Secure Modular Platform for Remote Network Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current remote configuration platforms like SSH are inadequate for managing large-scale networks, requiring cumbersome custom-coded routines for network administration tasks, and lack integrated security features for secure remote management.
Innovation Solution
A secure modular platform with a management server hosting a command directory containing pre-configured and user-defined APIs and commands, enabling unified remote management of networked machines via a secure channel, reducing development overhead and enhancing security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SSH or similar command protocols are used for remote configuration, then secure remote access to individual machines is achieved, but managing large-scale networks becomes cumbersome requiring extensive custom-coded routines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network management system as an intermediary between administrators and networked machines. This mediator provides pre-configured command modules that handle common network management tasks, eliminating the need for administrators to write extensive custom code while maintaining secure SSH-based communication channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The network management system implements a universal platform with pre-configured command modules that can perform multiple network management functions (hardware inventory, file purging, software distribution, etc.) across diverse machines. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to handle various tasks that would otherwise require separate custom routines for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom routines are written for network administration tasks, then specific management functions can be performed, but development overhead and debugging time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides pre-configured command modules that have been developed, tested, and validated in advance for common network management tasks. Administrators can directly deploy these pre-tested modules without undergoing the time-consuming development and debugging process, while still maintaining the ability to create custom modules when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables administrators to copy and reuse existing command modules for similar management tasks across different machines or contexts. This copying mechanism reduces development time by allowing replication of proven solutions rather than creating new routines from scratch for each situation.
3Reliability
If SSH protocols are used for remote management, then encrypted secure channel is established, but integrated security features for network-wide management are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges SSH-based encrypted communication with comprehensive network management capabilities into a unified system. The network management system combines secure channel establishment with integrated security features including authentication, authorization, and security policy enforcement across the entire network, rather than requiring separate security mechanisms for each management task.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for the remote configuration of networked systems using a secure modular platform. A network management engine communicates with a set of remote machines, such as a collection of clients or servers on a network. The network management engine can present a systems administrator with a set of compact network commands to permit the administrator to interrogate, configure, and manage the set of controlled machines on a dynamic basis. The network management engine can, for instance, install or update software, detect viruses on the controlled machines, perform an inventory of installed hardware on the controlled machines, and perform other network management functions using pre-configured functions and APIs built into a network library or command directory. Besides incorporating pre-configured management modules, the network management engine further allows a systems administrator to add custom modules in the command directory, using efficient modular interfaces compatible with network-level management processing.