Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment save a protected area of a storage device by booting to the protected area, copying the contents of the protected area to the user area of the storage device, rebooting to the user area, and then saving the user area to a backup storage device. In another embodiment, a restore mechanism is provided by copying the saved contents of the protected area from the backup storage device to the user area of the storage device, booting into the protected area of the storage device, and copying the saved contents into the protected area. In this way, in various embodiments the contents of the protected area of a storage device can be saved and restored.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for assigning a job to grid computers on a computing grid that includes collecting information from the grid computers about attributes of the computer, grouping the computers into groups based upon the attributes, receiving a job from a customer, determining the attributes needed to perform the job, comparing the attributes needed to perform the job to the attributes of the groups, and submitting the job to at least one of the grid computers of the group having the needed attributes. Also disclosed is a method of reporting progress of performance of a job by a grid computer, which includes receiving a job by the grid computer, initiating performance of the job on the grid computer, periodically communicating a current status of the performance of the job on the grid computer, and returning results of the performance of the job to the grid manager.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for restricting operations of a grid software application performing on a grid computer of the computing grid. The system includes a method that presents a user of the grid computer with an option governing use of the grid computer by computing grid operations performed on the grid computer, accepting from the user a setting of options governing use of the grid computer, and applying the setting of the options governing use of the grid computer to the computing grid operations performed on the grid computer.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for authenticating jobs submitted to a computing grid. The method may comprise receiving a grid job for performing on the computing grid, authenticating the grid job for performing on the computing grid, marking the grid job as authentic for acceptance by grid computers of the computing grid, and distributing the grid job marked as authentic to the grid computers. Additionally, a method and system is disclosed for screening jobs on the computing grid. The method may comprise receiving a grid job from a grid customer, deriving a pilot task from the grid job, executing a pilot run of the pilot task on a subset of grid computers on the computing grid, checking for successful performance of the pilot task on the subset of grid computers, and submitting the grid job to grid computers for performance if the pilot run of pilot task is successful.

Abstract: A method of restoring a computer system to a state it was in when it left the factory starts with receiving a request for a new disk drive for the system. An extended parts list for the computer system is retrieved from a database or other data repository and written on the new disk drive. Software to restore the system, including operating system software and application software is also provided on the new disk drive. When the new disk drive is installed, the restoration software uses the extended parts list to select operating system software and application software to restore the computer and reboot the computer with the restored software.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method of testing using a data image cache. An image server is coupled to one or more test beds to perform testing and/or debug operations on one or more components. Each test bed has one or more test slots to receive the one or more components. The test bed is preferably a motherboard. The motherboard may be in normal operation or may be placed in sleep mode during testing or debugging.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a quicker boot for computer systems is provided. The hibernation state file content of a similar computer system is captured and sent to a unit being manufactured. As a result, the unit being manufactured may operate according to the hibernation state. When the unit is operating in such a fashion, the time required for a reboot is reduced which may provide for more efficient software installation for build to order computer systems.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of providing a known-good configuration for a computer, comprising storing a known-good computer configuration and restoring the known-good configuration via non-interactive user input. The configuration includes in various embodiments hardware and software configuration parameters. The known-good configuration is stored in some embodiments in computer storage such as a hard disc drive, and is loaded from storage upon restoration of the configuration. The non-interactive user input of some embodiments is a protected switch, hot key combination of keyboard keys, or is a special-purpose key or switch. The configuration is determined to be a known-good configuration to be stored in various embodiments by user determination that a configuration is good, by computer determination that the configuration is good based on a predetermined period of successful computer operation, or via other similar methods that suggest a proper configuration.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of building a custom software configuration, which may include receiving a first customer order for a first information handling system and a second customer order for a second information handling system. The first customer order including a first list of hardware configuration components and a first list of software configuration components and the second customer order including second list of hardware configuration components and a second list of software configuration components. At least one of the first list of hardware configuration components is different from the second list of hardware configuration components and the first list of software configuration components is different from the second list of software configuration components.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method of restoring an information handling system utilizing a restore medium and a network storage medium. In a first aspect of the present invention, a method of restoring an information handling system utilizing a restore medium to provide software components over a network includes accessing the restore medium by the information handling system and loading a first set of software components capable of supplying data suitable for making the information handling system operational. A connection is initiated with a network storage medium over a network, the connection initiated by a program of instructions included on the removable medium. A second set of software components are received from the network storage medium over the network connection, wherein the second set of software components is suitable for at least one of updating the first set of software components and providing a software component not included on the removable medium.

