Configuration Information Sharing Across Heterogeneous Management Platforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing configuration items across heterogeneous data center infrastructures is complex due to the use of different management platforms, leading to challenges in configuring end-to-end connectivity and enforcing policies across various IT resources such as blade servers and virtual servers.
Innovation Solution
A system that identifies configuration items managed by one platform, determines associated policies and configuration information from another platform, and shares this data to enable unified management and configuration across the infrastructure, using engines like identification, policy, configuration, storage, and access engines to facilitate policy and configuration information sharing between management platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different management platforms are used to manage configuration items in heterogeneous data center infrastructures, then the infrastructure can support diverse IT resources (blade servers, virtual servers, network components), but the complexity of configuring end-to-end connectivity and enforcing policies across platforms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a configuration information sharing mechanism that acts as an intermediary between different management platforms. The system captures configuration information from a first management platform, translates it into a standardized format, and shares it with a second management platform. This intermediary layer enables heterogeneous platforms to communicate and coordinate their configuration of configuration items without direct integration, thereby reducing the complexity of end-to-end connectivity configuration while maintaining support for diverse IT resources.
2Ease of operation
If manual configuration methods are used across multiple management platforms, then flexibility in managing different IT resources is maintained, but the risk of human error and configuration inconsistencies increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where configuration information is automatically captured from one management platform and used to inform configuration actions on another platform. The system continuously monitors and exchanges configuration data between platforms, providing real-time feedback that ensures consistency. This automated feedback loop reduces reliance on manual configuration while preserving operational flexibility, thereby decreasing the risk of human error and configuration inconsistencies across heterogeneous infrastructures.
3Reliability
If centralized management is implemented across heterogeneous platforms, then policy enforcement and configuration consistency improve, but the system complexity and integration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the management architecture into independent management platforms that each retain their autonomy and specialized capabilities. Rather than creating a fully centralized management system that would require deep integration across heterogeneous platforms, the invention divides the configuration management function into separate, manageable components. Each platform continues to manage its own configuration items independently while exchanging necessary configuration information through the sharing mechanism. This segmentation maintains policy enforcement consistency without imposing excessive system integration requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples disclosed herein relate to sharing policy and configuration information related to a configuration item (CI). In an example, a configuration item coupled to a network fabric that is managed via a first management platform may be identified. The configuration item may be managed via a second management platform. A policy associated with the CI may be determined from the second management platform. Configuration information related to the policy may be determined from the second management platform. The policy and the configuration information related to the policy may be stored. The policy and the configuration information related to the policy may be shared with first management platform, wherein the policy and the configuration information related to the policy may be useable to define configuration information for a configuration item managed via first management platform.