Network Resilience Tool for GMPLS Misconfiguration Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
GMPLS-controlled optical networks face challenges in detecting and preventing misconfigurations due to the complexity of configuration parameters and the lack of tools capable of identifying internal parameter setting misconfigurations, leading to potential network instability and resilience issues.
Innovation Solution
A network resilience tool that connects to GMPLS controllers, extracts configuration data, performs sanity checks, and reports misconfigurations, allowing for the detection and prevention of misconfigurations by analyzing configuration parameters and proposing solutions based on network configuration rules and expert knowledge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If GMPLS controllers use complex configuration parameters for network management, then network control capabilities are improved, but misconfiguration risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary sanity checks on configuration parameters before they are applied to the network. The system validates parameters against predefined rules and constraints, detecting potential misconfigurations before they can cause network failures. This preventive approach addresses the contradiction by maintaining complex configuration capabilities while preventing misconfiguration risks through advance validation.
2Ease of operation
If network personnel manage GMPLS networks without full familiarity with protocol details, then operational simplicity is improved, but detection of internal parameter misconfigurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary monitoring system that acts as a mediator between network personnel and the complex GMPLS configuration parameters. This intermediary tool automatically extracts configuration data from controllers, applies sanity checks, and presents results in an understandable format. Network personnel can operate the network with simplicity while the intermediary system handles the complex task of detecting internal parameter misconfigurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If configuration parameters are modified without considering all dependencies, then configuration flexibility is improved, but network stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through sanity checks that monitor configuration parameters and their interdependencies. When configuration changes are made, the system automatically validates them against predefined rules that capture dependency relationships. This feedback loop ensures that configuration flexibility is maintained while network stability is preserved by preventing changes that would violate dependency constraints.
4Reliability
If sanity checks are performed to prevent misconfigurations, then network reliability is improved, but additional validation time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial sanity checks selectively to the most critical configuration parameters and those with known dependency relationships. Rather than validating every single parameter exhaustively, the system focuses validation efforts on the parameters that most significantly impact network reliability. This approach maintains high network reliability while minimizing the time loss associated with comprehensive validation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network resilience tool (NRT) checks configuration of multiple GMPLS controllers (N1-N8) part of a distributed control plane (NMS) of a GMPLS-controlled transport network. The network resilience tool (NRT) is adapted to connect to the GMPLS controllers (N1-N8), to extract configuration data from each of these GMPLS controllers (N1-N8) individually, to store the extracted sets of configuration data in a data storage (DSM), and to perform first sanity checks on individual sets of configuration data and second comparative sanity checks between selected sets of configuration data and report misconfigurations to a user.