System and method for integrating network services
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a network including a plurality of components; and
a controller coupled to the network and operative to automatically configure the components of the network to perform a combined action.
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Abstract
An integrated internetworking architecture for automating the configuration and control of networks that operate according to standard layered protocols. The described architecture includes two major blocks: (1) a network; and (2) a controller coupled to the network that automatically configures the network by coordinating different resources to perform an action, such as providing an e-commerce shopping service. The controller may operate at a layer above the standard network protocols so as to abstract away the visible complexity of the network, thus allowing a human user to control, configure and operate the network as if it were a single host (e.g., computer) via a simple user interface. A tool set may also be provided to simulate and evaluate the interaction of the various networked components using the properties and provisioning information maintained within the controller.
95 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a network including a plurality of components; and
a controller coupled to the network and operative to automatically configure the components of the network to perform a combined action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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logically grouping a plurality of components at a data center into a single meta-server;
defining one or more hierarchical relationships between each of said components including one or more associations, dependencies and/or prerequisites, said hierarchical relationships providing information related to network operations at said data center; and
using said information for one or more network management functions at said data center. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A meta-server comprising:
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a plurality of front end Web servers to process client requests for Web pages;
a plurality of back-end servers to perform various back-end processing functions associated with said client requests;
a controller to define one or more logical hierarchical relationships between each of said components including one or more associations, dependencies and/or prerequisites, said hierarchical relationships providing information related to network operations at said data center and to use said information for one or more network management functions at said data center. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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29. An article of manufacture including program code which, when executed by a machine, cause said machine to perform the operations of:
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logically grouping a plurality of components at a data center into a single meta-server;
defining one or more hierarchical relationships between each of said components, said hierarchical relationships providing information related to network operations at said data center; and
using said information for one or more network management functions at said data center.
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40. A method comprising:
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defining one or more logical hierarchical relationships between a plurality components on a network including one or more associations, dependencies and/or prerequisites, said logical hierarchical relationships providing information related to network operations; and
executing a simulation of said network operations based on said hierarchical relationships between said components. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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45. A network management architecture defined by a series of abstractions comprising:
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a plurality of network resources;
one or more services, each comprised of a specified set of said network resources;
a service collection comprised of two ore more services; and
a user interface providing information related to and control over said service collection, said services, and/or said network resources to a user.
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Specification