Updating clients from a server

An embodiment generally relates to a method of updating clients from a server. The method includes maintaining a master copy of a software on a server and capturing changes to the master copy of the software on an update disk image, where the changes are contained in at least one chunk. The method also includes merging the update disk image with one of two client disk images of the client copy of the software.

FIELD

This invention generally relates to client-server systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and system for updating clients from a server.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Large entities such as businesses and educational institutions often connect user computer stations with a network which is in turn connected to a local server. This allows users of the computer stations to share files, programs, software, and the like. Under this arrangement, a network administrator may centrally install and manage software applications on the server to allow each station that is connected to the server to access the software application from the server. This arrangement relieves the network administrator of having to download the new software application onto each individual computer. The stations running the software application remotely from the server are referred to as clients. Clients may store copies of the software applications locally to improve the performance for the user.

When managing distributed client environments, system administrators are often required to centrally manage software deployment. For example, a software application is generally updated directly on the server, typically by installing the new version upgrade from a CD-ROM or by download from a specific location on the Internet or other network. Portions of the application that reside on the client can be downloaded from the server or otherwise installed while the application is not in use.

Keeping the versions of the application straight in these distributed environments can also be quite troublesome. As is often the case, when a new version of software is developed, the system administrator must distribute the new version or otherwise verify that each client on the same network has the new version.

The downtime that is involved with installing new versions of software onto remote clients can create problems. For example, once installation of the new software is completed, the application may need to be restarted on the client and possibly even the entire workstation may have to be restarted before the new version of the software application is accessible. When a new version of a software application is pushed upon the client while the software application is executing, the user is likely to temporarily or permanently lose data. Even when users are alerted and save their data, work is interrupted, and after the installation of the software application update, the user is generally required to restart the application, and in some cases the entire machine. The user is thus left waiting while the machine reboots, the application restarts, the installation process is completed, and the document is found again and reopened.

Providing the client with the new version of a software application is also burdensome on system administrators. For example, when a new or updated version of an application is available for download from the Internet, the system administrator is typically required to verify that each client is aware of the updated version of the application and to verify that the updated version is properly installed on each client.

SUMMARY

An embodiment generally relates to a method of updating clients from a server. The method includes maintaining a master copy of a software on a server and capturing changes to the master copy of the software on an update disk image, where the changes are contained in at least one chunk. The method also includes merging the update disk image with one of two client disk images of the client copy of the software.

Another embodiment pertains generally to a system for updating clients from a server. The system includes a network configured to provide a communication channel, a server configured to comprise of at least one processor, a memory, and at least one server disk. The at least one server disk is configured to store a master copy of a software. The server is also configured to maintain a server disk image of the master copy of the software. The system also includes a plurality of clients, where each client is implemented as a computing platform with at least one processor, memory, and at least one client disk. The client is configured to store and execute a client version of the software and interface with the network. The server is further configured to create and maintain an update disk image that is partitioned into chunks, aggregate changes to the server disk image of the master copy of the software, and transmit the update disk image to at least one client of the plurality of clients over the network. Each client is configured to merge the update disk image to update the client version of the software.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the present invention are described by referring mainly to exemplary embodiments thereof. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that the same principles are equally applicable to, and can be implemented in, all types of distributed environments and that any such variations do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, in the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying figures, which illustrate specific embodiments. Electrical, mechanical, logical and structural changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Embodiments relate generally to methods and systems for updating software. More particularly, an image update process may be configured to aggregate modifications, changes, or updates to software based on copy-on-write (“COW”) disk images and snapshots. A master copy of the software may be stored on an underlying file system that includes at least one disk drive. A logical volume manager (LVM) may generally be configured to manage the file system for a user. In a broad sense, the LVM may present a virtual single disk to the user although the physical data may be spread over multiple disks.

The LVM may include a snapshot feature which may create an image of the disk drive at a certain point in time. The LVM may then use snapshots to manage the file systems. For example, the LVM may create a disk image of the underlying physical disks so the server may provide services based on the disk image. The use of disk images may be preferable for multi-users system as a measure of protection, among other reasons, for the actual data stored on the physical disks. For example, one user may implement a change which may be captured by the disk image. The changes may crash the disk image but this crash would not affect the physical data.

