Configuration management method and system

• US 20030149756A1
• Filed: 05/08/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Enterasys Networks Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Enterasys Networks Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grieve, David, Richmond, James
• Application Number:
  US10/140,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20030149756A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• 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 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element

Abstract

A method of managing a computer network includes comparing a first configuration file representing a network device configuration at a point in time with a second configuration file representing a network device configuration at an earlier point in time; and indicating when a difference exists between the first configuration file and the second configuration file. A system for managing a computer network comprises a memory in which is stored configuration files corresponding to plural network devices at plural points in time; a database in which is stored a history of configuration file usage; and an agent that retrieves from a network device a configuration file and determines when the configuration file retrieved differs from a stored configuration file corresponding to a different point in time. Alternatively, a system for maintaining configuration of a computer network comprises a data store of configuration files, each stored configuration file holding a configuration of a device at a time; and an agent that downloads a current configuration file holding a current configuration from the device and compares the current configuration with the configuration of the device at the time, storing the current configuration in the data store when the current configuration differs from the configuration of the device at the time and identifying differences to an operator.

Claims

1. A method of managing a computer network, comprising:

comparing a first configuration file representing a network device configuration at a point in time with a second configuration file representing a network device configuration at an earlier point in time; and

indicating when a difference exists between the first configuration file and the second configuration file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after passage of a period of time, repeating comparing and indicating.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

repeating comparing and indicating after passage of regular intervals of time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying as representing a known good state, the second configuration file; and

recommending returning to the known good state by loading the second configuration file, when the difference is indicated.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing with each configuration file an identification of a responsible operator; and

querying the responsible operator concerning a nature of the first configuration file when the difference is indicated.

6. A system for managing a computer network, comprising:

a memory in which is stored configuration files corresponding to plural network devices at plural points in time;

a database in which is stored a history of configuration file usage; and

an agent that retrieves from a network device a configuration file and determines when the configuration file retrieved differs from a stored configuration file corresponding to a different point in time.

7. A system for maintaining configuration of a computer network, comprising:

a data store of configuration files, each stored configuration file holding a configuration of a device at a time; and

an agent that downloads a current configuration file holding a current configuration from the device and compares the current configuration with the configuration of the device at the time, storing the current configuration in the data store when the current configuration differs from the configuration of the device at the time and identifying differences to an operator.