Methods and apparatus for improving compatibility between network devices
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a network device configured to be included within a plurality of network devices including at least one access switch and at least one aggregation switch and operatively coupled within a network, the network device configured to receive information indicating a set of differences between a first image to be installed on the network device, and a base image,the network device configured to compare the set of differences between the first image and the base image, to a set of differences between a second image installed on a network device of the plurality of network devices and the base image, to determine (1) when the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible critical feature, the at least one incompatible critical feature including at least one feature associated with enabling communication between the plurality of network devices, and (2) when the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible non-critical feature, the at least one incompatible non-critical feature including a firewall filter included in the first image but not in the second image,the network device configured to send a signal associated with a first action if the first image and the second image include the at least one incompatible critical feature, the network device configured to send a signal associated with a second action different from the first action if the first image and the second image include the at least one incompatible non-critical feature.
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Abstract
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a network device configured to receive an anomaly database of a first image that stores a set of differences between the first image and a base image. The network device is configured to compare the anomaly database of the first image with an anomaly database of a second image storing a set of differences between the second image and the base image to determine if the first and second images include at least one incompatible critical feature or incompatible non-critical feature. The network device is configured to send a signal associated with a first action if the first and second images include the at least one incompatible critical feature. The network device is configured to send a signal associated with a second action different from the first action if the first and second images include the at least one incompatible non-critical feature.
14 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a network device configured to be included within a plurality of network devices including at least one access switch and at least one aggregation switch and operatively coupled within a network, the network device configured to receive information indicating a set of differences between a first image to be installed on the network device, and a base image, the network device configured to compare the set of differences between the first image and the base image, to a set of differences between a second image installed on a network device of the plurality of network devices and the base image, to determine (1) when the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible critical feature, the at least one incompatible critical feature including at least one feature associated with enabling communication between the plurality of network devices, and (2) when the first image and the second image include at least one incompatible non-critical feature, the at least one incompatible non-critical feature including a firewall filter included in the first image but not in the second image, the network device configured to send a signal associated with a first action if the first image and the second image include the at least one incompatible critical feature, the network device configured to send a signal associated with a second action different from the first action if the first image and the second image include the at least one incompatible non-critical feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus, comprising:
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an access switch configured to be operable within a network, the access switch configured to receive (1) an image to be installed on the access switch and (2) an anomaly data structure including a set of differences between the image to be installed on the access switch and a base image, the access switch configured to identify a set of images installed on a set of network devices within the network, the set of network devices including at least one aggregation switch, each image from the set of images including an anomaly data structure from a plurality of anomaly data structures and including a set of differences between that image, and the base image, the access switch configured, using the anomaly data structure of the image for the access switch and the anomaly data structure of the at least one image from the set of images, to determine (1) when the image for the access switch and the at least one image from the set of images include at least one incompatible critical feature, and (2) when the image for the access switch and the at least one image from the set of images include at least one incompatible non-critical feature, the at least one incompatible non-critical feature including a firewall filter included in the first image but not in the second image, the access switch configured to send a signal associated with a first action when the image for the access switch and the at least one image from the set of images include the at least one incompatible critical feature, the access switch configured to send a signal associated with a second action different from the first action when the image for the access switch and the at least one image from the set of images include the at least one incompatible non-critical feature. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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receiving, at a first network device from a plurality of network devices (1) in a network and (2) including at least one access switch and at least one aggregation switch, and from a second network device from the plurality of network devices, image information including an anomaly data structure indicating a set of differences between an image installed on the second network device, and a base image; determining, using an anomaly data structure indicating a set of differences between an image to be installed on the first network device, and the base image, (1) when the image installed on the first network device and the image installed on the second network device include at least one incompatible critical feature, and (2) when the image installed on the first network device and the image installed on the second network device include at least one incompatible non-critical feature, the at least one incompatible non-critical feature including a firewall filter included in the first image but not in the second image; and sending a signal associated with a first action when there is not at least one incompatible critical feature is not included in the image installed on the first network device and the image installed on the second network device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification