Updating software on dormant disks

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions embodied therein which, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method of software configuration management, said method comprising:

• mounting a dormant disk in a computer environment such that files on said disk are exposed and accessible for scanning, wherein said dormant disk remains in a dormant state while mounted;
• scanning said exposed files by said computer system, while said disk remains in said dormant state, to enumerate a configuration of installed software products on said dormant disk;
• determining, by said computer system, based on a comparison of said configuration to one or more of a stored policy and a stored schedule, whether any additional software products needs to be installed on said dormant disk;
• and
• in response to determining that an additional software product needs to be installing on said dormant disk, installing said additional software product on said dormant disk without requiring booting of said dormant disk.

A method of software update management, said method comprising:

• determining, with a computer system, that a disk in a computer environment is in a dormant state;
• mounting said disk, while said disk remains in said dormant state, such that files on said disk are exposed and accessible for scanning;
• scanning said exposed files by said computer system, while said disk remains in said dormant state, to detect presence of a software item on said disk and a version number of said software item;
• utilizing a vulnerabilities database to determine whether an update is needed and available for said software item;
• and
• in response to determining that said update is available and needed, applying said update to said software item without requiring booting of said disk.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions embodied therein which, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method of software update management, said method comprising:

• determining, with a computer system, that a disk in a computer environment is in a dormant state;
• mounting said disk, while said disk remains in said dormant state, such that files on said disk are exposed and accessible for scanning;
• scanning said exposed files by said computer system, while said disk remains in said dormant state, to detect presence of a software item on said disk and a version number of said software item;
• utilizing a vulnerabilities database to determine whether an update is needed and available for said software item;
• and
• in response to determining that said update is available and needed, applying said update to said software item without requiring booting of said disk.