Network Device Configuration Fragments for Faster Conflict Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for managing network device configurations are inefficient and prone to conflicts, leading to slow application processes and potential configuration errors.
Innovation Solution
The use of configuration fragments, managed by a configuration manager and OpenConfig manager, allows for direct tree node comparisons to identify conflicts and apply configurations efficiently, utilizing a trie-based data structure and metadata to persist configuration fragments across reboots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional methods are used to manage network device configurations, then configurations can be applied, but the process is slow and prone to conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network device configuration into configuration fragments, each representing a specific portion of the overall configuration. This segmentation allows for granular management and comparison of configuration elements, enabling faster identification of conflicts and more efficient application of changes without affecting the entire configuration at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the configuration tree structure to represent the desired configuration state. By comparing the current configuration tree with the desired configuration tree, the system can identify differences and conflicts without directly modifying the running configuration, thereby reducing conflicts and improving reliability while maintaining configuration application speed.
2Productivity
If configuration fragments are used with direct tree node comparisons, then configuration application speed improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal configuration fragment structure that can represent any portion of the network device configuration. The configuration fragment uses a standardized data structure with common elements (configuration object, path, value, fragment identifier) that can universally represent different types of configuration data, simplifying the management complexity despite the granular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a configuration manager as an intermediary component that handles the complexity of managing configuration fragments. The configuration manager mediates between the user/input and the network device, performing tree node comparisons, conflict detection, and configuration application, thereby isolating the complexity from the rest of the system and maintaining overall simplicity.
3Reliability
If configuration fragments are persisted using metadata and trie-based data structures, then configuration reliability across reboots improves, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by persisting configuration fragments and their metadata during normal operation. The configuration fragments are stored with their fragment identifiers and associated metadata, creating a ready-to-apply structure that can be quickly restored after a reboot without requiring time-consuming reconfiguration or analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a copy of the configuration tree structure to store persisted configuration fragments. This copied structure maintains the hierarchical relationships and can be efficiently compared with the current running configuration after a reboot, reducing processing time while ensuring reliable restoration of the desired configuration state.
Data Source
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AI summary
Some embodiments provide a method for configuring a network device based on configuration fragments. A set of commands for configuring a configuration fragment of a network device is received. The configuration fragment defines a portion of a configuration of the network device. It is determined whether the set of commands are allowed to be applied to the configuration fragment of the network device. Upon determining that the set of commands are allowed to be applied to the configuration fragment of the network device, the portion of the configuration of the network device is configured based on the set of commands.