Configuration Synchronization via Command Subset Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Administering and maintaining configuration settings for multiple application delivery controllers in complex enterprise infrastructures is challenging due to differences in configurations across various controllers, leading to increased complexity and memory requirements for synchronization.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for synchronizing network appliance configurations by grouping commands from a source configuration file into subsets based on common attributes, allowing for efficient memory usage and automatic distribution of updates across multiple appliances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If configuration files are synchronized across multiple appliances using traditional methods, then configuration consistency is achieved, but memory requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration file is divided into multiple subsets of commands, where each subset contains commands with a specific attribute (e.g., all commands related to a particular feature or module). During synchronization, only the relevant subset matching the current configuration context is loaded into memory, rather than the entire configuration file. This segmentation approach maintains configuration consistency while significantly reducing peak memory requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration file is pre-processed and organized into indexed subsets before the synchronization process begins. Each subset is tagged with its corresponding attribute, enabling rapid identification and selective loading during synchronization. This preliminary organization allows the system to efficiently retrieve only the necessary configuration portions without loading unnecessary data into memory.
2Loss of information
If all commands from configuration files are loaded into memory for comparison, then complete configuration analysis is achieved, but memory consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Commands in the configuration file are segmented into logical subsets based on common attributes (such as feature type, module name, or configuration category). During the synchronization process, the system loads only the specific subset relevant to the current comparison task into memory, ensuring complete analysis of the required configuration portion while minimizing overall memory consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of loading the entire configuration file into memory, the system performs partial loading by retrieving only the necessary subset of commands required for the current synchronization operation. This partial action approach maintains the completeness of configuration analysis for the relevant portion while avoiding the excessive memory consumption that would result from loading all commands.
3Ease of operation
If configuration synchronization is performed manually across multiple appliances, then administrative control is maintained, but time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization system is designed to automatically perform configuration comparisons and identify differences between appliances without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the process of loading configuration subsets, comparing them, identifying discrepancies, and preparing correction commands, thereby reducing both the time required and the operational complexity while maintaining administrative oversight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback mechanisms that monitor configuration states across appliances and trigger synchronization operations when differences are detected. This feedback-driven approach maintains ease of operation by eliminating manual synchronization tasks while reducing the time required to achieve configuration consistency across the network infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods of synchronizing a target configuration file of a target device with a source configuration file of a source device. A parser of a first device may group commands from a source configuration file of a source device into subsets of commands. Each subset of the subsets of commands may comprise commands uniquely identified by a common attribute. A configurator of the first device may load into memory a command from a target configuration file, the command having a first identifying attribute. The configurator may load into memory a subset of commands having a common identifying attribute that matches the first identifying attribute. The configurator may compare the command with each command in the loaded subset. The configurator may generate a command for the target device, to synchronize a portion of the target configuration file with the source configuration file.