Manifest Engine Configuration Chaining for Consistent IHS App Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Custom configuration of software installation on Information Handling Systems (IHS) is complicated due to numerous individually configurable parameters, redundancy, and inconsistencies in answer files, leading to user errors and security vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
A configuration file chaining system and method that merges configuration settings from different namespace scopes into a few answer files, using a manifest engine to populate templates and customize applications on IHS, ensuring secure and efficient installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If numerous individually configurable parameters are used for each application, then customization capability is improved, but configuration complexity and redundancy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments configuration parameters into different namespace scopes (e.g., application-level, organization-level, user-level) using a hierarchical configuration system. This allows customization capability while reducing complexity by organizing parameters in a structured hierarchy rather than treating them as flat individual parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifest engine serves multiple functions: it processes configuration manifests, resolves parameter conflicts, validates configurations, and applies settings across different applications and devices. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating configuration management operations into a single unified engine.
2Adaptability or versatility
If configuration parameters are distributed across multiple answer files, then adaptability is improved, but consistency and reliability deteriorate due to redundancy and user errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges configuration parameters from multiple answer files into a unified configuration structure processed by the manifest engine. The engine consolidates settings across different files and sources, resolving conflicts and ensuring consistency while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to different configuration scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifest engine incorporates validation mechanisms that provide feedback on configuration consistency. It validates configurations against expected formats and detects conflicts between different answer files, ensuring reliability while allowing flexible configuration approaches.
3Ease of operation
If manual configuration processes are used, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity and efficiency worsen due to time-consuming configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The manifest engine performs configuration tasks automatically without requiring manual intervention. It processes configuration manifests, resolves parameters, validates settings, and applies configurations autonomously, maintaining ease of operation through automated processing while significantly improving productivity by eliminating manual configuration steps.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a manifest engine that configures the applications and services in an IHS (e.g., computing device) using parameters that have different namespace scopes or organizational origins. According to one embodiment, the manifest engine includes computer-executable instructions to receive a manifest associated with a target computing device, wherein the manifest stores information associated with one or more applications to be custom configured on the target computing device, and for each application, populate the fields of a template associated with the application using a configuration chain, and custom configure the application on the target computing device using the template.