Bare Metal Server Automation for Dynamic Network Inventory Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network service providers face challenges in delivering flexible, scalable, and diverse network services due to static systems that are difficult to configure and deploy, with manual processes and lack of automation in tracking changes, especially when adding or removing components from servers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with a Bare Metal Server (BMaaS) that automatically discovers and updates inventory of server components, performs health checks, and automates the deployment and configuration of software applications, reducing manual intervention and improving accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual processes are used for tracking network changes and configuring services, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and accuracy deteriorate due to time-consuming manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-discovery of network devices and automatically tracks changes without manual intervention. The Bare Metal Server automatically discovers network devices, retrieves their configurations, and updates the inventory database, enabling the system to service itself and eliminate manual tracking processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary discovery and configuration retrieval before deployment or modification operations. By pre-discovering network devices and storing their configurations in the inventory database, the system prepares all necessary information in advance, enabling faster subsequent operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If static systems are used for network service delivery, then system stability is maintained, but adaptability and scalability worsen due to difficulty in configuration and deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static network configurations to dynamic, automated configuration management. The Bare Metal Server continuously discovers network devices, retrieves updated configurations, and dynamically updates the inventory database, enabling the system to adapt to changing network conditions without manual reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The Bare Metal Server performs multiple functions including network device discovery, configuration retrieval, inventory database updates, and deployment operations. This multi-functional approach consolidates various network management tasks into a single automated system, improving both adaptability and ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If automated discovery and inventory updating is implemented, then productivity and accuracy improve, but device complexity increases due to additional system components
Solution Approach 1:
The inventory database serves as an intermediary between network devices and the deployment system. The Bare Metal Server discovers network devices and stores their configurations in the inventory database, which then serves as the single source of truth for all deployment operations, improving accuracy while managing complexity through centralized data management.
4Loss of time
If manual deployment processes are used, then device complexity is minimized, but loss of time increases due to manual intervention in deploying and configuring software applications
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically deploys and configures software applications without manual intervention. The Bare Metal Server retrieves deployment packages from the inventory database, automatically installs and configures software on target devices, and updates the inventory database with deployment status, eliminating time-consuming manual deployment processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes identifying, by a first server, a set of servers in an edge data center, discovering details of a plurality of components of each corresponding server of the set of servers, updating inventory of the set of servers based on at least the details of the plurality of components of each corresponding server of the set of servers, and performing health checks on the set of servers according to a health check frequency. The first server is connected to the set of servers by a switch. Performing the health checks includes detecting a removal of a second server from the set of servers, detecting an addition of the second server to the set of servers, detecting an addition of a new component in the second server, or detecting a replacement of a failed component in the second server in response to detecting a failure of the failed component.