Abstract: A provisioning server can provide and interact with a firmware tool on target machines. The firmware toot can communicate with the firmware of the target machines and collect data representing the configuration of the firmware of the target machines, independent of the types of the target machines. To communicate independent of the type of target machine, the firmware tool can include a translation library. The translation library enables the firmware tool to receive common instructions for interacting with firmware and convert those common instructions into specific instructions that are compatible with different types of the target machines.

Abstract: A provisioning server can provide and utilize a diagnostic tool to test and interrogate hardware on target machines and to collect data from the hardware. The diagnostic tool can operate on the target machine independently of software already installed on the target machine. The diagnostic tool can interrogate hardware of the target machine and collect data from the hardware of the target machine. The provisioning server can select the diagnostic tool from a set of pre-generated diagnostic tools or generate a custom diagnostic tool tailored to a specific target machine. The provisioning server can interact directly with the diagnostic tool or interact with the diagnostic tool utilizing a network management server. Once data is collected, the provisioning server can be configured to store the collected data and/or output the data to other parties or systems.

Abstract: A provisioning server can remotely deliver a rescue environment to a malfunctioning target machine. The provisioning server can operate in conjunction with a network management server in order to identify malfunctioning target machines, for example, target machines with damaged operating systems. Once a malfunctioning target machine is identified, the provisioning server can be configured to identify a rescue environment to repair the malfunctioning target machine and provide the rescue environment to the malfunctioning target machine.

Abstract: A provisioning server can remotely determine target machines, requiring a hardware update, and remotely provide the hardware updates to the target machines. The provisioning server can identify hardware updates for target machines in a network it serves. The provisioning server can operate in conjunction with a network management server in order to identify the target machines, requiring the hardware update. The provisioning server can generate the hardware update for the target machines and provide the hardware update to the target machines.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for remote network configuration management having multi-node awareness. A management server can communicate with a set of hosts in a network, each of which can have associated target machines such as computer clients. The configuration details of the set of hosts can be stored in a set of configuration files. The configuration files can specify, for example, processor, memory, hardware, I/O, and other resources of the hosts or targets associated with the hosts. When a systems administrator or other user wishes to push an updated configuration or send new data to the set of hosts, the management server can identify versions of software and other resources to transmit and install to hosts in the set of hosts based on their particular configuration details reflected in the corresponding configuration files(s), without having to manually identify versions to be distributed to individual hosts or resolve dependencies.

Abstract: A provisioning server can be configured to include a network configuration module that can set-up, configure, and manage network connections served by the provisioning server including name servers, such as Domain Name System (DNS) servers, in the network connections. The provisioning server can be configured to maintain a set of network modules, each network module corresponding to a different type of name server. Each of the network modules can be configured to include logic for generating or altering a configuration file for the corresponding type of name server.

Abstract: A software provisioning server can be configured to communicate with a power management system of the target machines to alter the power state of the target machines during actions requiring a change in the power states such as power cycling the target machines during a software installation. The software provisioning server can communicate with the power management system of the target machines and instruct the power management systems to alter the power state of the target machines during the actions.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for analyzing patterns and trends in online communities, and more particularly to organizing and analyzing data from community collaboration platforms and websites such as wikis, mailing lists, bug trackers, project management tools, and version control systems. At least one collaboration space can contain and store topics which can be submitted to and accessible by a plurality of users. The plurality of users can start new topics or add to existing topics within the at least one collaboration space. The at least one collaboration space can organize data within the topics according to various attributes of the data and the topics. The at least one collaboration space can send the organized data to a dashboard, which can create data organization aids to analyze the data.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating a remote system inventory capable of differential update reports. A network management server communicates with a set of hosts, e.g. local servers, each in turn serving a set of client computers or other targets. A systems administrator can interrogate any target and/or host to receive an inventory of the hardware, software, or other resources installed on the subject machine. The resulting inventory report can be stored as a tree, database, or other record based on the host name of the host or target being inventoried. A series of inventory reports generated over time can be stored. The systems administrator can access the inventory data store and generate comparative or differential reports on the inventory of a subject machine captured at different times. Differential updates can be transmitted to an administrator or other user via an RSS or other feed.

Abstract: A provisioning server can manage network connections in the software provisioning environment. The provisioning server can maintain a network record of network configurations for the networks served by the provisioning server. The network record can include information describing the structure, hardware, software, and configuration of the networks served by the provisioning server. The provisioning server can manage and configure existing networks and instantiate new networks or sub-networks associated with the provisioning server. The network configuration module can retrieve the network configurations maintained in the network record to manage, configure, and instantiate existing or new networks.

