Abstract: A method and apparatus for automating the installation of a plurality of operating system and device management software combinations, with their respective and related configuration data, onto a plurality of information management system platform hardware. The present invention also provides for the automated and systemic validation of proper interoperability between all installed software components. All related details of the integration, installation and validation processes are automatically recorded and stored in a manner conducive to future retrieval, review, analysis, modification, and possible re-use. The method and apparatus of the present invention uses a chained integration process (CIP), which treats a combination of information handling system hardware and a software delivery stack, including BIOS, device drivers, firmware, and other software components, as input.

Abstract: A network connection of an information handling system is recovered after configuration of network communications components in an incorrect manner by adjusting the configuration of the network communication components. For instance, a network interface card (NIC) configured with an incorrect IP address has the IP addresses of other NICs of the information handling system applied to determine if network communication is supported. If application of each IP address fails to recover communication, the NIC adjusts to a dynamic network address, sends a configuration failure message, receives new configuration information and applies the new configuration information to establish network communication through a static network address.

Abstract: A deployment module of a RAID deployment management system integrates vendor-specific RAID configurations into a vendor-independent infrastructure with a RAID configuration utility that translates vendor-specific formatted configuration information to vendor-independent formatted configuration information. A user interface determines a RAID configuration for a target information handling system from a unique identifier associated with the target information handling system and deploys the configuration information through a deployment engine that selects a boot file from a DHCP server for the target to boot to with a PXE client. The deployment engine loads an agent to the target that executes to configure the target and then resets the boot file associated with the target so that subsequent boot allows the configured target to deploy software.

Abstract: A remote deployment manager infers a target information handling system state from status information discovered from the target information handling system and applies the inferred target information handling system state to validate actions performed to the target information handling system. A discovery module discovers status information to which an inferred state engine applies state calculation rules to infer a target state without having to rely on tasks performed to the target. An action. validator applies the inferred state to actions requested from a user interface to ensure that only valid actions are communicated to a target information handling system. Valid actions may include remote commands for RAID configuration, capture of an image, deployment of a captured image or preassignment of an image to an undiscovered target information handing system.

Abstract: A translation layer connects a user program to an application programming interface by constructing function calls from a template text file that maps user program functions to application programming interface function primitives and by translating function call output received from the application programming interface to a user program format. The translation layer provides a programmable function-based connection that is able to alter the procedure and the semantics of data used to perform a function. For instance, a single user program function call may conditionally invoke plural application programming interface primitives. The translation layer improves flexibility in development of user programs by mediating with application programming interfaces through modifiable template text file and translation rules.