Systems and methods for construction multi-layer topological models of computer networks

• US 20030046390A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: He, Jun, Ball, Scott, Greenwald, Joseph, Caron, Jonathan P., Taylor, David K., Buia, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,752,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0631 using root cause analysis; using analysis of correlation between notifications, alarms or events based on decision criteria, e.g. hierarchy, tree or time analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

A network management system includes a fault diagnosis engine, a topology mapper, an impact analyzer and a help desk system. The topology mapper includes a discovery module, a memory, and a presentation module. The discovery module is constructed and arranged to discover network elements in a communications network. The memory constructed and arranged to store topology data received from the discovery module. The presentation module constructed and arranged to present data related to topology of the communication network.

Claims

1. The topology mapper, comprising

a discovery module constructed and arranged to discover network elements in a communications network;

a memory constructed and arranged to store topology data received from said discovery module; and

a presentation module constructed and arranged to present data related to topology of said communication network.

2. The topology mapper of claim 1, wherein said discovery module is further constructed to determine logical dependencies between network layers of said communications network.

3. The topology mapper of claim 2, wherein said discovery module is further constructed and arranged to determine dependencies between an application and a system in said communication network.

4. The topology mapper of claim 2, wherein said discovery module is further constructed to determine topological change in said network element.

5. The topology mapper of claim 1 further including a data log constructed and arranged to store information related over time to the function of said discovery module.

6. The topology mapper of claim 1, wherein said presentation module is constructed and arranged to display historical topology data and current topology data.

7. The topology mapper of claim 1, wherein said presentation module is constructed and arranged to display current topology data and intended topology data.

8. The topology mapper of claim 1, wherein said presentation module is constructed and arranged to display said topology data in a multi-layer format.

9. The topology mapper of claim 8 constructed and arranged to display interdependencies among elements of two of said network layers.

10. The topology mapper of claim 1 constructed and arranged to display topological change for the purposes of historical reconstruction.

11. A method for creating a multi-layer topological model, comprising the acts of:

discovering network elements in a communications network;

storing topology data received from said discovery module; and

presenting data related to topology of said communication network.

12. A method of providing topology data to a network management system, comprising the acts of:

discovering network elements in a communications network;

storing topology data received from said discovery module; and

presenting data related to topology of said communication network.

13. A network management system including a topology mapper comprising:

a discovery module constructed and arranged to discover network elements in a communications network;

a memory constructed and arranged to store topology data received from said discovery module; and

a presentation module constructed and arranged to present data related to topology of said communication network.