Automated Partition Table Generation for Remote OS Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current remote operating system deployment methods require separate installation tasks for each unique hardware configuration, leading to inefficiencies and configuration errors due to the need for tightly bound partition table definitions, especially when dealing with diverse storage devices like IDE, SCSI, RAID, NAS, and fiber-attached drives.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that automatically create partition tables for each hardware configuration based on general parameters predefined by the user, allowing for independent OS deployment without specifying specific partition tables for each device type, using a deployment server to map inventory data with qualitative attributes to create customized partition tables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate installation tasks are created for each hardware configuration, then OS deployment accuracy is improved, but deployment complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the deployment task into two distinct components: a generic OS image package that contains the operating system files, and a hardware-specific partition table definition. This segmentation allows the OS image to be reused across multiple hardware configurations while only the partition table needs to be customized for each hardware type, thereby reducing overall deployment complexity while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates template partition table definitions that can be copied and adapted for different hardware configurations. Instead of manually creating separate installation tasks for each hardware type, administrators can replicate a base partition table template and modify it to match specific hardware requirements, significantly reducing the time and complexity involved in preparing deployment tasks for diverse hardware.
2Manufacturing precision
If tightly bound partition table definitions are used for each hardware configuration, then OS installation accuracy is improved, but adaptability to diverse hardware decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal OS image package that can be deployed to multiple different hardware configurations. The OS image is designed to be hardware-agnostic and can work with various storage device types (IDE, SCSI, RAID, NAS, fiber-attached drives). Combined with adaptable partition table templates, this universality allows a single OS package to serve multiple hardware platforms while maintaining accurate partitioning through the template mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables adaptability to diverse hardware by allowing partition table templates to be modified through parameter changes rather than complete reconfiguration. Administrators can adjust partition sizes, device names, and mounting points in the template to match specific hardware characteristics, maintaining accuracy while adapting to different storage device types and configurations.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual configuration of partition tables is performed for each hardware type, then deployment precision is improved, but deployment efficiency and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining partition table templates with common partition structures, device names, and mounting point configurations. These templates are prepared in advance for different hardware categories, so when deployment is needed, administrators only need to select the appropriate template and make minimal modifications rather than configuring everything from scratch, significantly improving deployment efficiency while maintaining precision.
4Manufacturing precision
If separate deployment tasks are created for different storage device combinations, then installation accuracy is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables rapid deployment task creation by allowing administrators to copy existing partition table templates and modify them for new hardware configurations. Instead of creating separate tasks for each storage device combination from scratch, the template copying mechanism allows quick adaptation to new hardware types, reducing deployment preparation time while maintaining installation accuracy through the structured template approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for automatically selecting and configuring storage devices according to an abstract partition table definition as part of a scripted operating system installation. The system has a deployment server in data communication with the one or more computers via the communication network. The deployment server has a deployment server storage device and a central processing unit. The deployment server storage device stores an inventory of the computers to which an operating system is to be deployed and a set of partition table requirements defined by one or more qualitative attributes associated with one or more computer storage device partitions. The central processing unit is in communication with the deployment server storage device and executes functions to map the inventory with the set of partition table requirements to create a partition table for each computer to which the operating system is to be deployed.