System and Method for Validating Correctness of Changes to Network Device Configurations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020336374-A1
Application number	US-202016867382-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 5, 2020
Priority date	Mar 23, 2018
Publication date	Oct 22, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A network configuration change validation environment is disclosed. In particular, this disclosure is related to an interface to initiate automated test actions (e.g., network monitoring commands, application monitoring commands, etc.) and to view results in an efficient manner to support a network communication infrastructure. In one example, results of a set of commands executed prior to a configuration change may serve as a baseline and one or more results of the same set of commands may be intelligently compared to the baseline to identify any potential issues that have arisen. For example, as a result of a specific network configuration change or application update. The disclosed network change validation command initiator and validation report viewer represent part of an overall network configuration change validation environment that includes automated techniques such that it may be used within a given change window.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving an indication, from a graphical user interface, that a parameter value associated with a network device configuration file for a first network device has been identified for update; determining valid completion values for the parameter value based on information in a network configuration data repository, the networking configuration data repository containing information about the first network device and other devices within a network configuration domain that includes the first device; providing information regarding the valid completion values for the parameter value, wherein the valid completion values are to be displayed in a window of the graphical user interface; displaying the valid completion values; updating the parameter value with a new parameter value, the new parameter value being one of the valid completion values; and receiving an indication, via the graphical user interface, that the parameter value has been updated with the new parameter value.

22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising initiating a command query of the first network device to obtain current configuration information prior to providing information regarding possible completion values.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein results of the command query are used as part of determining possible valid completion values.

24 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising requesting initiation of a command on the first network device to obtain current configuration information prior to providing information regarding the completion values.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein results of the command are used as part of determining the valid completion values.

26 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising interrogating time series data collected within the network configuration domain as part of determining the valid completion values.

27 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising analyzing security standards information for the network configuration domain as part of determining the valid completion values.

28 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
receiving a selection of one of the valid completion values; and using at least a portion of the provided information to perform completion of entry of the parameter value based on the selection.

29 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
performing a just-in-time validation of the new parameter value.

30 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the graphical user interface is a remotely connected graphical user interface.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the remotely connected graphical user interface is prepared for a laptop, smart phone, or other mobile device.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the remotely connected graphical user interface is provided on a processing device external to the network configuration domain.

33 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
determining portions of time series data pertinent to both the new parameter value and the first network device; determine a first set of attributes of the network configuration domain that may be affected by the new parameter value; and performing a validation of the new parameter value using the portions of time series data and the first set of attributes.

34 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
providing configuration documentation information regarding the parameter value along with the information regarding the valid completion values.

35 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
performing a just-in-time validation of the new parameter value, in part, by running a simulation of at least a portion of the network configuration domain with the using the new parameter value for the first network device.

36 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processing units to:
receive an indication that a parameter value associated with a network device configuration file for a first network device has been identified for update; determine valid completion values for the parameter value based on information in a network configuration data repository, the networking configuration data repository containing information about the first network device and other devices within a network configuration domain that includes the first device; provide information regarding the valid completion values for the parameter value, wherein the valid completion values are to be displayed in a window of the graphical user interface; update the parameter value with a new parameter value, the new parameter value being one of the valid completion values; display the valid completion values; and receive an indication, via the graphical user interface, that the parameter value has been updated with the parameter value.

37 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 36 , where the instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processing units to:
perform a just-in-time validation of the new parameter value.

38 . A computer system, comprising:
a network communications interface; a memory; and one or more processing units, communicatively coupled to the memory and the network communications interface, wherein the memory stores instructions, that when executed by the one or more processing units, cause the one or more processing units to:
receive an indication, from a graphical user interface, that a parameter value associated with a network device configuration file for a first network device has been identified for update;
determine valid completion values for the parameter value based on information in a network configuration data repository, the networking configuration data repository containing information about the first network device and other devices within a network configuration domain that includes the first device;
provide information regarding the valid completion values for the parameter value, wherein the valid completion values are to be displayed in a window of the graphical user interface;
display the valid completion values;
update the parameter value with a new parameter value, the new parameter value being one of the valid completion values; and
receive an indication, via the graphical user interface, that the parameter value has been updated with the new parameter value.

39 . The computer system of claim 38 , wherein the memory stores instructions, that when executed by the one or more processing units, cause the one or more processing units to:
perform a just-in-time validation of the new parameter value.

40 . The computer system of claim 38 , wherein the memory stores instructions, that when executed by the one or more processing units, cause the one or more processing units to:
obtain the new parameter value; and perform a just-in-time validation of the new parameter value, in part, by running a simulation of at least a portion of the network configuration domain with the using the new parameter value for the first network device.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Entpr Dev Lp

Inventors

• Clark Charles F
• Mills Craig Joseph
• Wackerly Shaun

Classifications

• H04L41/14

  Network analysis or design · CPC title

• H04L41/0816 Primary

  the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events · CPC title

• H04W24/02 Primary

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title

• H04L41/5074

  Handling of user complaints or trouble tickets · CPC title

• H04L41/22

  comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title