cycle, block 6 can be provided with information that all programs are installed or that the programs are in the process of installation.

During their operation, the system and method for making a decision implement an algorithm (sequence of actions), a simplified version of which, in the form of a block diagram, is shown in Fig. 2. First, data is obtained from the registry of a computer connected to the LAN signal distribution environment, and the received information is analyzed. The decision is made based on the matching criteria as follows:

- if there is a discrepancy, a request is issued to install the necessary programs;

- if the criteria is met or there is no data, the result is displayed.

Thus, the technical result is achieved provided by the above set of features, 1) regarding the system - increasing the efficiency of the system to make a decision about the readiness of the LAN computers and the entire LAN for operation by reducing unproductive time spent on checking the readiness of its computers for operation, and 2) regarding the method - reducing unproductive time spent on installing the necessary programs and checking the readiness of LAN computers for operation, which ensures an increase in the efficiency of the LAN itself.

Claims (18)

1. A system for making a decision on the readiness of computers in a local area network for operation, characterized in that it contains a data input device, a data processing and analysis device, a generalized decision making unit, a data collection unit, a criteria unit, a computer used to output data, and a control action unit, while the output of the data processing and analysis device is connected to the input of the generalized decision making device, the first output of which is connected to the input of the computer used to output data, the output of the data input device through the criteria block is connected to the first input of the data processing and analysis device, the second input which is connected to the output of the data acquisition block, and the second output of the generalized decision making device is connected to the input of the control action block, the output of the control action block is the output of the system, and the input of the data collection block is its input. 2. A method for making a decision on the readiness of the local computer system for operation, according to which, through the data input device, the necessary compliance criteria are entered into the criteria block containing the names of the programs, in the data processing and analysis device, the name is interpreted into information about the installation of programs, being in the list of installation information, the data processing and analysis device also checks the data received from the signal propagation environment of the local area network and received by the data collection unit for compliance with the criteria from the list of information about the installation, if the names of the programs are not found or the information about the installation or activation does not match, then the process is sent to the device for making a generalized decision with a note about the absence of each program or the absence of their activation, otherwise, information is transmitted to the generalized decision making device that the programs are installed, the data processing and analysis device through the data collection unit collects data from the registries of computers connected to the local area network signal propagation environment, bypassing the register trees and forming numbered lists of all lines from them, this information is stored in the data collection unit, the following function is performed in the generalized decision making device: if all programs are installed, information about this is fed to the computer used to output data, otherwise they decide to install: they form a list of uninstalled programs and numbers of computers on the local area network on which these programs are not installed, and information about the installation is transmitted to the data output device, said list is transmitted to the control action block, the control action block contains program files that are intended and transmitted for installation on computers connected to the local area network signal propagation medium, as well as activation keys for these programs, the generalized decision making device transfers the installation files of programs from the control unit, transfers activation keys in the form of text files, and also transfers lists of uninstalled programs, first generating this data for each computer of the local area network with numbers from the list of uninstalled programs, and then transferring the collected data for the corresponding number, then, from the signal propagation environment of the local area network, information about the correct installation of programs, the installation of programs with one or more errors or the impossibility of installing them with a text message of reasons is transmitted to the computer that is used to output data, at a full cycle, information about the impossibility of installing programs with an explanation of the reasons or about the successful installation of programs can be submitted to the computer used to output data, in an incomplete cycle, the output computer may be informed that all programs have been installed, or that programs are in the process of being installed. 3. The method according to claim 2, in which the list of information about the installation contains a key - the name of the program and other information containing parameters: string value of the program name in the registry (node A) corresponding to the key; a string value indicating that the program is installed; the sequence number of this string value in the registry tree when traversing, starting from node A (node A is numbered zero, the tree is traversed in height); string value indicating that the program is activated; the sequence number of this string value in the registry tree when crawled starting from node A. 4. The method according to claim 2, in which, during the said check in the data processing and analysis device, a comparison is made: the program name is searched in each of the register lists from the data collection unit, then the sequence number of the string value is added to the name, which means that the program is installed from the installation information list in the current registry list, after which the string in the current registry list is compared with this string value; the name of the found program is appended with the serial number of the string value, which means that the program is activated from the list of installation information in the current list of the registry, then the string in the current list of the registry is compared with the given string value. 5. The method according to claim 2, in which the registry trees are traversed in height. 6. The method according to claim 2, in which there are as many numbered lists of all lines as computers are connected to the local area network distribution environment, while the numbering of lists of all lines starts from zero, the list is called a registry list.

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