System and method for configuring network devices

• US 10,177,976 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arista Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Arista Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Berly, Mark, Sprygada, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Baturay, Alicia
• Application Number:
  US15/597,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20170250862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 709217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0859 by keeping history of different configuration generations or by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• 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

A method, version server, and non-transitory computer readable medium for configuring a network device. Configuring the network device may include obtaining, by a version server, a first configuration action; matching, by the version server, the first configuration action to a first entry of an action database of the version server; and sending, by the version server, a version controlled configuration action of the first entry.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a network device, comprising:

obtaining, by a version control server, a first configuration action;

matching, by the version control server, the first configuration action to a first entry of an action database of the version control server;

sending, by the version control server, a version controlled configuration action of the first entry;

obtaining, from an identification server, a second configuration action;

identifying a second entry of the action database associated with the second configuration action;

generating a new entry of the action database based at least in part on the second configuration action; and

associating the new entry with the second entry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration action comprises an action and at least one attribute.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the action indicates one selected from a group consisting of copying a file from a configuration server, installing an operating system (OS) plugin, configuring an OS plugin, installing an OS extension, validating a version of an OS, sending an email to a recipient, modifying a configuration file, and replacing a configuration file.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one attribute indicates one selected from a group consisting of an operating system, a version of an operating system, an operating system extension, an operating system plugin, a configuration file, and a script configured to send an email to a recipient.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining, by the version control server, a third configuration action;

matching, by the version control server, the third configuration action to a third entry of an action database of the version control server; and

sending, by the version control server, a version controlled configuration action of the third entry.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third configuration action comprises an action and at least one attribute.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the version controlled configuration action specifies an action used in a process of configuring a server, wherein the version controlled configuration action is associated with a configuration state of the server after the action is performed.

8. A version control server, comprising:

an action database stored on a storage of the version control server; and

a version generator configured to generate a version controlled action based on a configuration update of a network device,

wherein the action database comprises entries that specify actions used in a process of configuring a server and each entry of the action database is associated with a state of the server after the action of the entry is performed, and

wherein the version control server is configured to;

obtain, from an identification server, a configuration action;

identify an existing entry of the action database associated with the configuration action;

generate a new entry of the action database based at least in part on the configuration action; and

associate the new entry with the existing entry.

9. The version control server of claim 8, wherein the configuration update is received in a notification from the identification server.

10. The version control server of claim 8, wherein the configuration update comprises at least one configuration action executed by the network device.

11. The version control server of claim 10, wherein the action database comprises a first entry indicating a first version of the at least one configuration action and a second entry indicating a second version of the at least one configuration action.

12. The version control server of claim 11, where the first version of the at least one configuration action is different from the second version of the at least one configuration action.

13. The version control server of claim 12, wherein the first version of the at least one configuration action comprises an action and at least one attribute,

wherein the action indicates one selected from a group consisting of copying a file from a configuration server, installing an operating system (OS) plugin, configuring an OS plugin, installing an OS extension, validating a version of an OS, sending an email to a recipient, modifying a configuration file, and replacing a configuration file,

wherein the at least one attribute indicates one selected from a group consisting of an operating system, a version of an operating system, an operating system extension, an operating system plugin, a configuration file, and a script configured to send an email to a recipient.

14. The version control server of claim 13, wherein the second version of the at least one configuration action comprises a second action and a second at least one attribute,

wherein the second action indicates one selected from a group consisting of copying a file from a configuration server, installing an operating system (OS) plugin, configuring an OS plugin, installing an OS extension, validating a version of an OS, sending an email to a recipient, modifying a configuration file, and replacing a configuration file, and

wherein the second at least one attribute indicates one selected from a group consisting of an operating system, a version of an operating system, an operating system extension, an operating system plugin, a configuration file, and a script configured to send an email to a recipient.

15. The version control server of claim 8, wherein generating a version controlled action comprises:

obtaining an updated configuration action;

identifying an existing entry of the action database associated with the updated configuration action;

generating a new entry of the action database based on, at least in part, the configuration action; and

associating the new entry with the existing entry.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a version control server, cause the version control server to:

obtain a first configuration action;

match the first configuration action to a first entry of an action database;

send a first version controlled configuration action of the first entry;

obtain, from an identification server, a second configuration action;

identify a second entry of the action database associated with the second configuration action;

generate a new entry of the action database based at least in part on the second configuration action; and

associate the new entry with the second entry.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions of claim 16, wherein the first configuration action comprises an action and at least one attribute

wherein the action indicates one selected from a group consisting of copying a file from a configuration server, installing an operating system (OS) plugin, configuring an OS plugin, installing an OS extension, validating a version of an OS, sending an email to a recipient, modifying a configuration file, and replacing a configuration file,

wherein the at least one attribute indicates one selected from a group consisting of an operating system, a version of an operating system, an operating system extension, an operating system plugin, a configuration file, and a script configured to send an email to a recipient.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions of claim 16, wherein the instructions further cause the version control server to:

obtain a third configuration action;

match the third configuration action to a third entry of an action database of the version control server; and

send a second version controlled configuration action of the third entry.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions of claim 16, wherein:

the first version controlled configuration action specifies an action used in a process of configuring a server, and

the first version controlled configuration action is associated with a configuration state of the server after the action is performed.