System and method for mapping a network

• US 20020138608A1
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cronin, John Thomas, Canis, Walter, Gantenbein, Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A system and method for mapping a network. Specifically, the present invention provides a non-intrusive system and method for identifying network attached devices as well as the details thereof. Under the present invention, a collection apparatus having collection tools is communicated with the network. The collection tools are operated to collect information from the devices. The device information is then analyzed to identify details of the devices. Once identified, the details are aggregated into a report.

Claims

1. A system for mapping a network, comprising:

a collection system for collecting device information from devices on the network;

a timer system for collecting the device information at scheduled times;

an analysis system for analyzing the collected device information; and

a report system for generating a mapping report based on the analyzed device information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the collection system comprises at least one collection tool for collecting the device information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis system comprises rules for resolving any conflicts between device information collected by the collection tools.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the device information includes device identity, device addresses, device characteristics, software installed on the devices, and software characteristics of the devices on the network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the generated mapping report includes the device types, the device addresses, the device characteristics, the software installed on the devices, and the software characteristics.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a permission system for gaining user access to the network.

7. A system for mapping a network, comprising:

a collection system that comprises collection tools for collecting device information from devices on the network;

a timer system for collecting the device information at scheduled times;

an analysis system for analyzing the device information, wherein the analysis system includes rules for resolving any conflicts between device information collected by the collection tools; and

a report system for generating a mapping report based on the analyzed device information.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the device information includes device identity, device addresses, device characteristics, software installed on the devices, and software characteristics for the devices on the network.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mapping report generated by the report system identifies the device types, the device addresses, the device characteristics, the software installed on the devices, and the software characteristics.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the report system outputs the generated report.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a permission system for gaining user access to the network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the collection apparatus comprises at least one processor.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the analyzing step further comprises the step of resolving any conflicts between device information collected by different collection tools.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the reporting step comprises the step of generating a mapping report based on the analyzed device information.

18. The program product of claim 17, wherein the collection system comprises at least one collection tool for collecting device information.

19. The program product of claim 17, wherein the analysis system comprises rules for resolving any conflicts between device information collecting the collection tools.

20. The program product of claim 17, wherein the device information includes device identity, device addresses, device characteristics, software installed on the devices, and software characteristics of the devices on the network.

21. The program product of claim 20, wherein the generated mapping report identifies the device types, the device addresses, the device characteristics, the software installed on the devices, and the software characteristics.

22. The program product of claim 17, further comprising a permission system for gaining user access to the network and the devices.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the collection system comprises at least one collection tool for collecting device information.

25. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the analysis system comprises rules for resolving any conflicts between device information collected by the collection tools.

26. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the device information includes device identity, device addresses, device characteristics, software installed on the devices, and software characteristics of the devices on the network.

27. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the generated mapping report identifies the device types, the device addresses, the device characteristics, the software installed on the devices, and the software characteristics.

28. The computer system of claim 23, further comprising a permission system for gaining user access to the network.

12. A method for mapping a network, comprising the steps of:

installing collection tools on a collection apparatus;

communicating the collection apparatus with the network;

operating the collection tools to collect device information from devices on the network;

analyzing the device information; and

reporting the analyzed device information.

14. The method of clam 12, wherein the device information includes device types, device addresses, device characteristics, software installed on the devices, and software characteristics for the devices on the network.

17. A program product stored on a recordable media for mapping a network, which when executed, comprises:

a collection system for collecting device information from devices on the network;

a timer system for collecting the device information at scheduled times;

an analysis system for analyzing the collected device information; and

a report system for generating a mapping report based on the analyzed device information.

23. A computer system for mapping a network, comprising:

a processor;

a computer system memory;

an interface; and

a software product stored on the computer system memory and executable by the processor, wherein the software product comprises;

a collection system for collecting device information from devices on the network;

a timer system for collecting the device information at scheduled times;

an analysis system for analyzing the collected device information; and

a report system for generating a mapping report based on the analyzed device information.