Approach for provisioning network devices
US7657615B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 2003 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4416
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An approach for provisioning network devices generally involves supplying boot data to network devices over a network so that the network devices can be booted up in an imaging mode or an application mode, depending upon the particular boot data supplied to the network device. When booted up in the imaging mode, imaging data can be downloaded and stored on network devices. When booted up in the application mode, the network devices execute one or more programs contained in the image data stored on the network devices. The first and second boot data may be in the form of boot loader scripts. Furthermore, the first and second boot data may be provided to the network device in the payload of a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) reply. The DHCP reply may be generated and provided by a DHCP server to the network device in response to receiving a DHCP request from the network device. The approach may be implemented using a secure network environment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.