Network Template Abstraction for Dynamic Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management solutions face challenges in efficiently provisioning and configuring customized networks, particularly in test environments where setup and configuration times exceed the network's required duration, and in production environments where dynamic changes in network resource needs require frequent reconfiguration or swapping of devices and connections.
Innovation Solution
A method that collects information on network devices, maps their attributes to abstracted values, and presents these to users for template creation and activation, allowing for the creation, storage, and activation of templates independent of device location and resource characteristics, enabling quick setup and reconfiguration of networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If physical network devices and connections are manually provisioned and configured for customized networks, then the network can be set up with specific devices and configurations, but the setup and configuration time exceeds the network's required duration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring network templates with device configurations, connections, and parameters before actual network deployment. When a network is needed, the pre-configured template can be rapidly instantiated, eliminating the need for manual setup and configuration at deployment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates abstract representations (templates) that copy the essential configuration and structure of physical networks. These templates can be stored, modified, and rapidly instantiated multiple times without requiring physical reconfiguration, enabling quick deployment of identical or variant network configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If physical network devices and connections are manually reconfigured to adapt to changing network needs, then the network can accommodate new requirements, but frequent reconfiguration or swapping of devices and connections is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic network configuration by allowing templates to be modified and re-instantiated based on changing requirements. Instead of manually reconfiguring physical devices, administrators can update template definitions and rapidly provision new network instances with the updated configurations, making the network adaptable without physical intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates universal templates that can represent multiple physical network configurations. A single template can be instantiated across different physical infrastructures, allowing the same logical network configuration to be deployed universally across various environments without device-specific reconfiguration.
3Measurement precision
If detailed device information and locations are presented to users for network configuration, then precise device selection is possible, but the configuration process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts essential configuration parameters and device attributes from detailed device information, presenting only the relevant abstracted properties to users during template creation. This filtering approach maintains precise device selection capability while eliminating unnecessary configuration complexity by hiding implementation details.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer (the template abstraction mechanism) between the user and physical devices. This intermediary translates user-friendly abstract parameters into precise device selection criteria, allowing users to configure networks using simplified concepts while the system handles the complex mapping to specific physical devices and locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising: collecting information on one or more network devices; storing the collected information in a database; mapping the stored information to abstracted values; presenting the mapped information to a user for selection and inclusion into a template; creating, responsive to the user input, one or more templates comprising one or more abstracted values; activating, responsive to the user input, one or more created templates; and accessing one or more network devices based on the activated one or more templates.