The LVM may also create two more disk images of the server disk image: a snapshot origin logical view (snapshot origin fork) and a snapshot logical view (snapshot fork). Changes to the master software may be made to the underlying disk drive through either logical view. However, the LVM may be configured to manage the two logical views such that changes in the snapshot origin fork are not visible to the snapshot fork and vice-a-versa.

The LVM may also implement a copy-on-write (COW) feature. The LVM may create a COW disk image from the server disk image. The COW disk image may be partitioned into fixed size logical chunks (or blocks). The LVM may utilize the COW disk image to capture changes from the snapshot origin view and the snapshot logical view. More specifically, for changes implemented through the snapshot origin fork, the LVM may be configured to copy a chunk(s) affected by a change from the server disk image to the COW disk image and the change is made to the chunk in the server disk image. For changes implemented through the snapshot fork, the LVM may also be configured to copy chunk(s) affected by changes to the COW disk image and implement the change on the copied chunk on the COW disk image.

Accordingly, various embodiments may use the snapshot origin fork, snapshot fork and the COW disk image to update software in a client-server system. More specifically, an image update process executing on a server may be configured to create a server snapshot origin fork, a server snapshot fork, and a server COW disk image from an original server disk image of the disk(s) that store the client copy of the server software. One example of software may be an operating system such as Linux™, Solaris™, etc. Any modifications, changes, updates to the software may be implemented through the server snapshot fork. The chunks that are affected by the changes are copied from the original server disk image to the COW disk image and those changes are implemented to the COW disk image. Accordingly, the changes to the master copy of the software may be captured in the COW disk image without disrupting the original disk image. The image update process may be further configured to accumulate the changes to the master copy of the software on the COW disk image. A limit to the aggregation of the changes may be based on time, number of changes or other user-specified reasons.

In other embodiments, when the clients of the server boot, a LVM of the clients may be configured to create logical views of the underlying disk storing the cached copy of the software. More particularly, the client may have the disk image of the cached copy of the software with client snapshot logical view (client snapshot fork), a client snapshot logical view (client snapshot client fork), and a client COW disk image to maintain the forked disk images, i.e., the logical views.

The client may also be configured to execute a client update image process that may be configured to contact the server and ask for an update for the software. The server may be configured to transmit the update in the form of the server COW disk image. The server COW disk image may contain an aggregate of changes implemented at the server since the last update or the aggregate of changes from the current version of the client software and the latest version of the software on the server.

When the client image update process receives the update in the form of COW disk image from the server, the client image update process may create a second snapshot based on the client snapshot origin and the received server COW image. Since the received server COW image contains all the changes between the client copy of the software and the server copy of the software and the client snapshot origin contains the current copy of the client software, the second snapshot may contain the server copy of the software as an amalgamation of the received server COW image and the client snapshot origin, i.e., the latest version of the software. The client image update process may then be configured to merge the second snapshot, which contains the current version of the server software, with the client snapshot origin. More specifically, the client image update process may be configured to copy the modified chunks from the server COW disk image to the client snapshot origin. For changes to the snapshot origin, chunks affected by the change are copied from the client disk image to the client COW disk image and the change is made to the chunk in the client disk image. Accordingly, when the merger is complete, the snapshot and the client snapshot origin are identical and the snapshot may be discarded. The client disk image has been updated to the current version of the software on the server. Subsequently, when client boots, the LVM of the clients may create the snapshots and COW disk image based on the newly updated disk image.

FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary system100in accordance with an embodiment. It should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the system100depicted inFIG. 1represents a generalized schematic illustration and that other components may be added or existing components may be removed or modified. Moreover, the system100may be implemented using software components, hardware components, or combinations thereof.

As shown inFIG. 1, the system100includes a server105, clients110and a network115. The server105may be a computing platform configured to execute a multiple user operating system120and associated applications (not shown). The server105may be implemented with server platforms as known to those skilled in the art from Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, Hewlett-Packard, etc.

FIG. 2illustrates a more detailed view of the server105. As shown inFIG. 2, the server105may execute the operating system120. Associated applications205may execute through the operating system120. The operating system120may also interface with at least one disk drive210through a logical volume manager (LVM)215. The disk drive210may store master copies of the operating system (O/S) and the associated applications205such as word processing applications, numerical analysis applications, etc.

The LVM215may be configured to manage the disk drive210for the users. In a broad sense, the LVM215may present a virtual single disk to the user although the physical data may be spread over multiple disks. As part of the file management, the LVM215may use a snapshot which creates an image of the disk drive210at a certain point in time for file management. For example, the LVM215may create a disk image of the underlying physical disks so the server105may provide services based on the disk image. The use of disk images may be preferable for multi-users system as a measure of protection, among other reasons, for the actual data stored on the physical disks. For example, one user may implement a change which may be captured by the disk image. The changes may crash the disk image but this crash would not affect the physical data.

According to various embodiments, the LVM215may be further configured to create two disk images from a disk image of the disk210, i.e., the server disk image, to manage changes to the master copy of software stored on the disk210, as depicted inFIG. 2B. As shown inFIG. 2B, the LVM215may create a server disk image225using the snapshot feature during the boot sequence of the server. The LVM215may also use the snapshot feature to create two additional disk images from the server disk image225: a server snapshot origin disk image (or server snapshot origin fork)230and a server snapshot disk image (or server snapshot fork)235. Any changes to the master copy of the software stored on disk205may be implemented through either snapshot origin fork230or the snapshot fork235. However, the LVM215may be configured to manage the two logical views such that changes on the server snapshot origin fork230are not visible to the server snapshot fork235and changes to the server snapshot fork235are not visible to the server snapshot origin fork230.

Moreover, the LVM215may also be configured to implement a copy-on-write (COW) feature with the server snapshot origin fork230and the server snapshot fork235, as depicted inFIG. 3. As shown inFIG. 3, the LVM215may create a server COW disk image305from the server disk image225. Generally, copy-on-write is a memory allocation strategy where data is written only if it has it been modified. Thus, in various embodiments, the LVM215may partition the server COW disk image305into fixed size logical chunks (or blocks). The LVM215may utilize the server COW disk image305to capture changes from the server snapshot origin fork230and the server snapshot fork235. More specifically, for changes implemented through the server snapshot origin fork230, the LVM215may be configured to copy a chunk(s) affected by a change from the server disk image225to the server COW disk image305and the change is made to the chunk in the server disk image225. For changes implemented through the server snapshot fork235, the LVM215may also be configured to copy chunk(s) affected by changes to the server COW disk image305and implement the change on the copied chunk on the server COW disk image305.

Returning toFIG. 1, the server105may also execute an image update process125configured to manage changes to the master copy of the software. More specifically, the image update process125may direct a user to implement changes to the master copy of the software through the server snapshot fork235. More specifically, an image update process125executing on a server105may be configured to create a server snapshot origin fork230, a server snapshot fork235, and a server COW disk image305from the server disk image225of the disk(s) that store the client copy of the server software. One example of software may be an operating system such as Linux™, Solaris™, etc. Any modifications, changes, updates to the software may be implemented through the server snapshot fork235. The chunks that are affected by the changes are copied from the server disk image225to the server COW disk image305and those changes are implemented to the server COW disk image305. Accordingly, the changes to the master copy of the software may be captured in the server COW disk image305without disrupting the server disk image225. The image update process may be further configured to accumulate the changes to the master copy of the software on the server COW disk image305. A limit to the aggregation of the changes may be based on time, number of changes or other user-specified reasons.

The clients110may be a computing platform configured to connect and interface with the server105. Similar to the server105, a client110may execute a client version of the operating system120′, as depicted inFIG. 4A. As shown inFIG. 4A, associated applications405may execute through the operating system120′. The operating system120′ may also interface with at least one disk drive410through a LVM215′. The disk drive410may store the client copies of the operating system (O/S)120′ and the associated applications405′ such as word processing applications, numerical analysis applications, etc. The LVM215′ manages the disk drive410in a similar manner as the LVM215on the server105as previously described.

