Unified Server Booting via Remote Disk Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional PXE boot techniques require multiple DHCP and TFTP servers across network segments, making it inefficient and complicated to deploy servers in large-scale mobile networks, especially when geographically distributed data centers need remote OS installation.
Innovation Solution
A server apparatus with a disk mounting unit, boot execution unit, and information setting unit that uses a remote disk to mount an iPXE script for booting and OS installation, eliminating the need for DHCP and TFTP servers by managing configuration and identifier information centrally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional PXE boot technique is used with DHCP server and TFTP server in each network segment, then network booting functionality is achieved, but device complexity and deployment complexity increase significantly in large-scale networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the DHCP server, TFTP server, and OS distribution server functions into a single integrated server system. This consolidation eliminates the need for multiple separate servers across different network segments, reducing deployment complexity while maintaining network booting functionality through a unified server that handles all booting and OS distribution operations
Solution Approach 2:
The server apparatus is designed with multi-functional capabilities, serving as DHCP server, TFTP server, and OS distribution server simultaneously. This universal server can be deployed in a single location yet provides services to multiple network segments, eliminating the need for separate servers in each segment and simplifying the overall system architecture
2Adaptability or versatility
If DHCP relay is set up to enable communication across network segments, then single DHCP server can serve multiple segments, but device complexity and configuration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates DHCP relay functionality directly into the unified server system, combining it with DHCP server and TFTP server functions. This integration eliminates the need for separate DHCP relay configurations across network segments, as the unified server handles all booting and OS distribution operations through its integrated components
3Reliability
If multiple DHCP servers are deployed in geographically distributed data centers, then local network booting is enabled, but loss of time for remote OS installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unified server apparatus provides universal service capability across geographically distributed data centers through network connectivity. It functions as DHCP server, TFTP server, and OS distribution server simultaneously, enabling remote OS installation to be performed from a centralized location without requiring physical presence or separate server deployments in each data center
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables remote OS installation by distributing OS images from a centralized server to multiple target systems across different locations. The unified server copies OS images over the network to installing systems, eliminating the need for physical media distribution or on-site server deployments while maintaining reliable network booting functionality
Data Source
AI summary
To deploy servers in a large-scale network more expeditiously and efficiently, disclosed herein is a server apparatus, comprising: a disk mounting unit configured to receive a command to mount a remote disk from a server management apparatus connected to the server apparatus via a network, and mount the remote disk on the server apparatus according to the received command; a boot execution unit configured to read a script written in the remote disk mounted by the disk mounting unit, and boot the server apparatus; and an information setting unit configured to set configuration information and identifier information of the server apparatus included in the script to the server apparatus.