Server Consolidation via Network Intermediary Data Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional server consolidation methods are intrusive and expose servers to security risks due to the need for data collection directly from servers, which can lead to performance degradation and discomfort for network users.
Innovation Solution
A network management system that receives resource usage data from network communication devices rather than the servers themselves, classifying servers into clusters based on similar usage patterns using statistical characterization and a neural network model, allowing new servers to be added without requiring intrusive data collection methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If agents or resource measurement applications are deployed at network end-points to capture resource usage data, then resource usage data can be collected accurately, but security exposures occur and server performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces network communication devices (switches, routers, firewalls) as intermediaries between servers and the network management device. These intermediaries capture resource usage data through network traffic analysis without requiring direct access to or installation on the servers, thereby eliminating security exposures and performance degradation while maintaining accurate data collection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the data collection function from the server end-points and relocates it to network communication devices. By taking out the resource measurement application from the server environment, the system eliminates the harmful effects of intrusive installation while preserving the ability to collect necessary resource usage data for consolidation analysis
2Productivity
If master server collects usage data using remote network protocols like SSH or Telnet, then resource usage data can be gathered, but change management requests are required and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables network communication devices to self-generate and self-transmit resource usage data to the network management device without requiring external initiation through SSH or Telnet protocols. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for change management requests and reduces security risks by using standard network traffic monitoring capabilities already present in the network infrastructure
3Loss of information
If conventional data collection methods are used, then resource usage data can be obtained, but network users are uncomfortable due to security exposures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions network communication devices as intermediaries that transparently capture resource usage data without requiring users to grant access permissions or be aware of the data collection process. This intermediary approach maintains information availability while eliminating security concerns that cause user discomfort, as the network devices naturally monitor traffic without intrusive access to server systems
Data Source
AI summary
A computer program product for a network management device, including: a computer readable storage medium to store a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform operations for server management in a computer network. The operations include: receiving resource usage data generated at a network communication device coupled between a server and a network management device, wherein the resource usage data describes resource usage of the server; and classifying the server into a cluster of servers based on the resource usage data from the network communication device and a cluster characterization for the cluster. The cluster includes a plurality of servers with similar resource usage data, and the cluster is one of a plurality of clusters managed by the network management device.