Asynchronous Service Provisioning with Event-Driven File Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for provisioning services require manual configuration, which is inefficient and error-prone, especially when dealing with multiple users.
Innovation Solution
An asynchronous method using file distribution technology, where a provisioning manager obtains data from a database, prepares configuration files, commits them to repositories, and sends notifications to service instances, allowing for efficient and accurate provisioning without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual configuration is used for service provisioning, then service instances can be provisioned with custom settings, but the process becomes inefficient and error-prone when dealing with multiple users
Solution Approach 1:
Service instances automatically retrieve and apply configuration files from the repository without manual intervention. The system self-provisions by listening for notifications and autonomously updating its configuration, eliminating manual configuration steps while maintaining accuracy through automated processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Configuration files are prepared and committed to the repository in advance before service instances need them. The provisioning manager pre-generates configuration files based on provisioning data and stores them ready for retrieval, so service instances can immediately apply pre-prepared configurations when notified.
2Speed
If service instances continuously check for configuration updates, then they can quickly apply new settings, but overhead messaging and network traffic increase
Solution Approach 1:
The provisioning manager sends notifications to service instances when configuration files are committed to the repository. This feedback mechanism allows service instances to remain idle until actually needed, at which point they receive a notification and immediately retrieve the configuration, achieving fast updates without continuous polling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous checking, service instances perform configuration retrieval periodically triggered by notifications. The system transitions from constant active checking to event-driven periodic action, where configurations are fetched only when the provisioning manager indicates updates are available.
3Productivity
If configuration files are made immediately available to service instances, then provisioning speed increases, but system complexity increases due to synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The repository serves as an intermediary between the provisioning manager and service instances. Configuration files are committed to the repository by the provisioning manager and then made available for retrieval by service instances. This intermediary decouples the provisioning manager from service instances, eliminating direct synchronization requirements while enabling fast configuration delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
According to certain embodiments, a provisioning manager comprises an interface and processing circuitry. The interface is configured to obtain provisioning data from a provisioning database. The processing circuitry is configured to prepare one or more configuration files based on the provisioning data. The configuration file(s) indicate how to provision one or more service instances. The processing circuitry is further configured to commit the configuration file(s) to one or more repositories in order to make the configuration file(s) available to at least one of the service instances. The processing circuitry is further configured to send one or more notifications indicating to one or more of the service instances that the configuration file(s) have been committed to the one or more repositories.