Automated Maintenance Tool for Distributed System Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for installing and maintaining hardware and software in distributed computer systems, such as distributed automation systems, require manual intervention and sequential execution on each system node, lacking a system-wide management tool for updates, upgrades, expansions, or analyses, and often necessitate user interaction across multiple nodes, leading to inefficiencies and increased distance-related challenges.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for automatic installation and maintenance of hardware and software across distributed system nodes, featuring a tool that can be activated from any node to select and execute maintenance activities, including software distribution, installation, configuration, and testing, with a display module for documenting changes and a test module for ensuring operational readiness, allowing for automated system-wide operations without external intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual installation and maintenance procedures are used on each system node, then user control and visibility are improved, but time consumption and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-service installation and maintenance through the central management tool that autonomously executes maintenance steps across system nodes without requiring manual user interaction at each node, thereby reducing time consumption while maintaining operational control through centralized monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance process is segmented into centralized management functions and distributed execution tasks, where the central management tool handles coordination, selection, and monitoring, while individual system nodes execute specific maintenance steps locally, achieving both efficiency and control
2Stability of the object's composition
If separate installation and configuration steps are executed on every system node, then system-wide consistency is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The central management tool serves multiple functions including maintenance activity selection, automated execution coordination, progress monitoring, and documentation, thereby simplifying the operational complexity while ensuring system-wide consistency through unified management of all system nodes
Solution Approach 2:
The central management tool acts as an intermediary between the user and individual system nodes, abstracting away the complexity of executing separate maintenance steps on each node while ensuring consistent application of maintenance activities across the entire distributed system
3Manufacturing precision
If user interaction is required at every desktop for maintenance tasks, then installation accuracy is improved, but productivity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-service maintenance execution where the central management tool autonomously carries out installation and configuration tasks on system nodes based on selected maintenance activities, eliminating the need for manual user interaction at each desktop while maintaining installation accuracy through controlled automated processes
Solution Approach 2:
The user performs preliminary action by selecting the desired maintenance activity at the central management tool, after which the system automatically executes the detailed installation steps, thereby combining user control with automated execution to achieve both accuracy and productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method are disclosed for automatic installation and maintenance of hardware and/or software in the system nodes of a distributed computer system, in particular in a distributed automation system, comprising a system installation and/or system maintenance tool that can be activated from every system node of the distributed system. The system installation and/or system maintenance tool (WZ) selects a software package and/or a functional component, and automatically executes the maintenance steps of the selected software package and/or of the selected functional component as regards the distribution, installation and/or configuration of the software package and/or of the selected functional component in a defined sequence on the system nodes (SK) of the distributed system.