DHCP Auto Discovery for Network Element Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current information handling systems require administrator-provided configuration and manual steps for discovering new resources in a network, which is inefficient and time-consuming, especially in large data centers.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a DHCP client with an auto discovery agent that sends discovery NOTIFY messages to management servers, using a DHCP DISCOVER message with a management server parameter option code to automatically obtain and cache IP addresses of management servers, allowing for automated discovery and provisioning of new resources without OS-specific or vendor-specific remote access agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If administrator-provided configuration information is used for device discovery, then management servers can discover information handling resources, but administrator time and manual effort are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice discovery capabilityVSAvoidadministrator configuration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The information handling resource performs self-service by automatically sending DHCP DISCOVER messages containing management server option codes and processing DHCP OFFER messages to obtain management server IP addresses autonomously, eliminating the need for administrator-provided configuration information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring DHCP scope options with management server information on the DHCP server before the information handling resource is added to the network, enabling automatic discovery without manual administrator intervention when the resource is deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If manual discovery triggering is required for each new element, then device identification can be performed, but administrator productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice identification accuracyVSAvoidadministrator throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The information handling resource autonomously performs device identification by sending DHCP DISCOVER messages with management server option codes, receiving DHCP OFFER messages with management server IP addresses, and automatically initiating discovery protocols without requiring administrator triggering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by having the information handling resource automatically send discovery notifications to management servers upon successful DHCP configuration, enabling continuous automatic device identification as resources are added to the network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Extent of automation

If DHCP extension with management server option code is implemented, then automated management server discovery is enabled, but DHCP protocol complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanagement server discovery automationVSAvoidDHCP configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The DHCP server acts as an intermediary by pre-configuring DHCP scope options with management server information, simplifying the client-side implementation and reducing overall system complexity while enabling automated discovery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The DHCP protocol is extended with a universal management server option code that works across different information handling resources and management servers, providing a standardized multi-functional solution that reduces complexity through uniformity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10389681B2Auto discovery of network elements by defining new extension in DHCP options for management server IP addresses

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling resource includes a DHCP client that sends a DHCP DISCOVER message to a DHCP server. The DISCOVER message includes an option code for a management server parameter identifying management servers included in the managed network. A DHCP server sends a DHCP OFFER that indicates the management server(s). Using the management server identifiers provided by the DHCP server, the resource sends discovery NOTIFY messages to each of the management servers. The DHCP OFFER may include an IP address for each management server. The DHCP server may include or obtain the IP address of each management server from a management server attribute in a DHCP configuration file stored on or accessible to the DHCP server. Each discovery NOTIFY message may include an IP address of the managed network resource. Each of the discovery NOTIFY messages may include an unique hardware identifier of the managed network resource.