Network Appliance Transparent Configuration via Instance Duplication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network appliances experience resource-intensive and lengthy reconfiguration processes, leading to interruptions in monitoring operations, especially in complex networks, as they do not perform monitoring during reconfiguration.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a network appliance downloads configuration data from a server and invokes a new instance of a monitoring scheduler without terminating the current instance, allowing continuous monitoring until the new instance initializes and takes over, ensuring transparent reconfiguration without interrupting primary tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the network appliance performs a complete reconfiguration process, then the configuration is updated to adapt to network changes, but the monitoring operations are interrupted during the reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring scheduler into multiple instances (first instance and second instance) that can operate independently. The first instance continues monitoring while the second instance performs reconfiguration, allowing configuration updates without interrupting monitoring operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent initializes a second instance of the monitoring scheduler before terminating the first instance. This preliminary action ensures that monitoring capabilities are already in place before the old instance is shut down, preventing any gap in monitoring operations during reconfiguration.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the network appliance performs reconfiguration with a single instance, then the resource consumption is lower, but the reconfiguration process is lengthy and causes noticeable interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous monitoring operations by running the first instance alongside the second instance during reconfiguration. The first instance continues its useful action of monitoring until the second instance is ready, ensuring no loss of monitoring coverage and minimizing effective downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy (second instance) of the monitoring scheduler to perform reconfiguration while the original (first instance) continues monitoring. This copying approach allows parallel execution of monitoring and reconfiguration tasks, reducing the time loss associated with sequential operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the network appliance terminates the current monitoring scheduler instance for reconfiguration, then the configuration can be updated completely, but the monitoring operations stop during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic transition between monitoring scheduler instances. The system moves from a static single-instance model to a dynamic multi-instance model where instances can be created, activated, and deactivated based on reconfiguration needs, maintaining productivity throughout the transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The second instance acts as an intermediary during the reconfiguration process. It is initialized before the first instance terminates and takes over monitoring responsibilities, serving as a bridge that maintains monitoring continuity while enabling complete configuration updates.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for configuring a remotely available service. In one embodiment, the method includes downloading configuration data for the remotely available service while running a current instance of the service, and invoking a new instance of the service without causing a current instance of the service to terminate. The method may further include causing the current instance of the service to continue performing designated operations until the new instance completes initialization using the configuration data and is able to perform the designated operations.