Network Device Configuration Merging With Three-Way Conflict Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Configuring network devices is complex and time-consuming, with issues of synchronization between various configurations leading to overwriting or loss of changes, especially when multiple users or sessions are involved, and existing merge methods are inefficient or fail to adequately address conflicts.
Innovation Solution
A configuration session system that stores an ancestor configuration upon initiation, allows changes in a session configuration without altering the running configuration, and performs a three-way merge between ancestor, session, and current configurations using structured save blocks to identify and resolve conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users perform configuration changes simultaneously without restrictions, then configuration flexibility and user accessibility are improved, but configuration synchronization and data consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing ancestor configurations and creating configuration snapshots before changes are made. This allows the system to capture the state before modifications and use it as a baseline for merging, ensuring that simultaneous configurations can be reconciled without losing important changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary merging mechanism that acts as a mediator between multiple configuration changes. The system uses configuration snapshots and merging logic to reconcile changes from different users, preventing direct overwriting and ensuring consistent configuration state through automated conflict resolution.
2Productivity
If configuration changes are merged using traditional methods, then configuration updates are applied, but conflict resolution efficiency and accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the configuration merging process into distinct phases: capturing ancestor configurations, applying changes to snapshots, detecting conflicts through comparison, and resolving identified conflicts. This segmentation allows for precise conflict detection and resolution while maintaining efficient configuration updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring configuration changes, detecting conflicts between simultaneous modifications, and providing automated resolution. The feedback loop ensures that configuration accuracy is maintained while preserving the productivity benefits of simultaneous multi-user configuration.
3Productivity
If configuration sessions allow unrestricted simultaneous modifications, then user productivity and configuration speed are improved, but configuration consistency and overwriting prevention deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates copies of the configuration state in the form of snapshots and ancestor configurations. These copies serve as protective replicas that can be compared and merged without affecting the original running configuration, preventing information loss from overwriting while allowing fast simultaneous configuration work.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by storing ancestor configurations and configuration snapshots before changes are applied. This protective mechanism ensures that even if conflicts occur during simultaneous configuration, the original state is preserved and can be used as a fallback, preventing permanent loss of configuration changes.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for merging configurations on network devices based on structured models representing features to be configured are disclosed. By utilizing these structured models embodiments may generally allow configuration merges to be performed substantially on a per feature basis and also allow the merging to be performed in a manner that minimizes conflicts and implementation complexity while substantially improving the performance of those configuration merges.