In some embodiments, when the client110executes a boot sequence, the LVM215′ may be configured to create logical views of the underlying disk storing the client copy of the server software as depicted inFIG. 4B. As shown inFIG. 4B, the LVM215′ may create a client disk image415of the client copy (or version) of the server software with a client snapshot origin fork logical view (client snapshot origin fork)420, a client snapshot logical view (client snapshot fork)425, and a client COW disk image430to maintain the client snapshot origin fork420and the client snapshot fork425. Similar toFIG. 3on the server, for changes implemented through the client snapshot origin fork420, the LVM215′ may be configured to copy a chunk(s) affected by a change from the client disk image415to the client COW disk image430and the change is made to the chunk in the client disk image415. For changes implemented through the client snapshot fork425, the LVM215′ may also be configured to copy chunk(s) affected by changes to the client COW disk image430and implement the change on the copied chunk on the client COW disk image430.

Returning toFIG. 1, the client110may also be configured to execute a client update image process125′ that may be configured to contact the server and ask for an update for the software. The server105may be configured to transmit the update in the form of the server COW disk image305. The server COW disk image305may contain an aggregate of changes implemented at the server105since the last update or the aggregate of changes from the current version of the client software and the latest version of the software on the server105.

When the client image update process125′ receives the update in the form of server COW disk image from the server105, the client image update process125′ may create a second snapshot based on the client snapshot origin and the received server COW disk image, as depicted inFIG. 4C. As shown inFIG. 4C, the received server COW disk image305contains all the changes between the client copy of the software and the server copy of the software and the client snapshot origin fork420contains the current copy of the client software, the second snapshot435may contain the server copy of the software as an amalgamation of the received server COW disk image305and the client snapshot origin fork420, i.e., the latest version of the software. The client image update process125′ may then be configured to merge the second snapshot435, which contains the current version of the server software, with the client snapshot origin fork420. More specifically, the client image update process may be configured to copy the modified chunks from the server COW disk image305to the client snapshot origin fork420. For changes to the client snapshot origin fork420, chunks affected by the change are copied from the client disk image415to the client COW disk image430and the change is made to the chunk in the client disk image415. Accordingly, when the merger is complete, the second snapshot435and the client snapshot origin fork420are identical and the second snapshot435may be discarded. The client disk image415has been updated to the current version of the software on the server105. Subsequently, when client110boots, the LVM125′ of the client may create the snapshots and COW disk image based on the newly updated disk image.

FIG. 5depicts a flow diagram500implemented by the update image process125of the server105in accordance with an embodiment. It should be readily obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that existing steps may be modified and/or deleted and other steps added inFIG. 5.

As shown inFIG. 5, the image update process125may be invoked on the server105and configured to monitor for changes to the server snapshot fork235, in step505. More specifically, after instantiation, the image update process125may be configured to monitor the server snapshot fork235for any changes, modification or updates to the master copy of the server software. In some embodiments, the software may include operating system, utilities, applets, software applications (e.g., word processing, analysis programs, etc.).

In step510, the image update process125may be configured to detect a change in the server snapshot fork235. For example, a user may be attempting to write a new driver for the operating system120. The image update process125may be configured to determine whether the blocks that are affected by the incoming change have been modified previously, in step515.

If the affected blocks have not been modified, the image update process125may be configured to copy the affected blocks from the server disk image225, in step520. Subsequently, the image update process125may return to the monitoring state of step505. Otherwise, if the affected blocks have been modified, the image update process125may be configured to determine whether the incoming change is being effectuated on either the server snapshot origin fork230or the server snapshot fork235, in step525.

If the changes are being implemented on the server snapshot origin fork230, the image update process125may be configured to copy the affected blocks from the server disk image225to the server COW disk image305, in step530, where the changes are implemented on the server disk image225. Subsequently, the image update process125may return to the monitoring state of step505.

