Method and system for verifying resource configuration

• US 7,096,350 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Graves, David A., Nair, Parvathi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US10/407,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/100
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5061 Partitioning or combining of resources

Abstract

A method and system for verifying resource configuration. Specifically, in one embodiment, the method begins by reading a map outlining a plurality of valid configuration attributes. The configuration attributes are associated with a plurality of computing resources that are interrelated in a network. The plurality of computing resources is then contacted and a plurality of actual configuration attributes from the plurality of computing resources is requested. Thereafter, the plurality of actual configuration attributes is compared to a plurality of corresponding valid configuration attributes provided from the map. A plurality of messages detailing results from the comparison of actual to valid configuration attributes is then generated.

Claims

1. A method for verifying resource configuration comprising:

a) reading a map outlining a plurality of valid configuration attributes for a plurality of computing resources that are interrelated in a network;

b) contacting said plurality of computing resources;

c) requesting a plurality of actual configuration attributes from said plurality of computing resources;

d) comparing said plurality of actual configuration attributes to a plurality of corresponding valid configuration attributes from said map;

e) generating a plurality of messages detailing results from said comparing in d);

f) a plurality of rules pertaining to said plurality of valid configuration attributes; and

g) determining if said plurality of actual configuration attributes comply with said plurality of rules; and

h) generating a separate exception message for each of plurality of actual configuration attributes that is in violation of said plurality of rules, wherein h) further comprises;

h1) for each said separate exception message that is generated, listing one of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that is in violation of said plurality of rules; and

h2) relationally listing a reference to a corresponding rule that is violated.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein e) comprises:

e1) generating a separate pass message in said plurality of messages for each of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that matches its corresponding valid configuration attribute.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein e) comprises:

e1) generating a separate fail message in said plurality of messages for each of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that does not match its corresponding valid configuration attribute.

4. The method as described in claim 3, wherein e1) further comprising:

listing each of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that does not match its corresponding valid configuration attribute; and

for each of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that does not match its corresponding valid configuration attribute, relationally listing its corresponding valid configuration attribute.

5. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

updating said map when an actual configuration attribute does not match its corresponding valid configuration attribute by substituting said corresponding valid configuration attribute with said actual configuration attribute when a rule associated with said actual configuration attribute allows for said updating of said map.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said plurality of computing resources comprises a data center.

7. The method as described in claim 6, wherein said data center comprises a provisional data center, wherein each of said plurality of computing resources are physically wired to said network and logically rewired with other computing resources to form a subset of said plurality of computing resources.

8. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said reading in a), said contacting in b), said requesting in c), said comparing in d), and said generating in e) are performed automatically.

9. The method as described in claim 1, wherein e) comprises:

e1) generating a separate warning message in said plurality of messages for each of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that are optional according to a plurality of associated rules, and that does not match it corresponding valid configuration attribute.

10. A method for verifying resource configuration comprising:

a) reading a map outlining valid configuration attributes for a plurality of computing resources that are interrelated in a network;

b) contacting a first computing resource in said plurality of computing resources;

c) requesting an actual configuration attribute from said first computing resource;

d) comparing said actual configuration attribute to a corresponding valid configuration attribute from said map; and

e) generating a message detailing a result from said comparing in d);

f) a plurality of rules pertaining to said valid configuration attributes for said plurality of computing resources; and

g) determining if said actual configuration attribute complies with said plurality of rules; and

h) generating an exception message detailing a second result from said determining in g) when said actual configuration attribute is in violation of a rule of said plurality of rules, wherein h) further comprises;

h1) listing said actual configuration attribute in said exception message; and

h2) listing a reference to said rule that said actual configuration attribute is in violation in said exception message.

11. The method as described in claim 10, wherein e) comprises:

e1) indicating a pass result in said message when said actual configuration attribute matches said corresponding valid configuration attribute;

e2) indicating a fail result in said message when said actual configuration attribute does not match said corresponding valid configuration attribute; and

e3) indicating a warning result in said message when said actual configuration attribute does not match said corresponding valid configuration attribute, and when said actual configuration attribute is optional according to an associated rule.

12. The method as described in claim 10, wherein e) comprises:

e1) indicating a fail result in said message when said actual configuration attribute does not match said corresponding valid configuration attribute, wherein said message further comprises;

a listing of said actual configuration attribute; and

a listing of said corresponding configuration attribute.

13. The method as described in claim 10, further comprising:

updating said map by substituting said corresponding valid configuration attribute with said actual configuration attribute when said actual configuration attribute does not match said corresponding valid configuration attribute.

14. The method as described in claim 10, further comprising:

f) requesting a second actual configuration attribute from said first computing resource;

g) comparing said second actual configuration attribute to a corresponding second valid configuration attribute from said map; and

h) generating a second message detailing a second result from said comparing in g).

15. The method as described in claim 10, further comprising:

f) requesting a second actual configuration attribute from a second computing resource in said plurality of computing resources;

g) comparing said second actual configuration attribute to a corresponding second valid configuration attribute from said map; and

h) generating a second message detailing a second result from said comparing in g).

16. A data center comprising:

a bus for communicating information associated with a method for verifying resource configuration;

a processor coupled to said bus for processing said information associated with said method for verifying resource configuration; and

a computer readable memory coupled to said processor containing program instructions, that when executed by said processor, implement a method for verifying resource configuration comprising;

a) reading a map outlining a plurality of valid configuration attributes for a plurality of computing resources that are interrelated in a network;

b) contacting said plurality of computing resources;

c) requesting a plurality of actual configuration attributes from said plurality of computing resources;

d) comparing said plurality of actual configuration attributes to a plurality of corresponding valid configuration attributes from said map; and

e) generating a plurality of messages detailing results from said comparing in d);

f) a plurality of rules pertaining to said plurality of valid configuration attributes; and

g) determining if said plurality of actual configuration attributes comply with said plurality of rules; and

h) generating a separate exception message for each of plurality of actual configuration attributes that is in violation of said plurality of rules, wherein h) further comprises;

h1) for each said separate exception message that is generated, listing one of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that is in violation of said plurality of rules; and

h2) relationally listing a reference to a corresponding rule that is violated.

17. The data center as described in claim 16, wherein e) in said method comprises:

e1) generating a separate pass message in said plurality of messages for each of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that matches its corresponding valid configuration attribute.

18. The data center as described in claim 16, wherein e) in said method comprises:

e1) generating a separate fail message in said plurality of messages for each of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that does not match its corresponding valid configuration attribute.

19. The data center as described in claim 18, wherein e1) in said method further comprises:

listing each of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that does not match its corresponding valid configuration attribute; and

for each of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that does not match its corresponding valid configuration attribute, relationally listing its corresponding valid configuration attribute.

20. The data center as described in claim 16, wherein said method further comprises:

updating said map when an actual configuration attribute does not match its corresponding valid configuration attribute by substituting said corresponding valid configuration attribute with said actual configuration attribute when a rule associated with said actual configuration attribute allows for said updating of said map.

21. The data center as described in claim 16, wherein said plurality of computing resources comprises a data center.

22. The data center as described in claim 21, wherein said data center comprises a provisional data center, wherein each of said plurality of computing resources are physically wired to said network and logically rewired with other computing resources to form a subset of said plurality of computing resources.

23. The data center as described in claim 16, wherein in said method said reading in a), said contacting in b), said requesting in c), said comparing in d), and said generating in e) are performed automatically.

24. The data center as described in claim 16, wherein e) in said method comprises:

e1) generating a separate warning message in said plurality of messages for each of said plurality of actual configuration attributes that are optional according to a plurality of associated rules, and that does not match it corresponding valid configuration attribute.