Use of a dynamically loaded library to update remote computer management capability
View Patent ↗The invention facilitates remote management of a computer via a network. Remote computer management capability can be updated by providing to a managed computer, for use by software operating on the managed computer to effect management actions, a dynamically loaded library (or other set of instructions and/or data that will not be identified as a new executing process on the managed computer) that includes functionality not previously enabled by the software operating on the managed computer.
1. A computer network comprising a managed computer and a remote computer management server, each having software installed thereon, and a proxy server communicably coupled between the managed computer and the remote computer management system, said software comprising instructions for:
automatically initiating communication by a managed computer to the remote computer management server to determine whether the remote computer management server has a management action for the managed computer to perform;
if the remote computer management server has a management action for the managed computer to perform, receiving at the managed computer from the remote computer management server via a network:
a new dynamically loaded library from the remote computer management server, the dynamically loaded library comprising at least one of instructions or data that represent at least one new functionality for the managed computer; and
at least one command to perform a single task constituting a new function related to the management action that was not previously enabled to be performed by the managed computer, wherein at least one command comprises a command from the remote management server to execute the at least one new functionality; and
executing the at least one new functionality.
2. The computer network as in claim 1 , further comprising instructions for communicating from the managed computer to the remote computer management server via the network a result of the performance of the new function related to the management action.
3. The computer network as in claim 1 , wherein the network is the Internet.
4. The computer network as in claim 1 , further comprising instructions for routing all communication between the managed computer and the remote computer management server through a single network communications port that is allowed for other network communication by a firewall and/or gateway that mediates communication with the managed computer.
5. The computer network in claim 1 , further comprising instructions for authenticating the managed computer to the remote computer management server.
6. The computer network as in claim 1 , further comprising instructions for encrypting communication between the managed computer and the remote computer management server.
7. The computer network as in claim 6 , wherein the instructions for encrypting communication between the managed computer and the remote computer management server further comprise instructions for generating a new encryption key each time that the managed computer initiates communication with the remote computer management server.
8. The computer network as in claim 7 , wherein the instructions for encrypting communication between the managed computer and the remote computer management server further comprise instructions for successively comparing different combinations of a specified number of most recent encryption keys stored by the managed computer and a specified number of most recent encryption keys stored by the remote computer management server.
9. The computer network as in claim 1 , further comprising instructions for performing at the managed computer the new function related to the management action.
10. The computer network as in claim 1 , further comprising instructions for:
performing the previous functions by making use of a set of instructions included in a dynamically loaded library; and
performing the new functions not previously enabled by making use of the set of instructions included in a the dynamically loaded library.
11. A method for facilitating remote management of a managed computer, comprising the steps of:
providing agent software in the managed computer, the agent software configured to:
automatically initiate communication to a remote computer management server that is remote from the managed computer; and
execute at least one function of a dynamically loaded library;
automatically initiating communication by the agent software to the remote computer management server to determine whether the remote computer management server has any management action for the managed computer to perform;
if the remote computer management server has any management action for the managed computer to perform, receiving at the managed computer from the remote computer management server via a network:
a new dynamically loaded library from the remote computer management server, the dynamically loaded library comprising at least one of instructions or data that represent at least one new functionality for the managed computer; and
a command to perform a single task constituting a new function related to the management action that was not previously enabled to be performed by the managed computer, wherein at least one command comprises a command from the remote management server to execute the at least one new functionality; and executing the at least one new DLL functionality.
12. The method as in claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
performing previous functions by making use of a set of instructions included in a previously loaded dynamically loaded library; and
performing the new functions not previously enabled by making use of the set of instructions included in the dynamically loaded library.
13. A system for facilitating remote management of a managed computer communicably coupled to a proxy server, comprising:
a remote computer management server coupled to the managed computer that initiates a communication to the remote computer management server to determine whether the remote computer management server has any management action for the managed computer to perform; and
if the remote computer management server has any management action for the managed computer to perform, the managed computer:
receives from the remote computer management server via a network:
a new dynamically loaded library from the remote computer management server, the dynamically loaded library comprising at least one of instructions or data that represent at least one new functionality for the managed computer; and
a command to perform a single task constituting a new function related to the management action that was not previously enabled to be performed by the managed computer, wherein at least one command comprises a command from the remote management server to execute the at least one new functionality; and
executes the at least one new functionality.
14. The system as in claim 13 , wherein the managed computer performs the new function related to the management action.
15. The system as in claim 13 , wherein:
the previous functions are performed by making use of a set of instructions included in a dynamically loaded library; and
the new functions not previously enabled are performed by making use of the set of instructions included in the dynamically loaded library.