Configuration Analyzer for Misconfiguration Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Computer systems with hundreds or thousands of configuration options face challenges in identifying misconfigurations, leading to inefficient operations, high costs, and reduced capabilities due to the complexity of manually analyzing these settings, which often require advanced knowledge and result in increased downtimes and service outages.

Innovation Solution

A configuration analyzer application that compares and analyzes configuration options across a population of computer systems to identify misconfigurations by determining the frequency of settings and determining a target characteristic, such as the most common value, to efficiently correct improper configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual analysis of configuration options is performed, then configuration issues can be identified, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires advanced knowledge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration analysis accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration analysis time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis of configuration options with an automated computer-based system that uses algorithms to analyze configuration data, extract entities and relationships, and identify misconfigurations automatically, eliminating the need for human experts to manually review hundreds or thousands of configuration options

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary configuration analysis system that acts as a mediator between the raw configuration data and the final identification of misconfigurations, using natural language processing and entity relationship extraction to bridge the gap between unstructured configuration options and structured analysis results

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of configuration options increases to handle complex system requirements, then system capabilities improve, but the complexity of managing and analyzing these configurations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem configuration flexibilityVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex configuration analysis task into distinct components: data extraction from configuration files, entity identification, relationship extraction, and misconfiguration detection, allowing each component to be processed independently and systematically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms configuration data from unstructured text formats into structured parameter representations, enabling systematic analysis by converting configuration options into extractable entities and relationships that can be processed algorithmically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If advanced knowledge is required to analyze configuration options, then analysis accuracy improves, but operational costs and training requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemisconfiguration detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem implementation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the need for human expert knowledge with an automated system that uses natural language processing and pattern recognition algorithms to detect misconfigurations, transferring the intelligence from human analysts to machine-based analysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the configuration analysis system to perform self-diagnosis and self-correction by automatically identifying misconfigurations and suggesting remediation actions without requiring external expert intervention, making the system self-sufficient

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10230579B2Techniques for computer system configuration analysis

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 NETAPP INC

AI summary

A misconfiguration crowdsourcing system arranged to analyze computer system configuration. The computer system configuration may be analyzed with respect to a population of computer systems. In some embodiments, sets of configuration options may be compared for one or more computer systems in a population set. Based on the comparison, a frequency of at least one setting for a client configurable option may be determined. A target characteristic may be identified for a setting of a configuration option based on the frequency of the at least one setting for the configuration option with the population. Computer systems with configuration settings conflicting with target characteristics may be identified as unhealthy.