Apparatus, system, and method for managing policies on a computer having a foreign operating system

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing policies on a computer having a foreign operating system. Policies may specify hardware or software configuration information. Policies on a first computer with a native operating system are translated into configuration information usable on a second computer having a foreign operating system. In an embodiment, a translator manager manages the association between the policy on the first computer and the translator on the second computer. Computer management complexity and information technology management costs are reduced by centralizing computer management on the native operating system. Further reductions in management complexity are realized when the present invention is used in conjunction with network directory services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to managing groups of computers and more particularly relates to managing policies for configuring hardware or software settings on groups of computers with a plurality of operating systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

A major concern of information technology management in corporations and other organizations has been balancing the complexity associated with managing large numbers of computers with the needs of individual users as they try to accomplish their tasks. A heterogeneous set of computer hardware, operating systems, and application software creates complexity and increased costs, but various combinations of hardware, operating systems, and software provide technical advantages when used as user workstations, departmental servers, corporate infrastructure equipment, and the like. User workstations are particularly difficult to manage when various needs and preferences of individual users are accommodated. For example, an engineer may require the use of a CAD system that runs only on the UNIX™ operating system, where other corporate users may be standardized on the Microsoft Windows™ operating system and associated applications. Many similar compatibility issues exists among current computer systems.

One factor that adds to the complexity of managing various operating systems is that different operating systems employ different techniques for setting configuration information. For example, Microsoft Windows™ and applications that run on Windows typically use a database, called the registry, to store configuration information. Computers running the UNIX operating system or derivatives thereof such as LINUX typically store configuration information in plain text files in particular locations in the file system directory. Information technology managers within an organization that uses heterogeneous operating systems typically institute separate sets of management procedures and standards for each operating system used in the organization.

One component of prior art solutions to the problem of managing large numbers of computers and users is the use of policies. Policies are used to set configurable options associated with an operating system or application program for a group of computer users. For example, a word processing program may have an option to select an American English dictionary or a British English dictionary. By creating one policy for its users in the United States and another policy for its users in England, an organization can set the appropriate option for all users without configuring each user's computer individually.

Another component of prior art solutions to the problem of managing groups of computers and users is the use of network directory services. Directory services provide an infrastructure to store and access information about network-based entities, such as applications, files, printers, and people. Directory services provide a consistent way to name, describe, locate access, manage, and secure information about these resources. The directories associated with directory services are typically hierarchical structures such as a tree with each node in the hierarchy capable of storing information in a unit often referred to as a container. Enterprises may use directory servers and directory services to centrally manage data that is accessed from geographically dispersed locations.

For example, corporations typically create network directory trees that mirror their corporate organizations. Information about individual employees, such as their employee number, telephone number, and hire date may be stored in a user object corresponding to each user in the directory tree. An organizational unit container representing each department may contain the user objects associated with each employee in the department. Organizational unit objects associated with each corporate division may contain the department organizational unit objects associated with each department in the division. Finally, an organization container representing the corporation as a whole may contain the company's division organizational unit objects.

Combining the use of policies and directory services facilitates management of groups of computers and users. Policies may be associated with the various containers in the directory services tree to store associated configuration information at the organization, division, or departmental level. For example, a policy may be associated with the Accounts Receivable container in a corporate organization to set options for the accounting program used in that department. Exceptions to the policy can be managed on an individual level, or by creating a group object and associating a policy with the group. Suppose, for example, that all employees in an organization use a software application with a particular set of configuration options, but department managers require a different set of options. A policy could be created with the basic set of options and associated with the organization container. A separate policy with the configuration options for managers could be created and assigned to a Managers user group object.

Using policies and directory services in combination has proven efficient in homogeneous operating system environments. Prior art computer management systems use policies targeted toward a specific operating system, referred to as the native operating system. From the point of view of prior art policy and policy management systems, other operating systems are considered to be foreign operating systems. However, the operating requirements of many organizations require information technology managers to manage multiple operating systems. The efficiencies associated with policies and directory services have not been realized in heterogeneous operating system environments. Since different operating systems use different approaches to setting configuration information, a policy associated with a directory services container may be applied to users of a native operating system that provided the policies, but there may not be a method for applying the policy for users of a foreign operating system.

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus, system, and method that extend the use of policies to manage configuration information on computers having operating systems that are foreign to the policy creation and management environment. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would control cost and complexity associated with management of computers with heterogeneous operating systems within an organization. The benefits are multiplied when network directory services are used in conjunction with policies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available policy management systems. Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus, system, and method for managing policies on a computer having a foreign operating system that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art.

In one aspect of the present invention, a method for managing policies on a computer having a foreign operating system includes providing a policy on a first computer with a native operating system, receiving the policy on a second computer with a foreign operating system, and translating the policy to configuration information usable on the second computer. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving the policy on the second computer at workstation start-up. The method also may include updating the policy at user login. These embodiments facilitate obtaining the current policy at the time they are typically needed by operating systems.

