Guided Workflow GUI for Cloud Credential Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for cloud discovery configuration are complex and error-prone, often requiring users to navigate multiple disjoint pages, leading to potential misconfigurations and failed cloud discovery processes due to incorrect input, such as mistyped user IDs or credentials, with errors not always immediately detected.
Innovation Solution
A guided workflow GUI is introduced, directing users through a series of panes logically, allowing validation of user IDs and credentials before proceeding, with optional testing of configuration settings to ensure accuracy before advancing, thereby reducing the likelihood of errors and increasing the reliability of the cloud discovery process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single page GUI is used for cloud discovery configuration, then the interface is compact, but the user becomes overwhelmed and prone to errors due to multitude of semi-related information
Solution Approach 1:
The GUI is divided into multiple discrete pages, each dedicated to a specific configuration task (cloud provider selection, credential entry, datacenter selection, scheduling). This segmentation reduces the cognitive load on users by presenting only relevant information at each step, eliminating the overwhelm caused by a single-page design containing all configuration options simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If multiple disjoint pages are used for cloud discovery configuration, then information can be organized by task, but the user must switch back and forth causing inconsistency and errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation of user inputs at each configuration step before allowing progression to the next page. Credentials are validated against the cloud provider, and configuration choices are checked for consistency before the user commits to the next stage. This preliminary action prevents errors from propagating through the configuration process.
Solution Approach 2:
The GUI implements immediate feedback mechanisms that validate user inputs and inform users of configuration errors or inconsistencies before they can proceed. This feedback loop ensures configuration accuracy by catching mistakes early and guiding users to correct them, rather than allowing errors to manifest only after complete configuration.
3Reliability
If credential validation is performed immediately, then errors are detected promptly, but the configuration process may be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial validation of credentials immediately upon entry, checking basic format and connectivity without requiring complete configuration of all parameters. This partial action detects obvious errors early while allowing users to continue configuring other aspects, maintaining productivity while improving reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A computational instance of a remote network management platform may be dedicated to a managed network, and the managed network may use computing resources of a cloud-based service provider. One or more server devices may be disposed within the computational instance and configured to: (i) transmit, to a client device associated with the managed network, a representation of a pane of a graphical user interface (GUI), (ii) receive, from the client device, an indication of credentials for accessing the cloud-based service provider, (iii) validate the credentials by logging on to the cloud-based service provider with the credentials, (iv) determine that the logging on was successful, and (v) transmit, to the client device, a further pane of the GUI that allows definition of a discovery schedule with which the computational instance is to discovery computing resources of the cloud-based service provider that are associated with the managed network.