Configuration to order software deployment and management

Abstract

In a configuration-to-order (CTO) software provisioning system, software upgrade/downgrade support, software running change support, and software file server management are provided in part using microcode typically stored on a user computer BIOS.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a microcode definition for first configure to order (CTO) software options for a computer, wherein a user of the computer may select a subset of the CTO software options for installation on the computer;   generating a microcode definition for second CTO software options;   writing microcode to the computer representing both CTO options; and   installing on the computer only user selections from the first CTO software options.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising establishing at least one recovery disk bearing both microcode definitions and all programs in both the first and second CTO software options. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first CTO software options include 64 bit software and the second CTO software options include 32 bit software options corresponding to at least some of the 64 bit CTO software options. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein both CTO software options are for a single predetermined computer model. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first bit in the microcode maps to a first program among the CTO software options. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a second bit in the microcode maps to a second program among the CTO software options. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising:
 receiving a user request for a change of grade for at least one selected program from the first CTO software option to the second CTO software option; and   providing the recovery disk to the user, whereby the computer can access the microcode and based thereon, for at least a first program from the first CTO option, copying from the disk to the computer a corresponding version of the program from the second CTO option.   
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 in response to a running change to at least a first program in a group of configure to order (CTO) software from which users may select software, generating a snapshot of the group of CTO software including the first program as affected by the running change;   generating a list of items in the snapshot;   generating a mapping between microcode bits and respective items in at least one snapshot, the microcode bits being provided to user computers;   establishing at least one disk bearing plural snapshots and associated lists; and   providing the at least one disk to at least first and second users, a computer of the first user being associated with the first program, a computer of the second user not being associated with the first program and thus not being affected by the running change, the disk being useful by the first user to copy the first program as affected by the running change to the computer of the first user.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the computer of the first user accesses the microcode to determine the first program affected by the running change to copy from the disk. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 establishing bits in microcode loaded onto at least a first user computer to represent at least one of:   at least a first program affected by a running change;   at least a second program in an upgraded format and a downgraded format.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the bits represent the first program, and the method comprises:
 in response to a running change to the first program, the first program being in a group of configure to order (CTO) software from which users may select software, generating a snapshot of the group of CTO software including the first program as affected by the running change;   generating a list of items in the snapshot;   generating a mapping between microcode bits and respective items in at least one snapshot, the microcode bits being provided to user computers;   establishing at least one disk bearing plural snapshots and associated lists; and   providing the at least one disk to at least first and second users, a computer of the first user being associated with the first program, a computer of the second user not being associated with the first program and thus not being affected by the running change, the disk being useful by the first user to copy the first program as affected by the running change to the computer of the first user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the computer of the first user accesses the microcode to determine the first program affected by the running change to copy from the disk. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the bits represent the second program, and the method comprises:
 receiving a microcode definition for first configure to order (CTO) software options for a computer, the options including the second program, wherein a user of the computer may select a subset of the CTO software options for installation on the computer;   generating a microcode definition for second CTO software options;   writing microcode to the computer representing both CTO options; and   installing on the computer only user selections from the first CTO software options.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising establishing at least one recovery disk bearing both microcode definitions and all programs in both the first and second CTO software options. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first CTO software options include 64 bit software and the second CTO software options include 32 bit software options corresponding to at least some of the 64 bit CTO software options. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein both CTO software options are for a single predetermined computer model. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a first bit in the microcode maps to the second program. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a second bit in the microcode maps to a third program among the CTO software options. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 receiving a user request for a change of grade for the second program from the first CTO software option to the second CTO software option; and   providing the recovery disk to the user, whereby the computer can access the microcode and based thereon, for at least the second program among the first CTO options, copying from the disk to the computer a corresponding version of the program from the second CTO option.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the bits represent the first program and the second program.