초록 ▼

A remote monitoring system automatically communicates system diagnostic information from a monitored computer system to a remote service center at regular intervals. The monitored computer system includes a plurality of monitored computers coupled together by a network. One of the monitored computer

A remote monitoring system automatically communicates system diagnostic information from a monitored computer system to a remote service center at regular intervals. The monitored computer system includes a plurality of monitored computers coupled together by a network. One of the monitored computers is a master and others of the monitored computers are slaves coupled to the master. The monitored computers store system diagnostic information resulting from execution of diagnostic programs. The diagnostic information from the slaves is collected at a memory location accessible by the master before the diagnostic information from all of the monitored computers is communicated to the remote monitoring computer system. The remote monitoring computer system receives the diagnostic information at predetermined intervals and incorporates the diagnostic information into a searchable database. The diagnostic information includes data indicating currently installed hardware and software components on the monitored system. The remote monitoring computer system compares the current diagnostic information with previously received diagnostic information to determine if new components exist in the monitored system. If a new component exists, the remote monitoring computer system provides a new diagnostic test which is automatically incorporated into the diagnostics executed by the monitored system.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of monitoring a first computer system from a second computer system, the first computer system including a plurality of monitored computers linked together by a network, comprising:executing diagnostics programs on the monitored computers to generate diagnostic r

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of monitoring a first computer system from a second computer system, the first computer system including a plurality of monitored computers linked together by a network, comprising:executing diagnostics programs on the monitored computers to generate diagnostic results, the diagnostic results including an indication of currently installed components on each of the monitored computers;communicating the diagnostic results, including the indication of currently installed components to the second computer system, at a programmable periodic interval;comparing, in the second computer system, the indication of currently installed components on each of the monitored computers with a previously received indication of installed components, to determine if a different component configuration exists on any of the monitored computers;providing a notification indication if the different component configuration exists;in response to the notification indication, when the different configuration includes a new component providing a new diagnostic test for the new component to the first computer system from the second computer system;receiving at one of the monitored computers the new diagnostic test and indicating information of which of the monitored computers require the new test; andproviding the new test to selected ones of the monitored computers according to the indicating information.