Use of policy levels to enforce enterprise control
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRhonda Childress, Alan Keel, David Kumhyr, Neil Pennell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for using hierarchical policy levels for distribution of software in a computer network. In one embodiment, computers of the network are arranged into a hierarchy. A management policy server with access to the network queries the hierarchy to identify computers at or below its own level within the hierarchy. Once a set of computers is identified, software programs, updates or policies are distributed, bypassing human intervention.
Claims25
A method in a data processing system for managing software and policies in a computer network, comprising the steps of:
- inventorying a set of computers in the network, wherein the set of computers are arranged into a hierarchy and wherein management policy software is installed at the data processing system for management software;
- determining at least one computer in the set of computers is subject to management authority of the data processing system according to the hierarchy;
- and
- responsive to a determination that the data processing system has management authority over the at least one computer in the set of computers, managing distribution of software and policies to the at least one computer in the set of computers.
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A computer program product in a computer readable medium, comprising:
- first instructions for inventorying a set of computers in a network, wherein the set of computers are arranged into a hierarchy and wherein management policy software is installed at a data processing system for management software;
- second instructions for determining at least one computer in the set of computers is subject to management authority of the data processing system according to the hierarchy;
- and
- third instructions, responsive to a determination that the data processing system has management authority over the at least one computer in the set of computers, for managing distribution of software and policies to the at least one computer in the set of computers.
A data processing system for managing software and policies in a computer network, comprising:
- an inventorying mechanism for inventorying a set of computers in the network, wherein the set of computers is arranged into a hierarchy and wherein management policy software is installed on the data processing system for management software;
- a determining mechanism for determining at least one computer in the set of computers is subject to management authority of the data processing system according to the hierarchy;
- and
- a managing mechanism, responsive to a determination that the data processing system has management authority over the at least one computer in the set of computers, for managing the distribution of software and policies to the at least one computer in the set of computers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.