Network management programmable configuration management framework

• US 20040139193A1
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel Canada Inc. (Nokia Corporation), Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Refai, Khaled F., Bawa, Satvinder Singh, Shahid, Syed Farhan
• Granted Patent: US 7,249,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0863 by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration

Abstract

A programmable configuration management infrastructure is provided. The programmable configuration management infrastructure employs Programmable Configuration Requests (PCRs) to perform configuration management over a definable target list of field-installed managed communication equipment subject to a definable schedule and configuration management policies. The programmable configuration management infrastructure provides for monitoring of configuration command execution and traps errors. In the event of detecting configuration command execution errors, the programmable configuration management infrastructure provides for restoring the configuration either for all targets processed or for the targets experiencing errors only as specified in the PCR definition. Recourse may be made, to the validation of configuration change or configuration restoration commands as specified in the PCR definition. Configuration management policies may be employed to limit configuration management to specific time frames as well the rate at which configuration commands are issued may be tailored to prevent overuse of resources. Benefits are derived from programmable configuration management functionality based on which programmable configuration applications can be built with ease while ensuring reduced configuration management overheads and error contingency processing.

Claims

1. A programmable configuration management framework comprising:

a. a store for retrievably storing a plurality of programmable configuration requests;

b. a scheduler inspecting the store to identify at least one programmable configuration request to be serviced;

c. a work management module, responsive to the scheduler, servicing the identified programmable configuration request causing a corresponding plurality of configuration commands to be issued for monitored execution to a plurality of communications network target entities; and

d. an event management module receiving command execution feedback and informing the work management module of reported events,

the work management module performing contingency processing in accordance with a corresponding programmable configuration request specification.

2. The programmable configuration management framework as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scheduler is further responsive to a timer, the scheduler polling the store in identifying the at least one programmable configuration request.

3. The programmable configuration management framework as claimed in claim 1, wherein the work management module is further responsive to a policy module, the policy module enabling engineered configuration management controlling the issuing of the plurality of configuration commands to prevent the overuse of bandwidth in a realm of management.

4. The programmable configuration management framework as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event management module further exchanges information with a human-machine interface to enable the display of a current progress in servicing the at least one programmable configuration request being serviced.

5. A method of performing controlled configuration management comprising steps of:

a. retrieving a programmable configuration request from a store retrievably storing a plurality of programmable configuration requests;

b. issuing a plurality of commands to effect the configuration of a plurality of communications network target entities;

c. monitoring the execution of the issued commands; and

d. selectively suppressing the issuing of commands on detecting command execution errors to prevent causing network failure.

6. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 5, wherein prior to retrieving the programmable configuration request, the method further comprises a step of:

performing an operation on at least one programmable configuration request from creating, saving, listing, and retrieving the at least one programmable configuration request.

7. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 5, wherein retrieving the programmable configuration request, the method further comprises a step of:

receiving a directive via a user interface to perform configuration management as specified in the programmable configuration request.

8. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 5, wherein prior to retrieving the programmable configuration request, the method further comprises steps of:

a. identifying the programmable configuration request to be serviced from a plurality of programmable configuration requests; and

b. instructing a work management module to retrieve the identified programmable configuration request.

9. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 8, wherein identifying the programmable configuration request, the method further comprises a step of:

polling the store.

10. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 9, wherein polling the store, the method further comprises a step of:

triggering a scheduler to poll the store.

11. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 5, wherein prior to issuing the plurality of commands, the method further comprises the step of:

validating the execution of the plurality of commands.

12. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 5, wherein issuing the plurality of commands, the method further comprises the step of:

subjecting the issuance of the plurality of commands to a configuration management policy enforced by a policy module.

13. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 12, wherein subjecting the issuance of the plurality of commands to the policy, the method further comprises a step of:

limiting the issuance of the plurality of commands to a configuration management time frame.

14. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 12, wherein subjecting the issuance of the plurality of commands to the policy, the method further comprises a step of:

imposing a rate at which the plurality of commands are issued.

15. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 5, wherein issuing the plurality of commands, the method further comprises the step of:

spawning at least one worker process to service the retrieved programmable configuration request.

16. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 15, wherein spawning a plurality of worker processes to service the retrieved programmable configuration request, the method further comprises a step of:

issuing the plurality of commands in parallel to effect bulk configuration of the plurality of communications network entities.

17. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 5, wherein issuing the plurality of commands, the method further comprises the step of:

issuing the plurality of commands in sequence to effect serial batch configuration of the plurality of communications network target entities.

18. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 5, wherein subsequent to selectively suppressing the issuing of commands, the method comprises a step of:

resuming command issuing.

19. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 5, wherein subsequent to selectively suppressing the issuing of commands, the method comprises a step of:

issuing at least one configuration restoring command to undo configuration effected by previously issued commands.

20. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 19, wherein issuing the at least one configuration restoring command, the method further comprises a step of:

issuing the at least one configuration restoring command to a communications network target entity reporting command execution errors.

21. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 19, wherein prior to issuing the at least one configuration restoring command, the method further comprises a step of:

validating the execution of the at least one configuration restoring command.

22. The method of performing controlled configuration management as claimed in claim 19, wherein issuing the plurality of commands to effect the configuration of the plurality of communications network entities, the method further comprises a step of:

tracking the progress of configuring the plurality of communications network target entities.