Remote Subsystem Management via Firewall-Bypassing Text Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote computer management across geographically dispersed systems is hindered by firewalls that block access, requiring specialized routing and increasing administrative effort, and is often slow due to latency issues when monitoring and configuring hundreds or thousands of computers.
Innovation Solution
A remote computer management system that uses a configurable feed to bypass firewalls by posting commands in a text format, allowing a client manager to direct and parse these commands between a remote manager and sub-systems without direct communication, utilizing XML syndication formats for efficient data exchange and caching to minimize network traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If firewalls are implemented to block unauthorized access, then security is improved, but remote management capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feed as an intermediary mechanism that allows remote management commands to be posted and retrieved without direct communication between the remote manager and sub-systems. The feed acts as a mediator that bypasses firewall restrictions while maintaining security, enabling asynchronous command delivery to managed systems without requiring firewall routing rules.
2Productivity
If direct communication is used between remote manager and sub-systems, then management speed is improved, but network latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by posting management commands to the feed in advance, allowing them to be queued and retrieved by sub-systems when ready. This asynchronous approach eliminates the need for synchronous waiting, reducing the impact of network latency on overall management efficiency. Commands are prepared and made available beforehand, and sub-systems process them at their own pace without blocking the manager.
3Ease of operation
If specialized routing is configured through firewalls, then remote access is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the communication interaction from the direct manager-sub-system path and relocates it to the feed mechanism. By taking out the need for specialized firewall routing and placing command transmission through the feed, the system eliminates complex firewall configuration requirements while maintaining remote access capability. The feed handles the communication complexity independently of the firewall infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses are presented for managing remote computers that are separated from their manager by a firewall. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus includes one or more computer sub-systems managed by the remote manager. Each sub-system includes a processor and a communication interface coupled to the processor, where the communication interface is further coupled to the remote manager via a network. A firewall is implemented between each sub-system and the remote manager such that the firewall blocks accesses to the sub-system from the remote manager. Notwithstanding the presence of the firewall, and without an specific routing through the firewall, each sub-system receives configuration commands from the remote manager through as a text feed.