Extensible Binary Health Check Request Builder for Network Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing health check methods for network devices are limited by being protocol-specific and require programming knowledge, making them inflexible and costly to develop for specific environments or applications, and do not support all communication protocols.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for building 'raw' or 'binary' health check requests that allow users to specify the request format and expected response without needing programming knowledge of the protocol, using capture mechanisms like sniffers or protocol analyzers to create health check profiles, enabling health checks across any protocol and environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pre-defined health check requests are used, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The health check request builder is designed to be protocol-agnostic and capable of generating health check requests for multiple different communication protocols (HTTP, TCP, UDP, custom protocols). The system uses a universal template approach where users can configure health checks for any protocol type without needing separate tools for each protocol, thus achieving multi-functionality that resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to dynamically change parameters such as protocol type, request method (GET, POST, PUT), headers, body content, and expected response patterns. By providing configurable parameters rather than fixed pre-defined requests, the system maintains ease of operation through a unified interface while achieving high adaptability across different protocols and application scenarios.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom health check requests are developed for specific protocols, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and development time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The health check request builder enables users to self-configure health checks for specific protocols without requiring external developer intervention. Users can independently select protocol types, configure request parameters, and generate health check requests through the graphical interface, eliminating the need for developers to create custom health checks and reducing both device complexity and development time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary health check request builder that mediates between the user's needs and the protocol-specific requirements. This intermediary component handles the complexity of protocol-specific configurations internally while presenting a simplified interface to users, thus achieving adaptability without increasing visible device complexity or development burden.
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom health check requests are developed for specific protocols, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by providing pre-configured protocol templates and common health check patterns that users can select and modify. Instead of requiring users to develop health checks from scratch for each protocol, the system has already prepared common configurations in advance, significantly reducing the time required to achieve protocol-specific adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to copy existing health check configurations and adapt them for different protocols. Users can replicate successful health check patterns across multiple protocols by copying and modifying parameters, rather than developing each health check independently. This copying mechanism maintains adaptability while dramatically reducing development time.
4Measurement precision
If protocol-specific health check applications are used, then measurement precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The health check request builder implements a universal architecture that can generate and analyze health check requests across multiple protocols (HTTP, TCP, UDP, and custom protocols) within a single application. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain protocol-specific measurement precision while eliminating the need for separate protocol-specific applications, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are provided for performing health check requests on one or more network devices or network resources. The method and apparatus provide a build tool for building a health check request having an extensible data format adaptable to a protocol supported by the network device or network resource of concern. The health check request can be built using data captured from a unit of network traffic on a transmission medium or with data provided via a user interface, or a combination of both. A health check request built using the method or apparatus can support any protocol including proprietary protocols avoiding the need for a requestor to learn a protocol format in order to build a health check request checking an operational characteristic of a network device or network resource. The method and apparatus allow this to be accomplished using data captured from a successful transaction.