In further embodiments, the method includes polling the first computer at periodic intervals for changes to the policy. In these embodiments, configuration information usable on the second computer are updated to reflect changes in policy on the first computer, to keep the configuration information and policy closely synchronized. The method may also con include applying configuration information associated with directory services containers and objects. For example, a policy associated with a directory services organization container may be translated to configuration information that may then be applied to all users in the organization container.

In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus to manage policies on a computer having a foreign operating system includes a policy on a first computer having a native operating system, a policy translator that translates the policy to configuration information usable on a second computer having foreign operating system, and a translator manager that manages the association between the policy on the first computer and the translator on the second computer. The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to manage configuration information usable on a second computer having a foreign operating system by means of policies on a first computer having a native operating system. A translator manager manages the association between the policy on the first computer, and a policy translator on the second computer.

The apparatus is further configured, in one embodiment, to include policies associated with network directory services containers and objects. Policies may be associated, for example, with organization containers, organizational unit containers, and user objects, facilitating the configuration of hardware or software information for groups of computer users at a corporate, department, or individual level.

Various elements of the present invention may be combined into a system arranged to carry out the functions or steps presented above. In one embodiment, the system includes two computers, the first having a native operating system and the second having a foreign operating system. In particular, the system, in one embodiment, includes a directory services server and database, a communications network, a policy, a policy editor, a policy template, a translator manager, and a policy translator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1depicts one embodiment of a typical prior art networking environment100that demonstrates the issues regarding managing currently deployed enterprises. As depicted, the networking environment100includes one or more servers110, a network120, and one or more networked computers130. The components of the networking environment100may reside at a single site or may be dispersed over multiple sites.

Some of the servers110may be directory servers or domain servers which can function as a registry for resources and users of the networking environment100. The network120may include routers, bridges, hubs, gateways, or the like which facilitate communications among the components of the networking environment100. Some of the networked computers130may execute legacy applications and operating systems that are unable to integrate with the servers110that are directory servers.

Some of the networked computers130may be used to run utility applications to manage the servers110that are directory servers and features of the directory service that runs on the servers110. These networked computers130that manage the directory service typically do not include functionality to manage foreign operating systems that may run on other networked computers130.

FIG. 2is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a prior art policy management apparatus200. The prior art policy management apparatus200includes a policy template210, a policy editor220, a first computer260having a native operating system, and a second computer270having the same native operating system. The first computer260includes a policy manager230a, a policy-related file240, and a configuration information database250a. The second computer270includes a policy manager230b, and a configuration information database250b. This apparatus is configured to efficiently manage a group of computers having like operating systems.

An administrative user may use a policy template210and a policy editor220to control the operation of the policy manager230a. The policy template210and the policy editor220may be located on the first computer260or may be on another computer. The policy manager230amay use a policy-related file240and settings (i.e. information) in a configuration information database250ato record the policy settings created by the administrative user.

As a means for efficiently managing a group of computers with like operating systems, a policy manager230bin a second computer270may be configured to obtain policy settings by reading from the policy-related file240or the configuration information con database250aon the first computer260, as represented by the dashed lines233and236inFIG. 2. The policy manager230bmay then make settings to the configuration information database250bon the second computer270.

The policy may include configuration information that applies specifically to the second computer270, or to a specific user or any of a group of users of the second computer270. Configuration information may be associated with network directory services containers and objects. For example, by associating configuration information with an organizational unit container, the behavior of an application can be controlled for all users in a company department. Configuration information may be assigned to containers and objects at various levels in a directory services hierarchy, facilitating management of hardware and software configuration information at various organizational, geographical, or individual levels. For example, application configuration information may be associated with an organization container, organizational unit container, and user object in a network directory services hierarchy, resulting in application configuration options being assigned at corporate, departmental, and individual levels in an organization.

FIG. 3is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a policy management system300in accordance with the present invention. The depicted policy management system300includes a network310, a first computer320, and a second computer340. The first computer320includes a policy template322, a policy editor324, a policy manager230, a policy-related file326, and a configuration information database250. The depicted second computer340includes a translator manager342, a translator344, and a policy-related file346. The policy management system300facilitates management of a group of computers with multiple operating systems by using the first computer320as a reference computer from which configuration information are replicated to other computers in a workgroup, or the like. The policy management system300depicted inFIG. 3represents a peer-oriented embodiment of the present invention, where the first computer320and the second computer340are workstations, and no server is required.

