A Method for Hardware Configuration Using Graphical Representations of Components

A Method for Hardware Configuration Using Graphical Representations of Components

More devices (particularly virtual ones) are being set up and configured using a software-based remote management console instead of adjusting the physical hardware components directly. This disconnect from the physical components makes it more challenging for users to understand what exactly is being changed and configured, as well as the current status of these devices.

Currently, the configuration of a device (physical or virtual) is done via text inputs only. Without some sort of visual representation, however, this can make it difficult for the user to understand the relationship of the components and what is being added, changed, or subtracted from a device.

The disclosed solution is a visual methodology which provides a visual representation of the originating device on one side, and a visual representation on the new device/configuration on the opposite side. Icons representing the components assigned to that device are overlaid on top of each device's visual representation. As the components are assigned to the new device/configuration, the icons on the devices change to show what components have been assigned to the new device/configuration and what components are left on the original device/configuration.

These different components may be represented graphically as icons within a management console for a larger system (which could be anything from one computer to a massive network of computers). By mapping the physical hardware components to i...