Network Device Configuration via Modular Slice Compilation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current networking device configuration methods are inefficient and time-consuming, as they involve custom-built configurations for each device, which are difficult to adapt to changing environments and lack the ability to propagate changes across multiple devices effectively.

Innovation Solution

The approach involves describing networking device settings as a union of configuration slices, which are stored centrally and updated version-controlled, allowing for coherent subsections of configuration settings to be combined and conveyed to devices, enabling changes to be reflected across all relevant devices automatically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If custom-built configurations are created for each device, then device-specific customization is achieved, but configuration time and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice-specific customizationVSAvoidconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments device configurations into modular templates that can be independently defined and reused. Configuration templates break down complex device settings into reusable components that can be assembled through composition, allowing rapid configuration without custom-building each device from scratch.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining configuration templates with common settings and parameters before actual device configuration. These templates are created in advance and stored in a repository, enabling quick selection and composition during device provisioning rather than creating configurations from scratch at deployment time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual device configurations are modified, then device-specific changes are applied, but propagation of changes across multiple devices becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice-specific changesVSAvoidchange propagation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality through configuration templates that serve multiple devices simultaneously. A single template can be composed and applied to multiple devices, allowing changes to be propagated efficiently across the entire device fleet or selected subsets of devices through template updates rather than individual modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If configuration settings are stored centrally, then centralized management and updates are enabled, but adaptability to quickly changing device environments is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentralized managementVSAvoidadaptability to changing environments

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamics by enabling runtime composition of configuration templates based on current device environment and state. Configuration templates can be dynamically selected and composed according to device-specific conditions, network environment, and operational context, allowing centralized management to adapt quickly to changing environments without sacrificing control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If full custom configurations are built for each device, then complete customization is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and resource-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete customizationVSAvoidconfiguration process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges configuration management by combining multiple configuration templates through composition to create complete device configurations. Instead of building each configuration from individual settings, the system composes configurations by merging pre-defined templates, reducing complexity while maintaining complete customization capability through template selection and combination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8880659B2Configuring network devices using compilations of coherent subsections of configuration settings

Publication Date: 2014.11.04 EXTREME NETWORKS INC

AI summary

A method of configuring a networking device comprises: collecting data regarding the networking device; conveying the data to a remote server; selecting configuration slice instances based on the data using the server, wherein templates for the slice instances are stored on the server; compiling the configuration slice instances using the server; and delivering the compiled configuration slice instances to the networking device; wherein the slice instances are coherent sub-sections of configuration settings for the networking device.