Election and use of configuration manager

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9692660-B2
Application number	US-201514862255-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2015
Priority date	Sep 23, 2015
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

In an approach for election of a manger for a network, a processor detects that a first set of management tasks is not running. A processor identifies at least a first node in a network and information about the first node. A processor determines that the first node is capable of performing the first set of management tasks based on the information about the first node. A processor elects the first node as a manager in the network to perform the first set of management tasks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for election of a managing node for a network, the method comprising:
detecting, by one or more processors, that a first set of background tasks is not running, wherein the first set of background tasks are re-entrant and have not failed;
identifying, by the one or more processors, at least a first node in a network and information about the first node, wherein the first node is capable of performing the first set of background tasks, determined, at least in part by information associated with the first node;
electing, by the one or more processors, the first node as the managing node in the network to perform the first set of background tasks; and
performing, by the one or more processors, the first set of background tasks by the first node to a first plurality of components within the network wherein the first set of background tasks comprise:
identifying, by the managing node, the first plurality of components of the network;
detecting, by the managing node, miswiring between at least two components of the first plurality of components of the network;
configuring, by the managing node, the network to correct the miswiring;
comparing, by the managing node, the first plurality of components of the network to a past configuration of a second plurality of components of the network;
based on the comparison of the first plurality of components to the past configuration determining, by the managing node, a change to the power status of the first plurality of components; and
controlling, by the managing node, power to the first plurality of components of the network, wherein controlling the power comprises switching the power to the component on and switching the power to the component off, such that, at least, if a component of the first plurality of components is not in use, the power to the component is switched off.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein electing the first node as the manager in the network to perform the first set of background tasks comprises:
confirming, by the one or more processors, the first node has an expected configuration;
comparing, by the one or more processors, the information about the first node to information about other nodes of a plurality of nodes within the network; and
based on a comparison of the information about the first node to the information about the other nodes of the plurality of nodes electing, by the one or more processors, the first node as the managing node in the network to perform the first set of background tasks.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
selecting, by the one or more processors, a second node of the network as an elector, wherein the elector controls the selection process for a node within the network to perform the first set of background tasks;
providing, by the one or more processors, the second node with the information about the other nodes of the plurality of nodes within the network; and
electing, by the one or more processors, a node of the plurality of nodes based on the information about the plurality of nodes.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting, by the one or more processors, the first node failed to perform at least one management task of the first set of background tasks; and
electing, by the one or more processors, a second node as a second managing node in the network to perform the first set of background tasks.

5. A computer program product for election of a managing node for a network, the computer program product comprising:
one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to detect that a first set of background tasks is not running, wherein the first set of background tasks are re-entrant and have not failed;
program instructions to identify at least a first node in a network and information about the first node, wherein the first node is capable of performing the first set of background tasks, determined, at least in part by information associated with the first node;
program instructions to elect the first node as the managing node in the network to perform the first set of background tasks; and
program instructions, to perform the first set of background tasks by the first node to a first plurality of components within the network wherein the first set of background tasks comprise:
program instructions to identify the first plurality of components of the network;
program instructions to detect miswiring between at least two components of the first plurality of components of the network;
program instructions to configure the network to correct the miswiring;
program instructions to compare the first plurality of components of the network to a past configuration of a second plurality of components of the network;
program instructions to determine a change to the power status of the first plurality of components based on the comparison of the first plurality of components to the past configuration; and
program instructions to control power to the first plurality of components of the network, wherein controlling the power comprises switching the power to the component on and switching the power to the component off, such that, at least, if a component of the first plurality of components is not in use, the power to the component is switched off.

6. The computer program product of claim 5 , wherein program instructions to elect the first node as the manager in the network to perform the first set of background tasks comprise:
program instructions to confirm the first node has an expected configuration;
program instructions to compare the information about the first node to information about other nodes of a plurality of nodes within the network; and
program instructions to elect, based on a comparison of the information about the first node to information about the other nodes of the plurality of nodes, the first node as the managing node in the network to perform the first set of background tasks.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, to select a second node of the network as an elector, wherein the elector controls the selection process for a node within the network to perform the first set of background tasks;
program instructions, stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, to provide the second node with the information about the other nodes of the plurality of nodes within the network; and
program instructions, stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, to elect a node of the plurality of nodes based on the information about the plurality of nodes.

8. The computer program product of claim 5 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, to detect the first node failed to perform at least one management task of the first set of background tasks; and
program instructions, stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, to elect a second node as a second managing node in the network to perform the first set of background tasks.

9. A computer system for election of a managing node for a network, the computer system comprising:
one or more computer processors, one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, and program instructions stored on the one or more computer non-transitory readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comp

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Friedman Alex
• Gavrilov Constantine

Classifications

• H04L41/0813

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

• H04L41/12 Primary

  Discovery or management of network topologies · CPC title

• H04L41/0816 Primary

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

• H04L41/042

  comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network · CPC title