Managing configuration data

• US 8,566,481 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ver Steeg, William C., Morse, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shyu, Jing-Yih
• Application Number:
  US12/481,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

Systems and method embodiments of managing configuration data are disclosed. One method embodiment comprises storing account-specific configuration data at a device included among a group of devices, the account specific-configuration data capable of being shared among the group of devices common to a single account; and storing device-specific configuration data at the device, the device-specific configuration data not shared among the group of devices.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a memory encoded with executable instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to;

retrieve, from a remote server, information that describes last remotely stored configuration data for an account, the account shared by a device along with other devices;

compare the retrieved information with information that describes locally stored configuration data for the account;

download the last remotely stored configuration data from the remote server to replace the locally stored configuration data responsive to the comparison indicating that the last remotely stored configuration data is more recent than the locally stored configuration data;

retrieve, from the remote server, information that describes last remotely stored configuration data for the device;

compare the retrieved information that describes the last remotely stored configuration for the device with information that describes locally stored configuration data for the device;

download the last remotely stored configuration data for the device from the remote server to replace the locally stored configuration data for the device responsive to the comparison indicating that the last remotely stored configuration data for the device is more recent than the locally stored configuration data for the device;

download at least a portion of an updated version of the device-specific configuration data responsive to a change in the device-specific configuration data;

download an updated version of the account-specific configuration data responsive to a change in the account-specific configuration data;

provide the updated version of the account-specific configuration data to another entity responsive to the change in the account-specific configuration data, wherein providing comprises writing the updated account-specific configuration data to the another entity, wherein the another entity comprises another device associated with the account.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the descriptive information is a version number.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the descriptive information is a date.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve according to a digital storage media command and control (DSM-CC) User-to-Network configuration (UNConfig) request.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve the information corresponding to the last remotely stored configuration for the device and the last remotely stored configuration for the account as part of a single transaction.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to download the last remotely stored configuration data to replace the locally stored configuration data for the account and download the last remotely stored configuration to replace the locally stored configuration for the device as part of a single transaction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve, compare, and download during a boot procedure for the device.

8. A method, comprising:

storing account-specific configuration data at a device included among a group of devices, the account specific-configuration data capable of being shared among the group of devices common to a single account;

storing device-specific configuration data at the device, the device-specific configuration data not shared among the group of devices;

uploading at least a portion of an updated version of the device-specific configuration data to a remote server responsive to a change in the device-specific configuration data;

uploading an updated version of the account-specific configuration data to the remote server responsive to a change in the account-specific configuration data; and

providing the updated version of the account-specific configuration data to another entity responsive to the change in the account-specific configuration data, wherein providing comprises writing the updated account-specific configuration data to the another entity, wherein the another entity comprises another device associated with the account.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein providing comprises writing the updated account-specific configuration data to a storage unit accessible by at least one other device within the group of devices.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the device-specific configuration data that is uploaded includes only a protected portion of the entire device-specific configuration data, and the protected portion persists across an equipment swap of the device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the device-specific configuration data that is uploaded includes only a protected portion of the device-specific configuration data, and wherein the remaining portion of the device-specific configuration data persists across a reboot of the device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the device-specific configuration data that is uploaded persists across an equipment swap of the device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein uploading the updated versions of the account-specific configuration data, the device-specific configuration data, or a combination of both occurs only during specific time windows.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving an account code identifying an account, the account shared by plural devices;

receiving a device code identifying a device among the plural devices;

downloading account-specific configuration data associated with the account code from a remote server responsive to determining that the account code already exists;

downloading device-specific configuration data associated with the device code from the remote server responsive to determining that the device code already exists, responsive to a comparison indicating that the last remotely stored device-specific configuration data is more recent than locally stored device-specific configuration data;

downloading at least a portion of an updated version of the device-specific configuration data responsive to a change in the device-specific configuration data;

downloading an updated version of the account-specific configuration data responsive to a change in the account-specific configuration data;

providing the updated version of the account-specific configuration data to another entity responsive to the change in the account-specific configuration data, wherein providing comprises writing the updated account-specific configuration data to the another entity, wherein the another entity comprises another device associated with the account; and

operating in accordance with the downloaded account-specific and device-specific configurations.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the steps are performed during an install procedure for the device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising creating new account-specific configuration data with default values responsive to determining that the account code does not already exist at the remote server.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising creating new device-specific configuration data with default values responsive to determining that the device code does not already exist at the remote server.