Patent ID: 6085244
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of monitoring a first computer system from a second computer system, the first computer system including a plurality of monitored computers linked together by a network, comprising:executing diagnostics programs on the monitored computers to generate diagnostic results, the diagnostic results including an indication of currently installed components on each of the monitored computers;communicating the diagnostic results, including the indication of currently installed components to the second computer system, at a programmable periodic interval;comparing, in the second computer system, the indication of currently installed components on each of the monitored computers with a previously received indication of installed components, to determine if a different component configuration exists on any of the monitored computers;providing a notification indication if the different component configuration exists;in response to the notification indication, when the different configuration includes a new component providing a new diagnostic test for the new component to the first computer system from the second computer system;receiving at one of the monitored computers the new diagnostic test and indicating information of which of the monitored computers require the new test; andproviding the new test to selected ones of the monitored computers according to the indicating information.