Incremental update of virtual devices in a modeled network
View Patent ↗In a network simulation system, a compiler is provided to support incremental updates to the configuration data associated with the modeled network. Each incremental change is identified and logged, to facilitate configuration management and select roll-backs to prior configurations. Because each update is processed and managed individually, and integrated automatically into the overall system configuration, the overhead associated with keeping a configuration database up-to-date is substantially reduced, thereby increasing the likelihood that all configuration changes will be reflected in the modeled network. In a preferred embodiment, the same data is used to incrementally update the configuration model and to execute the change in the actual system, thereby further reducing the overhead and assuring a correspondence between the modeled network and the actual network.
1. A system that comprises a compiler that is configured to:
receive a baseline set of configuration data associated with one or more devices in a modeled network,
receive, independent of the baseline set and independent of each other, one or more configuration data items associated with the one or more devices,
produce a configuration dataset corresponding to the baseline set of configuration data and the one or more configuration data items, without a corresponding modification to the baseline set,
compile the baseline set and produce therefrom a baseline dataset, and
produce the configuration dataset by modifying the baseline dataset based on the one or more configuration data items.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the compiler includes a consistency checker that is configured to identify inconsistencies between and among the baseline set and the one or more configuration data items.
3. The system of claim 1 , including a network simulator that is configured to simulate the modeled network using the configuration dataset to control operation of the one or more devices in the modeled network.
4. The system of claim 1 , including a user interface that is configured to facilitate identification of each of the one or more configuration data items.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the user interface is configured to display:
a list of each of the one or more configuration data items, and
a list of each of the one or more devices in the modeled network.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate selection of one or more select configuration data items of the one or more configuration data items, and to identify one or more select devices of the one or more devices corresponding to the one or more select configuration data items.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate editing of the one or more select configuration data items.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate creation of new configuration data items for inclusion in the one or more configuration data items.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate creation of instructions for modifying configuration settings in an actual device in an actual network corresponding to the modeled network.
10. The system of claim 4 , wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate selection of one or more select configuration data items.
11. The system of claim 4 , wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate editing of one or more select configuration data items.
12. The system of claim 4 , wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate creation of new configuration data items for inclusion in the one or more other configuration data items.
13. The system of claim 4 , wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate creation of instructions for modification of configuration settings in an actual device in an actual network corresponding to the modeled network.
14. The system of claim 4 , wherein the user interface includes one or more filters that are configured to identify a select set of devices from the one or more devices.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the compiler is configured to provide an other configuration dataset based on the select set of devices.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the user interface is configured to delete one or more configuration data items of the one or more configuration data items based on the select set of devices.
17. The system of claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more configuration data items includes a time-based indicator, and the user interface includes one or more filters that are configured to identify a select set of configuration data items based on the time-based indicator of each of the one or more configuration data items.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the user interface is configured to create a new baseline set of configuration data items based on the select set of configuration data items.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the user interface is configured to modify an ordering of the one or more configuration data items based on the select set of configuration data items.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the compiler is configured to provide an other configuration dataset based on the select set of configuration data items.
21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the user interface is configured to delete one or more configuration data items of the one or more configuration data items based on the select set of configuration data items.
22. A method comprising:
receiving, at a network analysis machine, a baseline set of configuration data associated with one or more devices in a modeled network,
receiving, independent of the baseline set and independent of each other, one or more configuration data items associated with the one or more devices, and
producing, by the network analysis machine, a configuration dataset corresponding to the baseline set of configuration data and the one or more configuration data items, without a corresponding modification to the baseline set,
wherein producing the configuration dataset includes:
compiling the baseline set to produce therefrom a baseline dataset, and
modifying the baseline dataset based on the one or more configuration data items.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein producing the configuration dataset includes identifying inconsistencies between and among the baseline set and the one or more configuration data items.
24. The method of claim 22 , including simulating the modeled network using the configuration dataset to control operation of the one or more devices in the modeled network.
25. The method of claim 22 , including displaying a list of each of the one or more configuration data items, and a list of each of the one or more devices in the modeled network.
26. The method of claim 25 , including receiving a selection of one or more select configuration data items of the one or more configuration data items, and identifying one or more select devices of the one or more devices corresponding to the one or more select configuration data items.
27. The method of claim 22 , wherein creating instructions for modifying configuration settings in an actual device in an actual network corresponding to the modeled network.
