Determining a boot image based on a requesting client address

Abstract

A method, computer-readable storage medium, and boot server that, in an embodiment, receive a command that requests a name of a boot image and a network address of a boot server that contains the boot image, invoke a plug-in to determine the name of the boot image based on an address of a client that sent the command, and send the name of the boot image and the network address of the boot server to a client that sent the command. In various embodiments, the address of the client may be a network address or a MAC (Media Access Control) address. The client retrieves the boot image via the name, and the boot image initializes the client when executed at the client. The name of the boot image is changed to a second name and sent to the client in response to another command.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a command at a boot server from a client, wherein the command requests a name of a boot image;   in response to the receiving the command at the boot server from the client, determining the name of the boot image based on an address of the client that sent the command, wherein the boot image associated with the address of the client changes over time; and   after the determining the name of the boot image, changing the name of the boot image associated with the address of the client to a second name of a second boot image in a sequence.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 invoking a plug-in at the boot server, wherein the plug-in performs the determining the name of the boot image and the changing the name of the boot image.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 sending the name of the boot image to the client that sent the command, wherein the client retrieves the boot image via the name of the boot image, and wherein the boot image initializes the client when executed at the client.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving a second command at the boot server from the client; and   in response to the receiving the second command at the boot server from the client, invoking the plug-in at the boot server, wherein the plug-in determines the second name of the second boot image associated with the address of the client.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 sending the second name of the second boot image from the boot server to the client in response to the second command from the client, wherein the client retrieves the second boot image via the second name of the second boot image, wherein the second boot image initializes the client when executed at the client.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the address of the client comprises a network address. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the address of the client comprises a MAC address. 
   
   
       8 . A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions, wherein the instructions when executed comprise:
 receiving a command at a boot server from a client, wherein the command requests a name of a boot image;   in response to the receiving the command at the boot server from the client, determining the name of the boot image based on an address of the client that sent the command, wherein the boot image associated with the address of the client changes over time;   after the determining the name of the boot image, changing the name of the boot image associated with the address of the client to a second name of a second boot image in a sequence; and   sending the name of the boot image to the client that sent the command, wherein the client retrieves the boot image via the name of the boot image, and wherein the boot image initializes the client when executed at the client.   
   
   
       9 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 invoking a plug-in at the boot server, wherein the plug-in performs the determining the name of the boot image and the changing the name of the boot image.   
   
   
       10 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving a second command at the boot server from the client; and   in response to the receiving the second command at the boot server from the client, invoking the plug-in at the boot server, wherein the plug-in determines the second name of the second boot image associated with the address of the client.   
   
   
       11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 sending the second name of the second boot image from the boot server to the client in response to the second command from the client, wherein the client retrieves the second boot image via the second name of the second boot image, wherein the second boot image initializes the client when executed at the client.   
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the address of the client comprises a network address. 
   
   
       13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the address of the client comprises a MAC address. 
   
   
       14 . A boot server, comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer-readable storage device connected to the processor, wherein the computer-readable storage device is encoded with instructions, wherein the instructions executed on the processor comprise:
 receiving a command at the boot server from a client, wherein the command requests a name of a boot image; 
 in response to the receiving the command at the boot server from the client, determining the name of the boot image based on an address of the client that sent the command, wherein the boot image associated with the address of the client changes over time; 
 after the determining the name of the boot image, changing the name of the boot image associated with the address of the client to a second name of a second boot image in a sequence; 
 invoking a plug-in at the boot server, wherein the plug-in performs the determining the name of the boot image and the changing the name of the boot image; and 
 sending the name of the boot image to the client that sent the command, 
   wherein the client retrieves the boot image via the name of the boot image, and   wherein the boot image initializes the client when executed at the client.   
   
   
       15 . The boot server of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 receiving a second command at the boot server from the client; and   in response to the receiving the second command at the boot server from the client, invoking the plug-in at the boot server, wherein the plug-in determines the second name of the second boot image associated with the address of the client.   
   
   
       16 . The boot server of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 sending the second name of the second boot image from the boot server to the client in response to the second command from the client, wherein the client retrieves the second boot image via the second name of the second boot image, wherein the second boot image initializes the client when executed at the client.   
   
   
       17 . The boot server of  claim 14 , wherein the address of the client comprises a network address. 
   
   
       18 . The boot server of  claim 14 , wherein the address of the client comprises a MAC address.