An administrative user may use a policy template322and policy editor324to control the operation of the policy manager230. The policy manager230may use a policy-related file326and settings or information in a configuration information database250to record the policy settings created by the administrative user. The translation manager342in the second computer340may be configured to obtain policy settings by reading from the policy-related file326and the configuration information database250on the first computer320, as represented by the dashed lines333and336inFIG. 3. The translation manager342then passes the policy settings obtained from the first computer320to the translator344to translate to configuration information that may be stored in a policy-related file346on the second computer340. In some embodiments, the translator344modifies configuration information stored in a plurality of files. The policy-related file346may not be exclusively dedicated to storing policy information. For example, the policy-related file346may contain non-policy data or code. In some embodiments, the operating system on the first computer320may provide an event notification system that notifies the translation manager342that changes have been made to the policy-related file326or the configuration information database250.

FIG. 4is schematic block diagram illustrating another embodiment of a policy management system400in accordance with the present invention. The policy management system400includes a server410, network310, a first computer320, and a second computer340. The server410includes a policy-related file413, and a configuration information database416. The first computer320includes a policy template322, a policy editor324, and a policy manager230. The second computer340includes a translation manager342, a translator344, and a policy-related file346. The policy management system400facilitates management of a group of computers having multiple operating systems by replicating configuration information from a server410, such as a directory server. The policy management system400depicted inFIG. 4represents a client-server-oriented embodiment of the present invention, where configuration information are stored on a server410and replicated to client workstations represented by the second computer340.

As with the embodiment depicted inFIG. 3, an administrative user may use a policy template322and policy editor324to control the operation of the policy manager230. In this embodiment, however, the policy manager230may use a policy-related file413and settings in a configuration information database416to record the policy settings created by the administrative user on a server410. The translation manager342in the second computer340may be configured to obtain policy settings by reading from the policy-related file413and the configuration information database416on the server410, as represented by the dashed lines433and436inFIG. 4. The translation manager342then passes the policy settings obtained from the first computer320to the translator344to translate to configuration information that may be stored in a policy-related file346on the second computer340.

The following schematic flow chart diagrams that follow are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps, methods, and orderings may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method.

FIG. 5is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a provide translator method500in accordance with the present invention. The provide translator method500includes a provide policy template step520, and a provide policy translator step530. The provide translator method500provides modules that facilitate translation of policy settings from a native operating system to a foreign operating system.

The provide policy template step520provides a policy template such as the policy template322to be used in conjunction with the policy editor324, or the like. As detailed inFIG. 3and elsewhere, the policy template322constrains policy editing, such that policies created by the policy editor324conform to requirements of the first computer320. For example, the policy template322may ensure that configuration information car delivered to the policy manager230conform to a required syntax, or that numerical values fall within a meaningful range. The provide policy template step520may provide a plug-in module to an operating system utility program. In some embodiments, the provide policy template step520provides a wizard program module that guides a user through the process of creating a policy.

The provide policy translator step530provides a translator344that translates configuration information from the first computer320having a native operating system to the second computer340having a foreign operating system. The provide policy translator step530may place the translator344in a file system directory known to the translator manager342. In some embodiments, the provide policy translator step530may register the file system location of the translator344with the translator manager342. Upon completion of the provide policy translator step530, the provide translator method500ends540.

FIG. 6is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a policy translation method600in accordance with the present invention. The policy translation method600includes a provide policy step620, a receive policy step630, a translate policy step640, an update configuration step650, an update on start-up test655, a wait for start-up step660, an update on login test665, a wait for login step670, a refresh time test675, and a terminate test685. The policy translation method600translates policies on a first computer320having a native operating system to policies for a second computer340having a foreign operating system.

The provide policy step620provides a policy on the first computer320having a native operating system. The provide policy step620may be performed by an administrative user using a policy template322, policy editor324, and/or policy manager230. The policy may be contained in a policy-related file326and a configuration information database250on the first computer320. In some embodiments, the policy may be contained in a policy-related file413and a configuration information database416on a server410, such as a directory server.

The receive policy step630receives the policy on the second computer340having a foreign operating system. The receive policy step630may be performed by a translator manager342on the second computer340. The translator manager342may copy the policy from a policy-related file326and a configuration information database250on the first computer320. In other embodiments, the translator manager342may copy the policy from a policy-related file413and a configuration information database416on a server410, such as a directory server. The translator manager342transmits the policy to a translator344.

The translate policy step640translates configuration information from the first computer320having a native operating system to the second computer340having a foreign operating system. The translate policy step740may be performed by a translator344on the second computer340. The translator344receives the policy from the translator manager342and translates the policy to foreign operating system configuration information used by the second computer340.

The update configuration step650applies the configuration information translated by the translator344. The update configuration step650may be performed by a translator344on the second computer340having a foreign operating system. After translating the policy to foreign operating system configuration information, the translator344applies the policy by saving the configuration information in a policy-related file346. In some embodiments, configuration information may be saved in a plurality of policy-related files346.

