Metadata merging in agent configuration files
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- configuring an agent with a current version of a configuration file, the current version of the configuration file comprises metadata entries, the metadata entries comprise a customized entry;
using the agent, instrumenting and monitoring an application according to the current version of the configuration file;
receiving an updated version of the configuration file, the updated version of the configuration file comprises metadata entries comprising a corresponding entry which corresponds to the customized entry;
based on a rule, determining whether the customized entry is preferred over the corresponding entry; and
creating a merged version of the configuration file based on the current version of the configuration file and an updated version of the configuration file, the merged version of the configuration file uses the customized entry as a selected entry in place of the corresponding entry as an unselected entry if the customized entry is preferred over the corresponding entry, and the merged version of the configuration file uses the corresponding entry as the selected entry in place of the customized entry as the unselected entry if the customized entry is not preferred over the corresponding entry; and
using the agent, instrumenting and monitoring the application according to the merged version of the configuration file.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for updating agent software which controls an agent, including how the agent adds instrumentation to an application and how the agent process data from the instrumentation. A current configuration file and an updated configuration file are evaluated in view of rules, to create a merged configuration file. The files include metadata entries. The rules can include: delete a current configuration file, not merge a current configuration file with an updated configuration file, overwrite a current configuration file with an updated configuration file, delete a metadata entry, prefer an entry in the configuration file over a corresponding entry in the updated configuration file, and prefer an entry in the updated configuration file over the corresponding entry in the configuration file. Customized entries in the current configuration file can be maintained if appropriate. Entries which are not maintained are kept in the merged configuration file as inline comments for documentation.
79 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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configuring an agent with a current version of a configuration file, the current version of the configuration file comprises metadata entries, the metadata entries comprise a customized entry; using the agent, instrumenting and monitoring an application according to the current version of the configuration file; receiving an updated version of the configuration file, the updated version of the configuration file comprises metadata entries comprising a corresponding entry which corresponds to the customized entry; based on a rule, determining whether the customized entry is preferred over the corresponding entry; and creating a merged version of the configuration file based on the current version of the configuration file and an updated version of the configuration file, the merged version of the configuration file uses the customized entry as a selected entry in place of the corresponding entry as an unselected entry if the customized entry is preferred over the corresponding entry, and the merged version of the configuration file uses the corresponding entry as the selected entry in place of the customized entry as the unselected entry if the customized entry is not preferred over the corresponding entry; and using the agent, instrumenting and monitoring the application according to the merged version of the configuration file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A memory comprising computer readable software embodied thereon for programming a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
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configuring an agent with a current version of a configuration file; using the agent, instrumenting and monitoring an application according to the current version of the configuration file; receiving an updated version of the configuration file; accessing a rule, the rule indicates whether the current version of the configuration file should be;
continued without being overwritten or merged, overwritten by the updated version of the configuration file, or merged with the updated version of the configuration file;if the rule indicates that the current version of the configuration file should be continued without being overwritten or merged, continuing the instrumenting and monitoring of the application according to the current version of the configuration file; if the rule indicates that the current version of the configuration file should be overwritten by the updated version of the configuration file, instrumenting and monitoring the application according to the updated version of the configuration file and discontinuing the instrumenting and monitoring of the application according to the current version of the configuration file; and if the rule indicates that the current version of the configuration file should be merged with the updated version of the configuration file;
creating a merged version of the configuration file based on the current version of the configuration file, the updated version of the configuration file and the rule, instrumenting and monitoring the application according to the merged version of the configuration file, and discontinuing the instrumenting and monitoring of the application according to the current version of the configuration file, wherein the creating the merged version of the configuration file comprises;identifying an entry in the current version of the configuration file for which there is a corresponding entry in the updated version of the configuration file; selecting the entry in the current version of the configuration file or the corresponding entry in the updated version of the configuration file, as a selected entry, based on a preference in the rule; and adding the selected entry to the merged version of the configuration file. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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accessing a current version of a configuration file and an updated version of the configuration file; accessing rules in one or more files; creating and storing a merged version of the configuration file based on the current version of the configuration file, the updated version of the configuration file, and rules; and using the merged version of the configuration file to control behavior of an agent, including how the agent adds instrumentation to an application and how the agent is configured, the creating the merged version of the configuration file comprises; processing entries in the current version of the configuration file; and for each entry in the current version of the configuration file;
determining whether there is a corresponding entry in the updated version of the configuration file, and if there is the corresponding entry, selecting the entry in the current version of the configuration file or the corresponding entry in the updated version of the configuration file, as a selected entry based on a preference in the rules, adding the selected entry to the merged version of the configuration file, and instrumenting and monitoring the application according to the merged version of the configuration file. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification