System and method for dynamic server allocation and provisioning

A system for remotely controlling the booting of a plurality of servers connected via a communications network within a data center, the system comprising:

• a plurality of server images available for loading onto the plurality of servers and stored externally to each of the plurality of servers;
• a plurality of boot loaders, each corresponding to one of the plurality of servers and capable of loading one of said plurality of server images onto their respective server;
• and
• a boot controller, located remotely from each of the plurality of servers and capable of exchanging messages with each of said plurality of boot loaders via the communications network, which directs the actions of each of said plurality of boot loaders during the loading one of the plurality of server images onto their respective server;
• whereby each of the plurality of servers can assume a system image that is accessible to it via the communications network.

A method for remotely managing server images for a plurality of servers connected via a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing a plurality of server images on a storage element, wherein said storage element is external to the plurality of servers and accessible via the communications network;
• loading a plurality of boot loaders onto each of the plurality of servers, wherein each of said plurality of boot loaders is capable of loading one of said plurality of server images onto their respective server;
• and
• executing each of said plurality of boot loaders wherein each of said plurality of boot loaders exchanges messages with an external boot controller capable of directing the actions of each of said plurality of boot loaders during the loading of one of the plurality of server images onto their respective server;
• wherein each of the plurality of servers can assume a system image that is accessible to it via the communications network.

A method for dynamic server allocation and provisioning among a plurality of servers connected via a communications network, comprising the steps of:

• storing a plurality of server images on a storage element, said plurality of server images being available for loading onto the plurality of servers;
• assigning at least one of the plurality of server images stored in said storage element to at least one of the plurality of servers;
• powering on said at least one of the plurality of servers and loading said at least one of said plurality of server images onto said at least one of the plurality of servers;
• and
• receiving a heartbeat signal and a load measurement signal periodically from said at least one of the plurality of servers via the communications network;
• wherein a replacement server among the plurality of servers may be allocated, powered on, and provisioned either upon the detection of said at least one of the plurality of servers failing based upon said heartbeat signal, or according to a set of pre-determined criteria based upon said load measurement signal received from said at least one of the plurality of servers.

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to remotely managing server images for a plurality of servers connected via a communications network, said control logic comprising:

• first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to store a plurality of server images on a storage element, wherein said storage element is external to the plurality of servers and accessible via the communications network;
• second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to load a plurality of boot loaders onto each of the plurality of servers, wherein each of said plurality of boot loaders is capable of loading one of said plurality of server images onto their respective server;
• and
• third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to invoke each of said plurality of boot loaders wherein each of said plurality of boot loaders exchanges messages with an external boot controller capable of directing the actions of each of said plurality of boot loaders during the loading of one of the plurality of server images onto their respective server.

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to perform dynamic server allocation and provisioning among a plurality of servers connected via a communications network, said control logic comprising:

• first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to store a plurality of server images on a storage element, said plurality of server images being available for loading onto the plurality of servers;
• second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to assign at least one of the plurality of server images stored in said storage element to at least one of the plurality of servers;
• third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to power on said at least one of the plurality of servers;
• fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to load said at least one of said plurality of server images onto said at least one of the plurality of servers;
• and
• fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive a heartbeat signal and a load measurement signal periodically from said at least one of the plurality of servers via the communications network.