Computer system and a program install method thereof

Abstract

A computer system including plural computers, a management console for installing a program in the computers and a storage subsystem coupled to each computer and management console. The storage subsystem includes a first storage unit shared by the computers and plural second storage units corresponding to the computers. The first storage unit stores a file related to each installed program and an installer program for installing a program. The second storage units each store an install agent and a control file accessed by the install agent. The management console includes an install manager for starting each install agent by switching on power to a corresponding computer. Upon starting, the install agent starts the installer program based on the control file. The installer program reads a related file from the first storage unit, and transfers it to the second storage unit of the corresponding computer, thereby installing the program.

Description

[0001]The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 822,671, filed Apr. 13, 2004; which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09 / 666,062, now allowed as U.S. Pat. No. 6,775,830, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a computer system and a method for installing a program in the computer system, or in particular to a method for installing a program in a plurality of computers.[0003]An installer constituting a program for executing a series of install procedures, the very program to be installed and a removable recording medium such as a CD-ROM for storing the required install files are used for installing a program in a computer. In the prior art, the operator carries out the install work by mounting a recording medium in a storage unit such as a CD-ROM of the computer and executing the installer in the computer.[0004]According to another method for installing a program in a computer...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The object of the invention is to provide a method of efficiently installing a program in the computers making up a computer system, which can reduce the operating cost for the maintenance and management of the computer system.

Problems solved by technology

Generally, a removable recording medium has a low file transfer rate and therefore requires a longer time for the install work.

Nevertheless, the number of the recording media that can be made available is limited.

In the case where many computers are involved, therefore, the repetitive processing is unavoidable.

In executing the install work for a plurality of computers in parallel, however, the file transfer rate in the file server and the network forms a bottleneck, with the result that the required transfer rate cannot be obtained, thereby making it necessary to repeat the install work a plurality of times. Generally, the version up of a program by improving the program function and correction of a fault is a common practice, which is accompanied by the program install work.

For this reason, the personnel expenditure for the install work is a cause of an increased operation cost for maintaining and managing a computer system.

Another problem occurs in the case where the operator for carrying out the install work does not belong to the organization owning the computer.

The entry of such a operator into the place where the computer exists is not desirable from the viewpoint of confidentiality.

Also, method of the program install work varies from one program to another, and a vast length of the training period is required for all the operators to master all the program install methods.

In the event that the operator is not skilled enough in a program install method, the secondary problem may occur including the requirement for the reinstall work due to the failure of the first install work and the destruction of the file in the disk unit.

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