Network Access Path History Analysis for SAN Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data networks, particularly Storage Area Networks (SANs), face complexity and inefficiency due to frequent changes and heterogeneity of components, leading to high risk and error-prone processes in maintaining access path consistency with network policies, resulting in significant enterprise outages.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for constructing and analyzing logical access path histories in a network by maintaining time-based snapshots, detecting and analyzing access path violations, and determining root causes to reconfigure resources for compliance with access path policies, using a management server with graph-based algorithms and event correlation engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual network configuration and change management is performed by network managers, then network changes can be implemented, but the process is error-prone and time-consuming with high risk of inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-diagnosis and self-correction by automatically detecting inconsistencies between physical and logical access paths and autonomously generating correction plans without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving both speed and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors network configuration state, compares it against defined policies, and provides feedback loops that automatically trigger correction processes when inconsistencies are detected, ensuring high reliability while maintaining fast response times
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical and logical access paths are set up to implement access relationships, then network functionality and redundancy are improved, but the complexity of maintaining consistency across multiple devices and locations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides a universal configuration management approach that works across heterogeneous network devices and locations, using standardized policy definitions and automated discovery mechanisms to handle diverse access paths uniformly
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary configuration management layer that mediates between physical network devices and logical access relationships, automatically translating policy requirements into device-specific configurations and ensuring consistency across all levels
3Adaptability or versatility
If frequent network changes are performed to accommodate network growth and upgrades, then network adaptability and expansion are improved, but the error rate and outage risk increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis and validation of configuration changes before implementation, detecting potential inconsistencies and generating correction plans in advance, which prevents errors during actual network changes and maintains high availability
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares corrective actions and rollback plans beforehand to cushion against potential failures during network changes, ensuring that even if errors occur, network availability is rapidly restored
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for constructing and analyzing an access path event history in a network is provided. Inconsistencies in the physical and logical access paths when making changes in the network are detected and analyzed. Component events associated with network appliances are recorded and an event sequence is constructed. Root causes for the inconsistencies are identified and the access paths are repaired in conformance with the network access path policy. The method and systems can be applied to networks in general, and more particularly to storage area networks (SAN).