Methods and apparatus for storing and transmitting historical configuration data associated with information technology assets

An apparatus for storing historical configuration data associated with an information technology asset, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a storage device, the storage device storing a software program structured to cause the processor to:
• read a first configuration data set from a machine at a first time;
• store the first configuration data, wherein a first timestamp is stored with the first configuration data set;
• read a second configuration data set at a second time;
• replace the first configuration data set with the second configuration data set, wherein a second timestamp is stored with the second configuration data set, the second timestamp being chronologically after the first timestamp;
• read a third configuration data set at a third time;
• replace the second configuration data set with the third configuration data set, wherein a third timestamp is stored with the third configuration data set, the third timestamp being chronologically after the second timestamp;
• and
• persistently store a first reverse delta between the first configuration data set and the second configuration data set and a second reverse delta between the second configuration data set and the third configuration data set after the third configuration data set replaced the first configuration data set to allow for a restore of any one of the first configuration data set and the second configuration data set.

A machine readable media storing instructions structured to cause an apparatus for storing historical configuration data associated with an information technology asset to:

• read a first configuration data set from a machine at a first time;
• store the first configuration data, wherein a first timestamp is stored with the first configuration data set;
• read a second configuration data set at a second time;
• replace the first configuration data set with the second configuration data set, wherein a second timestamp is stored with the second configuration data set, the second timestamp being chronologically after the first timestamp;
• read a third configuration data set at a third time;
• replace the second configuration data set with the third configuration data set, wherein a third timestamp is stored with the third configuration data set, the third timestamp being chronologically after the second timestamp;
• and
• persistently store a first reverse delta between the first configuration data set and the second configuration data set and a second reverse delta between the second configuration data set and the third configuration data set after the third configuration data set replaced the first configuration data set to allow for a restore of any one of the first configuration data set and the second configuration data set.