Network master hard disk drive duplicator
AssigneeGateway, Inc.
InventorJames L. Kroening
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for generating and loading software onto hard disk drives, particularly replacement hard disk drives without having to create a separate master disk for each unique software configuration, includes a storage assembly for storing at least one of a predefined drive image and a software component. An image builder is coupled to the storage assembly within the network for building a drive image for the hard disk drive using at least one of the predefined drive image and the software component. The created drive image is then stored to the storage assembly and downloaded to the hard disk drive via the network.
Claims32
A system for loading software onto a hard disk drive, comprising:
- a storage assembly for storing at least one of a predefined drive image and a software component;
- an image builder coupled to the storage assembly within a network, for building a drive image for the hard disk drive using at least one of the predefined drive image and the software component, the created drive image being stored by the storage assembly,
- wherein the drive image is downloaded to the hard disk drive from the storage assembly via the network.
A system for loading software onto a hard disk drive, comprising:
- means for storing at least one of a predefined drive image and a software component;
- means for receiving a drive image definition defining a drive image to be built;
- means, coupled to the storing means in an arbitrated loop network within a network, for building the drive image using at least one of the predefined drive image and the software component, the created drive image being stored by the storing means,
- wherein the drive image is downloaded to the hard disk drive from the storing means via the network.
A method for loading software onto a hard disk drive, comprising:
- storing at least one of a predefined drive image and a software component on a storage assembly;
- receiving a drive image definition defining a drive image to be created;
- building the drive image using at least one of the predefined drive image and the software component, the created drive image being stored by the storage assembly;
- and
- downloading the built drive image directly to the hard disk drive from the storage assembly via a network.
A system for loading software onto a hard disk drive, comprising:
- a storage assembly for storing at least one of a predefined drive image and a software component;
- an image builder coupled to the storage assembly within a high-speed network, for building a drive image for the hard disk drive using at least one of the predefined drive image and the software component, the created drive image being stored by the storage assembly;
- a disk duplicator coupled to the image builder via the high-speed network,
- wherein the drive image is utilized as the master drive for the duplication station via the high-speed network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.