Unified Server Interface for Batch Configuration and Hotfix Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing multiple server instances across various hardware platforms is labor-intensive, requiring manual configuration, setting adjustments, and application of hotfixes or updates, which becomes cumbersome in deployments with 5 to 50 or more servers.
Innovation Solution
An administrative program provides a unified interface for managing multiple server instances, allowing users to access and configure settings, apply updates, and apply hotfixes across multiple servers with a single input gesture, such as drag-and-drop operations, and highlighting differences in settings for synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual configuration and management is used for each server instance individually, then detailed control over each server is achieved, but the time and labor required for management increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple server instance management operations into a single unified interface. An administrator can select multiple server instances and apply configuration changes, updates, or hotfixes to all selected instances simultaneously through one administrative screen, rather than logging into each server individually. This merging of operations directly resolves the contradiction by maintaining detailed control capability while dramatically reducing the time and labor required.
Solution Approach 2:
The administrative interface is designed to perform multiple management functions universally across different server instances. A single interface can configure settings, apply hotfixes, install updates, and restart services across any number of server instances regardless of their specific configurations or roles. This multi-functionality allows the system to handle diverse server management tasks through a unified approach, improving ease of operation without sacrificing control.
2Ease of operation
If individual server management interfaces are used, then specific server settings can be precisely controlled, but the complexity of the administrative process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The administrative interface is segmented into distinct functional areas: server instance selection, configuration parameter settings, and action execution. This segmentation allows the complex task of server management to be broken down into manageable steps. The interface presents only relevant configuration options for the selected server instances, reducing cognitive load while maintaining comprehensive control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified administrative interface acts as an intermediary between the administrator and multiple server instances. Instead of the administrator directly interacting with each server's individual interface, the unified system mediates all interactions, translating high-level administrative commands into specific server actions. This intermediary layer simplifies the administrative process while maintaining precise control over server configurations.
3Productivity
If manual updates and hotfixes are applied to each server, then each server can be individually updated, but the productivity of the deployment team decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows administrators to prepare and stage updates and hotfixes in advance, selecting which server instances should receive which updates before deployment. This preliminary action enables batch processing of updates across multiple servers simultaneously. When deployment begins, all selected server instances receive their designated updates in parallel, dramatically increasing deployment speed compared to sequential individual updates while maintaining the ability to control which servers receive which updates.
Data Source
AI summary
A method can comprise accessing data identifying instances of an application server such as a group of server instances that are administered together. The method can comprise presenting a user interface including a visual element corresponding to each instance of the application server. The interface may include a server settings panel listing a plurality of setting values for a first instance of the application server in detail and an instance panel comprising visual elements for each instance of the application server in the group. The method can comprise receiving input changing a value of a setting of an instance of the application server and sending an update request to the application server to change the value of the setting. The update request may comprise a command to apply a hotfix or update. The interface may support drag-and-drop gestures applying settings or hotfixes/updates to multiple servers via a single interface and/or a difference view showing differences in setting values and supporting a merge command.