NETWORK REVISION EVALUATOR

• US 20150312099A1
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Stalzer, Kevin J., Pritikin, Noah Lev, Hartsock, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 10,374,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0859 by keeping history of different configuration generations or by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements

Abstract

A process may include a step of receiving a request to perform a revision on plural network devices. The process may include a step of identifying at least a first group of the plural network devices according to a first predetermined criterion including at least a first feature with a same first predefined characteristic. The process may include a step of determining whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the first group of the plural network devices. The process may include a step of storing on an electronic storage device a record of whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on the network devices in the first group of the plural network devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request by an electronic apparatus to perform a revision on plural network devices of a computer network to which the electronic apparatus has access, at least some of the plural network devices having at least a first feature with plural predefined characteristics;

identifying by the electronic apparatus at least a first group of the plural network devices according to a first predetermined criterion including the at least a first feature with a same first predefined characteristic;

determining by the electronic apparatus whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the first group of the plural network devices; and

storing on an electronic storage device a record of whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on the network devices in the first group of the plural network devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on the network devices in the first group of the plural network devices includes selecting one of the network devices in the first group of the plural network devices, connecting to the selected one network device on the network, sending to the selected one network device an inquiry determining whether the selected one network device is capable of executing the revision, and receiving from the selected one network device a response to the inquiry indicating whether the selected one network device is capable of executing the revision.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, prior to sending the selected one device an inquiry determining whether the selected one device is capable of executing the revision, formatting at least a first command that it is desired to execute on the selected one device in a format that will prevent the selected one device from executing the at least first command upon receipt of the inquiry.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying at least a second group of the plural network devices on the network having the first feature with a same second predefined characteristic related to the revision, the second predefined characteristic being different than the first predefined characteristic;

determining by the electronic apparatus whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the second group of the plural network devices; and

storing on the electronic storage device a record of whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the second group of the plural network devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning each network device of the plural network devices into one of a plurality of groups of the plural network devices including the first group of the plural network devices, the plural network devices having plural features including the first feature, with each of the plural features having plural predefined characteristics among the plural network devices including the first predefined characteristic, with each group of the plural network devices satisfying a respective predetermined criterion including a unique combination of the predefined characteristics of the plural features;

determining by the electronic apparatus whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in each of the plurality of groups of the plural network devices; and

storing on the electronic storage device a record of whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in each of the plurality of groups of the plural network devices.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, for each network device of the plural network devices:

determining from the stored record whether the revision can be successfully performed on the group of the plural network devices the network device belongs to; and

performing the revision on the network device if the record indicates the revision can be successfully performed on the group of the plural network devices the network device belongs to.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, for a selected network device in the first group of the plural network devices:

determining from the stored record whether the revision can be successfully performed on the first group of the plural network devices; and

performing the revision on the selected network device if the record indicates the revision can be successfully performed on the first group of the plural network devices.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising refraining from performing the revision on the selected network device if the record indicates the revision cannot be successfully performed on the first group of the plural network devices.

9. A method comprising:

receiving a request by an electronic apparatus to perform a revision on plural network devices of a computer network to which the electronic apparatus has access, at least some of the plural network devices having at least a first feature with plural predefined characteristics;

identifying by the electronic apparatus at least a first group of the plural network devices according to a first predetermined criterion including the at least a first feature with a same first predefined characteristic; and

determining by the electronic apparatus whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the first group of the plural network devices without performing the revision on a network device in the first group of the plural network devices.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on the network devices in the first group of the plural network devices includes:

selecting by the electronic apparatus one of the network devices in the first group of the plural network devices;

sending to the selected one network device an inquiry determining whether the selected one network device is capable of executing the revision, the inquiry not requiring performing the revision on the selected one network device; and

receiving from the selected one network device a response to the inquiry indicating whether the selected one network device is capable of executing the revision.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing on an electronic storage device a record of whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the first group of the plural network devices.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