28. The method of claim 22 , including providing a user interface that is configured to facilitate identification of each of the one or more configuration data items.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate selection of one or more select configuration data items.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate editing of one or more select configuration data items.
31. The method of claim 28 , wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate creation of new configuration data items for inclusion in the one or more other configuration data items.
32. The method of claim 28 , wherein the user interface includes one or more filters that are configured to identify a select set of configuration data items from the one or more configuration data items.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein at least one of the one or more filters are configured to identify a select set of devices from the one or more devices.
34. The method of claim 32 , including providing an other configuration dataset based on the select set of configuration data items.
35. The method of claim 32 , including deleting one or more configuration data items of the one or more configuration data items based on the select set of configuration data items.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein each of the one or more configuration data items includes a time-based indicator, and the one or more filters include a time-based filter that identifies the select set based on the time-based indicator of each of the one or more configuration data items.
37. The method of claim 32 , including creating a new baseline set of configuration data items based on the select set of configuration data items.
38. The method of claim 32 , wherein the user interface is configured to modify an ordering of the one or more configuration data items based on the select set of configuration data items.
39. A computer readable medium that stores a program that, when executed on a processor, causes the processor to:
receive a compiled baseline dataset corresponding to configuration data associated with the modeled network,
display a plurality of configuration data items associated with one or more devices in a modeled network,
receive, independent of the baseline set and independent of each other, a selection of a select set of configuration data items of the plurality of configuration data items,
compile the select set of configuration data items to create one or more device datasets, and
create a configuration dataset corresponding to the modeled network based on the device datasets,
wherein creating the configuration dataset includes modifying the baseline dataset based on the device datasets.
40. The medium of claim 39 , wherein creating the configuration dataset includes identifying inconsistencies between and among the baseline set and the device datasets.
41. The medium of claim 39 , wherein the program causes the processor to simulate the modeled network using the configuration dataset to control operation of the one or more devices in the modeled network.
42. The medium of claim 39 , wherein the program causes the processor to display a list of each of the one or more configuration data items, and a list of each of the one or more devices in the modeled network.
43. The medium of claim 39 , wherein the program causes the processor to identify one or more select devices of the one or more devices corresponding to the select set of configuration data items.
44. The medium of claim 39 , wherein the program causes the processor to provide an interface that facilitates at least one of:
editing a configuration data item of the select set of configuration data items;
deleting a configuration data item of the select set of configuration data items;
creating new configuration data items for inclusion in the plurality of configuration data items;
modifying configuration settings in an actual device in an actual network corresponding to the modeled network;
modifying an ordering of the display of the one or more configuration data items;
filtering a collection of configuration data items to provide the plurality of configuration items that are displayed; and
filtering an entirety of the one or more devices in the modeled network to provide the plurality of configuration items that are displayed.
45. The medium of claim 39 , wherein the program causes the processor to produce an other configuration dataset based on the select set of configuration data items.
46. The medium of claim 39 , wherein each of the plurality of configuration data items includes a time-based indicator, and the program enables the processor to:
receive a time-based criteria, and
select the select set of configuration data items based on the time-based criteria and the time-based indicator of each of the one or more configuration data items.
47. A system that comprises a compiler that is configured to:
receive a baseline set of configuration data associated with one or more devices in a modeled network,
receive, independent of the baseline set and independent of each other, one or more configuration data items associated with the one or more devices,
produce a configuration dataset corresponding to the baseline set of configuration data and the one or more configuration data items, without a corresponding modification to the baseline set, and
compile a composite of the baseline set and the one or more configuration data items to produce the configuration dataset.
48. The system of claim 47 , wherein the compiler includes a consistency checker that is configured to identify inconsistencies between and among the baseline set and the one or more configuration data items.
49. The system of claim 47 , including a network simulator that is configured to simulate the modeled network using the configuration dataset to control operation of the one or more devices in the modeled network.
50. A method comprising:
receiving, at a network analysis machine, a baseline set of configuration data associated with one or more devices in a modeled network,
receiving, independent of the baseline set and independent of each other, one or more configuration data items associated with the one or more devices, and
producing, by the network analysis machine, a configuration dataset corresponding to the baseline set of configuration data and the one or more configuration data items, without a corresponding modification to the baseline set,
wherein producing the configuration dataset includes compiling a composite of the baseline set and the one or more configuration data items.
51. The method of claim 50 , wherein producing the configuration dataset includes identifying inconsistencies between and among the baseline set and the one or more configuration data items.