Server Configuration Snapshot Comparison Utility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Businesses face challenges in managing and maintaining server configuration settings due to frequent unwanted changes caused by human error, software updates, and other factors, leading to difficulties in identifying and correcting configuration issues before server outages occur.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for capturing and comparing configuration snapshots of servers, allowing users to define and track configuration settings, identify differences, and generate reports to proactively address changes and prevent outages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual configuration management is used, then flexibility in managing individual server settings is maintained, but configuration errors and inconsistencies increase over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration consistencyVSAvoidtime to identify configuration issues

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing configuration snapshots at scheduled intervals or after specific events (like service pack updates). These snapshots are stored and compared against baseline configurations to proactively identify changes before they cause system failures, eliminating the need for reactive troubleshooting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring configuration changes and providing alerts when deviations from baseline settings are detected. This feedback loop enables support teams to quickly respond to configuration drift, maintaining consistency and preventing configuration-related outages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If configuration settings are updated frequently, then system adaptability improves, but configuration stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration update capabilityVSAvoidconfiguration setting stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Before applying configuration updates, the system captures a snapshot of the current configuration state. This preliminary action creates a restore point that allows the system to revert to the previous stable configuration if the update causes issues, thus maintaining stability while enabling adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for potential configuration instability by maintaining historical snapshots as a buffer. When configuration changes are made, these pre-captured snapshots serve as a cushion that can absorb negative effects by allowing quick rollback to known good states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive configuration monitoring is implemented, then configuration accuracy improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration tracking accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of directly managing complex configuration data, the system creates simplified copies in the form of snapshots. These snapshots capture the essential configuration state at specific points in time, making it easier to track and compare configurations without dealing with the full complexity of the underlying system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring system is segmented into modular components: snapshot capture, storage, comparison, and reporting. Each component handles a specific aspect of configuration monitoring, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If configuration changes are made without validation, then implementation speed increases, but configuration reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration update speedVSAvoidconfiguration correctness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate feedback by comparing configuration snapshots after updates are applied. This automated validation process quickly identifies configuration errors or unexpected changes, allowing support teams to correct issues before they impact system operation, thus maintaining both speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8356088B2Configuration management utility

Publication Date: 2013.01.15 BANK OF AMERICA CORP

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for managing the configuration settings of one or more servers within a business. The configuration management apparatuses and methods generally relate to creating a configuration schema; creating configuration items to assign to the configuration schema; assigning the configuration schema to one or more servers in the business; capturing a snapshot of the configuration settings for a server based on the configuration schema and assigning it to the configuration schema as the reference snapshot; capturing a current snapshot of the actual configuration settings for one or more servers; and comparing the reference snapshot with the current snapshot to determine the differences in the configuration settings. Embodiments of the present invention also allow a report to be generated that displays the differences between the reference snapshot and the current snapshot, such as the new settings, changed settings, and missing settings.