assigning each network device of the plural network devices into one of a plurality of groups of the plural network devices including the first group of the plural network devices, the plural network devices having plural features including the first feature, with each of the plural features having plural predefined characteristics among the plural network devices including the first predefined characteristic, with each group of the plural network devices satisfying a respective predetermined criterion including a unique combination of the predefined characteristics of the plural features;

determining by the electronic apparatus whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in each of the plurality of groups of the plural network devices; and

storing on an electronic storage device a record of whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in each of the plurality of groups of the plural network devices.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising, for a selected network device in the first group of the plural network devices:

determining from the stored record whether the revision can be successfully performed on the first group of the plural network devices; and

performing the revision on the selected network device if the record indicates the revision can be successfully performed on the first group of the plural network devices.

14. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a storage device; and

a program comprising a plurality of instructions stored in the storage device that are executed by the processor to;

receive a request to perform a revision on plural network devices of a computer network to which the computer system has access, at least some of the plural network devices having at least a first feature with different predefined characteristics;

identify at least a first group of the plural network devices having the first feature with a same first predefined characteristic;

determine whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the first group of the plural network devices; and

store on an electronic storage device a record of whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the first group of the plural network devices.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises instructions that are executed by the processor to select one of the network devices in the first group of the plural network devices, connect to the selected one network device on the network, send to the selected one network device an inquiry determining whether the selected one network device is capable of executing the revision, and receive from the selected one network device a response to the inquiry indicating whether the selected one network device is capable of executing the revision.

16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises instructions that are executed by the processor to:

assign each network device of the plural network devices into one of a plurality of groups of the plural network devices including the first group of the plural network devices, the plural network devices having plural features including the first feature, with each of the plural features having plural predefined characteristics among the plural network devices including the first predefined characteristic, with each group of the plural network devices satisfying a respective predetermined criterion including a unique combination of the predefined characteristics of the plural features;

determine whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in each of the plurality of groups of the plural network devices; and

store on an electronic storage device a record of whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in each of the plurality of groups of the plural network devices.

17. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises instructions that are executed by the processor to:

for a selected network device in the first group of the plural network devices, determine from the stored record whether the revision can be successfully performed on the first group of the plural network devices; and

perform the revision on the selected network device if the record indicates the revision can be successfully performed on the first group of the plural network devices.

18. A computer program product, comprising:

at least one computer readable storage medium having computer readable program instructions embodied therewith, the computer readable program instructions, when read by a processor, being configured to;

receive a request to perform a revision on plural network devices of a computer network to which the computer system has access, at least some of the plural network devices having at least a first feature with plural predefined characteristics;

identify at least a first group of the plural network devices according to a first predetermined criterion including the at least a first feature with a same first predefined characteristic;

determine whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the first group of the plural network devices; and

store on an electronic storage device a record of whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in the first group of the plural network devices.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the computer readable program instructions, when read by the processor are further configured to select one of the network devices in the first group of the plural network devices, connect to the selected one network device on the network, send to the selected one network device an inquiry to determine whether the selected one network device is capable of executing the revision, and receive from the selected one network device a response to the inquiry that indicates whether the selected one network device is capable of executing the revision.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the computer readable program instructions, when read by the processor, are further configured to:

assign each network device of the plural network devices into one of a plurality of groups of the plural network devices including the first group of the plural network devices, the plural network devices having plural features including the first feature, with each of the plural features having plural predefined characteristics among the plural network devices including the first predefined characteristic, with each group of the plural network devices satisfying a respective predetermined criterion including a unique combination of the predefined characteristics of the plural features;

select by the electronic apparatus one of the network devices in each of the plurality of groups of the plural network devices;

determine whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on each of the selected one network device in each of the plurality of groups of the plural network devices; and

store on an electronic storage device a record of whether the requested revision can be successfully performed on network devices in each of the plurality of groups of the plural network devices.