Server Imaging with Deployment Neutral Settings
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing technologies for integrated computer server imaging face challenges in efficiently creating and deploying configured operating systems and applications across multiple computers, leading to time-consuming and error-prone processes, especially for users lacking expertise in reconfiguring systems installed from images.
Innovation Solution
The development of technologies that allow for the creation of computer server installation images with deployment neutral settings, enabling the installation of configured operating systems and applications across multiple servers, with the option to apply deployment specific settings post-installation, along with methods for genericizing software to prepare it for imaging, facilitating the creation of multi-server environments with various services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a user creates an image of an operating system configured on a specific computer, then the operating system can be quickly installed on other computers, but the configuration values specific to the original computer cause problems for users who cannot reconfigure the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the operating system image with generic configuration values during the imaging process, before deployment. This allows the image to be ready for immediate installation without requiring post-installation reconfiguration by the user, thus maintaining both fast deployment and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the configuration parameters from computer-specific values to generic values that can work across multiple computer environments. This parameter transformation enables the operating system image to function correctly on various target computers without requiring users to modify configuration settings after installation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a user manually installs and configures each application and computer individually, then each system can be customized to specific requirements, but the process becomes time consuming and error prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual installation and configuration tasks into a single integrated imaging process. By combining the operating system installation, application installation, and configuration steps into one pre-configured image, the system maintains adaptability through generic settings while dramatically reducing the time and effort required for deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal operating system image that can be deployed across multiple different computer environments. The image contains generic configuration values and installed applications that function across various target systems, providing both customization capability through the generic configuration and time efficiency through single-image deployment.
3Manufacturing precision
If configuration values are specific to the original computer, then the operating system is optimized for that computer, but users lack knowledge or ability to reconfigure for other computers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms computer-specific configuration parameters into generic parameters during the imaging process. This parameter change maintains configuration accuracy by ensuring the operating system is properly configured, while eliminating the need for user expertise in reconfiguration since the generic values work across multiple computer environments.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer server installation images can be created by installing and configuring software, such as an operating system and an application, on a computer server with deployment neutral settings and then imaging the server. A plurality of computer servers can be installed using a plurality of computer server installation images. A first server can be installed with a first image, and software installed from the image can be configured with deployment specific settings. A second server can be installed with a second image, and software installed from the image can be configured with deployment specific settings.