Patent ID: 7870266
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method performed by a computer, comprising: selecting one of plural techniques of obtaining an address of a management server, wherein one of the plural techniques comprises the computer exchanging configuration messaging with a configuration server to obtain the address of the management server, wherein a second of the plural techniques comprises the computer sending a broadcast message to the management server to obtain the address of the management server, wherein the second of the plural techniques is selected in response to determining that the address of the management server was not successfully obtained using the exchange of configuration messaging between the computer and the configuration server; and after obtaining the address of the management server, establishing, by the computer, communication with the management server to request the management server to perform a management task with respect to the computer, wherein the management task is one or more selected from the group consisting of the management server obtaining information regarding one or more of hardware and software of the computer, and the management sever retrieving a software image from the computer.