Automated Network Device Deployment via Registrar Bootstrap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying network devices is challenging due to the need for complex configuration and high user knowledge, especially in corporate environments where rapid and secure setup is required, often involving manual configuration that can lead to errors and increased costs due to changing policies.
Innovation Solution
A secure deployment method using a registrar to establish a secure introduction connection, providing bootstrap configuration data for a secure management connection, allowing user-specific configuration and security policies to be implemented automatically, enabling secure and dynamic management of network devices without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration is used to ensure secure network connections, then configuration accuracy is improved, but deployment time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring network devices with template-based configurations before deployment. The system stores multiple configuration templates that can be automatically applied to devices, eliminating the need for manual post-deployment configuration and reducing deployment time while maintaining security standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating and storing configuration templates that can be replicated across multiple network devices. Instead of manually configuring each device individually, the system copies proven secure configurations from templates, ensuring consistency and accuracy while significantly reducing the time and resources required for deployment.
2Reliability
If manual configuration is performed to handle changing corporate policies, then configuration accuracy is improved, but resource costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a system where configuration templates can be dynamically updated to reflect changing corporate policies. When policies change, the templates are updated centrally, and the changes are automatically propagated to deployed devices, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration and reducing resource costs while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by replicating updated configuration templates across multiple devices automatically. When corporate policies change, the updated template is copied to all relevant devices, ensuring consistent and accurate configuration updates without requiring manual intervention, thereby reducing resource costs.
3Productivity
If automated deployment is used to reduce manual labor, then deployment speed is improved, but configuration accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by automatically replicating pre-validated configuration templates to multiple network devices during deployment. This automated copying process ensures that each device receives an identical, proven secure configuration, maintaining high accuracy while achieving rapid deployment across numerous devices simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing configuration templates to be parameterized with variables that can be automatically adjusted based on device-specific information. This enables automated deployment to adapt configurations to individual devices while maintaining the core secure structure, ensuring both speed and accuracy.
4Reliability
If user involvement is increased to handle complex configuration tasks, then configuration accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by automatically applying pre-configured templates to network devices without requiring user intervention. Users simply initiate the deployment process, and the system automatically copies the appropriate configuration template to the device, eliminating the need for users to understand complex configuration tasks while ensuring accurate, secure configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the system to automatically perform configuration tasks without user involvement. The automated deployment system selects and applies appropriate templates, manages configuration updates, and handles policy changes independently, making the process easy for users while maintaining high configuration accuracy through proven templates.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an approach for securely deploying and configuring network devices, a secure introduction connection is established between a network device being deployed and a registrar. The secure introduction connection may conform to a secure communications protocol, such as HTTPS. The registrar provides bootstrap configuration data to the network device over the secure introduction connection. The bootstrap configuration data is used to establish a secure management connection between the network device and a secure management gateway. The secure management connection may conform to a secure communications protocol, such as IPsec or HTTPS. The secure management gateway provides user-specific configuration data and security policy data to the network device over the secure management connection. The user-specific configuration data and policy data are used to establish a secure data connection, such as a Dynamic Multipoint Virtual Private Network (DMVPN) connection, between the network device and the secure data gateway.