Method and apparatus for remote modification of system configuration

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus for updating system configuration settings of a computer system are disclosed. Examples include a remote system configuration system that enables a user to update the system configuration of a target machine from a server machine over a network or similar communications system. Another example includes a system configuration method using a bus master device to write system configuration data into a target computer system.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . At least one machine readable storage device comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to at least:
 obtain first configuration information of a client computer, the first configuration information related to an operating system installed on the client computer;   determine, based on the first configuration information, whether to update the first configuration information of the client computer;   determine whether a configuration information update involves restarting the client computer; and   send the configuration information update to the client computer based on the determination to update the first configuration information and based on the determination that the configuration information update involves restarting the client computer.   
     
     
         3 . The at least one machine readable storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to compare the first configuration information to the configuration information update, and the instructions are to cause the one or more processors to perform the determining of whether to update the first configuration information of the client computer based on the comparison. 
     
     
         4 . The at least one machine readable storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to send an indication to the client computer to indicate whether the configuration information update involves restarting the client computer. 
     
     
         5 . The at least one machine readable storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the configuration information update is to modify a recognized capacity of a disk by the client computer. 
     
     
         6 . The at least one machine readable storage device of  claim 5 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to determine that the configuration information update does not involve restarting the client computer when the modifying of the recognized capacity of the disk can be performed dynamically without a restart of the client computer. 
     
     
         7 . The at least one machine readable storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to send the configuration information update to the client computer and to multiple second client computers. 
     
     
         8 . The at least one machine readable storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions are to cause the one or more processors to obtain the first configuration information from an agent running on the client computer. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memories comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 obtain first configuration information of a client computer, the first configuration information related to an operating system installed on the client computer; 
 determine, based on the first configuration information, whether to update the first configuration information of the client computer; 
 determine whether a configuration information update involves restarting the client computer; and 
 provide the configuration information update for receipt by the client computer based on the determination to update the first configuration information and based on the determination that the configuration information update involves restarting the client computer. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to compare the first configuration information to the configuration information update, and the instructions are to cause the one or more processors to perform the determining of whether to update the first configuration information of the client computer based on the comparison. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to provide an indication for receipt by the client computer to indicate whether the configuration information update involves restarting the client computer. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the configuration information update is to modify a recognized capacity of a disk by the client computer. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to determine that the configuration information update does not involve restarting the client computer when the modifying of the recognized capacity of the disk can be performed dynamically without a restart of the client computer. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to provide the configuration information update for receipt by the client computer and to multiple second client computers. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first configuration information is from an agent running on the client computer. 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 first logic in a first computing device, the first logic to:
 obtain first configuration information of a client computer from second logic in the client computer, the first configuration information related to an operating system installed on the client computer; 
 determine, based on the first configuration information, whether to update the first configuration information of the client computer; 
 determine whether a configuration information update involves restarting the client computer; and 
 provide the configuration information update for receipt by the client computer based on the determination to update the first configuration information and based on the determination that the configuration information update involves restarting the client computer, the second logic to update the client computer based on the configuration information update. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first logic in the first computing device is to compare the first configuration information to the configuration information update, and to perform the determining of whether to update the first configuration information of the client computer based on the comparison. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first logic in the first computing device is to provide an indication for receipt by the client computer to indicate whether the configuration information update involves restarting the client computer. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the configuration information update is to modify a recognized capacity of a disk by the client computer. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first logic in the first computing device is to determine that the configuration information update does not involve restarting the client computer when the modifying of the recognized capacity of the disk can be performed dynamically without a restart of the client computer. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first logic in the first computing device is to provide the configuration information update for receipt by the client computer and to multiple second client computers. 
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining, by executing an instruction with a processor, first configuration information of a client computer, the first configuration information related to an operating system installed on the client computer;   determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, based on the first configuration information, whether to update the first configuration information of the client computer;   determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, whether a configuration information update involves restarting the client computer; and   sending, by executing an instruction with the processor, the configuration information update to the client computer based on the determination to update the first configuration information and based on the determination that the configuration information update involves restarting the client computer.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further including comparing the first configuration information to the configuration information update, the determining of whether to update the first configuration information of the client computer based on the comparison. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further including sending an indication to the client computer to indicate whether the configuration information update involves restarting the client computer. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the configuration information update is to modify a recognized capacity of a disk by the client computer. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the one or more processors to determine that the configuration information update does not involve restarting the client computer when the modifying of the recognized capacity of the disk can be performed dynamically without a restart of the client computer. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , further including sending the configuration information update to the client computer by broadcasting the configuration information update to the client computer and to multiple second client computers. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for obtaining first configuration information of a client computer, the first configuration information related to an operating system installed on the client computer;   the means for obtaining the first configuration information to determine, based on the first configuration information, whether to update the first configuration information of the client computer;   the means for obtaining the first configuration information to determine whether a configuration information update involves restarting the client computer; and   the means for obtaining the first configuration information to provide the configuration information update for receipt by the client computer based on the determination to update the first configuration information and based on the determination that the configuration information update involves restarting the client computer.