The update on start-up test655determines whether the policy is to be applied at workstation start-up. A policy may contain configuration information for all users of the second computer340. Many operating systems apply configuration information at workstation start-up. Updating configuration information on the second computer340during workstation start-up makes the updated settings available for application during the workstation start-up process. If the policy is to be updated at workstation start-up, the policy translation method600continues with the wait for start-up step660, otherwise the policy translation method600continues with the update on login test665.

The wait for start-up step660waits for the second computer340to reach a point in the workstation start-up process where computer resources are available for the second computer340to receive the policy from the first computer320. The wait for start-up step660includes setting a configuration setting that causes the policy translation method600to continue with the receive policy step630at workstation start-up. The wait for start-up step660facilitates receiving the current version of the policy so that configuration information may be applied to the second computer340at workstation start-up, when many operating systems typically read configuration information. Updating a policy at workstation start-up is particularly advantageous to workstation-specific configuration information.

The update on login test665determines whether the policy is to be applied at user login. A policy may contain configuration information that applies to a specific user or any of a group of users of the second computer340. In some embodiments, configuration information may be associated with network directory services containers and objects. For example, by associating configuration information with an organizational unit container, the behavior of an application can be controlled for all users in a company department. Updating configuration information on the second computer340makes the current version of the settings available for application for the user logging in. If the policy is to be updated at user login, the policy translation method600continues with the wait for login method670, otherwise the policy translation method600continues with the refresh time test675.

The wait for login step670waits for a user to log in to the second computer340to receive the policy from the first computer320. The wait for login step670includes setting a configuration setting that causes the policy translation method700to continue with the receive policy step630at user login. The wait for login step670facilitates receiving the current version of the policy so that configuration information may be applied to the second computer340at user login, when many operating systems typically read configuration information. Updating a policy at user login is particularly advantageous to user-specific configuration information.

The refresh time test675determines whether it is time to check for updates to the policy on the first computer320. In some embodiments, the refresh time test675polls the first computer320at periodic intervals for changes to the policy. The polling interval may be configurable by the user or may itself be a setting configurable by a policy. In some embodiments, the refresh time test675may include a means for the first computer320to notify the second computer340that a change has been made to the policy, and that the policy should be refreshed on the second computer340. If the refresh time has arrived, the policy translation method600continues with the receive policy step630, otherwise it continues with the terminate test685.

The terminate test685determines whether the refresh time test675should be repeated, or if the policy translation method600should terminate. In some embodiments, the policy translation method600may be terminated to facilitate deallocation of memory or other computer resources when the second computer340is shut down, or to allow for system maintenance. If the policy translation method is not to be terminated, it continues with the refresh time test675, other wise it ends690.

FIG. 7is a text diagram illustrating one embodiment of policy translation example data in accordance with the present invention. The policy translation example data700includes policy template data710, policy manager input data720, native policy-related file data730, and translated policy-related file data740. The policy translation example data may be generated in accordance with the policy translation method600and the policy management system300.

The policy template data710is one example of the policy template322. The policy template322may reside on the first computer320having a native operating system or on a third computer, such as an administrative workstation. The policy template data710may comprise plain ASCII text used to constrain data input accepted by the policy editor324by identifying names of data objects that the policy editor324will allow the user to edit. Policy template data710may also contain the text of prompts or other fields that control the user interface presented by the policy editor324. Using the policy template322, the policy editor324may accept input from an administrative user and generate input data for the policy manager230.

Policy manager input data720illustrates the format of data that may be generated by the policy editor324. In various embodiments, in accordance with the provide policy step620, the policy manager230may accept the policy manager input data720from a file created by the policy editor324, from a file created by an administrative user, or communicated directly from the policy editor324to the policy manager230via interprocess communication. The policy manager230may alter the format or contents of the policy manager input data720. In some embodiments, the policy manager creates a policy-related file326and enters the location of the policy-related file326in the configuration settings database250.

The native policy-related file data730is a textual representation of binary data in one embodiment of the policy-related file326. The native policy-related file data730is generated by the policy manager230, and in preparation for the receive policy step630, is stored in a format and location typically used with the native operating system in use on the first computer320. In the depicted embodiment, the native policy-related file data730comprises mixed binary and UNICODE text delimited by square brackets.

The translated policy-related file data740is one example of the policy-related file346. In accordance with the translate policy step640, the translator344translates the policy data received from the translator manager342to data usable by the foreign operating system used by the second computer340. The depicted translated policy-related file data740is one example of a configuration file that a translator344has converted from mixed binary and UNICODE format to plain ASCII text format, and filtered to include only data usable by the foreign operating system in use on the second computer340. In the depicted example, the translated policy-related file data740comprises a list of user names that will be allowed to log in to the second computer340.