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US 6,651,191 B1Granted
Testing of policy prior to deployment in a policy-based network management system
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsRobert C. Vacante, Peter Thomas Houck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method of testing a policy to detect problems and provide a mechanism for user feedback in advance of policy deployment in a policy-based network management system, so that network traffic will not be affected by errors in deployment.
Claims10
A pre-deployment policy testing mechanism in a policy-based network management system, comprising:
- abstract policies to be enforced by network target devices for the control of network traffic;
- an agent which translates the abstract policies into specific configuration commands;
- and
- a test interface which provides testing of the specific configuration commands on specific target devices prior to the policy deployment, wherein the test interface further comprises a backup target device for the testing.
1 more element
A pre-deployment policy testing mechanism in a policy-based network management system, comprising:
- abstract policies to be enforced by network target devices for the control of network traffic;
- an agent which translates the abstract policies into specific configuration commands;
- and
- a test interface which provides testing of the specific configuration commands on specific target devices prior to the policy deployment, wherein the test interface further comprises a remote storage to store an active configuration during the testing, and the testing is done on the active configuration.
1 more element
A method of testing a policy prior to deployment in a policy-based network management system, comprising:
- creating an abstract policy;
- storing the abstract policy;
- assigning the abstract policy to a specific target device;
- transferring the assigned policy to an agent;
- translating the assigned policy into specific configuration commands by the agent;
- testing the configuration commands prior to deployment by the specific target device, wherein the testing step is accomplished using a backup target device or a device emulator,
- wherein the testing step further comprises:
- detecting a backup target device by the agent;
- copying an active configuration to the backup target device;
- applying the configuration commands to the backup target device;
- returning the testing result to users;
- and
- resetting the test interface;
- and
- deploying the configuration commands by the specific target device.
12 more elements
A method of testing a policy prior to deployment in a policy-based network management system, comprising:
- creating an abstract policy;
- storing the abstract policy;
- assigning the abstract policy to a specific target device;
- transferring the assigned policy to an agent;
- translating the assigned policy into specific configuration commands by the agent;
- testing the configuration commands prior to deployment by the specific target device, wherein the testing step is accomplished without a backup target device or a device emulator,
- wherein the testing step further comprises:
- detecting a storage for a backup configuration;
- copying an active configuration to the backup configuration;
- applying the configuration commands to the backup configuration;
- and
- returning the testing result to users;
- and
- deploying the configuration commands by the specific target device.
11 more elements
A method of testing a policy prior to deployment in a policy-based network management system, comprising:
- creating an abstract policy;
- storing the abstract policy;
- assigning the abstract policy to a specific target device;
- transferring the assigned policy to an agent;
- translating the assigned policy into specific configuration commands by the agent;
- testing the configuration commands prior to deployment by the specific target device, wherein the testing step is accomplished without a backup target device or a device emulator,
- wherein the testing step further comprises:
- detecting a storage for a backup configuration;
- copying an active configuration to the backup configuration;
- applying the configuration commands to the active configuration;
- returning the testing result to users;
- and
- copying the backup configuration to the active configuration;
- and
- deploying the configuration commands by the specific target device.
12 more elements
A method of testing a policy prior to deployment in a policy-based network management system, comprising:
- creating an abstract policy;
- storing the abstract policy;
- assigning the abstract policy to a specific target device;
- transferring the assigned policy to an agent;
- translating the assigned policy into specific configuration commands by the agent;
- testing the configuration commands prior to deployment by the specific target device, wherein the testing step is accomplished without a backup target device or a device emulator,
- wherein the testing step further comprises:
- transferring an active configuration to a remote storage;
- applying the configuration commands to the active configuration;
- returning the testing result to users;
- and
- restoring the remote storage configuration into the active configuration;
- and
- deploying the configuration commands by the specific target device.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.