SNMP Response Diagnostic Code Embedding for Failure Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network provisioning systems lack specific diagnostic information during failure analysis, leading to increased time in identifying and fixing issues due to generic SNMP error codes that do not identify the responsible software module, requiring multiple follow-up messages that consume resources and time.
Innovation Solution
Embedding enhanced diagnostic codes in SNMP responses during provisioning errors, allowing network elements to detect failures and compose response messages with standard error codes and additional diagnostic information, which is then decoded using a database to assist in debugging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If standard SNMP error codes are used during provisioning failures, then network compatibility and protocol simplicity are maintained, but diagnostic information specificity is insufficient and failure analysis time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The error code structure is segmented into multiple fields: standard SNMP error code field, enhanced diagnostic code field, and software module identifier field. This segmentation allows each field to serve a specific purpose - maintaining protocol compatibility while providing detailed diagnostic information and identifying the responsible software module, thereby reducing failure analysis time without sacrificing information specificity
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary enhanced diagnostic code structure is introduced between the standard SNMP error code and the detailed diagnostic information. This intermediary contains multiple bits that can represent both the standard error code and additional diagnostic information including software module identifiers, acting as a bridge that maintains protocol compatibility while enabling detailed failure analysis
2Loss of information
If multiple follow-up network messages are issued to identify error sources, then diagnostic information can be obtained, but network resources and traffic are consumed and time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The enhanced diagnostic information including software module identifiers and detailed error codes is prepared in advance and embedded within the original SNMP response message structure. This preliminary action ensures that complete diagnostic information is available immediately when the provisioning failure occurs, eliminating the need for multiple follow-up query messages and reducing network resource consumption
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple pieces of diagnostic information including standard error codes, enhanced diagnostic codes, and software module identifiers are merged into a single SNMP response message structure. This consolidation allows the network manager to receive all necessary diagnostic information in one message, avoiding the need for multiple separate follow-up messages and reducing overall network traffic and resource usage
Data Source
AI summary
A process or method for embedding diagnostic information in a Simple Network Management Protocol (“SNMP”) response during an occurrence of provisioning error is disclosed. A network element (“NE”), in one embodiment, is able to detect an operation failure while performing a GET or a SET request from a network manager. If the enhanced diagnostic code notification is registered between the NE and manager, the NE composes a response message such as GET-RESPONSE to include a standard error code as well as an enhanced diagnostic code. The enhanced diagnostic code includes diagnostic information associated with the operation failure. After transmitting the response to the network manager, the enhanced diagnostic code is subsequently decoded in accordance with enhanced diagnostic information stored in a network manager database.