Unified Verification Infrastructure for Multi-Node Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
The verification of complex multi-component computer systems, such as clustered database servers, is complicated due to the need for multiple tools from different vendors and requires extensive knowledge of various components and configurations, especially when managing multiple platforms.
Innovation Solution
A verification infrastructure with a user-friendly tool that uses a data-driven approach, allowing users to enter the same commands across different platforms, and stores configuration details persistently to simplify the verification process, including a verifier with a user interface, verification metadata, and distributed execution capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple tools from different vendors are used to verify complex multi-component computer systems, then verification completeness is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple vendor-specific verification tools into a single unified verification infrastructure that can verify complex multi-component computer systems. The system integrates capabilities to verify application components, operating system configurations, network settings, and storage subsystems through one cohesive tool rather than requiring separate tools from different vendors.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification infrastructure is designed as a universal tool that can verify multiple types of system configurations across different platforms. It provides multi-functional capabilities to handle application verification, operating system verification, network verification, and storage verification within a single system that works across heterogeneous environments.
2Reliability
If multiple vendor tools are used for verification, then verification thoroughness is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification infrastructure that sits between the user and multiple vendor tools. This intermediary layer automatically manages the coordination of various verification tasks, translating user requests into appropriate verification operations across different system components without requiring users to directly manage multiple complex tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification infrastructure performs self-service by automatically selecting and executing the appropriate verification tasks based on the system configuration being verified. The system autonomously determines which verification operations are needed and executes them without requiring users to have deep expertise in each specific verification tool or system component.
3Measurement precision
If detailed configuration knowledge is required for verification, then verification accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The verification infrastructure performs preliminary actions by automatically gathering system configuration information and pre-processing verification data before the actual verification tasks. The system proactively collects details about application components, operating system settings, network configurations, and storage subsystems, preparing verification data in advance so users don't need to manually gather or understand these details.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that automatically analyze verification results and provide actionable information to users. The verification infrastructure continuously monitors system state, compares actual configurations against expected configurations, and provides feedback on verification status without requiring users to interpret complex technical details or understand underlying system configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A verification infrastructure uses a verification tool with a user interface with which a user may interact to verify an application and/or its platform. The user may enter the same set of commands to verify instances of the application on different platforms. Furthermore, the verification tool is data driven in a way that allows the verification tool to be easily extended to new platforms. Finally, details of a particular configuration are stored persistently and are used by the verification tool to perform verification. Thus, much of the complex work of acquiring knowledge about the configuration and applying the knowledge to the results of various checks made for verification is performed by the verification tool and not a human user.