Cloud-Orchestrated Server Configuration for Drift-Free Buildout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Configuring physical servers for new datacenters is repetitive, prone to human error, time-consuming, and expensive due to isolated on-premises work, and prone to configuration creep.

Innovation Solution

Implementing automated cloud buildout and run state management using cloud-hosted orchestration, with a configuration file to orchestrate server configurations and monitor for inconsistencies, automatically correcting deviations to ensure consistency with the file.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated cloud buildout and run state management is implemented, then productivity and consistency are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveserver configuration speedVSAvoidorchestration system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cloud-based orchestration system as an intermediary between configuration files and physical servers. This intermediary automatically manages the complex tasks of configuration validation, consistency checking, and automated correction, thereby improving productivity without requiring the local systems to become more complex. The orchestration system handles the complexity centrally while keeping individual server configurations simple and standardized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If manual configuration of physical servers is performed, then device complexity is reduced, but time consumption and human error increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration management simplicityVSAvoidserver setup time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining configuration templates and validation rules in configuration files before server deployment. The orchestration system pre-validates configurations and prepares deployment packages, so that when servers are physically configured, the work is already optimized and validated. This eliminates time-consuming manual adjustments and reduces errors during the actual server setup process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If configuration monitoring is continuously performed, then configuration consistency is improved, but use of energy and computational resources increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration consistencyVSAvoidmonitoring computational energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic monitoring where the orchestration system checks configuration consistency at scheduled intervals and at key milestones during the buildout process, rather than continuously monitoring every change in real-time. This periodic approach maintains configuration consistency through regular validation while significantly reducing the computational energy and resources required compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4632573A1Automated cloud buildout and/or run state management using cloud hosted orchestration of configuration and installation of cloud services
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP4632573A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4632573A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4632573A1 patent drawingFigure 2C

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for implementing automated cloud buildout and/or run state management using cloud hosted orchestration of configuration and installation of cloud services. A configuration file, which outlines configurations and services to be applied to servers installed within a data center, is used by a computing system to orchestrate configuration or reconfiguration of the servers during buildout operations and/or run state operations of a cloud network(s). The computing system monitors for configuration changes or inconsistencies in the servers, as compared with the configuration file. If the configurations have been changed or are otherwise inconsistent with the configuration file, the computing system automatically restores, resets, or reconfigures the first servers or services/apps to be consistent with the configurations as outlined in the configuration file. A user interface may be provided to enable a user to view statuses of the buildout operations and/or the run state operations.