JP2000285050A - Network computer system and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide operability to a user independently or service utilizing positions on a network. SOLUTION: A network computer system using a network computer(NC) 2 driven by downloading an OS from a network 1 is provided with an NC server including a subnet connection NC processing means for providing the OS to the NC connected to the network managed by the server itself and a slave NC processing means for realizing a user environment for the NC belonging to the server itself, an authentication server 21 for authenticating the user of the NC and a home NC server position information notifying means 22 for giving the positional information of the NC server to which the NC concerned belongs to the NC whose user is authenticated by the server 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network computer system and a recording medium, and more particularly to a network computer system and a recording medium suitable for moving a network computer (hereinafter, referred to as NC) from a home subnet to another subnet. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a computer system called a network computer system (NC system) has been used. This system is premised on the use of a computer in a network environment such as LAN,
By providing a server called a server, the hardware specifications of each terminal (network computer NC) are to be simplified as much as possible.

That is, the NC is an inexpensive device that generally does not include a secondary storage device such as a hard disk and operates using the resources of a server. The NC realizes a computer function by downloading an OS (operating system), application software, and the like from an NC server via a network at the time of startup. In addition, each NC
The data of the terminal user is stored in a secondary storage device on the NC server, and a user environment is set in the NC server so that the user can access his / her own data area.

[0004] A procedure for acquiring an NC user environment in the NC system will be described below.

(1) When the power is turned on, the NC requests an IP address by broadcast. In contrast, N
The IP address is given to the NC by the DHCP server in the C server.

(2) Download the OS from the NC server.

(3) The user inputs a login name / password to the NC, and based on the input, the user is authenticated by the authentication server of the NC server.

(4) After the login is confirmed, the IP address and the home directory name of the server where the user environment exists are acquired from the NC server, and the environment is made recognizable by the NC.

(5) The application is downloaded and becomes executable.

[0010]

In recent years, portable notebook computers have become widespread, but in order to take advantage of this portability, the computer body must be removed from the subnet to which the computer belongs, and can be transferred to another subnet. There is a growing demand for moving and using it. In addition, mobile environment maintenance such as the spread of the mobile IP protocol and the network itself has been progressing.

However, assuming that the NC system is operated in a mobile environment, the following problems may occur.

First, in order for a user to move from his / her own network (hereinafter, referred to as a home network or a home subnet) and use an NC in another network (hereinafter, referred to as a destination network or a destination subnet), it is necessary to use the NC. Even temporarily, an account (account) and environment for the user must be newly established in the NC server (authentication server) operated on the network.

That is, if a login name and a password for the user are set in an NC server of a destination subnet (hereinafter, referred to as a destination NC server) and a data area (home directory) for storing user data is secured, The user cannot use the NC at the destination.

Next, even if the account and environment are set as described above and the NC can be moved, generally, the directory on the home NC server is not directly accessed. You will be accessing the directory. Therefore, a difference occurs in the user environment, and the movement of the NC causes the user environment to be dispersed (scattered). That is, an environment different from the master environment of the user set in the home NC server can be created on the destination NC server.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even when an NC is booted from a subnet where a home NC server does not exist, the same user as when booted from a subnet where the same server exists is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network computer system and a recording medium which can use an environment and can provide a user with operability independent of a service use position on a network.

[0016]

The first invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is directed to a network computer system using a network computer which operates by downloading an operating system from a network.

In this network computer system, there is provided an NC server having subnet connection NC processing means and belonging NC processing means.

The subnet connection NC processing means operates the NC
An operating system is provided to a network computer connected to a network managed by the server. This means gives an OS to all the network computers connected to the network managed by the NC server, regardless of whether the network computer belongs to itself. Thus, the network computer can be started in the initial stage.

On the other hand, the affiliated NC processing means realizes the user environment of the network computer belonging to the own NC processing unit, regardless of whether the network computer requesting the realization of the user environment is on the same subnet. If it belongs, it holds user information and gives its execution environment.

An authentication server is provided in the network computer system, and the server authenticates a user of the network computer.

Further, a home NC server position information notifying unit is provided, and the position information of the NC server to which the network computer belongs is given to the network computer whose user has been authenticated by the authentication server.

Therefore, the network computer is ensured to be activated no matter which subnet it is connected to, and it is possible to request the NC processing means to realize the user environment. As a result, the present invention can provide the user with operability that does not depend on the service use position on the network.

A second invention for solving the problem is directed to a recording medium for recording a program constituting an operating system used in a network computer which operates by downloading an operating system from a network. . The following functions are realized in the network computer that stores the program read from the recording medium of the present invention.

That is, first, the authentication requesting means requests user authentication to the authentication server for performing user authentication of the network computer.

Further, when the user is authenticated by the authentication server, the home NC server access means accesses the belonging NC processing means on the NC server which holds the user information of the belonging network computer and provides the execution environment. . As a result, the user information is retained and an execution environment is provided.

