A framework for integrated configuration management tools

IT infrastructure management is becoming increasingly complex due to the increasing size and complexity of IT infrastructures. This complexity leads to errors and subsequently to failure. Configuration errors caused by operator errors are a significant contributor to downtime. These errors are often introduced by failing to update all dependent configuration parameters. Interdependencies between parameters are often not explicitly documented and exist at all layers in an infrastructure. Existing configuration management tools fail to capture all relevant relations and as such are prone to introducing inconsistencies. In this paper we present the Infrastructure Management Platform (IMP), a framework for building integrated configuration management tools. IMP models all relevant interdependencies between parameters to support consistency when updating a configuration. IMP is an integrated management framework, managing relations between configuration parameters across all layers. Additionally it reuses existing management interfaces and deployment agents to facilitate integrated management. We have validated IMP in several case studies by implementing reusable configuration modules, and have demonstrated that tools built on top of IMP can significantly increase the abstraction level in which an infrastructure is configured.