Configurable Device Configuration Validation and Remediation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing configurable devices in distributed computing architectures face challenges in efficiently detecting and remedying configuration failures and drift, leading to reduced efficiency and reliability in providing services.

Innovation Solution

A solution architecture that includes persistent storage and a computing resource manager, which generates and executes rules-based scripts to validate and remediate compliance failures, ensuring that computing resources meet predetermined characteristics by modifying them based on specified remediation actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual configuration management is used in distributed computing architectures, then device complexity is reduced, but configuration failure detection time increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration reliabilityVSAvoidconfiguration failure detection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary configuration validation by generating and executing rules-based scripts that check computing resource configurations against predefined rules before services are deployed. This proactive approach detects configuration failures early in the deployment process, preventing unreliable configurations from reaching production environments and reducing overall failure detection time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback mechanisms by monitoring computing resource configurations against predefined rules and automatically generating validation reports. When configuration drift or failures are detected, the system provides feedback through detailed reports that specify compliance failures, enabling rapid response and remediation to maintain high configuration reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If automated rules-based validation is implemented, then configuration failure detection speed improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration failure detection timeVSAvoidmanagement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management system is segmented into distinct modular components: a rules engine that stores predefined configuration rules, a script generator that creates validation scripts, an executor that runs the scripts, and a reporting module that generates validation reports. This segmentation allows each component to be independently developed, maintained, and scaled, reducing overall system complexity while enabling automated rapid configuration validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service capabilities by automatically generating rules-based validation scripts and executing them without requiring manual intervention. The computing resource manager autonomously monitors configurations, detects compliance failures, and generates validation reports, reducing the operational complexity of manual configuration management while maintaining fast failure detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If continuous configuration monitoring is performed, then service reliability is maintained, but computing resource overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice reliabilityVSAvoidcomputing resource overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial monitoring by focusing validation efforts on critical computing resources and configuration parameters that have the greatest impact on service reliability. Rather than continuously monitoring all configuration aspects, the rules-based approach targets specific high-risk areas, maintaining service reliability while minimizing computing resource overhead through selective validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the monitoring parameters from continuous real-time monitoring to event-driven validation triggered by configuration changes or deployment events. This parameter change reduces computing resource overhead by only activating validation scripts when necessary, while maintaining service reliability by ensuring configurations are validated at critical transition points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10911307B2System and method for out of the box solution-level configuration and diagnostic logging and reporting

Publication Date: 2021.02.02 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A configurable device for use in a solution architecture includes persistent storage and a computing resource manager. The persistent storage stores computing resources rules based on, in part, the solution architecture. The persistent storage stores a computing resource configuration that specifies characteristics of computing resources of the configurable device that must be met for the computing resources to be in a predetermined state to meet requirements of the solution architecture. The computing resources manager generates a rules-based script using the computing resources rules and a portion of the computing resource configuration; executes the rules-based script to obtain a validation report that specifies a compliance failure of a portion of the computing resources; and remediates the compliance failure by modifying the computing resources of the configurable device based on a remediation action specified by the computing resources rules.