System and method for updating network computer systems

Abstract

An update system configured to provide software updates, software patches and/or other data packets to one or more computer systems via a network is disclosed. The update system may interact with a network management system, such as an enterprise management system, to distribute data packets and gather configuration information. The update system may generate and send commands to the network management system. The network management system may carry out the commands to distribute data packets and/or gather configuration information.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by a computing system, client configuration information associated with a plurality of client computer systems, the client configuration information being determined based on scanning, via one or more agents, the plurality of client computer systems;   acquiring, by the computing system, data indicating that a particular client computer system, out of the plurality of client computer systems, is to have a particular data packet installed;   comparing, by the computing system, the client configuration information and the data to determine that the particular data packet is transmissible to the particular client computer system;   determining, by the computing system, based on the client configuration information, that the particular client computer system meets one or more conditions for installing the particular data packet;   causing, by the computing system, the particular data packet to be communicated to and installed at the particular client computer system via at least one agent out of the one or more agents; and   verifying, by the computing system, that the particular data packet has been successfully installed at the particular client computer system.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein scanning, via one or more agents, the plurality of client computer systems includes auditing the plurality of client computer systems to discover existing software at the plurality of client computer systems, and wherein the existing software is identifiable via the client configuration information. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining that a software version of the existing software is undesired at the particular client computer system, wherein the particular data packet enables a desired software version for the existing software to be installed at the particular client computer system.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein verifying that the particular data packet has been successfully installed at the particular client computer system is performed via the at least one agent. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 deleting the at least one agent subsequent to verifying that the particular data packet has been successfully installed at the particular client computer system.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the data is provided via a master control list of software, and wherein the master control list of software further provides identification information for the particular data packet. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more agents are included in a network management system on a network, wherein the plurality of client computer systems are coupled to the network, wherein an update system is provided on the network, wherein the particular data packet is provided by the update system, and wherein the particular data packet is associated with at least one of a software update or a software patch. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 selecting, by the update system, one or more other client computer systems out of the plurality of client computer systems; and   enabling, by the update system, one or more other data packets to be communicated to and installed at the one or more other client computer systems.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein the particular data packet is communicated to the particular client computer system from the update system via the network management system. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 storing a log file that lists one or more commands from the update system via the network management system.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform:
 receiving client configuration information associated with a plurality of client computer systems, the client configuration information being determined based on scanning, via one or more agents, the plurality of client computer systems; 
 acquiring data indicating that a particular client computer system, out of the plurality of client computer systems, is to have a particular data packet installed; 
 comparing the client configuration information and the data to determine that the particular data packet is transmissible to the particular client computer system; 
 determining, based on the client configuration information, that the particular client computer system meets one or more conditions for installing the particular data packet; 
 causing the particular data packet to be communicated to and installed at the particular client computer system via at least one agent out of the one or more agents; and 
 verifying that the particular data packet has been successfully installed at the particular client computer system. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein scanning, via one or more agents, the plurality of client computer systems includes auditing the plurality of client computer systems to discover existing software at the plurality of client computer systems, and wherein the existing software is identifiable via the client configuration information. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions cause the system to further perform:
 determining that a software version of the existing software is undesired at the particular client computer system, wherein the particular data packet enables a desired software version for the existing software to be installed at the particular client computer system.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein verifying that the particular data packet has been successfully installed at the particular client computer system is performed via the at least one agent. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions cause the system to further perform:
 deleting the at least one agent subsequent to verifying that the particular data packet has been successfully installed at the particular client computer system.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a method comprising:
 receiving client configuration information associated with a plurality of client computer systems, the client configuration information being determined based on scanning, via one or more agents, the plurality of client computer systems;   acquiring data indicating that a particular client computer system, out of the plurality of client computer systems, is to have a particular data packet installed;   comparing the client configuration information and the data to determine that the particular data packet is transmissible to the particular client computer system;   determining, based on the client configuration information, that the particular client computer system meets one or more conditions for installing the particular data packet;   causing the particular data packet to be communicated to and installed at the particular client computer system via at least one agent out of the one or more agents; and   verifying that the particular data packet has been successfully installed at the particular client computer system.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein
 scanning, via one or more agents, the plurality of client computer systems includes auditing the plurality of client computer systems to discover existing software at the plurality of client computer systems, and wherein the existing software is identifiable via the client configuration information.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the computing system to further perform:
 determining that a software version of the existing software is undesired at the particular client computer system, wherein the particular data packet enables a desired software version for the existing software to be installed at the particular client computer system.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein verifying that the particular data packet has been successfully installed at the particular client computer system is performed via the at least one agent. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions cause the computing system to further perform:
 deleting the at least one agent subsequent to verifying that the particular data packet has been successfully installed at the particular client computer system.