Therefore, for example, by using the operating system of the present invention as the operating system in the first invention, the effect of the first invention can be obtained.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

(First Embodiment of the Invention) FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a network computer system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

This network computer system has two or more subnets A, B,. . Are configured in a network system connected directly or via the network 1. That is, in the present embodiment, an NC 2 having the subnet A as a home subnet and the subnet B as a destination subnet,
An NC server 3A on a subnet A serving as a home NC server, an NC server 3B serving as a destination NC server on a destination subnet B of NC2, and a directory server 4 on a network 1 are provided.

The network 1 may have various cases, such as another subnet or a public line. Also,
When the subnets A and B are directly connected without passing through the network 1, the directory server 4 is provided on the subnets A and B or another subnet. Further, the NC servers 3A and 3B are the same except for the role of becoming the home or destination NC server with respect to the NC 2, and are simply referred to as the NC server 3 when generally expressed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the NC server of the present embodiment.

The NC server 3 of the present embodiment guarantees booting of the NC 2 connected in its own subnet, and also manages data for the NC 2 which is the home NC server and provides an execution environment. For this purpose, the system includes a subnet connection NC processing unit 11 and a belonging NC processing unit 12.

The subnet connection NC processing unit 11 performs a service for the NC 2 connected to the subnet to which the NC server 3 belongs, and includes a DHCP server 13, a subnet file server 14, and a Web server 15.

The DHCP server 13 gives an IP address in response to an IP address request from within its own subnet.

The subnet file server 14 responds to a request from the NC 2 connected to its own subnet and
Provide programs and data necessary to operate as a computer. However, the NC 2 assigns itself to the home N
If the server is not a C server, it does not provide a user environment such as a home directory for the NC.
It does not store data about the NC.

The Web server 15 supplies application software and the like to the NC 2 connected to its own subnet.

On the other hand, the affiliated NC processing unit 12 provides a user environment to the NC 2 having itself as a home NC server, and includes a home file server 16.

[0038] The home file server 16 stores data on the NC2 that uses itself as a home NC server.
Give the execution environment. That is, when an IP address and a home directory name are specified by the NC 2, an environment under the home directory is given to the NC 2.

The Web server 15 provided in the subnet connection NC processing unit 11 may be provided in the affiliated NC processing unit 12.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the directory server 4 is provided with an authentication server 21, a home NC server one notification unit 22, an authentication information storage unit 23, and a server information storage unit 24. I have.

The authentication server 21 receives an authentication request from the NC 2 and authenticates the NC 2 based on the user information in the authentication information storage unit 23.

The authentication information storage unit 23 stores at least a login name and a password of each user who uses the NC 2 as user authentication information.

When the user is authenticated by the authentication server 21, the home NC server one notification unit 22 sends the IP address of the home NC server of the user (NC2) and the information of the home directory of the user in the server to the server information. It is extracted from the storage unit 24 and transmitted to the NC 2 that has issued the authentication request.

The server information storage unit 24 stores the IP address of the home NC server of each NC 2 and the home directory name on the same server at least as server information (user environment information).
Stored as

Next, although the hardware configuration of the NC 2 is a general one, the following is added to the configuration of the OS provided to the NC server. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the NC according to the present embodiment. The NC 2 obtains an IP address from the DHCP server 13 in the connected subnet, subsequently downloads the OS 31 from the subnet file server 14, and proceeds with the following boot processing.

The OS 31 shown in FIG. 3 includes a directory server position / authentication information request unit 32, a directory server access unit 33,
A home NC server access unit 34 is provided.

The directory server position / authentication information request unit 32 is a process for prompting the user to input directory server position information, a login name and its password.

The directory server access unit 33 accesses the directory server 4 based on the inputted directory server position information, login name and its password, and requests user authentication.

As a result of the authentication request to directory server 4, home NC server access unit 34 accesses the home NC server using the IP address obtained from server 4 and the home directory name of the user. This allows the home NC server to recognize its own user environment and operate the NC2.

Next, the operation of the network computer system according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the network computer system of the present embodiment. First, an environment is defined for the NC server 3 so that the NC 2 in the subnet can boot (S1). Specifically, this is a setting process for securing some IP addresses for NC2.

Next, the user authentication information and the home NC server information (IP address and home directory of the user) of the user related to the user authentication information are stored in the authentication information storage unit 23 and the server information storage unit 24 of the directory server 4. It is registered (S2). As a result, the directory server 4 is set as the authentication server 21 of the NC 2.

After the preparation of steps S1 and S2, for example, the NC 2 having the subnet A as the home subnet is moved to the subnet B, and the activation of the NC 2 in the destination subnet B is started.

That is, when the power supply of the NC is turned on, the NC
The DHCP server 13 acquires the IP address of the NC 2 from the server 3B, and further acquires network configuration information. Then the server 3
OS is N from subnet file server 14 in B
It is downloaded to C2 (S3).

Next, the OS 3 downloaded to the NC 2
The first directory server position / authentication information requesting unit 32 operates, and the user inputs the directory server position information, login information (account), and password in response to the request from the requesting unit 32 (S4).

Authentication is performed in cooperation with the directory server 4 based on the input directory server position information and user authentication information (account / password) (S5). The authentication can be performed using an ID card or other medium.

