Identifying Hardcoded IP Addresses in Network Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network migration tools lack a straightforward method to automatically identify hardcoded IP addresses, leading to errors and manual corrections during network modifications, as they cannot examine application source code or differentiate between dynamic and static addressing methods.
Innovation Solution
A computerized network-migration system that requests and analyzes network-configuration information, using methods such as network-view, server-based, and log-based analytics to determine if an IP address is hardcoded by examining server-affinity listings, ARP caches, DNS listings, and TCP trace logs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network migration tools manually or automatically assign new network addresses to resources, then network modifications can be performed, but hardcoded IP addresses cannot be identified, leading to errors and manual corrections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by analyzing network configuration information, server-affinity listings, ARP caches, DNS listings, and TCP trace logs before network modifications are executed. This advance analysis identifies hardcoded IP addresses that cannot be changed, allowing the migration tool to prepare appropriate mappings and avoid errors during the actual migration process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary analysis layer between the network migration tool and the actual address assignment process. This intermediary component examines multiple data sources (configuration files, network logs, DNS records) to infer whether IP addresses are hardcoded, thereby mediating between the migration requirements and the constraints of existing hardcoded addresses.
2Ease of operation
If network migration tools attempt to alter static hardcoded addresses, then address changes can be made, but errors and failures occur requiring manual correction
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of hardcoded addresses before migration operations begin. By analyzing server-affinity listings, ARP caches, and TCP trace logs in advance, the tool determines which addresses are static and cannot be modified, thereby preventing errors before they occur and eliminating the need for manual correction during or after migration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively identifying and flagging hardcoded IP addresses that would cause errors if attempted to be modified. This advance identification creates a protective measure that prevents the harmful action of altering static addresses, thereby avoiding the need for subsequent error correction.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive network configuration information is collected for analysis, then hardcoded addresses can be accurately identified, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the analysis process into distinct components: collecting network configuration information, analyzing server-affinity listings, examining ARP caches, querying DNS listings, and reviewing TCP trace logs. Each segment focuses on a specific data source and applies targeted analysis rules, making the overall complex task manageable and systematic while maintaining high identification accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and associated systems for identifying hardcoded network addresses. A network-migration tool requests from a network certain types of data that may identify IP addresses used by the network and receives a subset of the requested data. The system infers from the manner in which received data characterizes IP addresses which of those addresses are likely to be hardcoded. If the system receives a list of server affinities, it infers that an IP address used for communication between servers in a same affinity group is hardcoded if that address is not listed by an associated DNS server. If a received ARP cache lists an IP address as having been resolved to a MAC address, the system infers that the IP address cannot be hardcoded. If a received TCP trace log lists an address without a corresponding hostname the system infers that the address is hardcoded.