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US 9,176,974 B1Granted
Low priority, multi-pass, server file discovery and management
AssigneeSprint Communications Company L.P.
InventorsJonathon A. Burr, John D. Felton, Keith A. Trotter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A devices and method for scanning a file directory on a server system by identifying and excluding at least one file directory that contains files detrimental to the system's performance to form a group of remaining directories, scanning the group of remaining directories to discover files by comparing the files to a first parameter and a second parameter, discovering the most related files and outputting the discovered files location.
Claims20
A vendor software file inventory device, comprising:
- a server system configured as a host within a network, the server system comprising:
- a non-transitory memory storing a plurality of file directories, the file directories including vendor software files;
- at least one processor coupled to the non-transitory memory;
- and
- an application stored in the non-transitory memory that, upon execution configures the at least one processor to:
- initiate a first scan at a file directory level of the server system, wherein the first scan:
- identifies file directories containing looped or open links to one or more additional directories as identified file directories,
- excludes the identified file directories from scanning in a second scan, and
- based on exclusion of the identified file directories, leaves non-excluded file directories available,
- after the first scan, initiate the second scan at a software file level of the server system based on the first scan, wherein the second scan:
- analyzes the software files stored in non-excluded file directories to locate the files having a first parameter,
- identifies candidate files having the first parameter,
- analyzes the candidate files for data according to a second parameter, and
- based on the second parameter, identifies at least one vendor software file,
- store, in the non-transitory memory, a location of the at least one vendor software file,
- based on the first scan and second scan, create a file inventory of the server system used to manage the at least one vendor software file location, and
- in response to a later request, identify a software license file using the file inventory.
14 more elements
A method for discovering files on a server system, comprising:
- scanning, by the server system executing a scanning application configuring at least one processor, a file directory on a server system by:
- identifying at least one file directory of a plurality of file directories, installed on a memory of the server system, that is not configurable to contain a candidate file,
- excluding the at least one identified directory from further analysis, and based on excluding the at least one identified directory, forming a group of remaining file directories from the plurality of file directories;
- scanning, by the server system executing the scanning application, the group of remaining file directories that discovers files by:
- locating candidate files that are sufficiently similar to a first parameter,
- based on the candidate files that are sufficiently similar to the first parameter, verifying the candidate files according to a second parameter, and
- based on the verifying, discovering file locations of the candidate files;
- outputting, by the server system, each location of the discovered file locations of the candidate files in a memory coupled to the server system;
- and
- creating, by the server system, a file inventory of the server system that manages each location of the candidate files.
7 more elements
A method for managing files on a server system, comprising:
- scanning, by a scanning application executing on at least one processor, a file directory on the server system by:
- identifying at least one file directory installed on the server system that contains files detrimental to the system's performance,
- excluding the at least one directory containing files detrimental to the server system's performance from further analysis, and
- based on excluding the at least one directory, forming a group of remaining directories from the file directory;
- analyzing, by server system, the at least one directory excluded from the group for faults;
- scanning, by the server system, the group of remaining directories that discovers files by:
- locating candidate files, wherein the candidate files are sufficiently similar to a first parameter, and
- verifying the candidate files according to a second parameter to identify discovered files;
- providing, by the server system, the discovered files to an output memory in response to scanning of the group;
- determining, by the server system, a related files group from the discovered files based on the files excluded by the first parameter and the second parameter according to a third parameter;
- obtaining an analysis of related software files responsive to determining the related files group from the discovered files;
- compiling the discovered files, the related files group, and the related software files;
- and
- creating, by the server system, a file inventory on at least one server that manages the compiled files.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.