Method for configuring computing devices using reference groups

• US 20060047793A1
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Verma, Dinesh, Calo, Seraphin B., Lee, Kang-Won, Giles, James R., Agrawal, Dakshi
• Application Number:
  US10/930,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047793A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0846 based on copy from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Arrangements and methods for configuring at least one computing device using at least one reference group. In a preferred embodiment, a reference group of peer devices is identified, configuration settings of the peer devices are extracted, the extracted configuration settings are analyzed and at least one configuration template is provided. A recommended configuration template is then selected for the at least one computing device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for configuring at least one computing device using at least one reference group, said apparatus comprising:

an arrangement for identifying a reference group of peer devices;

an arrangement for extracting configuration settings of the peer devices;

an arrangement for analyzing extracted configuration settings;

an arrangement for providing at least one configuration template; and

an arrangement for selecting a recommended configuration template for the at least one computing device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising;

and

an arrangement for applying a selected recommended configuration template to the at least one computing device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said arrangement for extracting configuration settings is adapted to query the peer devices directly.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said arrangement for extracting configuration settings is adapted to query a database which stores configuration settings.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said arrangement for analyzing extracted configuration settings is adapted to analyze extracted configuration settings via data mining.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one configuration template contains the most frequently occurring features of configuration settings; and

said arrangement for providing at least one configuration template is adapted to extract one or more most frequently occurring features of configuration settings into at least one configuration template.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said arrangement for providing at least one configuration template is adapted to perform an analysis of parameters in the one or more most frequently occurring features.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said arrangement for selecting a recommended configuration template is adapted to provide at least one recommendation relating to configuration setting of the at least one computing device based on values from the analysis.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is external to the at least one computing device.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said apparatus is substantially internal to the at least one computing device.

11. A method for configuring at least one computing device using at least one reference group, said method comprising:

identifying a reference group of peer devices;

extracting configuration settings of the peer devices;

analyzing extracted configuration settings;

providing at least one configuration template; and

selecting a recommended configuration template for the at least one computing device.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of applying a selected recommended configuration template to the at least one computing device.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of extracting configuration settings comprises querying the peer devices directly.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of extracting configuration settings comprises querying a database which stores configuration settings.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of analyzing extracted configuration settings comprises analyzing extracted configuration settings via data mining.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein:

the at least one configuration template contains the most frequently occurring features of configuration settings; and

said step of providing at least one configuration template comprises extracting one or more most frequently occurring features of configuration settings into at least one configuration template.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said step of providing at least one configuration template comprises performing an analysis of parameters in the one or more most frequently occurring features.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said step of selecting a recommended configuration template comprises providing at least one recommendation relating to configuration setting of the at least one computing device based on values from the analysis.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein said method is performed substantially externally with respect to the at least one computing device.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least a portion of said method is performed substantially internally with respect to the at least one computing device.

21. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for configuring at least one computing device using at least one reference group, said method comprising:

identifying a reference group of peer devices;

extracting configuration settings of the peer devices;

analyzing extracted configuration settings;

providing configuration templates; and

selecting a recommended configuration template for the at least one computing device.