Network Topology Baselining with Stability Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network topology baselining solutions primarily operate at the device level, making it difficult to achieve complete restoration of network infrastructure when configuration data is collected from interdependent devices at different times, leading to network outages and inefficiencies in managing dynamic networks.
Innovation Solution
A method for reliable automatic baselining of network topology and dynamic restoration using baselined data, which involves synchronizing network devices, collecting configuration information through SNMP or alternative protocols, and storing it for later use, allowing for network-level management and restoration procedures that account for stability thresholds and device interdependencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If device-level baselining is used to collect configuration data from individual network devices, then configuration data can be stored for each device, but complete restoration of network infrastructure cannot be achieved due to device interdependencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines device-level configuration data collection with network-level topology awareness by integrating interdependency information into the baselining process. This merging enables the system to understand relationships between devices and coordinate restoration across the entire network infrastructure, achieving complete restoration that device-level solutions cannot accomplish alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The baselining system is enhanced to perform multiple functions: collecting device configuration data, mapping network topology, identifying interdependencies between devices, and coordinating restoration operations. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to address both individual device configuration and overall network restoration requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If network devices are allowed to change dynamically without notification, then network flexibility and adaptability are improved, but achieving complete network restoration becomes difficult due to lack of synchronization information
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary baselining actions by collecting and storing configuration data from all network devices before changes occur. This advance preparation creates a reference snapshot that captures the network state, enabling later restoration even when devices change dynamically without notification. The preliminary action ensures synchronization information is captured before it is lost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor network device states and track changes. By continuously gathering information about device configurations and comparing them against the baselined data, the system maintains awareness of network changes while preserving the ability to restore to known good states, thus managing the trade-off between flexibility and information retention.
3Reliability
If manual intervention is used for network configuration management and restoration, then restoration accuracy can be maintained, but network downtime and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service restoration by automatically comparing current network device states against baselined configuration data and executing restoration operations without requiring manual intervention. The system can autonomously identify deviations, determine restoration actions, and implement fixes, thereby maintaining high restoration accuracy while dramatically reducing network downtime and operational costs associated with manual processes.
Solution Approach 2:
By pre-capturing accurate configuration baselines and pre-mapping network interdependencies, the system prepares restoration information in advance. This preliminary action enables automated restoration processes to execute quickly and accurately without requiring manual analysis or intervention, thus resolving the contradiction between restoration accuracy and time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of baselining a network topology including at least one network device and one application node from and to which data from the network device may be sent using a network protocol. The method includes the steps of providing a network-wide time reference ensuring clock synchronicity of all the network devices and at the application node with the network-wide time reference. The method further includes causing configuration information to be collected at the application node from all network devices at a particular time or within a predetermined time slot, determining the number of networks supplied such configuration information and comparing this number against a stability threshold value. Finally, the method includes storing the configuration information together with an indication that such is stable, and thus usable in providing a reliable baseline, only if the stability threshold value is met or exceeded.