Integrity preservation for master server that updates other systems

Abstract

A method includes monitoring access by a first user to a first updating server and a second updating server, suspending access by the first user to the second updating server when the first user accesses the first updating server to load code updates to the first updating server, comparing a first code update from the first updating server and a second code update from the second updating server, and downloading the first code update based on the comparing step. The downloading step occurs only when the first code update and the second code update are identical.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 monitoring, by a processing system including a processor, user access to a first updating server and a second updating server;   setting, by the processing system, a first input to a verification processor from the first updating server to a first value and a second input to the verification processor from the second updating server to a second value that differs from the first value responsive to a first user accessing the first updating server;   comparing, by the processing system, a first code update from the first updating server and a second code update uploaded by a second user to the second updating server;   changing, by the processing system, the second input to the verification processor to an updated second value responsive to the first code update and the second code update being identical; and   permitting or blocking, by the processing system, downloading the first code update to a remote device based on the first input and the second input.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the permitting the downloading occurs only when the first code update and the second code update are identical. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blocking the downloading is responsive to a mismatch between the first input and the second input. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the comparing further comprises:
 periodically comparing, by the processing system, code versions in each of the first updating server and the second updating server. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the setting the first input to the verification processor from the first updating server to the first value, comprises setting the first input to a first logical value, and the second input to the verification processor from the second updating server to second value, comprises setting the second input to a second logical value that differs from the first logical value. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the setting the first input to the first logical value, and the second input to the second logical value that differs from the first value, further prevents downloading step until the second input is changed to the first logical value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 applying, by the processing system, a logical AND function to the first input and the second input, wherein a downloading of the first code update to the remote device is permitted or blocked responsive to application of the logical AND function.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving, by the processing system, the second code update from a database upon command from the second user and wherein a downloading of the first code update is initiated responsive to the first code update matching the second code update. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the setting the second input to the second value that differs from the first value prevents the downloading of the first code update. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising changing the second input to the verification processor to a value of “1” when the first code update matches the second code update thereby enabling the downloading. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and;   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 receiving a first input from a first updating server and a second input from a second updating server, wherein the first input has a first value when a first code update is ready for downloading from the first updating server to a remote device, and wherein the second input has a second value that differs from the first value until a second code update equivalent to the first code update is loaded onto the second updating server; 
 changing the second input to an updated second value when the second code update is equivalent to the first code update; and 
 permitting or blocking a downloading of the first code update to the remote device, based on the first input and the second input. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 blocking the downloading of the first code update to the remote device responsive to a mismatch between the first input and the second input.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 applying a logical AND function to the first input and the second input, wherein the downloading of the first code update to the remote device is permitted or blocked responsive to an application of the logical AND function.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 monitoring access to the first updating server and the second updating server; and   preventing access to the second updating server by a first user when the first user accesses the first updating server.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein an alarm is generated when the first updating server is accessed by the first user. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second updating server is only accessed by a second user. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein code updates are downloaded only when the first updating server and the second updating server are accessed by different users. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a second updating server comprising processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate the performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 determining a first updating server has been updated by a first user for downloading a first code update to a remote device, the first updating server providing a first input having a first value to a verification processor indicating the first code update; 
 blocking access to the second updating server by the first user based on the determining step; 
 setting second input to the verification processor from the second updating server to a second value that differs from the first value; 
 receiving a second code update from a second user; and 
 responsive to the first code update and the second code update being identical, changing the second input to the verification processor to an updated second value matching the first value, a downloading of the first code update to the remote device permitted according to the changing of the second input. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the first updating server has an output to the first input of the verification processor and the second updating server has an output to the second input of the verification processor and wherein the first input has a value of “1” based on the first code update and the second input has a value of “0” thereby blocking the downloading step until the second updating server receives the second code update matching the first code update and the value of the second input then changes to a “1” and thereby enabling the downloading step. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the determining step is performed periodically by comparing code versions of the first updating server and the second updating server.