Agentless installation for building deployments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11762644-B2
Application number	US-202117316405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2021
Priority date	May 10, 2021
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

A method, a computer program product, and a system for server provisioning and deployment. The method includes receiving a deployment configuration for a server. The deployment configuration includes a requested software build and a requested installation of an application and configuration for the server. The method also includes reconfiguring hardware on the server based on the deployment configuration and via an out-of-band management card on the server and pushing a boot loader on to the server for installation of an operating system. The method further includes performing an installation of the operating system on the server, transmitting an auto configuration file to the server. The auto configuration file provides installation properties relating to the application. The method also includes monitoring a status of the server during the installation of the application using a serial terminal output on the server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method of server provisioning and deployment, the computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, by a provisioner, a deployment configuration for a server, the deployment configuration includes a requested software build and a requested installation of an application and configuration for the server;
reconfiguring hardware on the server based on the deployment configuration and via an out-of-band management card on the server, wherein reconfiguring the hardware on the server comprises:
configuring, via an out-of-band terminal, the server for preboot execution environment (PXE) booting on at least one available network interface card (NIC) on the server; and
synchronizing a terminal speed on a serial terminal on the server;

pushing a boot loader on to the server including files for installation of an operating system and the application;
installing the operating system on the server via the boot loader;
transmitting an auto configuration file to the server, wherein the auto configuration file provides installation properties relating to the application; and

monitoring a status of the server during the installation of the application using a serial terminal output on the server.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein reconfiguring the hardware on the server further comprises:
rebooting the server to complete the configuration;
receiving a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) offer packet from the server; and
providing the server with an internet protocol (IP) address and notating a media access control (MAC) address relating to the server.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein pushing the boot loader comprises:
generating a boot loader configuration file, wherein the boot loader configuration file includes install options and a source software version for the boot loader based on the deployment configuration;
transmitting an acknowledgment packet to the server including a link to a file transfer server containing a source file of the boot loader; and
transmitting the source file and the boot loader configuration file to the server for installation via the link to the file transfer server.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein installing the operating system comprises:
receiving a request from the server for files relating to the operating system;
transmitting the files to the server, wherein the files include a full set of options for the application and call back links for additional files relating to the operating system;
partitioning a storage disk on the server into at least a primary partition and a recovery partition;
performing the installation of the operating system on the primary partition of the storage component;
installing a recovery file on the recovery partition of the storage component;
installing additional files on the server to allow the installation remaining to be performed offline via the recovery file; and
analyzing information generated by the server to monitor the installation operating system.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein communication with the server is via a secure shell (SSH) tunnel.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the provisioner is configured to translate vendor-specific commands provided by the server while configuring the server and installing the application.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the provisioner is agentless.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the provisioner scales based on a mapped universally unique identifier (UUID) relating to the server.

9. A computer program product including computer readable storage media for server provisioning and deployment, having computer executable instructions that when executed by at least one computer case the at least one computer to execute the instructions to:
receive a deployment configuration for a server, the deployment configuration includes a requested software build and a requested installation of an application and configuration for the server;
reconfigure hardware on the server based on the deployment configuration and via an out-of-band management card on the server, wherein reconfiguring the hardware on the server comprises instructions to:
configure, via an out-of-band terminal, the server for preboot execution environment (PXE) booting on at least one available network interface card (NIC) on the server; and
synchronize a terminal speed on a serial terminal on the server;

push a boot loader on to the server including files for installation of an operating system and the application;
install the operating system on the server via the boot loader;
transmit an auto configuration file to the server, wherein the auto configuration file provides installation properties relating to the application; and

monitor a status of the server during the installation of the application using a serial terminal output on the server.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein reconfiguring the hardware on the server further comprises instructions to:
reboot the server to complete the configuration;
receive a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) offer packet from the server; and
provide the server with an internet protocol (IP) address and notating a media access control (MAC) address relating to the server.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein pushing the boot loader comprises instructions to:
generate a boot loader configuration file, wherein the boot loader configuration file includes install options and a source software version for the boot loader based on the deployment configuration;
transmit an acknowledgment packet to the server including a link to a file transfer server containing a source file of the boot loader; and
transmit the source file and the boot loader configuration file to the server for installation via the link to the file transfer server.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein install of the operating system comprises instructions to:
receive a request from the server for files relating to the operating system;
transmit the files to the server, wherein the files include a full set of options for the application and call back links for additional files relating to the operating system;
partition a storage disk on the server into at least a primary partition and a recovery partition;
perform the installation of the operating system on the primary partition of the storage component;
install a recovery file on the recovery partition of the storage component;
install additional files on the server to allow the installation remaining to be performed offline via the recovery file; and
analyze information generated by the server to monitor the installation operating system.

13. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein communication with the server is via a secure shell (SSH) tunnel.

14. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the provisioner is configured to translate vendor-specific commands provided by the server while configuring the server and installing the application.

15. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the provisioner is agentless.

16. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the provisioner scales based on a mapped universally unique identifier (UUID) relating to the server.

17. A system of threat similarity analysis for automated action on security alerts, the system comprising:
a memory;
a processor;
local data

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Tav Doga
• De Souza Matthew
• Tate Geoffrey
• Antonov Nick
• Barry Alpha

Classifications

• H04L61/5014 Primary

  using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP] · CPC title

• G06F8/61 Primary

  Installation · CPC title

• G06F9/4406

  Loading of operating system · CPC title

• G06F9/44505

  Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files · CPC title

• G06F11/302

  where the computing system component is a software system · CPC title