Method and system for configuring computing devices

1. A method for configuring computing devices, comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a first cache list object from a management service;

comparing the first cache list object to a second cache list object on the computing device;

based on the comparing, identifying a first object fingerprint that is present in the first cache list object and that is not present in the second cache list object;

obtaining, from a location that is external to the computing device, a first object corresponding to the first object fingerprint;

updating a configuration of the computing device using the first object;

based on the comparing, identifying a second object fingerprint that is present on the second cache list object and that is not present in the first cache list object; and

removing, from the computing device, a second object corresponding to the second object fingerprint,

wherein updating the configuration of the computing device is performed after removing the second object, and

wherein updating the configuration does not use any object content from the second object.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first object comprises object content, wherein the updating the configuration comprises using the object content.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the object content is a software image.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the object content is a credential.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first object comprises reference information, wherein the reference information comprises a second location of object content for the first object, an authentication code associated with the second location and a fingerprint associated with the object content.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

sending a request for the object content to the second location, wherein the request comprises the authentication code;

receiving encrypted object content from the second location;

decrypting the encrypted object content to obtain the object content; and

verifying the object content using the fingerprint associated with the object content,

wherein updating the configuration comprises using the object content.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

generating, by a trusted platform module on the computing device, a public-private key pair; and

providing the public key to the second location;

wherein the encrypted object content is encrypted using the public key,

wherein the encrypted object content is decrypted using the private key.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second location is a second computing device, wherein the computing device is managed by the management service.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location is the management service.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, by the computing device and after the updating, a third cache list object using at least the first object;

generating, by the computing device, a cache list pointer using the third cache list object; and

providing the cache list pointer to the management service.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by a computer processor enables the computer processor to:

receive, by a computing device, a first cache list object from a management service;

compare the first cache list object to a second cache list object on the computing device;

based on the comparing, identify a first object fingerprint that is present on the first cache list object and that is not present in the second cache list object;

obtain, from a location that is external to the computing device, a first object corresponding to the first object fingerprint;

update a configuration of the computing device using the first object;

based on the comparing, identify a second object fingerprint that is present on the second cache list object and that is not present in the first cache list object; and

remove, from the computing device, a second object corresponding to the second object fingerprint,

wherein updating the configuration of the computing device is performed after removing the second object, and

wherein updating the configuration does no use any object content from the second object.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the first object comprises object content, wherein the updating the configuration comprises using the object content.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the object content comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a software image and a credential.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by the computer processor enables the computer processor to:

send a request for the object content to a second location, wherein the first object comprises reference information, wherein the reference information specifies the second location for object content for the first object and comprises an authentication code associated with the second location and a fingerprint associated with the object content, wherein the request comprises the authentication code;

receive encrypted object content from the second location;

decrypt the encrypted object content to obtain the object content; and

verify the object content using the fingerprint associated with the object content,

wherein updating the configuration comprises using the object content.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by the computer processor enables the computer processor to:

generate, by the computing device and after the updating, a third cache list object using at least the first object;

generate, by the computing device, a cache list pointer using the third cache list object; and

provide the cache list pointer to the management service.

16. A computing device, comprising:

a server comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by the processor enables the server to:

provide at least one integrity measurement for the server to a management service;

receive, after providing the at least one integrity measurement, a first cache list object from a management service;

compare the first cache list object to a second cache list object on the computing device;

based on the comparing, identify a first object fingerprint that is present on the first cache list object and that is not present in the second cache list object;

obtain, from a location that is external to the computing device, a first object corresponding to the first object fingerprint;

update a configuration of the computing device using the first object;

based on the comparing, identify a second object fingerprint that is present in the second cache list object and that is not present in the first cache list object; and

remove, from the computing device, a second object corresponding to the second object fingerprint,

wherein updating the configuration of the computing device is performed after removing the second object, and

wherein updating the configuration does not use any object content from the second object.

17. The computing device of claim 16 ,

wherein the server further comprises a trusted platform module configured to generate a public-private key pair;

wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium further comprises computer readable program code, which when executed by the processor enables the server to:

send a request for the object content to a second location, wherein the first object comprises reference information, wherein the reference information specifies the second location for object content for the first object and comprises an authentication code associated with the second location and a fingerprint associated with the object content, wherein the request comprises the authentication code;

provide the public key to the second location;

receive encrypted object content from the second location;

decrypt, using the private key, the encrypted object content to obtain the object content; and

verify the object content using the fingerprint associated with the object content,

wherein updating the configuration comprises using the object content.

18. The computing device of claim 16 , further comprising:

a network adaptor operatively connected to the server,

wherein the network adaptor is configured to provide at least one integrity measurement for the network adaptor to the management service prior to the computing device receiving the first cache list object.