Trie-Based Schema Deviation Management for Network Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network management systems face inefficiencies in managing multiple versions of network device configurations, leading to high memory usage and slow access speeds due to the need to maintain multiple schema variations for different device models and versions.
Innovation Solution
A network management system uses a graph data structure with trie nodes to represent deviations between configuration schema elements, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval of device-level configuration schemas, and supports on-demand loading of schema properties to optimize memory usage and access speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple schema copies are maintained for different device models and versions, then device configuration management capability is improved, but memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple schema copies into a single shared schema repository where common elements are stored once and referenced by multiple device models and versions. This consolidation reduces memory usage while maintaining the ability to manage configurations across different device types through shared schema definitions and selective versioning of only the necessary variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal schema structure that serves multiple device models and versions simultaneously. The schema design allows a single schema definition to be applied universally across different device types, with mechanisms to handle version-specific variations without requiring separate complete schema copies for each device model.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple schema copies are maintained for different device models and versions, then device configuration management capability is improved, but access speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the schema into hierarchical levels (common schema elements, model-specific elements, version-specific elements). This segmentation allows the system to quickly access the shared common elements that apply to all devices while only loading and processing the specific segments needed for particular device models and versions, thereby improving access speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization of schemas into a structured repository with pre-defined relationships and indexes. This preliminary structuring enables efficient retrieval operations by allowing the system to quickly locate and access specific schema elements without scanning through multiple complete schema copies, thus improving access speed.
3Reliability
If multiple schema copies are maintained for different device models and versions, then complete schema coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary schema management layer that sits between the multiple device-specific schemas and the configuration management operations. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of maintaining multiple schemas by providing a unified interface for schema access, automatic resolution of schema variations, and centralized management of schema updates, thereby reducing the apparent complexity while maintaining complete schema coverage.
Data Source
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AI summary
A controller device manages a plurality of network devices. The controller device includes one or more processing units implemented in circuitry and configured to maintain a graph data structure representing device level configuration schemas for the plurality of network devices, the graph data structure including trie nodes for every first device level configuration schema element for a first model of a version of network device of the plurality of network devices; obtain corresponding second device level configuration schema elements based on a path for a second model of the version of the network device; determine a deviation between the second device level configuration schema element and the first device level configuration schema; and update the trie node to add a branch to a node representing the second device level configuration schema element.