Resource configuration change management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9294303-B2
Application number	US-201213460848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2012
Priority date	Jun 30, 2011
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

Prior to a first configuration change of a first resource, such as a network resource of a network, a processor determines a first performance metric of a second resource, such as a second network resource of the network. The first configuration change does not result in complete failure or fault of the second resource. Subsequent to the first configuration change of the first resource, the processor determines a second performance metric of the second resource and compares the second performance metric to at least one of the first performance metric and a service objective to yield comparison results. Based on the comparison results, the processor can cause a second configuration change of the first resource. The second configuration change of the first resource can revert a configuration of the first resource to its state prior to the first configuration change.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising:
receiving indication that a first configuration change is to be made to a first resource;
in response to receiving the indication, and prior to making the first configuration change to the first resource,
determining, by a processor, a first performance metric of a second resource different than the first resource, where no performance metric of the first resource is ever monitored;

subsequent to making the first configuration change to the first resource, where the first configuration change does not result in complete failure or fault of the second resource:
purposefully waiting for a predetermined length of time before determining, by the processor, a second performance metric of the second resource, the predetermined length of time permitting the second performance metric to reflect the first configuration change that has been made to the first resource, and during the predetermined length of time no determination of any performance metric of the second network resource is made or occurs;
comparing, by the processor, the second performance metric to at least one of a service objective and the first performance metric, to yield comparison results; and,
based on the comparison results indicating that performance degradation has occurred to the second resource as a result of the first configuration change made to the first resource, causing a second configuration change of the first resource, by the processor,

wherein the first and the second performance metrics are only performance metrics that are determined between receiving the indication that the first configuration change is to be made and causing the second configuration change.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the second performance metric to at least the first performance metric comprises comparing the second performance metric to the first performance metric responsive to the service objective.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the service objective, wherein determining the service objective comprises one or more of:
receiving the service objective as specified by a policy or service profile;
receiving the service objective as entered by a user;
receiving the service objective as specified by a plurality of rules;
receiving the service objective from a service.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, based on the comparison results, performing one of maintaining the first configuration change of the first resource and causing the second configuration change of the first resource.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, where the second performance metric is worse than the first performance metric, issuing a performance degradation alert by the processor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second configuration change of the first resource reverts a configuration of the first resource to a state prior to the first configuration change having been made.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first performance metric or the second performance metric of the second resource comprises one or more of:
receiving a performance metric, by the processor;
calculating the performance metric based on received inputs, by the processor;
calculating the performance metric based on received metrics associated with more than one resource;
requesting the performance metric from the first resource.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, subsequent to the first configuration change of the first resource, wherein the second performance metric is determined at a predetermined length of time after the first configuration change has been made to the first resource, the predetermined length of time specified so as to allow the second performance metric to reflect the first configuration change that has been made to the first resource.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second performance metric is compared to only the first performance metric.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second performance metric is compared to both the first performance metric and a service objective associated with the second network resource.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the performance degradation is deemed to have occurred where the second performance metric is worse than both the first performance metric and the service objective.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the performance degradation is deemed to have occurred where the second performance metric is worse than the service objective and the second performance metric is better than the first performance metric.

Assignees

• Stern Edith H
• George Randy
• Tindal Glen D
• IBM

Inventors

• Stern Edith H
• George Randy
• Tindal Glen D

Classifications

• H04L12/4641 Primary

  Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] (LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272) · CPC title

• H04L41/0813

  characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings · CPC title

• H04L41/085

  Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history · CPC title