Processing multiple parallel high level configuration changes for managed network devices

A network management system (NMS) device that manages a plurality of network devices, the NMS device comprising:

• a first interface configured to receive high-level configuration for the plurality of network devices;
• a second interface configured to communicate low-level configuration to the plurality of network devices;
• and
• one or more processing units, implemented using digital logic circuitry, configured to:
• determine a first set of differences between an existing high-level configuration for the plurality of network devices and a first received high-level configuration, received via the first interface, for the plurality of network devices;
• determine a second set of differences between the existing high-level configuration for the plurality of network devices and a second received high-level configuration, received via the first interface, for the plurality of network devices, wherein the second received high-level configuration is received separately from the first received high-level configuration;
• translate the first set of differences to a first low-level configuration modification for the plurality of network devices;
• translate the second set of differences to a second low-level configuration modification for the plurality of network devices;
• merge the first low-level configuration modification and the second low-level configuration modification to produce a merged low-level configuration modification;
• and
• apply, via the second interface, the merged low-level configuration modification to low-level configuration of the plurality of network devices.

A network management system comprising:

• a plurality of network devices;
• a network management system (NMS) device configured to manage the plurality of network devices, the NMS device comprising:
• a first interface configured to receive high-level configuration for the plurality of network devices;
• a second interface configured to communicate low-level configuration to the plurality of network devices;
• and
• one or more processing units, implemented using digital logic circuitry, configured to:
• determine a first set of differences between an existing high-level configuration for the plurality of network devices and a first received high-level configuration, received via the first interface, for the plurality of network devices;
• determine a second set of differences between the existing high-level configuration for the plurality of network devices and a second received high-level configuration, received via the first interface, for the plurality of network devices, wherein the second received high-level configuration is received separately from the first received high-level configuration;
• translate the first set of differences to a first low-level configuration modification for the plurality of network devices;
• translate the second set of differences to a second low-level configuration modification for the plurality of network devices;
• merge the first low-level configuration modification and the second low-level configuration modification to produce a merged low-level configuration modification;
• and
• apply, via the second interface, the merged low-level configuration modification to low-level configuration of the plurality of network devices.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a network management system (NMS) device that manages a plurality of network devices to:

• determine a first set of differences between an existing high-level configuration for the plurality of network devices and a first received high-level configuration for the plurality of network devices;
• determine a second set of differences between the existing high-level configuration for the plurality of network devices and a second received high-level configuration for the plurality of network devices, wherein the second received high-level configuration is received separately from the first received high-level configuration;
• translate the first set of differences to a first low-level configuration modification for the plurality of network devices;
• translate the second set of differences to a second low-level configuration modification for the plurality of network devices;
• merge the first low-level configuration modification and the second low-level configuration modification to produce a merged low-level configuration modification;
• and
• apply the merged low-level configuration modification to low-level configuration of the plurality of network devices.