Patent ID: 7171458

Claim:
A networked computer system comprising: (A) a server computer system that includes model configuration settings that specify desired operating system configuration settings for a plurality of computer operating systems; (B) a plurality of endpoint computer systems coupled to the server computer system wherein the plurality of endpoint computer systems include a plurality of operating systems, each endpoint computer system including corresponding operating system configuration settings; (C) a system administration workstation coupled to the server computer system, the system administration workstation including a graphical user interface for administration of the configuration settings of the plurality of endpoint computer systems, the graphical user interface including at least one display panel that allows a user to select the model configuration settings, that allows a user to select from the plurality of endpoint computer systems for comparison with the model configuration settings, that displays differences between the selected endpoint computer systems and the model configuration settings, that allows a user to select from the selected endpoint computer systems for updating, and that automatically updates the configuration settings of the endpoint computer systems selected for updating according to the model configuration settings.