Network Appliance Full Install Upgrade Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for upgrading network appliances often result in software configurations becoming outdated, leading to issues where applying sequential upgrade patches can cause the appliance to hang, requiring manual intervention by skilled technicians.

Innovation Solution

A network appliance determines the need for a full install image upgrade, reserves an upgrade staging area, downloads and installs the image, marks it as bootable, reboots, and installs the full image, allowing for automated and unattended upgrades without user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sequential upgrade patches are applied to outdated network appliances, then software can be updated, but the appliance may hang and require manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupgrade reliabilityVSAvoidmanual intervention requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessment of the appliance's software state before initiating upgrades. It determines whether sequential patches or full install images are appropriate based on the appliance's current configuration and upgrade history, preventing hang conditions before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The upgrade server acts as an intermediary that manages the upgrade process. It selects appropriate upgrade methods (sequential patches vs. full install images), monitors the upgrade progress, and can intervene to switch methods if problems are detected, eliminating the need for manual technician intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If full install images are used for upgrade, then automated unattended upgrades are enabled, but download and installation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated upgrade capabilityVSAvoidupgrade downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the upgrade method based on real-time conditions. It can switch between sequential patches (faster for minor updates) and full install images (comprehensive but longer), optimizing the balance between automation completeness and time consumption for each specific upgrade scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The upgrade process is segmented into distinct phases: assessment, method selection, execution, and verification. Full install images are used selectively for major version upgrades where comprehensive automation is needed, while sequential patches handle minor updates, dividing the overall upgrade strategy into manageable segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8683458B2Automatic full install upgrade of a network appliance

Publication Date: 2014.03.25 RED HAT INC

AI summary

A method and apparatus for upgrading a network appliance. In one embodiment, a network appliance determines that it should be upgraded using a full install image. The network appliance then reserves an upgrade staging area in its memory device, downloads the full install image from a server to the upgrade staging area, and marks the upgrade staging area as bootable. Further, the network appliance reboots itself, and installs the full install image.