Automated Cloud-Computing Stamp Bootstrap

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual expansion of data centers is time-consuming, inconsistent, and prone to service interruptions due to the lack of automation in integrating new hardware into the cloud-computing fabric, leading to inefficiencies in expanding computing/storage capacity.

Innovation Solution

An automated bootstrap process that verifies the physical topology of non-configured hardware and integrates it into a fabric-computing cluster within a cloud-computing fabric, utilizing self-contained workflows to specify, discover, validate, and deploy hardware inventory, ensuring consistent and efficient expansion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual procedures are used to integrate new hardware into the fabric, then flexibility in handling diverse hardware configurations is maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming and inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveManual flexibilityVSAvoidExpansion speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-discovery of hardware topology and self-validation against templates, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining consistency. The automated bootstrap process allows the fabric controller to independently integrate new hardware without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Hardware topology templates are pre-defined with expected configurations. Before actual hardware integration, the system validates the physical topology against these pre-established templates, ensuring consistency while accelerating the integration process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration steps are performed, then adaptability to different hardware scenarios is achieved, but service interruptions increase due to human error

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveConfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidService continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors and validates the physical topology of integrated hardware against expected configurations. This feedback mechanism detects deviations early, preventing service interruptions caused by misconfigurations while maintaining adaptability through automated correction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The validation process checks hardware topology against templates before full integration into the fabric. This preliminary verification cushions against potential errors, preventing service interruptions before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If automated bootstrap process is implemented, then expansion efficiency and consistency are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveExpansion efficiencyVSAvoidAutomation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated bootstrap process is divided into distinct phases: discovery, validation, and integration. Each phase handles specific tasks independently, managing complexity through modular design while maintaining high automation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Hardware topology templates serve as intermediaries between the automated bootstrap process and actual hardware configurations. These templates simplify the automation logic by providing predefined expectations, reducing the complexity of the validation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If comprehensive hardware validation is performed, then integration reliability is improved, but the time required for each integration step increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIntegration accuracyVSAvoidValidation duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The validation process focuses on critical topology elements defined in templates rather than exhaustive checking of all hardware parameters. This partial validation approach maintains high reliability for essential integration aspects while reducing overall validation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9641394B2Automated build-out of a cloud-computing stamp

Publication Date: 2017.05.02 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for automatically configuring an inventory of hardware to interact seamlessly with a cloud-computing fabric of a data center are provided. Initially, hardware devices within the hardware inventory are located by sending and receiving communications to network devices via serial-based connections and network-based connections, respectively. Information collected during hardware-device location is cross-referenced against a template file for purposes of validation. This information is also employed to generate an infrastructure state of the hardware inventory. The infrastructure state is shared with a controller of the fabric to integrate the hardware inventory therein. Upon integration, services and security measures are provisioned on the hardware inventory, which is designated as a fabric-computing cluster of the data center in order to extend reachability of the fabric, while distributed services are deployed and enabled on available portions of the hardware inventory, which are managed by the fabric controller.