Method for automatically deploying a network device configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9674038-B2
Application number	US-201514740845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 16, 2015
Priority date	Dec 17, 2012
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

A method is disclosed for automatically configuring network devices of a data network having at least two configurable network devices, whose configuration parameters are deployable over the data network to the configurable network devices from an initial configuration state to a desired configuration state. At least one of the configurable network devices is from a first type of network devices, whose configuration requires a pre-defined series of at least one intermediate configuration state. A central deployment network device determines the actual state of each configurable network device for comparing with desired states of the configurable network devices, and in case of a difference, determines a subsequent intermediate and or respective subsequent desired configuration state wherein actual states of the configurable network devices are considered.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for automatically configuring network devices of a data network which includes at least two configurable network devices whose configuration parameters are deployable over the data network to configure the configurable network devices from a respective initial configuration state to a respective desired configuration state, at least one of the configurable network devices being from a first type of network devices whose configuration requires a predefined series of at least one intermediate configuration state in between the initial configuration state and the desired configuration state, the method comprising:
operating a central deployment network device with a central deployment software-tool running thereon to perform or initiate the following:
determining an actual state of each of the configurable network devices;
comparing the actual states with respective desired states of the configurable network devices;
in case of a difference, determining at least one respective subsequent intermediate or respective subsequent desired configuration state for at least one of the configurable network devices wherein the actual states of the configurable network devices are considered;
deploying respective configuration parameters for the respective subsequent intermediate or desired configuration state to the respective configurable network device; and
repeating the operation until all configurable network devices are configured as desired.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
deploying at least once, respective configuration parameters for a respective subsequent intermediate configuration state to a configurable network device.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the configurable network devices is from a further type of network devices, whose configuration requires a further pre-defined series of at least one intermediate configuration state in between the initial configuration state and the desired configuration state.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
temporarily eliminating a pre-defined intermediate configuration state out of a series of two or more pre-defined intermediate configuration states, when appropriate.

5. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
deploying respective configuration parameters for respective subsequent intermediate configuration states of different configurable network devices simultaneously, when appropriate.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a respective deployment device driver is provided for at least one of the configurable network devices for deploying respective configuration parameters thereto via the data network.

7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
displaying deployment progress on a user interface.

8. The method according to clam 7 , comprising:
manually influencing the deployment progress.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the configuration of a respective subsequent configuration state of a respective network device requires a network device internal pre-defined series of sub-ordinated configuration states until a subsequent configuration state is achieved.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the central deployment network device with central deployment tool running thereon is one of the at least two configurable network devices.

11. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
defining data of a desired network configuration with a system configuration tool.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one decentralized deployment network device with a sub-ordinated deployment software-tool running thereon is coordinated by the central deployment network device which itself coordinates configuring of a further subgroup of configurable network devices.

13. The method according to claim 12 , comprising:
deploying installment of the sub-ordinated deployment software-tool on one of the configurable network devices.

14. A system for automatically configuring network devices of a data network having at least two configurable network devices whose configuration parameters are deployable over the data network to the configurable network devices, the configurable network devices being configurable from a respective initial configuration state to a respective desired configuration state, the system comprising:
at least one configurable network device of a first type of network devices, whose configuration requires a pre-defined series of at least one intermediate configuration state in between an initial configuration state and a desired configuration state; and
a central deployment network device with a central deployment software-tool running thereon which is configured to initiate or perform computer implemented functions which include:
determining an actual state of each of the configurable network devices;
comparing the actual states with respective desired states of the configurable network devices;
in case of a difference, determining at least one respective subsequent intermediate or respective subsequent desired configuration state for at least one of the configurable network devices wherein the actual states of the configurable network devices are considered;
deploying respective configuration parameters for the respective subsequent intermediate or desired configuration state to the respective configurable network device; and
repeating the operation until all configurable network devices are configured as desired.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the configurable network devices is from a further type of network devices, whose configuration requires a further pre-defined series of at least one intermediate configuration state in between the initial configuration state and the desired configuration state.

16. The system according to claim 15 , comprising:
a user interface for a respective deployment device driver for at least one of the configurable network devices for deploying respective configuration parameters thereto via the data network.

17. The system according to claim 1 , comprising:
a user interface for displaying deployment progress.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the configuration of a respective subsequent configuration state of a respective network device requires a network device internal pre-defined series of sub-ordinated configuration states until a subsequent configuration state is achieved.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the central deployment network device with central deployment tool running thereon is one of the at least two configurable network devices.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein at least one decentralized deployment network device with a sub-ordinated deployment software-tool running thereon is coordinated by the central deployment network device which itself coordinates configuring of a further subgroup of configurable network devices.

Assignees

• Abb Technology Ag
• ABB Schwiez AG

Inventors

• Vorst Philipp
• Mahnke Wolfgang
• Messinger Christian
• Gutermuth Georg

Classifications

• H04L41/0866

  Checking the configuration · CPC title

• H04L41/0883

  Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system · CPC title

• Y02B60/34

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• H04L12/12 Primary

  Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof · CPC title

• H04L41/0886

  Fully automatic configuration · CPC title