Network Device Configuration Migration via Validation Bipartite Graph
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network device configuration upgrades from version 1 to version 2 often require manual adaptations, leading to potential service disruptions and security risks due to incomplete or invalid configuration states, especially when settings are not adequately translated during the migration process.
Innovation Solution
The use of a configuration data-modeling language that supports validation rules and unit transformations, combined with LDPC decoding and constraint solver techniques, to automatically generate a consistent configuration state version 2, ensuring that configuration settings are validated and corrected without manual intervention, even when configuration data is stored in text files.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual adaptations are performed for configuration migration from version 1 to version 2, then configuration consistency can be achieved, but service disruption and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-validation and self-correction of configuration states during migration. The validation bipartite graph and LDPC decoding automatically detect and rectify inconsistencies without requiring manual intervention, enabling the configuration system to service itself during the migration process from version 1 to version 2
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies validation rules and LDPC decoding in advance during the configuration migration process to identify and correct inconsistencies before they cause service disruption. By performing preliminary validation and correction, the system prevents potential configuration errors from propagating, thereby reducing overall migration time and maintaining service continuity
2Reliability
If configuration validation is performed during start-up, then security and reliability improve, but configuration complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The validation process is segmented into modular validation rules that can be independently defined, executed, and maintained. Each validation rule corresponds to specific configuration assertions, allowing the complex validation process to be broken down into manageable, reusable units that reduce overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The validation bipartite graph serves as an intermediary structure that mediates between configuration data and validation rules. This graphical model provides a systematic framework for organizing and executing validations, reducing the complexity of managing numerous individual validation checks during start-up
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for automatically generating a consistent configuration state version 2 for a network device with no or minimal help from a user and/or from a provider of the network device when updating from a configuration state version 1 to the configuration state version 2. The techniques and architecture also provide for migration from configuration state version 1 to configuration state version 2 when at least some of a configuration state are located in text files that are applied to the network device at start-up of the network device.