Centralized File Server Configuration Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Managing configuration information for multiple file server appliances is inefficient and tedious, especially when setting up new servers or maintaining identical configurations across a large number of devices, as existing methods require individual setup and lack centralized management solutions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize an appliance management program to retrieve a source configuration from a designated file server, trim it if necessary, and push the configuration to multiple target file server appliances, allowing for efficient and centralized management of configuration settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If configuration is managed individually for each file server appliance, then configuration control and customization are maintained, but time consumption and operational complexity increase significantly when managing multiple servers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual configuration management tasks into a single centralized operation. The appliance management program combines configuration retrieval from source servers, processing through a central management interface, and distribution to multiple target servers into one unified workflow, eliminating the need to configure each server separately
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses configuration copying by retrieving a source configuration from one file server appliance and distributing it to multiple target file server appliances. This allows identical or similar configuration settings to be replicated across multiple servers through a single operation, significantly reducing configuration time
2Productivity
If a centralized appliance management program is implemented to manage multiple file servers, then configuration distribution efficiency improves, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The appliance management program is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple configuration management tasks including discovering file server appliances, retrieving configurations from source servers, processing configurations centrally, and distributing them to target servers. This universal approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate tools into one system
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance management program acts as an intermediary between source file servers and target file servers. It mediates the configuration transfer process by receiving configurations from source servers, processing them through a central management interface, and distributing them to target servers, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture
3Adaptability or versatility
If configuration settings are customized for each individual server, then specific server requirements are met, but the ability to maintain consistency across multiple servers decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing configuration customization at the source server level while maintaining consistency across target servers. The source configuration can be tailored to specific requirements, and this customized configuration is then distributed uniformly to multiple target servers, ensuring each receives the appropriate localized settings
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided to manage configuration of multiple file server appliances. The method comprises obtaining a source configuration from a storage server, and pushing a target configuration associated with the source configuration to one or more target storage servers.