Patent ID: 8019845
Filing Date: 2011-09-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method in a data processing system for managing a plurality of servers using profiles, the computer implemented method comprising: performing an action on the plurality of servers, wherein performing the action comprises running a security scan on the plurality of servers; responsive to performing the action on the plurality of servers, automatically creating a profile based on results of the actions performed on the plurality of servers, wherein the profile includes a set of search criteria comprising one or more server attributes, and wherein the profile is a dynamic profile, at least one of the set of search criteria for the dynamic profile comprising one or more user-definable server attribute variables, wherein automatically creating the profile comprises responsive to running a security scan on the plurality of servers, creating the profile based on results of the security of scan, wherein a first profile is created for servers in the plurality of servers that passed the security scan and a second profile is created for servers in the plurality of servers that failed the security scan; obtaining a list of attributes of each server in the data processing system; grouping servers in the plurality of servers whose attributes meet the set of search criteria specified in the profile to form a profile group, wherein the servers are grouped into a hierarchy of profiles, with all servers being members of a root profile, and each server being a member of its own profile at a leaf; and performing an administrative action on all of the servers in the profile group simultaneously, wherein the administrative action comprises a single action that creates configuration updates specific to each server in the profile group.