Abstract:
A method for performing software discovery by an installer controller is provided and may include detecting, at a computer, an attempt by a software installer to execute on the computer, wherein during execution, the software installer modifies software on the computer. A Software Asset Management (SAM) computer server may be queried for an approval status corresponding to a software package provided by the software installer. The installer controller executes the software installer upon receiving on the returned approval status; aggregates a result from the execution of the software installer based on the software installer modifying the software on the computer; and updates a discovery software signature on the computer when the returned approval status is marked as known.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the field of computer systems, and more particularly, to building a catalog of installed software. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Software is commonly deployed on computer desktops by an installation package that may be provided by a software vendor. A user invokes an installer program, which extracts and copies files from the installation package and then adds information about the software to platform-dependent locations, such as a registry, where the operating system may manage the software inventory. Exemplary installer programs that the software vendor may use to package and deploy popular software include InstallAnywhere and InstallShield. Actions performed by an installer program are well-defined and may be monitored and customized depending on for example, the requirements of the software vendor or the software management guidelines at a business enterprise&#39;s computer environment. 
     Current Software Asset Management (SAM) solutions for performing software discovery within a computer environment often include distributing a software catalog to agents that are running on client workstations. The software catalog may include a set of discovery rules for the agents to use for each software package or program when scanning filesystems, registries, lists of running processes, and the like. However, computing resources may be unnecessarily used on redundant scans of client workstations, even though no software deployment activities have occurred. Additionally, considering the diversity of software products likely to be found in a business enterprise&#39;s computing environment, the maintenance costs associated with the software catalogs may be prohibitive. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Among other things, a method and system of performing software discovery by an installer controller is provided. According to an embodiment of the invention, a method of performing software discovery by an installer controller may include: detecting, at a computer, an attempt by a software installer to execute on the computer, wherein during execution, the software installer modifies software on the computer; querying a Software Asset Management (SAM) computer server for an approval status corresponding to a software package provided by the software installer; executing the software installer upon receiving the returned approval status; aggregating a result from the execution of the software installer based on the software installer modifying the software on the computer; and updating a discovery software signature on the computer when the returned approval status is marked as known. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a computer program product for performing software discovery by an installer controller may be provided. The computer program product may include an installer controller of SAM system embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The installer controller may include code executable by a processor to perform a method that may include detecting, at a computer, an attempt by a software installer to execute on the computer, wherein during execution, the software installer modifies software on the computer; querying a Software Asset Management (SAM) computer server for an approval status corresponding to a software package provided by the software installer; executing the software installer upon receiving the returned approval status; aggregating a result from the execution of the software installer based on the software installer modifying the software on the computer; and updating a discovery software signature on the computer when the returned approval status is marked as known. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a computer system for performing software discovery by an installer controller may be provided. The computer system may include one or more processors, one or more computer-readable storage devices, and a plurality of program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors. The plurality of program instructions may include program instructions to detect, at a computer, an attempt by a software installer to execute on the computer, wherein during execution, the software installer modifies software on the computer; program instructions to query a Software Asset Management (SAM) server for an approval status corresponding to a software package provided by the software installer; program instructions to execute the software installer upon receiving the returned approval status; program instructions to aggregate a result from the execution of the software installer based on the software installer modifying the software on the computer; and program instructions to update a discovery software signature on the computer when the returned approval status is marked as known. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. The various features of the drawings are not to scale as the illustrations are for clarity in facilitating one skilled in the art in understanding the invention in conjunction with the detailed description. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a system for performing software discovery by an installer controller; 
         FIG. 2A  is a flow diagram illustrating an overview of an exemplary embodiment of a method for performing software discovery by an installer controller from a client workstation&#39;s perspective; 
         FIG. 2B  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method for performing software discovery by an installer controller from a SAM system&#39;s perspective; and 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of hardware and software of the computer environment according to an embodiment of the method of  FIGS. 2A-2B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures. Referring to  FIGS. 1-2B , a system  100  and method  200  provide an exemplary implementation for performing software discovery by an installer controller. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a system  100  for performing software discovery by an installer controller. The networked system  100  includes a Software Asset Management Server (SAM) server  102 . The SAM server  102  may also be connected to other computers and servers via a network  130 . In general, the network  130  may be a telecommunications network and/or a wide area network (WAN). In a particular embodiment, the network  130  is the Internet. 
