Fast client boot in blade environment
The boot-time required for a log-on to a desktop blade system is improved, and a more streamlined process for performing maintenance operations, such as software updates, across an enterprise desktop blade system is facilitated. All activities being performed by a user are cached, in an off-blade storage location, on an ongoing basis. The caching is performed using “divided caching”, that is, different elements of the user image are stored in different locations. The specific divisions utilized are based upon classifications of the information to be cached, e.g., a first class of information used by all users of the system; a second class of information utilized by a certain class of users; a third class of information utilized only by a particular individual, etc.
1 . A method of storing image information pertaining to user images, comprising the steps of:
classifying the image information into two or more logical classes;
associating separate storage locations with each logical class; and
storing said image information using divided caching, whereby each logical class of image information is stored in its associated storage location.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said separate storage locations comprise at least two disparate physical storage locations.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:
a first of said user images corresponds to a first user of a desktop blade in a blade computing system;
a first class of said image information comprises operating system files used by all users of said blade computing system; and
said first class of image information is stored on a storage blade local to desktop blades accessible to said first user.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein:
a second class of said image information comprises a set of application files selectively useable by one or more users of said blade computing system; and
said second class of image information is stored on a storage location accessible to said one or more users.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein:
a third class of said user image information comprises user files used by a single user of said blade computing system, said third class of said user image information being stored in any storage location accessible to said single user.
6 . A system of storing image information pertaining to user images, comprising:
means for classifying the image information into two or more logical classes;
means for associating separate storage locations with each logical class; and
means for storing said image information using divided caching, whereby each logical class of image information is stored in its associated storage location.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein said separate storage locations comprise at least two disparate physical storage locations.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein:
a first of said user images corresponds to a first user of a desktop blade in a blade computing system;
a first class of said image information comprises core operating system files used by all users of said blade computing system; and
said first class of image information is stored on a storage blade local to desktop blades accessible to said first user.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein:
a second class of said image information comprises a set of application files selectively useable by one or more users of said blade computing system; and
said second class of image information is stored on a storage location accessible to said one or more users.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:
a third class of said user image information comprises user files used by a single user of said blade computing system, said third class of said user image information being stored in any storage location accessible to said single user.
11 . A computer program product for storing image information pertaining to user images, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:
computer-readable program code that classifies the image information into two or more logical classes;
computer-readable program code that associates separate storage locations with each logical class; and
computer-readable program code that stores said image information using divided caching, whereby each logical class of image information is stored in its associated storage location.
12 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein said separate storage locations comprise at least two disparate physical storage locations.
13 . The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein:
a first of said user images corresponds to a first user of a desktop blade in a blade computing system;
a first class of said image information comprises core operating system files used by all users of said blade computing system; and
said first class of image information is stored on a storage blade local to desktop blades accessible to said first user.
14 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein:
a second class of said image information comprises a set of application files selectively useable by one or more users of said blade computing system; and
said second class of image information is stored on a storage location accessible to said one or more users.
15 . The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein:
a third class of said user image information comprises user files used by a single user of said blade computing system, said third class of said user image information being stored in any storage location accessible to said single user.