Middle Layer Server for Software Configuration Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large corporations face challenges in ensuring that all computing machines run the most current and correct applications, leading to incomplete or incorrect software configurations across their systems.
Innovation Solution
A system where a middle layer server manages environment code lists, specifying which applications, versions, and instances should be loaded on machines, and periodically checks and updates these configurations across a network of machines, ensuring consistency and correctness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual tracking and surveying of applications on each machine is performed, then some level of control over application deployment is achieved, but the complexity of management increases significantly and errors are frequent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a middle layer server as an intermediary between the application collection and the plurality of machines. This server maintains environment code lists that specify which applications should be running on which machines, eliminating the need for manual tracking and surveying while ensuring accurate application deployment across the network.
2Stability of the object's composition
If centralized management of application configurations is implemented, then consistency across machines is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into three distinct components: an application collection, a middle layer server, and a plurality of machines. The middle layer server is further segmented into an application collection emulator and an environment code list. This segmentation allows centralized management of application configurations while distributing functionality across multiple independent components, reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If environment code lists are maintained and periodically checked, then application configuration correctness is ensured, but the time and resources required for monitoring increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the middle layer server maintain environment code lists that pre-specify which applications should be running on which machines with what instances. Instead of continuously monitoring and reacting to configuration errors, the system proactively defines the correct state in advance and periodically checks compliance, reducing the time and resources needed for ongoing monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method includes receiving at a computer a request for a metric describing an execution of an application on the computer and sending from the computer a respective request for the metric to each of a plurality of computing machines. Responses are received at the computer from the plurality of computing machines and are used to send from the computer a response to the request for the metric that was received at the computer.