Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-14
2004-02-03
Heckler, Thomas M. (Department: 2185)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
C709S220000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06687817
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of computer networks. More particularly, the invention relates to configuring a network attached device through the network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computer networks have become commonplace and heavily relied upon tools. While actual implementations of a network can vary greatly, a generic representation of a network can be given.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram illustrating a typical network. In this example an Ethernet network
110
is shown. Such a network may utilize the common Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Of course, many other types of networks and protocols are available and are commonly used. However, for illustrative purposes, Ethernet and TCP/IP will be referred to.
Connected to this network
110
are computers
120
,
130
, and
160
and other devices
140
and
150
. The computers
120
,
130
, and
160
may include a network administrator terminal
120
. A human operator could use this network administrator terminal
120
to monitor and maintain the network. The devices
140
and
150
may include network attached storage devices such as a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) or other types of devices. The number and arrangement of this equipment may vary depending on the application.
In order to remain useful over time, such a network must be scalable. In other words, making additions to the network must be relatively easy. Normally, whenever a new device is added to an existing computer network it must be configured to operate within that network. Information must be provided to the device to be used by the setup programs in the operating system of the device. This information can include the IP address, device name, domain name and others.
FIG. 2
is a block diagram illustrating a prior art approach to configuring a new device attached to a network. In this example a network
210
made up of computers
220
,
230
, and
260
and a device
240
is illustrated. A new device
250
is added to the network
210
. However, before this device
250
can be accessed through the network
210
, it must be configured to communicate on that network. Therefore, configuration of the new device
250
cannot be done using the existing computers
220
,
230
, or
260
on the network
210
. A common method of configuring the new device
250
is to connect a configuration tool
270
such as a laptop computer to the new device
250
using a serial link
280
. A human operator can then write the proper configuration data to the new device
250
through the configuration tool
270
. Once the configuration data has been set, the new device
250
can be rebooted and begin operating in the network
210
.
One drawback to such a method is that the new device must be completely booted and then, after configuration is done, rebooted so that the operating system can rerun network setup programs utilizing the new configuration data. Such a process is time consuming and frustrating for human operators.
Another drawback of this method is the need for additional equipment. Since the new device cannot communicate on the network until configured, existing computers cannot be used to write the configuration data to the new device thereby necessitating additional equipment, such as the configuration tool
270
.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6061332 (2000-05-01), Branton, Jr. et al.
patent: 6496858 (2002-12-01), Frailong et al.
Blakely & Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman
Heckler Thomas M.
Sun Microsystems Inc.
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