Abstract: A system and method employing a virtual restore disk, such as a vendor supplied CD-ROM, allows software restoration from the vendor's software library. The customer's original software configuration is archived and the customer may use the virtual restore disk for restore purposes as necessary, e.g., to restore a deleted file, replace a suspected corrupted file, etc. The vendor maintains updated versions of the software so that unlike a static restore disk, the customer is not limited to the releases available at the time of system purchase. The virtual restore disk can also be used to update a user's system, even in the absence of system malfunction.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for authenticating jobs submitted to a computing grid. The method may comprise receiving a grid job for performing on the computing grid, authenticating the grid job for performing on the computing grid, marking the grid job as authentic for acceptance by grid computers of the computing grid, and distributing the grid job marked as authentic to the grid computers. Additionally, a method and system is disclosed for screening jobs on the computing grid. The method may comprise receiving a grid job from a grid customer, deriving a pilot task from the grid job, executing a pilot run of the pilot task on a subset of grid computers on the computing grid, checking for successful performance of the pilot task on the subset of grid computers, and submitting the grid job to grid computers for performance if the pilot run of pilot task is successful.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for assigning a job to grid computers on a computing grid that includes collecting information from the grid computers about attributes of the computer, grouping the computers into groups based upon the attributes, receiving a job from a customer, determining the attributes needed to perform the job, comparing the attributes needed to perform the job to the attributes of the groups, and submitting the job to at least one of the grid computers of the group having the needed attributes. Also disclosed is a method of reporting progress of performance of a job by a grid computer, which includes receiving a job by the grid computer, initiating performance of the job on the grid computer, periodically communicating a current status of the performance of the job on the grid computer, and returning results of the performance of the job to the grid manager.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for restricting operations of a grid software application performing on a grid computer of the computing grid. The system includes a method that presents a user of the grid computer with an option governing use of the grid computer by computing grid operations performed on the grid computer, accepting from the user a setting of options governing use of the grid computer, and applying the setting of the options governing use of the grid computer to the computing grid operations performed on the grid computer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of building a custom software configuration, which may include receiving a first customer order for a first information handling system and a second customer order for a second information handling system. The first customer order including a first list of hardware configuration components and a first list of software configuration components and the second customer order including second list of hardware configuration components and a second list of software configuration components. At least one of the first list of hardware configuration components is different from the second list of hardware configuration components and the first list of software configuration components is different from the second list of software configuration components.

Abstract: A method of calculating a disk image identifier for use in a software delivery system is disclosed. An order entry process produces a bill of materials (BOM) and a unique software image identification number (USIIN) is calculated therefrom. The USIIN is then added to the BOM. The BOM is sorted into ascending alphanumeric order. The USIIN is generated using a 128-bit hash algorithm on each entry in the BOM until the end. A software delivery process looks for exact image orders and sets a system duplication process in motion where duplicate orders of images will generate the same USIIN and be cached for future use in the software delivery process as required.

Abstract: A hard disk drive is duplicated by copying a data area of a source hard disk drive to a target hard disk drive. A host protected area (HPA) of a source hard disk drive is detected if the source hard disk drive has a host protected area, and the host protected area of the source hard disk drive is copied to the target hard disk drive if a host protected area was detected on the source hard disk drive.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for referencing returned build to order configuration systems, which have been returned unopened, with a current backlog of purchase orders of a similar configuration. A returned build to order system may be scanned to detect its serial number information. A bill of materials for the returned system may be retrieved. The bill of materials, which may list each component of the build to order system, may be referenced with received purchase orders. When there is a match between the returned system and a purchase order, the system may be tested and repacked for shipping to the new customer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for checking component compatibility during the manufacture and installation of a build to order computer system. When components are selected to manufacture the computer, each component may be included in a database that may indicate the revision number of the component and whether the component has any compatibility conflicts with other components. The system may select the latest revision of a component that does not have compatibility conflicts with other components utilized in the computer system. Further, the apparatus and method of the present invention may check new revisions of a component to verify whether a compatibility conflict present in earlier revisions still exists and may update the database when additional compatibility conflicts are identified.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method of testing using a data image cache. An image server is coupled to one or more test beds to perform testing and/or debug operations on one or more components. Each test bed has one or more test slots to receive the one or more components. The test bed is preferably a motherboard. The motherboard may be in normal operation or may be placed in sleep mode during testing or debugging.