Automatic software installation on heterogeneous networked computer systems

An automatic software installation system, comprising:

• a first computer having an associated natural language and a processor running an operating system, the first computer being newly added to the data processing system;
• and
• a second computer, heterogeneous with respect to the first computer, having a first component configured to store editions of software, a second component configured to automatically determine the natural language associated with the first computer, the operating system running on the first computer and the type of processor in the first computer and a third component configured to control installation of one edition of the software onto the first computer that is particular to the type of processor in the first computer, the operating system running on the first computer and the natural language associated with the first computer, wherein the second computer installs the edition of the software by utilizing commands that are suitable for the operating system running on the first computer.

An automatic software installation system comprising:

• a first computer configured to receive one or more application programs, the first computer forming part of a first site comprising a plurality of computers connected together by a first area network;
• a second computer associated with a second site comprising a plurality of computers connected together by a second area network, the second computer being configured to store the one or more application programs and manage the delivery of the one or more software to the first computer by automatically determining when the first computer is added to the data processing system and controlling the installation of the software onto the first computer when it is determined by the second computer to install the software onto the first computer.

In a data processing system having software for installation a method for installing software onto a first computer, the method comprising:

• a step for determining, remote from the first computer, when the first computer is added to the data processing system, the first computer comprising a natural language and a processor running a functioning operating system;
• a step for receiving at the first computer an edition of software that is particular to the natural language, the processor, and the operating system of the first computer;
• a step for automatically installing onto the first computer only the edition of the software, under the control of a second computer, utilizing commands that are suitable for the operating system running on the first computer.