Auto Discovery of Configuration Items in Cloud Infrastructure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The dynamic nature of cloud computing infrastructure, particularly with virtual nodes, makes automatic discovery of configuration items (CIs) a time-consuming process, as existing methods struggle to efficiently identify and update CIs in a scalable and dynamic environment.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a processor with a discovery process module, including an identification module, configuration input module, configuration management search module, discovery process modification module, and service model database update module, to enhance the speed of CI discovery by leveraging configuration management data and service model definitions within the distributed computing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional automatic discovery methods are used to identify configuration items in dynamic cloud infrastructure, then all CIs can be identified, but the discovery process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining configuration management data and service model definitions before discovery is needed. When a computing device is discovered, the system has already prepared the configuration management search module with relevant definitions, allowing rapid matching and identification of CIs without time-consuming analysis during the discovery moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration management data acts as an intermediary between the raw configuration information and the discovery process. The service model database update module uses this intermediary layer to translate and structure configuration data, enabling faster and more accurate CI identification without directly processing raw configuration details during discovery.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive configuration management data is collected and analyzed, then CI identification accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The discovery system is segmented into distinct functional modules: identification module, configuration input module, configuration management search module, discovery process modification module, and service model database update module. Each module handles a specific aspect of CI discovery, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive configuration analysis through modular organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration management data serves as an intermediary layer that simplifies the relationship between raw configuration information and the discovery logic. This intermediary structure organizes complex configuration data into manageable formats, allowing accurate CI identification without requiring the entire system to process all complexity simultaneously.
3Productivity
If the discovery process is modified based on configuration management definitions, then discovery speed improves, but the process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Configuration management definitions are prepared in advance and stored in the service model database before the discovery process begins. The discovery process modification module retrieves these pre-prepared definitions, allowing the system to modify and optimize the discovery process based on existing knowledge rather than analyzing configurations in real-time, thus improving speed without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes determining that an agent configured an identified node of a computer system, obtaining a definition of the agent that configured the identified node, identifying a configuration item associated with the identified node based at least in part on the definition of the agent that configured the identified node, and updating a service model database with the identified configuration item.