Staged Wireless Network Configuration Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network automation tools face challenges in handling large-scale wireless telecommunication network configuration updates and fail to gracefully manage situations when issues arise during these updates.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that break down configuration updates into multiple stages, including a pre-check, configuration, and verification stage, allowing for detection and reversal of failures before releasing changes into production, using a platform like Ansible to define stages and perform queries and commands on the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If configuration updates are implemented in a single step using current network automation tools, then the update process is simple to execute, but the system cannot detect failures until after production changes are released, leading to network instability
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration update process is divided into multiple distinct stages: pre-check stage (validating network readiness), configuration stage (applying changes), and verification stage (testing functionality). Each stage has specific validation criteria that must be met before proceeding to the next stage, enabling failure detection at appropriate points and preventing premature production deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-check stage performs validation of network readiness and pre-conditions before the actual configuration changes are applied. This preliminary validation ensures that the network is prepared for the update, identifying potential issues before they can cause failures during or after deployment
2Reliability
If configuration updates are performed without staged validation, then the implementation process is faster, but failures cannot be detected until after production changes are released
Solution Approach 1:
The update process is segmented into pre-check, configuration, and verification stages with explicit validation points. The pre-check stage validates network readiness before changes are applied, and the verification stage tests functionality after changes are applied but before production release, enabling failure detection at multiple checkpoints without significantly extending total deployment time
Solution Approach 2:
Each stage provides feedback on whether validation criteria are met. The pre-check stage provides feedback on network readiness, and the verification stage provides feedback on configuration success. This feedback mechanism enables automated decision-making about whether to proceed, pause for investigation, or rollback, improving reliability while maintaining efficient deployment timelines
3Ease of operation
If current network automation tools are used without staged validation, then the automation process is simpler to implement, but the system poorly handles situations when something goes wrong during configuration updates
Solution Approach 1:
The automation framework is structured with distinct stages (pre-check, configuration, verification) each with specific validation criteria and error handling procedures. This segmentation makes the error handling process more manageable and systematic, providing clear guidance on what to check and what actions to take when failures occur at different stages
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-check stage performs preliminary validation of network readiness and prerequisites before configuration changes are applied. This preliminary action identifies potential issues early, allowing operators to address problems before they can cause failures during the update process, making error handling more predictable and manageable
Data Source
AI summary
The system obtains an indication of a configuration update to perform on a component of a network and an indication of the component associated with the network. The configuration update is performed in multiple stages, including a pre-check stage, a configuration stage, and a verification stage. In the pre-check stage, the system obtains a parameter and an expected value of the parameter associated with the component. The system determines whether the component satisfies the expected value of the parameter by obtaining a value of the parameter associated with the component and comparing the obtained value to the expected value. Upon determining that the component satisfies the expected value of the parameter, the system performs the configuration stage. Upon performing the configuration update, the system performs the verification stage by testing whether the component is functioning. Upon determining that the component is functioning, the system provides the configuration update to UEs.