Server Configuration Anomaly Detection via Heuristic Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Large data centers face challenges in detecting and correcting anomalous server configurations due to the complexity and scale of their setups, where erroneous configurations can lead to functional issues, and development engineers often lack the necessary permissions or clarity to remediate these problems.
Innovation Solution
A system that applies heuristics to collected server configurations by using agents to expose configuration data via web services, storing it in a database, and analyzing it to detect anomalies, providing notifications to engineers or automated systems for remediation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual configuration management is performed by operations or development engineers, then configuration changes can be made for hardware and software upgrades, but the process becomes cumbersome and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automated configuration collection agents that gather data from servers and automated analysis systems that detect anomalies, eliminating the need for manual configuration management by engineers while maintaining configuration flexibility across the data center
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual process of configuration management with an automated information-based system using configuration agents, databases, and analysis algorithms to collect, store, and analyze configuration data, thereby reducing operational complexity
2Productivity
If configuration standards are frequently changed to improve system performance, then system functionality is enhanced, but it becomes difficult to ascertain whether a particular configuration value is correct or incorrect
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback through automated analysis that compares configuration values against collected data from multiple servers, providing continuous verification of configuration correctness even as standards change frequently, thereby maintaining measurement precision alongside productivity improvements
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by collecting and storing configuration data from multiple servers in advance, creating a reference database that enables rapid verification of configuration correctness when standards change, thus maintaining both productivity and measurement precision
3Productivity
If development engineers are given permissions to remediate system configuration, then configuration issues can be corrected quickly, but security risks increase and permission management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary automated analysis system that acts as a mediator between configuration issues and remediation actions, detecting anomalies and notifying appropriate personnel without requiring developers to have direct configuration permissions, thus maintaining both remediation speed and system security
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanisms are disclosed for applying one or more heuristics to collected server configurations to detect anomalous configurations. A collection system requests configuration data, including one or more configuration values, from a plurality of configuration agents running on a plurality of hosted servers. The one or more configuration values are received from the plurality of configuration agents at the collection system. The one or more configuration values are stored in one or more databases, organized based on one or more server identifiers. The one or more configuration values are accessed, by an analysis system, from the one or more databases. One or more heuristics are applied to the one or more configuration values based on the one or more server identifiers. In response to detecting the presence of one or more anomalous server configurations, a notification of one or more server configuration issues is provided.