Configuring a plurality of diverse devices/services from an adaptive configuration control hyper-server apparatus

• US 20130060836A1
• Filed: 09/03/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barracuda Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Barracuda Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: BOWERS, JEREMY PAUL
• Granted Patent: US 9,021,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0286 for search or classification or discovery of web services providing management functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

When each new device or service is installed into a network, a hyper-server reads a configuration description provided by the new device or service and adapts to provide a user interface for configuring its capabilities. A first server gathers descriptions of available commands and parameters from many diverse devices and services. A second server presents an administrator or operator with a control panel for one or many client devices. The panel presentation changes with respect to the devices or services selected. The hyper-server registers the capabilities of each device or service and transfers the commands and parameter settings to the appropriate device or service under configuration control.

Claims

1. A configuration control hyper-server and method for operation comprises:

a register for command and parameter capabilities of the subject systems and services,

a configuration server to receive command and parameter descriptions from each of a plurality of heterogeneous systems and services and to record these descriptions into the register,

an administrator/operator interface server configured to present a navigation, search, and selection view port, and

a control center to deliver commands, selections, and parameters from the administrator/operator interface server to the selected service or device under configuration control.

2. A method for operating a configuration control hyper-server to present forms for selected devices and services to an administrator/operator and transmitting commands and settings to the devices and services comprises:

receiving from each device/service under configuration control a description of its capabilities and range of allowed parameters,

storing said description into a register,

presenting an administrator/operator interface which allows navigation, search, and selection of device/services,

displaying a selectable data entry form for the commands and parameters valid for selected device/services, and

transmitting selections, parameters, and commands to the appropriate device/services.

3. A method for operating a configuration control hyper-server apparatus,

the apparatus comprising an object-parameter register, an operator/administrator management server, and an object configuration server, the management server communicatively coupled to the register and further couple to the configuration server,

the method comprising:

within an operator/administrator management server,

reading the object command-parameter register,

configuring an operator/administrator client to

display an object selection—

search navigation user interface,

receive a search or selection argument from an operator/administrator client, display a command-parameter input form for the objects selected and receive an operator/administrator command or parameter setting;

within an object configuration server, receiving at least one object selected by the operator/administrator, and transmitting a command or parameter setting to the group, class, or instance of objects selected by the operator/administrator.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising within the object command/administrator client,

receiving a version-configuration description from each coupled object,

receiving a command-parameter capabilities description from each one of a plurality of communicatively coupled objects, and

storing a command-parameter capabilities description for each communicatively coupled object into an object command-parameter register, and

expanding the object command-parameter register to include new commands or parameters described by a communicatively coupled object.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising,

expanding the object command-parameter register to include new commands or parameters described by a communicatively coupled object.

6. A method for operating a configuration hyperserver apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of services or devices which are represented in a register;

determining which parameters, commands, or variables are common to all the selection,

determining which of the selection belong to a subgroup with parameters, commands, or variables common to the subgroup,

reading a command-parameter description of how each parameter, command, or variable may be displayed and set,

determining a standard value for each parameter and identifying the devices which are variant from the standard value.

presenting a user interface display the standard value and each variant,

receiving and storing settings from the user interface,

configuring each selected device/service according to the settings.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the standard value is the value with the highest percentage of all the settings in the selected members.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the standard value is a unanimous value by all the settings for the parameter in the selected members.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the standard value is the median value of all the settings for the parameter in the selected members.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the standard value is the most current setting of all settings for the parameter in the selected members.