Cross-OS Software Deployment via Lightweight Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for deploying and managing software across multiple computing machines with different operating systems are inefficient, requiring excessive infrastructure and lacking cross-OS communication, which leads to time-consuming and costly management with inconsistent results.
Innovation Solution
A scalable tool that uses lightweight agents to discover, profile, and manage software deployment and monitoring across a network, utilizing only the base OS and user-specified tools, allowing for logical grouping, sequence execution, and result recording, while communicating effectively across different OS types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing deployment methods are used, then software can be deployed to computing machines, but excessive infrastructure is required and cross-OS communication is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal deployment architecture where a single deployment server can communicate with and deploy software to multiple different operating system types (Windows, Linux, UNIX, etc.) through a standardized protocol. The deployment server acts as a universal interface that adapts to various OS types without requiring separate deployment infrastructure for each OS, thereby achieving cross-OS communication capability while reducing overall infrastructure complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary deployment server that mediates between the user and diverse computing machines with different operating systems. This intermediary translates user deployment requests into OS-specific commands and protocols, enabling communication across different OS types without direct integration between each OS and every deployment tool, thus reducing infrastructure requirements while maintaining versatility.
2Productivity
If manual management methods are used, then software deployment can be performed, but management time and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the deployment server automatically discovers computing machines on the network, profiles their operating systems, selects appropriate deployment protocols, and executes software deployment without requiring manual intervention for each machine. The system autonomously manages the entire deployment workflow, significantly improving deployment efficiency while reducing management time and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the deployment server continuously monitors deployment status, receives status reports from computing machines, and automatically adjusts deployment parameters based on system responses. This automated feedback loop enables rapid iterative deployment across multiple machines, dramatically increasing productivity compared to manual methods while minimizing the time required for deployment management.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive software deployment tools are used, then all user-specified tools can be monitored, but the system becomes less adaptable to different OS types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes deployment and monitoring parameters based on the detected operating system type. The system automatically adjusts protocol selection, command structures, and monitoring mechanisms to match the specific OS being targeted, maintaining cross-OS compatibility while preserving reliable monitoring capabilities for each platform through OS-specific parameter configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, computer-readable media, and systems are provided for deployment of software tools across a network. One example method includes initiating a discovery mechanism to poll a plurality of computing machines 121-1, . . . , 144-T from a remote deployment system 101 to multiple systems 120/130/140 across a network 108. The multiple systems 120/130/140 include computing machines 121-1, . . . , 144-T having different operating system (OS) types. Respective agents 151 are deployed for each type of OS identified in the response to the discovery mechanism 210/220. Each of the respective agents 151 is configured to manage communications 230 between the deployment system 101 and the different OS types for each of the plurality of computing machines 121-1, . . . , 144-T on the network 108 and to initiate application deployment and monitoring on each of the plurality of computing machines 230.