Data Center Configuration via Template-Driven Vendor Drivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and inefficiency in configuring and provisioning data centers, particularly due to the involvement of multiple hardware and software components from different vendors, lead to error-prone and insecure processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize templates to obtain function calls and vendor drivers for configuring data centers, dividing templates into sub-templates for compute, network, and storage data, and determining execution orders to automate the configuration process, improving efficiency and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual provisioning and configuration processes are used with multiple IT roles, then specialized hardware and software can be configured, but the process becomes inefficient and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automated configuration where the provisioning system automatically executes configuration steps based on templates, eliminating the need for manual intervention by multiple specialized IT roles while maintaining proper configuration of hardware and software components
Solution Approach 2:
Configuration templates are prepared in advance with all necessary configuration steps predefined, allowing the system to automatically execute the correct sequence of actions without manual planning, thus improving provisioning efficiency while ensuring accuracy
2Reliability
If multiple specialized IT roles are involved in configuration, then comprehensive coverage of hardware and software can be achieved, but security leaks may occur during the provisioning process
Solution Approach 1:
The automated provisioning system eliminates human intervention in the configuration process, removing the security risks associated with multiple IT roles accessing and manipulating infrastructure components, while maintaining configuration accuracy through predefined templates
Solution Approach 2:
The provisioning system acts as an intermediary between the infrastructure components and configuration actions, mediating all configuration operations through automated processes that prevent direct human access and potential security breaches while ensuring proper configuration
3Device complexity
If basic IaaS capabilities are provided through centralized management, then infrastructure complexity is reduced, but efficient and secure provisioning of resource stacks cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration process is segmented into distinct template-based modules for different infrastructure components, allowing the system to manage complexity through structured organization while efficiently provisioning complete resource stacks through coordinated execution of these segments
Solution Approach 2:
The provisioning system provides universal capabilities by using a unified template-based approach that can handle diverse infrastructure resources (compute, storage, network) through a single automated process, achieving both simplified management and efficient provisioning
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method and an apparatus for configuring a data center. The method comprises obtaining a function call corresponding to data to be configured based on a template for configuring the data center; obtaining a vendor driver corresponding to the data based on the template for configuring the data center. The method further comprises configuring the data by the vendor driver executing the function call. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure, the way of automatically configuring the data center based on the template may improve the efficiency and security for configuration of the data center.