     The SAM server  102  generally includes a processor  104  connected via a bus  120  to a memory  106 , a network interface device  118 , a storage  114 , an input device  122 , and an output device  124 . The SAM server  102  is generally under the control of an operating system  108 , such as for example Linux. More generally, any operating system supporting the functions disclosed herein may be used. The processor  104  is included to be representative of a single CPU, multiple CPUs, a single CPU having multiple processing cores, and the like. Similarly, the memory  106  may be a random access memory. While the memory  106  is shown as a single identity, it should be understood that the memory  106  may comprise a plurality of modules, and that the memory  106  may exist at multiple levels, from high speed registers and caches to lower speed but larger DRAM chips. The network interface device  118  may be any type of network communications device allowing the SAM server  102  to communicate with other computers via the network  130 . 
     The storage  114  may be a persistent storage device. Although the storage  114  is shown as a single unit, the storage  114  may be a combination of fixed and/or removable storage devices, such as fixed disc drives, solid state drives, floppy disc drives, tape drives, removable memory cards or optical storage. The memory  106  and the storage  114  may be part of one virtual address space spanning multiple primary and secondary storage devices. 
     The input device  122  may be any device for providing input to the SAM server  102 . For example, a workstation configured with a keyboard and/or a mouse may be used. A SAM administrator may use the input device  122  to manage the operations of the SAM server  102 . The output device  124  may be any device for providing output to a user of the SAM server  102 . For example, the output device  124  may be any conventional display screen or set of speakers. Additionally, the output device  124  may be a printer to which the SAM administrator may send reports relating to software inventory. Although shown separately from the input device  122 , the output device  124  and input device  122  may be combined. For example, a display screen with an integrated touch-screen may be used. 
     As shown, the memory  106  of the SAM server  102  includes SAM application modules  110  configured to manage the inventory contained in one or more software inventory databases  115 , contained in the storage  114  of the SAM server  102 . Each software inventory database  115  may store data used by the SAM server  102  to manage a software inventory catalog for business enterprise&#39;s computing environment. In an exemplary embodiment as shown, the memory  106  of SAM server  102  also contains DBMS modules  112  where a DBMS is associated with the SAM server  102  for the storage and management of the software inventory database(s)  115 . A client workstation  125  is shown communicating with the SAM server through a network  130 . Software modules, such as a SAM agent  126  and an installer controller  127  may be installed on the client workstation  125  to facilitate software inventory management from the SAM server  102 . 
     The particular description in  FIG. 1  is for illustrative purposes only; it should be understood that the invention is not limited to specific described embodiments, and any combination is contemplated to implement and practice the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , the reference numeral  200  generally designates a flow diagram illustrating an overview of an exemplary embodiment of a method for performing software discovery by an installer controller from a client workstation&#39;s perspective. 
     At  205 , an end-user who wishes to install a software package on a client workstation  125 , may access the software package by, for example, downloading it from a repository across a network or by mounting a device containing the software on the client workstation  125 . The installer controller  127  may be configured to recognize a variety of software installer programs and their processes, such that when a process that is associated with one of these program (e.g., RPM for Linux or InstallShield for Windows) starts executing, the installer controller  127  recognizes that the end-user has invoked the software installer program, for example to update, install or otherwise modify software on the client workstation  125 . 
