Automatic software installation on heterogeneous networked computer systems

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system having software and a plurality of computers, wherein the data processing system is managed by an administrator, the software having editions that are particular to a natural language, a type of process and a type of operating system, a method for monitoring the computers of a data processing system and automatically configuring a new computer to operate in the data processing system, by performing the steps of:

• determining when a new computer is added to the data processing system by comparing a stored list of the plurality of computers against a current list of the plurality of computer of the data processing system, the new computer having an associated natural language, executes a functioning operating system and having a processor;
• determining what software is to be automatically installed on the new computer based on preferences of the administrator;
• determining the natural language associated with the new computer, a type of the operating system executing on the new computer and a type of the processor in the new computer;
• selecting an edition of the software particular to the natural language, the type of the operating system and the type of the processor;
• and
• automatically installing the selected edition of the software onto the new computer utilizing commands suitable for the type of the operating system of the new computer, resulting in the new computer having the software defined by the administrator based upon the particular location of the new computer within the data processing system.

A software installation computer system for managing the installation of a program in other computer systems connected to the software installation computer system using modifiable installation directions defined by an administrator, comprising:

• a new connected computer system detection subsystem that detects the connection of an additional computer system to the software installation computer system by comparing a stored list of the computer systems against a current list of the computer systems connected to the software installation computer system;
• an installed software selection subsystem that selects, for each new computer system whose connection to the software installation computer system is detected by the detection subsystem, based upon the installation directions, software for installation on the new computer system;
• a new computer system assessment subsystem that determines, for each new computer system whose connection to the software installation computer system is detected by the detection subsystem, a natural language, processor type, and an operating system type, defining a functioning operation system installed on the new computer system, of the new computer system;
• and
• a software installation subsystem that automatically installs on each new computer system whose connection to the software installation computer system is detected by the detection subsystem an edition of the selected software designed for the natural language, processor type, and operating system type determined for the new computer system by the assessment subsystem, resulting in the new computer having the selected software defined by the administrator based upon the particular location of the new computer with respect to the software installation computer system.