Global Resource Catalog for Distributed Cloud Dependency Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IT infrastructure management applications struggle to provide a unified view of distributed cloud resources across multiple providers and regions, failing to maintain up-to-date linkages and dependencies between network resources, especially when changes occur out-of-band.
Innovation Solution
The Global Resource Catalog (GRC) controller and database enable administrators to manage distributed cloud networks by accessing credentials across multiple providers, creating a unified catalog of resources, linking and grouping them based on dependencies, and updating the catalog periodically or via event subscriptions, supporting explicit links and dynamic resource groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a unified catalog of distributed cloud resources is created across multiple providers and regions, then holistic management capability is improved, but system complexity and data synchronization overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Global Resource Catalog (GRC) controller as an intermediary component that mediates between distributed cloud resources across multiple providers and the management interface. The GRC controller maintains a unified catalog by receiving resource data from various cloud providers through standardized interfaces, processing the information, and presenting a consolidated view to administrators. This intermediary approach enables holistic management without requiring direct complex connections between all distributed resources and the management system.
2Reliability
If linkages and dependencies between network resources are continuously maintained and updated, then data accuracy and reliability are improved, but computational overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic updating of the resource catalog through scheduled polling intervals, where the GRC controller periodically queries cloud providers for resource status changes. Additionally, event-driven updates are triggered by specific cloud resource events (such as resource creation, modification, or deletion). This periodic and event-based approach maintains data accuracy without requiring continuous real-time monitoring, thereby reducing computational overhead compared to constant synchronization.
3Productivity
If resource credentials and access information are centralized in a single catalog, then management efficiency is improved, but security risks and access control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments credential storage and access control by maintaining separate credential repositories for each cloud provider while presenting a unified management interface. The GRC controller holds provider-specific credentials in isolated storage areas and manages access to individual resource catalogs based on administrative permissions. This segmentation allows efficient centralized management of resource information while minimizing security risks by limiting the impact of potential credential compromise to specific providers only.
Data Source
AI summary
A method involves receiving, at a Global Resource Catalog (GRC) controller, credentials for one or more target networks within a distributed cloud network. For each target network, the GRC controller uses a respective network access methodology associated with that target network to identify and store a first set of target network resources associated with that network at a GRC database. The GRC controller links or groups a second set of target network resources of the first set of target network resources in the GRC database based on target network resource dependencies determined by the GRC controller. The GRC controller updates the second set of target network resources in the GRC database based on a received event or at a scheduled interval. A distributed cloud network is then updated based on the second set of target network resources stored at the GRC database.