Multi-Dimensional Label Policy Model for Server State Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional server management policies rely on low-level constructs like IP addresses and network interfaces, making it difficult to create fine-grained, abstract policies that can effectively manage servers within an administrative domain.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that modify server descriptions to indicate state changes, compare these changes to determine if management instructions need updating, and apply relevant rules from a logical multi-dimensional label-based policy model to manage servers within an administrative domain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional policies reference physical devices and low-level constructs like IP addresses, then device-specific management is achieved, but policy expression becomes complex and difficult to write in an abstract way
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a multi-dimensional label space that adds an abstract dimension to server identification, complementing the traditional single-dimensional IP address approach. This allows policies to reference servers through multiple dimensions (labels) simultaneously, enabling complex policies to be expressed through simple label matching without increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces labels as an intermediary layer between physical devices and policy expressions. Instead of directly referencing IP addresses or device identifiers in policies, the system uses labels as mediators that abstract the underlying physical constructs, making policy writing easier while maintaining the ability to enforce specific device characteristics
2Reliability
If policies are updated to reflect server state changes, then policy enforcement accuracy is improved, but system overhead increases due to continuous monitoring and comparison
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors server state changes and automatically updates policy enforcement accordingly. The global manager receives state change notifications, compares them against stored descriptions, and triggers policy re-evaluation only when relevant changes occur, maintaining accuracy while minimizing unnecessary processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing full policy re-evaluation only for servers whose state changes are relevant to existing policies. The system identifies and processes only the subset of servers that require policy updates, rather than re-evaluating all servers in the domain, thereby reducing system overhead while maintaining enforcement accuracy
3Stability of the object's composition
If a global manager updates management instructions for all servers upon any state change, then policy consistency is maintained, but processing time and network traffic increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making policy update propagation selective rather than universal. When a server's state changes, the system identifies and updates management instructions only for the specific servers whose policies are affected by that change, rather than notifying all servers in the domain. This maintains policy consistency where needed while minimizing unnecessary processing time and network traffic
4Measurement precision
If low-level constructs like IP addresses are used for policy reference, then network topology specificity is achieved, but adaptability to different network configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the label-based policy model universal by designing labels to be independent of specific network configurations or topologies. The same labeling framework can represent servers across diverse network environments (different IP schemes, network architectures, or physical layouts) without requiring policy changes, thereby achieving both precision in identification and adaptability to varying configurations
Data Source
AI summary
A change to a state of a particular managed server within an administrative domain is processed. The administrative domain includes a plurality of managed servers that use management instructions to configure management modules so that the configured management modules implement an administrative domain-wide management policy that comprises a set of one or more rules. A first description of the particular managed server is modified to indicate the particular managed server's changed state, thereby specifying a second description of the particular managed server. The unmodified first description is compared to the second description, thereby specifying a description change. A determination is made, based on the description change, regarding whether to update management instructions previously sent to the particular managed server.