Automated Server And Switch Provisioning With Signed OS Boot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for deploying and managing datacenter infrastructures face challenges such as manual configuration errors, inconsistencies, extended downtime, and lack of support for initial deployments, especially in offsite environments, with existing solutions like Cisco APIC, OpenStack Ironic, Microsoft Azure Stack, and Broadcom/VMware hypervisor falling short in features or requiring pre-existing infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method involving a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) module, deployment module, communication module, configuration module, Network Operations Gateway (NOG) module, and Domain Name System (DNS) module, along with a server management and key management module, automates the deployment of un-provisioned servers and switches, ensuring centralized management, reduced manual intervention, and consistent configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration methods are used for deploying datacenter infrastructure, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but errors, inconsistencies, and extended downtime occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-provisioning where infrastructure components automatically configure themselves without manual intervention. The automated deployment system discovers new servers, provisions them with appropriate configurations, and integrates them into the infrastructure autonomously, eliminating manual configuration errors while maintaining deployment flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous monitoring and feedback mechanisms that track infrastructure state, detect changes, and automatically adjust configurations. This feedback loop ensures consistent deployment by comparing actual state against desired state and making corrective adjustments automatically.
2Reliability
If existing solutions like Cisco APIC are deployed, then network infrastructure management is improved, but three controllers are required making it unsuitable for initial deployments with limited resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the essential management functionality from complex multi-controller solutions and implements it in a streamlined single-controller architecture. By taking out only the necessary control functions and removing redundant components, the system achieves infrastructure management capability with minimal controller requirements, making it suitable for initial deployments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses lightweight, software-based virtual controllers that can be deployed on standard hardware rather than requiring expensive dedicated hardware controllers. This approach reduces the number of physical controllers needed while maintaining management functionality, enabling deployments with limited resources.
3Ease of operation
If OpenStack Ironic is used for managing BareMetal servers, then complete lifecycle management is provided, but pre-existing infrastructure is required making it less suitable for initial deployments
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary provisioning actions automatically during the deployment process. Rather than requiring pre-existing infrastructure, the system prepares and configures necessary components in advance as part of the automated deployment sequence, enabling initial deployments without prior infrastructure setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a universal deployment framework that can handle both initial deployments without existing infrastructure and ongoing lifecycle management of BareMetal servers. The same automated system provides multi-functional capabilities across different deployment scenarios, eliminating the need for separate specialized tools.
4Reliability
If automated deployment is implemented, then errors are reduced and consistency is improved, but initial setup and integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple deployment and management functions into an integrated automated deployment system. By combining configuration management, provisioning, monitoring, and lifecycle management into a unified platform, the system reduces overall complexity despite providing comprehensive automated functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an automated deployment controller as an intermediary layer between infrastructure hardware and management operations. This mediator abstracts the complexity of automated deployment behind a simplified interface, reducing the perceived complexity for users while maintaining robust automated functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
The technology relates to a computer-implemented method for automated deployment of at least one computing infrastructure comprising at least one un-provisioned server and at least one switch. The method comprises accessing a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, upon being operated by a processor, causes execution of: a server management module, and a key management module; wherein, during each booting of the at least one server, the server management module compares a series of at least one signature, to signatures stored in a signatures file, and depending on the result of the comparison, the server management module validates the loading of the operating system if all the signatures of the series are listed in the signatures file, such that only the totally signed operating system is loaded during the booting of the at least one server.