System and method for remotely configuring testing laboratories

• US 7,133,906 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Marketing LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: QuikCycle, Inc. (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Suplica, Thomas, Bray, Curtis, Stover, Kelley, Tsao, Ben, Rygaard, Mary, Price, Chuck
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, NIKETA I
• Application Number:
  US09/785,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/224, 714/27, 714/43, 714/25, 714738-742, 370/241
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0826 for reduction of network costs H04L41/0833 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/083 for increasing network speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

The invention provides a system for remotely configuring a plurality of devices to customize a lab network system for testing components and for training operators to use and maintain such systems. The system is configured to remotely access and control such a system via a computer network such as the Internet. Once connected, a user can run testing scenarios on the configured devices remotely from any location that has access to the Internet. In accordance with the invention, an organization'"'"'s network equipment is integrated with specialized physical switching technologies, and controlled by unique management software. Access to the network equipment may be provided remotely, and granted via a scheduling service. Thus, multiple physical equipment labs can be integrated into one globally, visible resource, enabling one-stop scheduling of lab time without knowing the detailed inventory of a particular network equipment facility. Storage capability is provided for network topologies described using a standards-based topology description language. This topology archive is integrated with the equipment lab management software allowing lab efforts to be saved for later reuse. In addition to topology and configuration information, complete session logs can also be saved, allowing “offline” analysis of lab activities. Network topologies and device configurations may be uniquely specified using a provided authoring environment to facilitate customized lab configurations.

Claims

1. A system for configuring one or more devices to customize a lab network in one or more participating facilities for testing scenarios using those devices, comprising:

a language subsystem for creating a network topology description for a scenario;

a scenario scheduling subsystem for scheduling a facility to execute the scenario and for reserving one or more requested devices to be utilized in executing the scenario; and

a lab management subsystem for executing the scenario, wherein the lab management subsystem comprises a microprocessor;

a local scheduler for maintaining scheduling information relating to an associated facility in an associated local schedule database;

a scenario manager for interpreting and executing scheduled scenarios; and

an inventory manager for interacting with the scenario manager to retrieve description information about the devices maintained in a local inventory database and for configuring the devices in accordance with the description information to enable the devices to be used in the scenario.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the language subsystem utilizes an XML-based language to describe the network topology description.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the network topology description includes any of network topology information, device and interface configuration information, and condition state information of the topology and devices.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the XML-based language is a Network Description Language.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the language subsystem is accessible via a web browser application.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the web browser application includes an integrated visual tool that allows a user to create a scenario by drawing a network topology using the visual tool, such that the drawn network topology is automatically translated into a scenario that can be executed by the lab management subsystem.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the visual tool is integrated with the web browser application as an applet.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the language subsystem comprises a schema for formally defining an XML-based language to describe the network topology description, and a parser for interpreting language expressions and determining whether those expressions are valid for creating a scenario description.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the language subsystem further comprises a set of extensions for interfacing with a scenario description creation tool for translating objects created by the scenario description creation tool into the XML-based language.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein additional objects are created using any of a standard text or XML editor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the scenario scheduling subsystem comprises a global scheduler for maintaining scheduling information relating to all of the one or more participating facilities in an associated global schedule database, and a global inventory database for maintaining information relating to all of the devices within the one or more participating facilities.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the global scheduler interfaces with a local scheduler located in respective ones of the one or more participating facilities for maintaining scheduling information relating to that facility in an associated local schedule database, and a local inventory database for maintaining information relating to all of the devices within that facility.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the scenario scheduling subsystem is accessible via a web browser application.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the web browser application accesses the scenario scheduling subsystem via an servlet.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the scenario scheduling system further comprises an authentication system for authenticating users accessing the scheduling system to ensure that only those users having valid access can request scheduling of scenarios using the scenario scheduling system.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein each participating facility includes its own lab management subsystem.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the lab management subsystem further comprises:

a device controller for managing the operation of the one or more devices utilized in executing the scenario;

a proxy server for providing access to device consoles enabling authorized users to control the devices during the executing scenario, a switch controller for controlling switching systems used during the executing scenario; and

an OS/Image manager for maintaining an archive of system images in an associated image database and delivering the system images to devices under control of the scenario manager.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein a lab maintenance client interfaces with the lab management subsystem enabling remote control of the lab management subsystem and remote monitoring of the one or more participating facilities.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a scenario archive subsystem for archiving custom created scenarios for reuse in an associated archive database.

20. A method for configuring one or more devices to customize a lab network in one or more participating facilities for testing scenarios using those devices, comprising:

creating a network topology description for a scenario;

scheduling a facility to execute the scenario;

reserving one or more requested devices to be utilized in executing the scenario;

maintaining scheduling information relating to an associated facility in an associated local schedule database;

interpreting and executing scheduled scenarios;

interacting with a scenario manager to retrieve description information about the devices maintained in a local inventory database; and

configuring the devices in accordance with the description information to enable the devices to be used in the scenario.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein an XML-based language is utilized to describe the network topology description.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the network topology description includes any of network topology information, device and interface configuration information, and condition state information of the topology and devices.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the XML-based language is a Network Description Language.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising accessing the network topology description via a web browser application.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the web browser application is utilized to allow a user to create a scenario by drawing a network topology and automatically translating the drawn network topology into an executable scenario.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the visual tool is integrated with the web browser application as an applet.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising formally defining an XML-based language to describe the network topology description and interpreting language expressions and determining whether those expressions are valid for creating a scenario description.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising interfacing with a scenario description creation tool for translating objects created by the scenario description creation tool into the XML-based language.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising creating additional objects using any of a standard text or XML editor.

30. The method of claim 20, further comprising maintaining scheduling information relating to all of the one or more participating facilities and maintaining information relating to all of the devices within the one or more participating facilities.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising interfacing with a local scheduler located in respective ones of the one or more participating facilities for maintaining scheduling information relating to that facility and maintaining information relating to all of the devices within that facility.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the scheduling information is accessible via a web browser application.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the web browser application accesses the scenario scheduling subsystem via an servlet.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising authenticating users accessing the scheduling information to ensure that only those users having valid access can request scheduling of scenarios.

35. The method of claim 20, further comprising archiving custom created scenarios for reuse.

36. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium having executable instructions for configuring one or more devices to customize a lab network in one or more participating facilities for testing scenarios using those devices, comprising instruction for:

creating a network topology description for a scenario;

scheduling a facility to execute the scenario;

reserving one or more requested devices to be utilized in executing the scenario;

maintaining scheduling information relating to an associated facility in an associated local schedule database;

interpreting and executing scheduled scenarios;

interacting with a scenario manager to retrieve description information about the devices maintained in a local inventory database; and

configuring the devices in accordance with the description information to enable the devices to be used in the scenario.