     When the installer controller  127  recognizes, at  210 , that a newly invoked process is a software installer program, the installer controller  127 , through the SAM agent  126  on the client workstation  125 , communicates with the SAM server  102  at  215  ( FIG. 2B ) to query whether a signature corresponding to the software package being provided by the software installer is contained in the inventory of the SAM server  102 . In general, a signature may include a file name, a version identifier, an executable name, a registry entry, or other types of information which can be used to uniquely identify a given software item. Either alone or in conjunction with the SAM agent  126 , the installer controller  127  may interrogate the proposed software package and extract signature-related information. The extracted signature-related information may be used in querying the SAM server  102  inventory to determine whether, at  220 , a matching signature may be found. 
     Where at  220  a matching signature is found, indicating that the status of the proposed software package is “known” then the installer controller  127  may allow the software installer to continue with the software installation at  240  without interruption. The SAM administrator may approve software and mark it as “known” when, for example, the SAM administrator wants to continue to discover and maintain the software in the SAM-managed environment. However, the SAM administrator may reject the software but still mark it as “known” when, for example, the SAM administrator does not want to continue to discover and maintain the software in the SAM-managed environment. 
     If at  220  a matching signature is not found, indicating that the proposed software package is “unknown” (i.e., is not approved and does not exist in the SAM server  102  inventory), then the installer controller  127  may suspend execution of the software installer program at  225 . The end-user is then prompted at  230  to input details about the software being installed, such as a vendor name, a source, a version, and a purpose for its use. The installer controller  127  may repeatedly prompt the end-user until the required information is entered, or alternatively, end the execution of the software installer program. 
     When the end-user enters the required information, then at  235  the installer controller  127  resumes the software installer and monitors the progress of the installation at  240 . If the installation fails, the end-user may wish to troubleshoot and run the software installer again. However, when the installation completes at  245 , the installation controller  127  may report to the SAM server  102 , or other entity designated for data collection, the data input by the end-user, the raw inventory gathered during the installation, such as for example files that were created or changed on the client workstation  125 , new registered services, and system registry entries. A return code corresponding to a completion status may also be included. 
     The installation controller  127  may also process a software uninstaller similar to the processing of an installer program. For example, the uninstaller process may be suspended when the software package is unknown, and the end-user may be prompted to enter input details about the software being installed, such as a vendor name, a source, a version, and a purpose for its use. The collected input details, raw inventory data, and return code corresponding to a completion status may be reported to the SAM server  102 , or other entity designated for data collection. Similarly, if the end-user is installing a patch or update, then even though the software package is currently installed on the client workstation  125 , the different release levels may have different hash values in the signature. Therefore, the installer controller  127  may follow the path of processing as if the software is unknown, prompting the end-user to input details, and reporting the collected input details, raw inventory data and return code to the SAM server  102  or other entity designated for data collection. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2B , an exemplary embodiment of a method for performing software discovery by an installer controller is shown from a SAM system&#39;s perspective. At  250  the raw inventory data collected by the installer controller  127  may be received at the SAM server  102 . Like entries are grouped together (e.g., vendor, version, software package name) at  255  and reported for the SAM administrator to evaluate at  260 . Based on the number of occurrences in the SAM environment, the SAM administrator may approve a software package to be included and maintained in the SAM software catalog. 
     At  265 , the SAM administrator may review the raw inventory reports prepared by the SAM server  102  to determine if there is enough information to make an evaluation about the software package&#39;s approval status. In one scenario, the software may be of interest. Perhaps a few end-users have installed it but they gave incorrect or incomplete data when prompted by the installer controller  127 . In that case, at  285  the SAM administrator may mark the software as “unknown” in the SAM server  102 . End-users may still install the software package, but with a status of “unknown” the installer controller  127  will still prompt end-users for input. 
     Where there is enough information to make an evaluation about a particular software package, the SAM administrator may then decide that the software package should be included and maintained in the SAM software catalog. In that case, at  275  the SAM administrator may approve the software package, and it will be marked as “known”. The SAM server  102  may then generate a signature and a software catalog entry corresponding to the approved software package. In the future, end-users may install the software package without being prompted for input by the installer controller  127 . 
