Automatic Network Device Configuration via Physical Topology Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation and provisioning of optical network equipment is complex and requires expertise, especially in data centers where conventional manual configuration methods are error-prone, time-consuming, and costly, due to the need for specialized hardware and different expertise compared to telecom installers.
Innovation Solution
A method for automatically configuring network devices in a cluster based on physical deployment, where each member detects association and determines roles to provision resources like wavelengths without user intervention, using available interfaces and management connectivity to self-organize and eliminate the need for additional hardware or manual configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual provisioning and configuration methods are used for optical network equipment, then installation personnel can configure systems, but the process becomes error-prone, time-consuming, and requires specialized expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-provisioning and self-configuration of optical network equipment. Devices automatically detect their physical topology, determine their roles in the network, and configure their own parameters without human intervention. This eliminates the need for specialized installer expertise and manual configuration steps, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and installation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary automatic configuration actions before the installer needs to perform any manual tasks. By automatically detecting topology and provisioning resources in advance, the system prepares the network equipment so that installers only need to perform simple physical connections, dramatically reducing installation time and eliminating configuration errors.
2Reliability
If additional hardware like cluster controllers or backplanes are added to enforce associations between independent cards, then cards can be organized into clusters, but system cost increases and scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical/physical enforcement mechanisms (backplanes, cluster controllers, additional hardware) with software-based automatic detection and configuration protocols. Independent cards use communication interfaces to automatically discover their physical relationships and establish cluster associations through software, eliminating the need for additional hardware while maintaining reliable cluster organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables independent cards to perform multiple functions: they can operate standalone or automatically form clusters using their existing communication interfaces. The same hardware components serve both individual and clustered functions, eliminating the need for specialized cluster controller hardware and allowing flexible scalability.
3Reliability
If manual provisioning of communication interfaces and cluster information is performed, then chassis can be associated together, but the process becomes labor-intensive and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback loops where devices continuously exchange information about their physical connections and cluster memberships. Each device monitors its own state and the states of connected devices, automatically adjusting configurations to maintain accurate cluster associations. This eliminates manual provisioning errors while accelerating deployment through automated detection and verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary automatic configuration of communication interfaces and cluster information before manual intervention is needed. Devices automatically provision their interfaces and establish cluster associations during initial physical connection, eliminating the need for labor-intensive manual configuration steps and ensuring accurate provisioning from the start.
4Manufacturing precision
If a network wide management system communicates with all devices simultaneously to determine wavelength assignments, then proper wavelength allocation can be achieved, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the wavelength assignment process into localized automatic negotiations between directly connected devices. Instead of a centralized management system coordinating all devices simultaneously, each device independently determines its wavelength assignments by communicating only with its neighbors, automatically avoiding collisions through distributed coordination. This reduces management system complexity while maintaining accurate wavelength allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary automatic wavelength assignment negotiations during the initial cluster formation process. Devices automatically determine and reserve their wavelength assignments before full network operation begins, eliminating the need for complex centralized coordination during deployment and ensuring accurate wavelength allocation from the start.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method includes automatically detecting an association between members 12 based on their relationship to one another; sharing topology and cluster information between the members; and determining roles for each member, based on the topology and cluster information and rules, wherein the roles are used to automatically provision at least one resource on each member, without user intervention. A method of configuring network devices 10 sharing a pool of available resources is also described, wherein the network devices have management connectivity between one another through a plurality of point-to-point connections 70. The method includes, after a point-to-point connection in the management connectivity is formed based on cabling of associated network devices, determining a resource index number for each of the associated network devices; and uniquely assigning the resources from the pool to each of the network devices based on their respective resource index number.