Configuration Discovery Service for Distributed Environment Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of managing distributed application environments across multiple data centers makes it difficult to understand relationships and dependencies among application components, hindering business decisions such as migrating applications from customer-owned premises to provider networks.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent configuration discovery service that automates the detection of configuration items, assigns unique identifiers, tracks interactions and dependencies, and provides performance monitoring, along with a visualization service and migration marketplace to facilitate informed migration decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If virtualization technologies are used to share computing resources among multiple customers, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but the complexity of managing distributed application environments increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a configuration discovery service as an intermediary system that automatically detects, catalogs, and visualizes the configuration of distributed computing resources. This service mediates between the complex virtualized infrastructure and users, providing clear visibility into resource relationships and dependencies without requiring users to directly manage the underlying complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback loops where the configuration discovery service continuously monitors and detects changes in the virtualized environment, automatically updates configuration records, and provides real-time visualization. This feedback mechanism helps users understand the current state of distributed resources and their relationships, enabling informed management decisions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If application components are distributed among several different data centers, then scalability and flexibility are improved, but the ability to understand relationships and dependencies among application components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration discovery service provides a universal solution that works across multiple data centers and different virtualization environments. It automatically detects and catalogs configuration items regardless of their location or type, creating a unified view of distributed application components and their relationships across the entire infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates detailed configuration records that are copies of the actual distributed application components and their relationships. These records include comprehensive information about configuration items, their dependencies, and interactions, providing a virtual representation that preserves all relationship information even as physical components are distributed across multiple data centers.
3Loss of information
If automated configuration discovery is implemented, then visibility and management of complex environments are improved, but the extent of automation required increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration discovery service is designed to operate autonomously, automatically detecting configuration items, cataloging them, and updating records without requiring manual intervention. The system self-Service by continuously monitoring the environment, identifying changes, and maintaining accurate configuration information, thereby providing visibility while minimizing the operational burden of automation.
Data Source
AI summary
Configuration items of an environment for a client of a configuration discovery service are identified. A view category is selected for the target environment. A set of configuration items for which information regarding recent configuration changes is to be provided is identified. Data which can be used to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of the environment and the configuration changes is transmitted.