Patent ID: 7395324
Filing Date: 2008-07-01
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of remotely maintaining a client computer from a server computer, wherein the client computer comprises a plurality of attributes, a network interface card (NIC) and a local operating system, the method comprising the steps of: providing a preboot attribute determination application from the server computer to the client computer via the network interface card prior to said client computer loading said local operating system; determining said plurality of attributes of said client computer with the preboot attribute determination application executing on said client computer prior to said client computer loading said local operating system; receiving said plurality of attributes from said client computer at the server computer; automatically selecting one of a plurality of management instruction sets stored on said server computer for said client computer, wherein said one of said plurality of management instruction sets is selected by said server computer based upon said plurality of attributes of said client computer determined by said preboot attribute determination program; and providing said one of said plurality of management instructions from said server computer to said client computer to thereby allow said client computer to execute said one of said plurality of management instruction sets at said client computer prior to loading said local operating system.