Network 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 through a configuration manager and metadata storage, allows for direct tree node comparisons to identify conflicts and apply configurations more efficiently, using a trie-based data structure and OpenConfig manager for vendor-neutral configuration management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional methods are used for managing network device configurations, then configuration management can be performed, but the process is inefficient and prone to conflicts leading to slow application and potential errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network device configuration into configuration fragments organized as a tree structure with nodes representing different configuration elements. This segmentation allows for granular comparison and conflict detection at each node level, enabling efficient and reliable configuration application by processing only relevant fragments rather than entire configuration sets.
2Productivity
If configuration fragments are used with tree node comparisons, then configuration application speed improves and conflicts are reduced, but the system complexity increases due to trie-based data structures and metadata management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the configuration tree in memory that mirrors the persistent storage structure. This copy allows for efficient in-memory comparisons and modifications without directly manipulating the persistent storage structure, thereby improving configuration application speed while managing system complexity through virtualization of the configuration data.
3Reliability
If direct tree node comparisons are performed to identify conflicts, then configuration reliability improves, but the measurement and detection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing configuration fragments into a standardized tree structure with metadata before comparison. Configuration fragments are parsed, validated, and organized into the tree structure in advance, which simplifies the actual conflict detection process during configuration application by eliminating the need for complex real-time analysis.
Data Source
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.