Automated Security Tool for Server Patch Failure Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale computer systems with tens of thousands of servers face challenges in diagnosing and remedying software patch installation failures, which can lead to security vulnerabilities due to complex logs and time constraints, making it difficult for administrators to identify and address issues within a timely manner.
Innovation Solution
A security tool that utilizes natural language processing algorithms to convert server logs into a simpler format, automatically diagnose the causes of patch installation failures, and apply remedies, such as adjusting server settings or decompiling patches, while also predicting potential failures to prevent them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If administrators manually review server logs to diagnose patch installation failures, then they can identify the cause of failures, but the process becomes too time-consuming and impossible to complete within the desired time window across tens of thousands of servers
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by implementing automated log analysis and diagnosis capabilities that operate without human intervention. The processor automatically retrieves logs, analyzes failure causes, and generates remediation steps, allowing the system to diagnose and remediate itself rather than requiring administrator involvement for each failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of administrator log review with an automated computational system. The processor executes algorithms to parse logs, identify failure patterns, and determine causes, substituting human cognitive work with machine-based automated analysis that operates at scale and speed impossible for human administrators.
2Reliability
If administrators review every log across tens of thousands of servers, then they can diagnose every problem, but the complexity and volume of logs make it impossible to review every log within the desired time window
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the critical and relevant information from complex server logs using pattern recognition and analysis algorithms. Instead of requiring administrators to process entire log files, the system extracts key failure indicators, error patterns, and diagnostic data, reducing the information volume to essential elements that maintain security reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms log data from its original complex format into structured, analyzable parameters that the processor can systematically evaluate. By changing the representation of log information into standardized failure indicators and diagnostic parameters, the system makes complex log analysis manageable and automatable while maintaining comprehensive security monitoring.
3Reliability
If patch installation failures are not resolved quickly, then security vulnerabilities remain exposed, but manual diagnosis and remediation cannot keep up with the volume of failures across large-scale systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically analyzing logs and determining failure causes immediately when patch installation failures occur. Rather than waiting for administrator intervention, the system proactively retrieves logs, identifies problems, and prepares remediation steps in advance, enabling rapid response that maintains security without being bottlenecked by manual processing speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors patch installation outcomes, automatically analyzes failure patterns from logs, and adjusts remediation strategies based on identified causes. This closed-loop feedback system enables the system to learn from failures and improve remediation effectiveness while maintaining high-speed automated response to security threats.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a memory and a hardware processor. The memory stores a plurality of conversion rules. The processor receives a first log from a server. The first log indicates that the server attempted to install a software patch. The processor converts, based on the plurality of conversion rules, the first log into a different format to produce a second log. The processor also determines, based on the second log, that the software patch install failed and determines a cause for the software patch install failure. The processor further determines a series of steps to remedy the cause and perform the series of steps to remedy the cause.