Otherwise, if the changes are being implemented on the server snapshot fork235, the image update process125maybe configured to copy the affected blocks from the server disk image225to the server COW disk image305and implement the change on the blocks on the server COW disk image305, in step530. Subsequently, the image update process125may return to the monitoring state of step505.

FIG. 6illustrates an exemplary flow diagram600implemented by the client image update process125′ in accordance with another embodiment. It should be readily obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that existing steps may be modified and/or deleted and other steps added inFIG. 5.

As shown inFIG. 6, the client image update process125′ may be configured to request an update from the server105, in step605. More specifically, a user may have invoked the client image update process125′ to begin an update process. In other embodiments, the client image update process125′ may be daemon that executes on at a user-defined periodicity such as a week, a month or every six months as mere examples.

In step610, the client image update process125′ may be configured to receive the update from the user in the form of the server COW disk image305. In step615, the client image update process125′ may be configured to create a second snapshot435based on the client snapshot origin fork420and the received server COW disk image305. Since the received server COW disk image305contains all the changes between the client copy of the software and the server copy of the software and the client snapshot origin fork420contains the current copy of the client software, the second snapshot435may contain the server copy of the software as an amalgamation of the received server COW image305and the client snapshot origin fork420, i.e., the latest version of the software.

In step620, the client image update process125′ may be configured to merge the second snapshot435, which contains the current version of the server software, with the client snapshot origin420. More specifically, the client image update process125′ may be configured to copy the modified chunks from the server COW disk image305to the client snapshot origin420. For changes to the snapshot origin fork420, chunks affected by the change are copied from the client disk image415to the client COW disk image430and the change is made to the chunk in the client disk image415.

In step625, since the second snapshot435and the client snapshot origin fork420are identical after the merger, the client image update process125′ may be configured to discard the second snapshot435. Subsequently, the client image update process125′ may return to an idle state or exit to be be invoked at a later time.

Accordingly, the client disk image415has been updated to the current version of the software on the server. Subsequently, when client110boots, the LVM215′ of the client110may create the snapshots and COW disk image based on the newly updated disk image.

FIG. 7illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computing platform700where an embodiment may be practiced. The functions of the image update and client image update processes may be implemented in program code and executed by the computing platform700. The error reporting application may be implemented in computer languages such as PASCAL, C, C++, JAVA, etc.

As shown inFIG. 7, the computer system700includes one or more processors, such as processor702that provide an execution platform for embodiments of the image update and client image update processes. Commands and data from the processor702are communicated over a communication bus704. The computer system700also includes a main memory706, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), where the image update and client image update processes may be executed during runtime, and a secondary memory708. The secondary memory708includes, for example, a hard disk drive710and/or a removable storage drive712, representing a floppy diskette drive, a magnetic tape drive, a compact disk drive, etc., where a copy of a computer program embodiment for the image update and client image update processes may be stored. The removable storage drive712reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit714in a well-known manner. A user interfaces with the error reporting application with a keyboard716, a mouse718, and a display720. A display adapter722interfaces with the communication bus704and the display720and receives display data from the processor702and converts the display data into display commands for the display720.

Certain embodiments may be performed as a computer program. The computer program may exist in a variety of forms both active and inactive. For example, the computer program can exist as software program(s) comprised of program instructions in source code, object code, executable code or other formats; firmware program(s); or hardware description language (HDL) files. Any of the above can be embodied on a computer readable medium, which include storage devices and signals, in compressed or uncompressed form. Exemplary computer readable storage devices include conventional computer system RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), EPROM (erasable, programmable ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable, programmable ROM), and magnetic or optical disks or tapes. Exemplary computer readable signals, whether modulated using a carrier or not, are signals that a computer system hosting or running the present invention can be configured to access, including signals downloaded through the Internet or other networks. Concrete examples of the foregoing include distribution of executable software program(s) of the computer program on a CD-ROM or via Internet download. In a sense, the Internet itself, as an abstract entity, is a computer readable medium. The same is true of computer networks in general.