Centralized Validation Controller for Network Configuration Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network configuration validation methods often result in failures due to configuration elements being applied to devices without prior validation, leading to incompatibilities and functional issues, especially in large and complex networks where individual device access is impractical.
Innovation Solution
A centralized validation controller determines functional capabilities of network devices based on topology and manufacturer specifications, compares these capabilities with proposed configuration elements, and performs syntax, semantic, and platform validations to ensure compatibility before pushing configurations, thereby avoiding failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If configuration elements are applied to devices without prior validation, then configuration deployment speed is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to incompatibilities and functional issues
Solution Approach 1:
The validation controller performs configuration validation in advance before pushing configurations to network devices. The controller determines functional capabilities of devices based on topology and manufacturer specifications, then validates configuration elements against these capabilities prior to deployment, preventing incompatibilities while maintaining efficient configuration management
Solution Approach 2:
A centralized validation controller is introduced as an intermediary between configuration management and network devices. This controller receives configuration elements, validates them against device capabilities without accessing individual devices, and only pushes validated configurations to devices, thereby ensuring reliability while maintaining deployment efficiency
2Manufacturing precision
If individual device access is performed for configuration validation, then configuration accuracy is improved, but operational complexity deteriorates in large and complex networks
Solution Approach 1:
The validation controller serves as a centralized intermediary that validates configurations without requiring access to individual network devices. It determines device capabilities based on topology information and manufacturer specifications, then performs validation centrally, eliminating the need for complex individual device access while maintaining configuration accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The validation controller creates and uses a virtual model of the network topology and device capabilities for validation purposes. Instead of accessing actual devices, it works with copied information about device specifications and network structure, simplifying operations while maintaining validation accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, the validation controller may comprise a processing resource and a memory resource storing machine readable instructions to cause the processing resource to perform a number of actions. In some examples, the validation controller may determine functional capabilities for a topology that includes a plurality of devices to be configured by the validation controller. The validation controller may compare a configuration element for the plurality of devices to the functional capabilities for the plurality of devices. The validation controller may validate the configuration element based on the comparison. The validation controller may also push the configuration element to the plurality of devices when the configuration element is validated.