Modular Chassis Infrastructure Provisioning via IT Service Templates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional modular blade server chassis systems require administrators to navigate multiple user interfaces and command line interfaces to provision infrastructure, leading to complexity and inefficiency, especially with different platform generations and firmware revisions, necessitating frequent updates in external tools and processes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing pre-defined IT service templates that can be loaded locally or downloaded to define the desired infrastructure configuration, allowing a local management subsystem to interpret and execute these templates without external assistance, simplifying the provisioning process and enabling quick configuration of modular chassis infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If external provisioning tools are used to provision modular blade server chassis, then infrastructure provisioning can be performed, but the process requires navigating multiple user interfaces and command line interfaces, increasing operational complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprovisioning process simplicityVSAvoidnumber of interfaces to navigate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate provisioning interfaces (user consoles, command line interfaces, management interfaces) into a single unified provisioning interface. This interface presents a consolidated view of all infrastructure components and allows administrators to provision entire infrastructure stacks through a single workflow, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple disparate interfaces sequentially.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The provisioning interface is designed to be universal, handling provisioning tasks across different infrastructure components (compute, storage, networking, firmware) through a single unified mechanism. The interface can provision entire infrastructure stacks regardless of the specific mix of components, providing multi-functional capability that replaces multiple specialized tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional external provisioning tools are used, then infrastructure can be provisioned, but the tools must be frequently updated to keep pace with different platform generations and firmware revisions, reducing maintainability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with platform generationsVSAvoidsolution maintainability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The provisioning interface automatically detects the target platform generation, firmware version, and component configurations, then self-adjusts its provisioning capabilities and parameters accordingly. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual updates to the provisioning tool itself, as it adapts dynamically to different platform versions through automatic identification and configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The provisioning interface implements dynamic adaptation to different platform generations and firmware revisions. Rather than requiring static configuration updates, the interface dynamically adjusts its behavior, available options, and provisioning parameters based on the real-time characteristics of the target infrastructure, making the solution maintainable across evolving platform versions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If administrators manually provision infrastructure through multiple interfaces, then detailed control can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient, reducing productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprovisioning speedVSAvoidtime to navigate interfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The provisioning interface performs preliminary actions by automatically gathering information about the target infrastructure configuration, identifying compatible component combinations, and pre-validating provisioning parameters before the administrator initiates provisioning. This preliminary preparation eliminates time-wasting manual configuration steps and interface navigation during the actual provisioning execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The unified provisioning interface allows administrators to skip through intermediate configuration steps that would otherwise require separate interface interactions. By presenting a streamlined workflow that consolidates multiple provisioning actions into a single continuous process, the interface enables rapid infrastructure deployment without the time loss associated with switching between multiple tools and interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS9491050B2Systems and methods for infrastructure template provisioning in modular chassis systems

Publication Date: 2016.11.08 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Systems and methods for provisioning the infrastructure of modular information handling systems, such as modular blade server chassis systems, using one or more pre-defined templates. IT service templates may be initially loaded and present in local memory or storage of a modular information handling system to define the system infrastructure configuration that ship with the modular chassis platform, or may be later downloaded or otherwise received in local memory or storage later from an external source after system installation to specify the desired end-state of the system infrastructure configuration.