Generating device-specific configurations

• US 8,782,182 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Foundry Networks LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chaturvedi, Animesh, Shah, Manan, Lavine, Marc, Lau, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): MADAMBA, GLENFORD J
• Application Number:
  US11/970,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20110131398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,381 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221, 709/222, 709/223, 370/389
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information

Abstract

An approach to generating device-specific configurations is described. In one approach, a method of generating a device-specific configuration for a target device is described. The method involves receiving a configuration parameter, and receiving command syntax information. A state description is generated from the configuration parameter, with reference to a configuration library. Device information is retrieved from the target device, and the device-specific configuration is generated with reference to the command syntax information, the device information, the state description, and a command library.

Claims

1. A method of generating a device-specific configuration for a network device, comprising:

accepting an updated configuration parameter that updates a feature of a device via a template that is used to construct commands that are provided by a command model file and used for device specific configuration, wherein alternative templates are provided for said commands to accommodate variations in structure and/or syntax of said commands for the same feature across a plurality of different devices;

accepting command syntax information that is applicable to a plurality of devices wherein said command syntax information comprises a set of high level features that are applicable to the plurality of devices;

generating a state description that is applicable to a plurality of devices from said updated configuration parameter, with reference to a configuration library wherein said state description comprises a set of high level features that are applicable to a plurality of different devices;

storing said state description in a database;

retrieving device information from said network device;

generating said device-specific configuration for said network device with reference to said command syntax information, said device information, said state description, and a command library;

transmitting graphical user interface information according to the plurality of devices and generating a configuration interface with reference to a configuration model file and said configuration library;

accepting said updated configuration parameter through said configuration interface;

receiving a command model file; and

generating a device specific configuration based on said configuration model file and said command model file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said accepting said updated configuration parameter comprises receiving said configuration model file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said accepting said updated configuration parameter further comprises:

generating a configuration interface with reference to said configuration model file and said configuration library; and

accepting said updated configuration parameter through said configuration interface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said generating said configuration interface further comprises generating said configuration interface with reference to a custom user interface model file.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said configuration model file is written in accordance with an extensible markup language (XML) schema.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving command syntax information comprises receiving said command model file.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said command model file provides a template for a desired feature, said template comprising a plurality of high-level instruction blocks.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said generating said device-specific configuration comprises:

for each of said plurality of high-level instruction blocks, obtaining a corresponding instruction from said command library; and

constructing a low-level command from said instructions and said updated configuration parameter.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said low-level command comprises a command line interface (CLI) command.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said low-level command comprises a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) packet.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said command model file is written in accordance with an extensible markup language (XML) schema.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating said state description comprises writing said updated configuration parameter to a state description file.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said state description file is written in accordance with an extensible markup language (XML) schema.

14. A system for generating a device-specific configuration, comprising:

a computer implemented component for providing a configuration service, for obtaining and processing configuration information;

a state model transformer, for producing a state description that is applicable to a plurality of devices; and

a command generator, for generating said device-specific configuration for a network device, wherein said configuration service is configured to receive said configuration information, said state model transformer is configured to produce said state description from said configuration information and a configuration parameter that updates a feature of a device via a template that is used to construct commands that are provided by a command model file and used for device-specific configuration, wherein alternative templates are provided for said commands to accommodate variations in structure and/or syntax of said commands for the same feature across a plurality of different devices, said command generator is configured to receive a high-level command description that is applicable to a plurality of devices, said command generator is further configured to receive device information from a network device, and said command generator is configured to produce said device-specific configuration for said network device based on said high-level command description that is applicable to a plurality of devices, said state description from a configuration model file and a configuration library, and said device information,

wherein information is transmitted to said network device.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a deployment engine,

wherein said deployment engine is configured to transmit said device-specific configuration to said target device.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

said configuration library, for use by said configuration service in processing said configuration information.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a command library, for use by said command generator in producing said device-specific configuration with reference to said high-level command description.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said system is part of a network management system.

19. A method of deploying a device-specific configuration, comprising:

receiving a configuration model file and a command model file that includes information that is applicable to a plurality of devices;

generating a configuration interface with reference to said configuration model file and a configuration library;

receiving a configuration input through said configuration interface that updates an existing feature of a device via a template that is used to construct commands that are provided by said command model file and used for device-specific configuration, wherein alternative templates are provided for said commands to accommodate variations in structure and/or syntax of said commands for the same feature across a plurality of different devices;

generating a state description that is applicable to a plurality of devices from said configuration input, said configuration model file, and said configuration library;

retrieving device information from a target device;

generating said device-specific configuration for said target device with reference to said command model file, a command library, said state description from said configuration model file and said configuration library, and said device information; and

deploying said device-specific configuration for said target device to said target device.