Scaffold-Based Multi-Device Config Editor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing network device configurations in complex infrastructure networks are largely manual and lack comprehensive automation, leading to inconsistencies and potential network failures due to outdated templates and limitations in multi-file diff utilities, which struggle with handling a large number of parallel files.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a scaffold-based approach using a structured grammar definition and Restricted Grammar Language (RGL) rule sets to merge and validate configuration changes across multiple network devices, providing a single comprehensive view for administrators to identify and manage differences, and automate updates through a command-line interface or interactive editor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual methods are used to manage network device configurations, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but productivity and consistency deteriorate due to time-consuming processes and human error
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables configuration management through self-service mechanisms where the scaffold automatically tracks changes across multiple files, identifies differences, and applies updates without requiring manual intervention for each individual file. The scaffold maintains its own state information and autonomously manages the configuration synchronization process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes of configuring network devices with an automated computational system. The scaffold-based approach uses software-based tracking and comparison mechanisms instead of manual file comparison, enabling automated detection of differences and application of updates across multiple configuration files.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional multi-file diff utilities are used, then file comparison capability is provided, but device complexity increases when handling a large number of parallel files
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the configuration management task by creating individual scaffold instances for each configuration file. Each scaffold independently tracks changes in its associated file, allowing the system to handle multiple files through parallel, isolated units of work. This segmentation enables scalable management of large numbers of configuration files without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The scaffold structure provides a universal framework that can manage any number of configuration files through a consistent interface. The same scaffold-based mechanisms work whether managing two files or two hundred files, eliminating the need for different handling approaches based on file quantity and reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If outdated templates are used for configuration management, then backward compatibility is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to inconsistencies and network failures
Solution Approach 1:
The scaffold system dynamically adapts to changes in configuration files while maintaining consistency across the network. Instead of relying on static outdated templates, the scaffold continuously tracks actual file contents and automatically applies updates, enabling the system to adapt to new configurations while ensuring reliability through consistent change propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the scaffold continuously monitors configuration files, detects changes, and provides information about differences that need to be resolved. This feedback loop ensures that configuration consistency is maintained while allowing the system to adapt to legitimate changes in network device configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed techniques provide a view and edit function to simultaneously view and edit multiple network device configurations. The techniques may include, parsing a plurality of different network device configuration documents (e.g., files representative of configuration settings). Parsing may then identify a set of slots and anchor points relative to locations of related parameter settings within each of the different network device configuration documents (e.g., a document per device). The slots may indicate a type of parameter setting and the anchor points indicating a relative location within a specific device configuration representative document. As a user makes a change to a parameter value, at least two files of the different network device configuration documents within a scope of an editing session may be identified to receive the change. Reverse mapping may be provided (e.g., by slots and anchor points) to properly implement this change for each different device.