Dell Products Inc.

Roy Meaney

Philip John Brisky

Eric Hoxworth

Joseph Tallieu

Alberto Ramos

Alex Paul Tips

Methods and systems are disclosed for dynamically managing multicast sessions for software downloads and, more particularly, for such software downloads used in build-to-order manufacturing information handling systems. Multiple multicast sessions are automatically managed simultaneously, where each session can have its own unique set of session parameters, in such a way as to support a high mix, high volume manufacturing build-to-order environment. Multicast session control parameters, such as start time and client count, are defined for each multicast session base upon download requests from the information handling systems as they reach the software installation phase.

Method for dynamically managing multicast sessions for software downloads and related systems

Manufacturing a virtual information handling system (IHS) includes creating a virtual IHS including a component identifier. A boot process is then begun for the virtual IHS. A manufacturing operating system is then retrieved for the virtual IHS using the component identifier. The manufacturing operating system is then installed on the virtual IHS. Manufacturing a virtual IHS may also include determining a common operating system and a common software subset among a plurality of to-be-manufactured virtual IHSs. A first virtual IHS may then be created and the common operating system may be configured on the first virtual IHS. At least a portion of a first virtual IHS software may also be configured on the first virtual IHS. The configuration of the first virtual IHS software on the first virtual IHS is stopped when the common software subset is configured on the first virtual IHS. The first virtual IHS may then be cloned to create a cloned virtual IHS.

Manufacturing information handling systems

A method of manufacturing an information handling system having at least one hardware component, e.g. motherboard, bearing a unique identifier (component ID) in software-readable form. The method comprises generating a digital identifier (system trackcode) which defines the hardware and software configuration of the item, storing the system trackcode in association with the component ID in a manufacturing database such that the component ID can be used as a key to retrieve the associated system trackcode. During manufacture the component ID is read from the motherboard and used to retrieve the associated system trackcode from the database.

Method of manufacturing an information handling system

Manufacturing a virtual information handling system (IHS) includes creating a virtual IHS including a component identifier. A boot process is then started for the virtual IHS. A manufacturing operating system is retrieved for the virtual IHS using the component identifier. The manufacturing operating system is installed on the virtual IHS. Manufacturing a virtual IHS may also include determining a common operating system and a common software subset among a plurality of to-be-manufactured virtual IHSs. A first virtual IHS may be created and the common operating system may be configured on the first virtual IHS. At least a portion of a first virtual IHS software may also be configured on the first virtual IHS. The configuration of the first virtual IHS software on the first virtual IHS is stopped when the common software subset is configured on the first virtual IHS. The first virtual IHS may then be cloned to create a cloned virtual IHS.

A method of manufacturing an information handling system having at least one hardware component, e.g. motherboard, bearing a unique identifier (component ID) in software-readable form. The method includes generating a digital identifier (system trackcode) which defines the hardware and software configuration of the item and storing the system trackcode in association with the component ID in a manufacturing database such that the component ID can be used as a key to retrieve the associated system trackcode. During manufacture the component ID is read from the motherboard and used to retrieve the associated system trackcode from the database.

A method of manufacturing a build-to-order PC system unit having at least one hardware component, e.g. motherboard, bearing a unique identifier ('component ID') in software readable form. The method comprises generating a digital identifier ('system trackcode') which defines the hardware and software configuration of the item, storing the system trackcode in association with the component ID in a manufacturing database such that the component ID can be used as a key to retrieve the associated system trackcode. During manufacture the component ID is read from the motherboard and used to retrieve the associated system trackcode from the database.

Method of manufacturing an item of build-to-order equipment

A universal PXE client obtains configuration information for an information handling system, applies the configuration information to create a drive on the information handling system and loads a manufacture operating system in the drive. The manufacture operating system runs a manufacture application that configures the software of the information handling system. The universal PXE client is generated by a scripting engine of a network boot program that is downloaded to the information handling system with a NIC boot kernel activated on power-up. The state of manufacture is periodically saved to a network location that tracks manufacture progress and persists manufacture state information through system re-boots.

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Ballyneety, Ireland

Roy Meaney