When the user authentication in the directory server 4 is normally completed, the IP address of the home NC server and the home directory name on the server are acquired from the account name by the subsequent boot sequence (S6). One method of realizing this processing is to use the authentication server 2 that has performed user authentication in the directory server 4.
1. The user information is transmitted from the home NC server location notification unit 2
The above information is obtained by the home NC server position notification unit 22 and transmitted to the NC 2 as it is. Another method is that the NC 2 that has received the authentication result from the directory server 4 requests the home NC server position notification unit 22 of the directory server 4 for each of the above information.

Based on the information obtained in step S6, the home file server 16 of the home NC server 3A is accessed from the NC 2, whereby the home server 3A is accessed.
Recognition of the user environment above is done for NC2.

Hereinafter, general processing in the network computer system is performed between the NC 2 and the NC server 3A as its home NC server. For example, the changed data, processing results, newly created files, etc.
A's home file server 16 will maintain a consistent user environment.

As described above, the network computer system according to the embodiment of the present invention provides an IP address and an OS from the destination NC server 3B,
Since the user authentication is performed by the authentication server 21 separate from the C server 3B and the information of the home NC server 3A is provided to the NC 2, the NC 2
A can access A to use its user environment.

Thus, the user environment can be recognized without depending on the service use position (subnet position) on the network, and the user environment can be unified.

(Second Embodiment of the Invention) This embodiment is a modification of the directory server 4 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a network computer system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Is described only.

In the network computer system of the present embodiment, the directory server 4 is provided in the home subnet, and has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the subnet A, the directory server 4 is provided in the NC server 3A, and in the subnet B, the directory server 4
N directly. However, in any case, the configuration itself of the directory server 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the operation is also the same.

As described above, the network computer system according to the embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, except that the directory server 4 is provided in the home subnet. The effect is obtained.

In the first embodiment, in a large-scale network including a large number of subnets, user information that can be connected to each subnet is stored in one place (or a plurality of places).
It is suitable for centralized management. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the user information of each subnet is suitable for a case where management is to be performed on a subnet basis.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations as much as possible, and in that case, the combined effects can be obtained.

For example, in the embodiment, the subnet connection NC
The processing unit 11 and the assigned NC processing unit 12 have been described to perform management in units of subnets, but the invention is not limited to such allocation. Each processing unit 1
If the numbers 1 and 12 correspond to a plurality of subnets, such management is performed. The invention is not limited to the concept of a subnet, and the invention is implemented by the allocation if the subnet connection NC processing unit 11 and the affiliated NC processing unit 12 each manage a certain network.

The method described in the embodiment can be implemented by a computer (computer) as a program (software means) such as a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.). ), Stored in a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, or transmitted and distributed via a communication medium. The programs stored on the medium side include
A software program (including not only an execution program but also a table and a data structure) to be executed by the computer includes a setting program for configuring the computer. A computer that realizes the present apparatus reads a program recorded in a storage medium, and in some cases, constructs software means by using a setting program, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the software means.

[0070]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, even when booting an NC from a subnet where a home NC server does not exist, the same user environment as when booting from a subnet where the server exists is used. Thus, it is possible to provide a network computer system and a recording medium which can provide a user with operability independent of a service use position on a network.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a network computer system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing a detailed configuration of an NC server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a configuration example of an NC according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of the network computer system of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a network computer system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Network 2 ... NC 3, 3A, 3B ... NC server 4 ... Directory server 11 ... Subnet connection NC processing part 12 ... Local NC processing part 13 ... DHCP server 14 ... Subnet file server 15 ... Web server 16 ... Home file server 21 ... Authentication server 22 ... Home NC server one notification unit 23 ... Authentication information storage unit 24 ... Server information storage unit 31 ... OS 32 ... Directory server position / authentication information request unit 33 ... Directory server access unit 34 ... Home NC server access unit A , B ... Subnet

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B089 GA11 GA25 JB14 KA01 KB06 KB13 KC58 MB01 5J104 AA07 KA01 KA04 MA01 NA27 PA07 5K030 GA15 HA06 HB19 HC01 HC14 JT06 KA01 KA07 LD20 MD10 9A001 CC03 CC07 JJ27 KK56

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A network computer system using a network computer that operates by downloading an operating system from a network, comprising: a subnet connection NC processing unit that provides the operating system to the network computer connected to a network managed by the network computer; An NC server provided with belonging NC processing means for holding user information of a network computer belonging to itself and providing an execution environment thereof; an authentication server for performing user authentication of the network computer; and a user authenticated by the authentication server. Home NC server location information notifying means for providing location information of the NC server to which the network computer belongs to the network computer. And a network computer system. 2. A program constituting an operating system used for a network computer which operates by downloading an operating system from a network, wherein the program causes the authentication server which performs user authentication of the network computer to request user authentication. An authentication requesting means, and, when the user is authenticated by the authentication server, accessing the belonging NC processing means on the NC server which holds the user information of the belonging network computer and provides the execution environment, and holds the user information to execute the execution environment. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to function as a home NC server access means for providing a computer is provided.