Patching .NET Websites via Isolated Monitoring Domain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for patching websites running in a .NET framework environment are inefficient and can cause web servers to fail or crash, as they often require recreating and destroying web sites, making direct patching unfeasible and impossible to undo.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that initiate a second domain when a website is loaded, creating patched methods for .NET modules by inserting preconfigured tracking code via reflection, allowing real-time monitoring and notification of behavior, and updating the domain with information upon unavailability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional patching methods are used to patch .NET modules in a website, then the ability to monitor or track data flow is improved, but the web server reliability deteriorates due to crashes and failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the monitoring function into a separate domain process. The original website domain continues to run normally on the web server, while a separate monitoring domain is initiated to handle all patching and tracking operations. This segmentation isolates the reliability-critical website from the monitoring operations, preventing crashes in one from affecting the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary domain that acts as a mediator between the website and the monitoring system. The domain is initiated as a separate process that intercepts and handles method calls to patched .NET modules. This intermediary absorbs the complexity and potential failure modes of patching operations, protecting the web server's stability while enabling monitoring capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If debugging methods with break points are inserted into source code, then data flow monitoring capability is improved, but user experience deteriorates due to affected performance
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring functionality is extracted from the original website source code and implemented as a separate domain process. Instead of inserting break points directly into the website's code path, the system creates a detached monitoring domain that observes and tracks data flow independently. This extraction eliminates the performance overhead and user experience degradation associated with traditional debugging methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the necessary monitoring functionality in a separate domain. Rather than modifying the original website code with intrusive break points, the system establishes a parallel monitoring domain that replicates the tracking capabilities. This copying approach allows monitoring to occur without interfering with the original execution flow, thus preserving user experience.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a website is patched and then destroyed in runtime, then configuration flexibility is improved, but system reliability deteriorates because patched methods cannot be called
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the patched methods from the original website domain to a separate monitoring domain, effectively changing the dimensional space in which these methods reside. When the website is destroyed and recreated in runtime, the patched methods remain intact in the separate domain. This dimensional separation allows the website to be flexibly recreated while maintaining the reliability of patched method calls through the domain's reflection-based invocation mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to method and system for patching websites running in a .NET framework environment. The method includes initiating second domain when website hosted on web-server is loaded for first-time. The website includes set of .NET modules, and one or more of the set of .NET modules are of interest. The method further includes creating patched method corresponding to each of the one or more of the set of .NET modules in the second domain by inserting preconfigured tracking code that calls the .NET module in the website via reflection. The method further includes calling, in real-time, the patched method in the second domain upon encountering the corresponding .NET module; monitoring, in real-time, behaviour of the patched method in the second domain; generating notification when the website is unloaded. The second domain is updated with information corresponding to unavailability of the unloaded website upon generating the notification.