Abstract: A provisioning server can manage and configure the network parameters for target machines and systems residing in the networks associated with the provisioning server. The provisioning server can associate provisioning objects with the network configurations stored in the network record. The provisioning server can maintain an object record that associates the network configurations with different provisioning object. The provisioning server can utilize the object record to determine network parameters for target machines requesting provisioning processes, such as target machine installs, and virtualization.

Abstract: A provisioning server can actively monitor the software provisioning processes being performed on a target machine to determine the status and integrity of the provisioning processes and notify an administrator or user of the status and integrity. The provisioning server can be configured to include a monitoring module and a message module. The monitoring module can be configured to monitor software provisioning processes being performed on a target machine and determine the status and integrity of the provisioning processes. The message module can be configured send notification to the administrator or user of the status and integrity of the provisioning processes.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for differential software provisioning on virtual machines having different configurations. A provisioning (or “cobbler”) server can interact with a local virtual machine installation client to initiate a software provisioning process to diverse sets of virtual machines. The provisioning process can entail, for example, the selection and delivery of an operating system to the diverse sets of virtual machines, as well as the installation of applications or other software. In conjunction with the provisioning process, the koan client can identify the virtual machine configuration or type for the various virtual machine sets, such as those based or hosted on a Xen virtualization type, a VMware virtualization type, or kernel-based virtual machine (KVM) type. The cobbler server can generate differentiated versions of the virtualized installations for the different types of target virtual machines, compatible with the various configurations.

Abstract: A provisioning server can be configured to determine software provisioning processes to be performed on one or more target machines. The software provisioning processes can include one or more customized actions to be taken before, during, or after the software provisioning processes, upon the occurrence of a particular event. The customized actions can be performed by the provisioning server, the target machines, provisioning clients assisting the provisioning, or by the software being provisioned.

Abstract: A provisioning server can import a software distribution and determine the type of distribution in order to integrate the software distribution in the software provisioning environment. The provisioning server can be configured to determine a type for the software distribution. Once determined, the provisioning server can be configured to locate a configuration template that matches the type of the software distribution. The configuration template can allow the generation of a configuration file that enables the software distribution to be incorporated into software provisioning processes, automatically. Once located, the provisioning server can be configured to generate a profile for the imported software distribution.

Abstract: A provisioning server can be configured to associate user actions with users that have access to perform the associated user actions. The user actions can include any user action performed within or by the provisioning server, such as configuring the provisioning server, modifying provisioning objects in the provisioning server, accessing provisioning processes by the provisioning server, and the like. The association can be based on the identity of the users or a type of user (administrator, client, guest, etc.). Once a request is received for a particular user action, the provisioning server can be configured to enable the requested action if the requested action is associated with the requesting user.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for provisioning machines having virtual storage resources, such as virtual disks. A provisioning (or “cobbler”) server can interact with a local virtual machine installation client to initiate software provisioning to a set of target machines. Each virtualization profile or virtualized system record can have one or more virtual disks associated with it for installation and storage. The provisioning process can entail, for example, the delivery of an operating system, applications, or other software to the targets. The virtual machine installation client can identify potential locations for virtual disks on the target, such as volume identifiers, media types, and/or file systems. The cobbler server can generate a distribution to the target machine taking the configuration of the virtual disk into account, and install the provisioned software to that storage resource without a need to manually specify storage parameters. Diskless machines can also be provisioned.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for provisioning software to machines in a set of diverse networks. A provisioning (or “cobbler”) server can interact with a remote installation client to initiate a software provisioning process to machines installed on two or more diverse networks, such as local area, wide area, virtual private, or other networks. The remote installation clients in different networks can report the network interface types and configurations of their networks to the cobbler server. During provisioning, the administrator can specify one software distribution to the entire set of diverse networks, and the cobbler server can generate different distribution versions tailored to the network configurations of the various different networks.

Abstract: A provisioning client can be configured to automatically locate a provisioning server in a provisioning environment in order to perform software provisioning. The provisioning client can locate the provisioning server by detecting the location of the provisioning server or by selecting the appropriate provisioning server from a record of available provisioning servers. Once located, the provisioning client can be configured to establish a connection with the provisioning server and to request or receive software provisioning.

Abstract: A software provisioning environment can include several provisioning server for providing software provisioning. One of the several provisioning server can be configured to be a central provisioning server. The central provisioning server can be configured to maintain the provisioning objects required for the the software provisioning. The central provisioning server can be configured to manage the software provisioning supported by additional provisioning servers in the environment. The central provisioning server can be configured to select the provisioning objects to be supported by each additional provisioning server.