Studio-Workspace Network Management for Concurrent Device Configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management systems lack flexibility and efficiency in configuring network devices, as they often require manual intervention and do not allow multiple users to work concurrently on the same configuration without affecting each other.
Innovation Solution
A flexible network management system utilizing studios and workspaces, where studios define configuration scopes and workspaces serve as staging grounds for changes, allowing users to propose and submit changes independently, with the system processing and applying commands to network devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual configuration methods are used for network devices, then configuration control is maintained, but configuration efficiency and user concurrency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides network configuration management into separate functional modules: studio definitions for configuration templates, workspaces for user modifications, and a build system for processing changes. This segmentation allows multiple users to work concurrently on different aspects of configuration without interfering with each other, thereby improving productivity while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a build system as an intermediary between workspace definitions and network device configuration. This mediator processes workspace definitions, generates configuration commands, validates changes, and applies them to devices. The intermediary automates the configuration process, eliminating manual intervention bottlenecks and enabling concurrent user operations without increasing operational complexity.
2Ease of operation
If multiple users work concurrently on network configuration, then user collaboration is improved, but configuration conflicts and interference may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system requires users to define their configuration changes in workspace definitions before applying them to network devices. The build system processes these definitions in advance, validating syntax and checking for conflicts before actual configuration changes are made. This preliminary action allows multiple users to collaborate on configuration designs without causing conflicts, as conflicts are detected and resolved during the build phase rather than during device configuration, maintaining both collaboration ease and configuration stability.
3Productivity
If automated command generation is implemented, then configuration speed is increased, but validation accuracy may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The build system incorporates feedback mechanisms that automatically validate generated configuration commands against the studio definitions and existing device configurations. The system checks for syntax errors, configuration conflicts, and compliance with defined parameters, providing immediate feedback on validation results. This automated feedback loop maintains high validation accuracy while preserving configuration speed, as the validation occurs concurrently with command generation rather than as a separate manual step.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for providing a flexible network management system for configuring network devices. A studio definition specifying a set of configuration parameters for configuring network devices in a plurality of network devices is received. A workspace definition associated with the studio definition, the workspace definition specifying values for a subset of the set of configuration parameters is received. A set of build operations on the studio definition and the workspace definition are performed to generate a set of configuration commands for a subset of the plurality of network devices. The subset of the plurality of network devices are configured based on the set of configuration commands.