System and method for performing batch configuration changes

• US 20050262101A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEA Systems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Halpern, Eric M., Paclat, Charles, Spotswood, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0873 Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• 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

In embodiments, the present invention provides mechanisms and methods for making a plurality of configuration changes to a set of servers comprised of an administration server and one or more managed servers. These mechanisms and methods can enable a number of changes to be made to the configuration at once, i.e., in a batch. The ability of an administrator to make a number of changes to the configuration, validate the changes and then persist the changes to the servers is termed a “transaction based” change process. In such transaction based processing, embodiments process changes in batches, which enables embodiments to avoid failures in configuration changes that result in the machines being in a non-recoverable or unknown configuration state.

Claims

1. A method for performing a set of configuration changes to a set of servers, comprising:

receiving a set of changes to a configuration;

determining from the set of servers, a select set of servers to which the changes to the configuration apply;

distributing the changes to the select set of servers; and

determining based upon a response from the select set of servers whether to apply the configuration changes, wherein the response indicates whether the select set of servers is able to accept the configuration changes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating the changes on the select set of servers, if each one of the select set of servers accepts the configuration changes.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining whether to retry the distributing and determining steps, if at least one of the select set of servers does not accept the configuration changes.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether to discard the configuration changes, if it is determined not to retry the distributing and determining steps.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the changes on the select set of servers, if each one of the select set of servers accepts the configuration changes further comprises:

automatically rebooting the select set of servers so that the changes are made effective.

6. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for performing a set of configuration changes to a set of servers, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

receiving a set of changes to a configuration;

determining from the set of servers, a select set of servers to which the changes to the configuration apply;

distributing the changes to the select set of servers; and

determining based upon a response from the select set of servers whether to apply the configuration changes, wherein the response indicates whether the select set of servers is able to accept the configuration changes.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

activating the changes on the select set of servers, if each one of the select set of servers accepts the configuration changes.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

determining whether to retry the distributing and determining steps, if at least one of the select set of servers does not accept the configuration changes.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

determining whether to discard the configuration changes, if it is determined not to retry the distributing and determining steps.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions for activating the changes on the select set of servers, if each one of the select set of servers accepts the configuration changes include instructions for carrying out the steps of:

automatically rebooting the select set of servers so that the changes are made effective.

11. An Administration Server for performing a set of configuration changes to a set of servers, comprising:

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

receiving a set of changes to a configuration;

determining from the set of servers, a select set of servers to which the changes to the configuration apply;

distributing the changes to the select set of servers; and

determining based upon a response from the select set of servers whether to apply the configuration changes, wherein the response indicates whether the select set of servers is able to accept the configuration changes.

12. A method for performing a set of configuration changes to a set of servers, comprising:

generating a batch of system configuration changes;

performing validation of the batch of system configuration changes, wherein performing validation includes;

transmitting a system configuration change file to a managed server; and

receiving a validation signal from the managed server, the validation signal generated in response to a determination that the managed server has validated the configuration change; and

activating the batch of system configuration changes upon successful validation.