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Exposing convergent processes

Most decision trees can be straightforwardly represented as a series of convergent processes performed in sequence, each with the purport, ``If it is broken, then fix it''. A typical convergent process consists of a test and perhaps a configuration change action. If the test succeeds, no action is performed; else an appropriate action is taken in order to ensure that the test succeeds at a later time.

The processes in most decision trees are not convergent in this sense. Sometimes it takes a bit of worthwhile effort to fit an existing decision tree to the convergent process model. For example, one might replace the decision tree above by three convergent processes:

F.
Test whether ftp is running, and report success or failure.
G.
Test whether the console of the ftp server responds, and power-cycle the server if it seems to have crashed.
H.
Test whether inetd is running on the ftp server, and manually restart inetd if it does not seem to be running.
Barriers in the decision tree that prevent unnecessary troubleshooting are no longer necessary. Step F need not fail before one tries steps G and H. None of these steps is damaging to a network that is functioning normally. Step F is a simple test of symptoms that is not even necessary to invoke, because the other two processes are the only `operative' ones that could potentially change the state of the network and repair a problem.

This convergent representation has advantages over the original decision tree representation. If all three of these processes report success, ftp is running as desired. It no longer matters which process is tried first, as the diagnostic procedures will not take action upon a problem unless the problem has been observed directly and a change is necessary.

In our study we have been unable to generate a network decision tree that cannot be represented as a set of convergent scripts. Network decision trees seldom exhibit more complexity than can be represented straightforwardly in this form. Even when they do, such trees can be expressed in this simpler form by encapsulating more complex processes inside larger ``convergent'' processes that replace several decisions.


next up previous
Next: The curse of precedence Up: Ineffective procedures Previous: Ineffective procedures
Alva L. Couch
2001-10-02