Grouped Computing Device Configuration Management via Baseline Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and maintaining a group of computing devices to ensure they function consistently and identically, especially in high-traffic environments like web sites and call centers, is challenging due to differences in command and file level configurations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for grouped computing device configuration management that establishes a baseline configuration, collects and compares data across devices, identifies differences, and initiates actions to resolve them, using a user interface and network-connected processors to maintain uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If computing devices are pooled together to provide increased bandwidth for large groups of users, then system capacity and bandwidth are improved, but device configuration consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors configuration parameters across pooled devices, compares them against a baseline, and automatically generates remediation actions when deviations are detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures configuration consistency is maintained despite the scale of the device pool, resolving the contradiction between increased bandwidth capacity and configuration stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the abstract concept of configuration consistency into measurable parameters (registry keys, file configurations, service states) that can be systematically monitored and controlled. By parameterizing configuration states, the system can apply automated remediation to maintain consistency across large numbers of devices while preserving bandwidth scalability.
2Reliability
If manual configuration management is used across many devices, then configuration control is maintained, but maintenance difficulty and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service configuration management by automatically detecting configuration deviations, comparing them against baseline standards, and applying remediation actions without human intervention. This automation maintains configuration control and reliability while eliminating the time-consuming manual maintenance that would otherwise be required across large device pools.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a baseline configuration standard in advance and uses it to proactively evaluate and correct deviations before they impact system performance. This preliminary action approach maintains configuration control through pre-defined standards while reducing maintenance time by automating the detect-correct cycle.
3Measurement precision
If configuration monitoring is performed at deep command and file levels, then detection precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments configuration monitoring into discrete, manageable units such as registry keys, configuration files, and service states. Each segment is monitored independently against baseline standards, enabling deep detection precision at the command and file levels while managing complexity through modular organization of monitoring tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer that abstracts the complexity of deep configuration monitoring. This intermediary translates complex command-line and file-level configuration states into standardized parameters that can be systematically compared and managed, maintaining high detection precision while reducing the perceived system complexity for operators.
Data Source
AI summary
Grouped computing device configuration management systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a first number of computing devices having processors and memory thereon for the storage of executable instructions and data, wherein the instructions are executed to establish a computing device baseline configuration at both a command level and a file level for use in comparing the baseline configuration with a second number of computing devices, execute a first set of executable instructions on the first number of computing devices to send a second set of executable instructions to the second number of computing devices and that execute on the second number of computing devices to collect data regarding command and file level configuration of the second number of computing devices, receive, on the first number of computing devices, data collected from the second number of computing devices, compare the data collected with data from the baseline configuration to determine one or more differences, and initiate at least one action selected from the group including issuing an alert, flagging the differences in a database, generating a report listing the differences, identifying a solution to resolve the differences, and executing instructions to resolve the differences.