Network Configuration Injection Using Test Instances and Rule Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network element configuration changes in communications networks often require manual CLI login, which is time-consuming and difficult to scale, leading to service disruptions and quality-of-service issues due to deactivation of current configurations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the creation of a test instance of the network element with a corresponding configuration, allowing for the injection of a desired configuration while monitoring deactivations and applying rules to ensure minimal disruption, using declarative configuration for scalability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual CLI login is used to configure network elements, then configuration changes can be made, but the process is time-consuming and difficult to scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a test instance (copy) of the network element with its current configuration. This copy is used to evaluate the desired configuration changes before applying them to the live network element, enabling automated configuration management without manual CLI intervention on production systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs configuration evaluation in advance by applying the desired configuration to a test instance and checking for allowable deactivations before actually injecting the configuration into the live network element. This preliminary action prevents service disruptions by ensuring changes are safe to apply.
2Adaptability or versatility
If current network element configuration is deactivated to make changes, then configuration updates can be applied, but traffic routed via the network element is dropped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent evaluates the desired configuration on a test instance before applying it to the live network element. This preliminary evaluation identifies whether the configuration change would cause unacceptable deactivations, allowing operators to prevent service disruptions before they occur by blocking unsafe configuration injections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a test instance as an intermediary between the desired configuration and the live network element. This intermediary absorbs the risk of configuration changes by serving as a testing ground, allowing safe configuration changes to proceed while blocking harmful ones, thus protecting service continuity.
3Productivity
If configuration changes are applied without testing, then deployment is faster, but service disruptions and quality-of-service issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary configuration evaluation by applying the desired configuration to a test instance and assessing the impact before deploying to production. This preliminary testing identifies harmful effects such as traffic drops and service disruptions, allowing operators to block unsafe changes while maintaining fast deployment for safe changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by evaluating configuration changes in advance and blocking harmful deactivations before they can affect the live network element. The test instance serves as a protective measure that prevents service disruptions by identifying and rejecting unsafe configuration changes before deployment.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed comprising receiving a desired configuration for a network element, the network element comprising a current configuration and being in operation in a live communications network. Prior to injecting the desired configuration in the network element, the method comprises initiating creating a test instance of the network element having a configuration corresponding to the current configuration of the network element, and initiating injecting the desired configuration in the test instance of the network element, wherein the test instance of the network element provides a log in response to a deactivation of the configuration of the test instance during applying the desired configuration. The method comprises determining whether the deactivation of the configuration associated with the log is allowable using at least one rule, and in response to the deactivation of the configuration associated with the log being allowable, initiating injecting the desired configuration in the network element.