Generic Network Configuration via Scope Challenge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network configuration protocols are specific and do not provide a generic mechanism for scoping, negotiation, and configuration across all network devices, leading to configuration errors and inefficiencies in distributed network behavior.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where a network management server sends a scope challenge to determine which network devices fall within a defined scope, allowing for targeted configuration changes to be automatically applied to in-scope devices, using a two-phase process involving a multicast scope challenge and unicast configuration message, ensuring uniform and simultaneous configuration updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If specific negotiation and configuration protocols are used for network devices, then configuration can be applied to certain devices, but a generic mechanism covering all network devices is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal configuration protocol that can be applied to all network devices regardless of device type or specific function. The scope challenge mechanism and configuration message format are designed to be device-agnostic, allowing a single protocol to serve multiple configuration scenarios across diverse network devices, thereby achieving universality without requiring multiple device-specific protocols
2Productivity
If configuration changes are applied manually to each network device, then precise control is achieved, but configuration time and effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by first sending a scope challenge to identify all target devices before applying configuration changes. This preliminary identification phase allows the system to prepare and queue configuration messages for multiple devices simultaneously, rather than configuring devices one at a time manually, thereby significantly reducing total configuration time while maintaining control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple configuration operations into a single coordinated process. By combining the scope challenge, configuration message distribution, and commit coordination into one unified protocol sequence, the system achieves bulk configuration across multiple devices in parallel, dramatically improving productivity compared to sequential manual configuration
3Reliability
If existing specific protocols are used for neighbor device negotiation, then device-specific configurations are achieved, but configuration errors occur due to lack of generic scoping mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary scope challenge mechanism that mediates between the configuration source and target devices. This scope challenge acts as a verification intermediary that confirms which devices should receive configuration changes before the actual configuration is applied, preventing configuration errors by ensuring the correct target devices are identified and selected, thereby improving reliability
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for sharing a generic configuration across a group of network devices. An example embodiment includes sending a scope challenge to a plurality of network devices; receiving a response to the scope challenge from a plurality of in-scope network devices; sending a configuration change message including a configuration change to the plurality of in-scope network devices; and receiving a commit message from the plurality of in-cope network devices indicating that the configuration change has been committed.