     However, at  280  the SAM administrator may decide to reject the software package if it is something that should not be added to the software catalog. In this case, the SAM administrator may still mark the software as “known”. The installer controller  127  will not generate a signature or a software catalog entry, but in the future end-users may install the software package without being prompted for input by the installer controller  127 . Once approved, the gathered raw inventory data may be used to automatically create a software discovery signature that may be added to the software catalog on the SAM server  102 , and that also may be propagated back to the SAM agents  126  on client workstations  125 . Software monitoring and discovery may be dynamically managed on the client workstations  125  through the installer controller  127  in conjunction with the SAM agent  126 . For example, a new or missing registry entry, or a new running process may indicate a change to the software environment on the client workstation  125 . When the installer controller  127  detects one these events, a change to the software inventory is begun by prompting the end-user for information about the software that triggered the event, in a similar manner to the software discovery process beginning in  205  ( FIG. 2A ). The resulting gathered raw inventory data may be reported to the SAM server  102  to update the software catalog, and generate an updated software discovery signature on the client workstation  125 . An installer controller  127  working in conjunction with the SAM agent  126  may reduce unnecessary network traffic, since regularly scheduled scans of client workstations  125  may be avoided. Additionally, having the software discovery signatures on the client workstations  125  may tend to de-centralize software inventory management since, although local copies of the software catalog are not needed, a software catalog customized for the environment is provided automatically. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , computing device  300  may include respective sets of internal components  800  and external components  900 . Each of the sets of internal components  800  includes one or more processors  820 ; one or more computer-readable RAMs  822 ; one or more computer-readable ROMs  824  on one or more buses  826 ; one or more operating systems  828 ; one or more software applications (e.g., SAM modules  829 ) executing the method  200 ; and one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices  830 . The one or more operating systems  828  and SAM modules  829  are stored on one or more of the respective computer-readable tangible storage devices  830  for execution by one or more of the respective processors  820  via one or more of the respective RAMs  822  (which typically include cache memory). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , each of the computer-readable tangible storage devices  830  is a magnetic disk storage device of an internal hard drive. Alternatively, each of the computer-readable tangible storage devices  830  is a semiconductor storage device such as ROM  824 , EPROM, flash memory or any other computer-readable tangible storage device that can store a computer program and digital information. 
     Each set of internal components  800  also includes a R/W drive or interface  832  to read from and write to one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices  936  such as a CD-ROM, DVD, SSD, memory stick, magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk or semiconductor storage device. 
     Each set of internal components  800  may also include network adapters (or switch port cards) or interfaces  836  such as a TCP/IP adapter cards, wireless WI-FI interface cards, or  3 G or  4 G wireless interface cards or other wired or wireless communication links. The SAM  829  and operating system  828  that are associated with computing device  300 , can be downloaded to computing device  300  from an external computer (e.g., server) via a network (for example, the Internet, a local area network, or other wide area network) and respective network adapters or interfaces  836 . From the network adapters (or switch port adapters) or interfaces  836  and operating system  828  associated with computing device  300  are loaded into the respective hard drive  830  and network adapter  836 . The network may comprise copper wires, optical fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. 
     Each of the sets of external components  900  can include a computer display monitor  920 , a keyboard  930 , and a computer mouse  934 . External components  900  can also include touch screens, virtual keyboards, touch pads, pointing devices, and other human interface devices. Each of the sets of internal components  800  also includes device drivers  840  to interface to computer display monitor  920 , keyboard  930  and computer mouse  934 . The device drivers  840 , R/W drive or interface  832  and network adapter or interface  836  comprise hardware and software (stored in storage device  830  and/or ROM  824 ). 
     As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present disclosure may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. 
     Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
     Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages, a scripting language such as Perl, VBS or similar languages, and/or functional languages such as Lisp and ML and logic-oriented languages such as Prolog. The program code may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
     Aspects of the present disclosure are described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.