SD-WAN Intent Orchestration With a Single Config Across Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network configuration management techniques require extensive manual effort and resource consumption due to the need for creating numerous templates for different device types, leading to operational complexity and inefficiency in managing configurations across diverse hardware and interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing affinity routing to generate a common device configuration based on user intent, which can be applied uniformly across different devices by accessing and merging device-specific data, thereby eliminating the need for multiple templates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple configuration templates are created for different device types, then configuration accuracy for specific devices is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal configuration template that can be applied across multiple device types (routers, switches, access points, IoT devices) without requiring separate templates for each device type. The system achieves this by using device-specific data attributes and conditional logic within a single template, allowing one template to serve multiple functions and device types, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining configuration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different sections of the configuration template to be selectively applied to different device types based on their specific characteristics. Device-specific data (such as interface types, hardware capabilities, and location-specific parameters) are incorporated into the template at relevant locations, enabling the same template to accommodate varying device requirements without creating multiple versions.
2Reliability
If extensive device-specific templates are created to account for hardware differences, then configuration reliability is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring a universal template with all possible device-specific parameters, attributes, and conditional logic before deployment. Device-specific data is collected and stored in advance, allowing the system to automatically select and apply the appropriate configuration parameters when the template is deployed, eliminating the need for manual template selection and reducing deployment time while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically matching device-specific data with the appropriate template sections and applying configurations without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously handles template selection, parameter substitution, and configuration deployment based on device characteristics, significantly reducing the time and human resources required for configuration management while ensuring reliable and accurate configuration application.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple configuration templates are maintained for different device types, then adaptability to specific device requirements is improved, but ease of operation and management deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal configuration template that can adapt to multiple device types including routers, switches, access points, and IoT devices. The template incorporates device-specific data attributes and conditional logic that automatically adjust the configuration based on the target device type, maintaining high device compatibility while simplifying template management to a single universal template instead of multiple device-specific templates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by incorporating device-specific parameters and attributes into the universal template structure. The system dynamically adjusts configuration parameters based on device characteristics (such as interface types, hardware capabilities, and location data), allowing the same template to adapt to different device requirements through parameter substitution rather than requiring separate templates for each device type.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes techniques and mechanisms for optimizing configuration management in SD-WAN networks. The techniques may enable optimized configuration management, by maintaining a “single copy of config” that gets pushed across an enterprise network to different device models, consisting of different interface types and other nuances of hardware variations. The techniques also enable delivery of a cloud scale device type agnostic orchestration of network services intent. The techniques may also enable a controller to have the ability to identify the configuration intent of the user and generate a configuration based on what a network device can accept. Further the techniques may enable a controller to identify the relevance of a configuration expressed in user intent with regard to a network device, such that a user can be notified where the user intent cannot be met, thereby reducing configuration mistakes.