Method and apparatus for multi-realm system modeling

• US 20050021742A1
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vmware LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: System Management Arts, Inc. (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Kliger, Shmuel, Yardeni, Eyal, Florissi, Patricia Gomes Soares, DeSimone, Salvatore, Yemini, Shaula Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for multi-realm system modeling (MRSM) for dividing systems into components, defining realms containing objects representing system components, optionally defining relationships between the system components, defining associations between realms sufficient to unify objects in the realms when needed, and unifying objects in the realms based on the associations. The realms are defined in a way that enables unified processing for various applications of MRSM.

Claims

62. A model of a system having one or more components, the model comprising:

a plurality of realms having objects therein representing said one or more components or relationships between components; and

associations between realms sufficient to unify objects in the realms.

1. A method for modeling a system having one or more components, comprising:

(a) dividing said system into one or more components;

(b) defining realms containing objects representing said one or more components;

(c) defining associations between realms sufficient to unify objects in said realms; and

(d) unifying objects in said realms based on said associations.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) is manual.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) is automated based on given properties of said one or more components.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) is manual.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) is automated based on given properties of said objects.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises identifying objects in different realms representing the same component.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the objects in different realms are generally identical.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the objects in different realms are different.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the objects in different realms have different attributes.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises defining a relationship object between objects in different realms.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on selecting subsets of components in said system.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on different perspectives of the same component in said system.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on different levels of abstraction of the same component in said system.

44. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises defining said plurality of realms based on one or more models of said system or portions thereof.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein said realms are defined by adding associations to one or more pre-existing models of the system.

46. The method of claim 1 wherein said system is an enterprise management system.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said realms comprise at least one realm modeling business service components and at least one realm modeling infrastructure components.

48. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises an engineering system.

49. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises a distributed system.

50. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises an application server system.

51. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises a networked system.

52. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises an optical network.

53. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises a wireless network.

54. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises an IP network.

55. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises a layered network.

56. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises a Multi-Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network (MPLS VPN).

57. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises a messaging system.

58. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises an ERP system.

59. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises a dynamic system.

60. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises a utility computing system, an autonomic computing system, a grid system, an on-demand system or an adaptive system.

61. The method of claim 1 wherein said system comprises a network, and wherein said plurality of realms comprises at least one realm modeling network infrastructure components and at least one realm modeling network security components.

63. The model of claim 62 wherein said associations comprise objects in different realms representing the same component.

64. The model of claim 63 wherein the objects in different realms are generally identical.

65. The model of claim 63 wherein the objects in different realms are different.

66. The model of claim 65 wherein the objects in different realms have different attributes.

67. The model of claim 62 wherein said associations comprise a relationship object between objects in different realms.

68. The model of claim 62 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on selecting subsets of components in said system.

69. The model of claim 62 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on different perspectives of the same component in said system.

70. The model of claim 62 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on different levels of abstraction of the same component in said system.

71. The model of claim 62 wherein said system is an enterprise management system.

72. The model of claim 71 wherein said realms comprise one or more business service realms, one or more application realms, and/or one or more infrastructure realms.

72_. a. The model of claim 72 wherein said realms further include at least one realm modeling application components.

73. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises an engineering system.

74. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises a distributed system.

75. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises an application server system.

76. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises a networked system.

77. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises an optical network.

78. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises a wireless network.

79. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises an IP network.

80. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises a layered network.

81. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises a Multi-Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network (MPLS VPN).

82. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises a messaging system.

83. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises an ERP system.

84. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises a dynamic system.

85. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises a static system.

86. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises a utility computing system, an autonomic computing system, a grid system, an on-demand system or an adaptive system.

87. The model of claim 62 wherein said system comprises a network, and wherein said plurality of realms comprises at least one realm modeling network infrastructure components and at least one realm modeling network security components.

92. The computer program product of claim 302 wherein the unified processing identifies infrastructure problems impacting applications, applications impacting business services, or infrastructure problems impacting business services.

299. The method of claim 1 wherein Step (d) is manual.

300. The method of claim 1 wherein Step (d) is automated.

302. The method of claim 47 wherein said realms further include at least one realm modeling application components.

72-1. The model of claim 71 wherein said realms comprise at least one realm modeling business service components and at least one realm modeling infrastructure components.

88. A computer program product in computer-readable media for modeling a system having one or more components, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

(a) divide said system into one or more components

(b) define a plurality of realms including objects therein representing said one or more components;

(b) define associations between realms sufficient to unify the realms; and

(c) unify objects in the realms based on said associations.

89. The computer program product of claim 88 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to perform unified processing of two or more realms by performing processing in each of said two or more realms, and combining results thereof based on said associations of said two or more realms.

90. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system is an enterprise management system.

91. The computer program product of claim 90 wherein said realms comprise at least one realm modeling business service components and at least one realm modeling infrastructure components.

93. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises an engineering system.

94. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises a distributed system.

95. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises an application server system.

96. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises a networked system.

97. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises an optical network.

98. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises a wireless network.

99. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises an IP network.

100. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises a layered network.

101. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises a Multi-Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network (MPLS VPN).

102. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises a messaging system.

103. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises an ERP system.

104. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises a dynamic system.

105. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises a static system.

106. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises a utility computing system, an autonomic computing system, a grid system, an on-demand system or an adaptive system.

107. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said system comprises a network, and wherein said plurality of realms comprises at least one realm modeling network infrastructure components and at least one realm modeling network security components.

108. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein (a) is automated based on given properties of said one or more components.

109. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein (c) is automated based on given properties of said objects.

110. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein (c) comprises identifying objects in different realms representing the same component.

111. The computer program product of claim 110 wherein the objects in different realms are generally identical.

112. The computer program product of claim 110 wherein the objects in different realms are different.

113. The computer program product of claim 112 wherein the objects in different realms have different attributes.

114. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein (c) comprises defining a relationship object between objects in different realms.

115. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on selecting subsets of components in said system.

116. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on different perspectives of the same component in said system.

117. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on different levels of abstraction of the same component in said system.

118. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said unified processing comprises monitoring said system.

119. The computer program product of claim 89 said unified processing comprises analyzing said system.

120. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said unified processing comprises control of said system.

121. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said unified processing comprises simulation of said system.

122. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said unified processing comprises visualization of said system.

123. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said unified processing comprises configuration of said system.

124. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said unified processing comprises provisioning of said system.

125. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said unified processing comprises design of said system.

126. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said unified processing comprises propagation of behaviors of said system across realms.

127. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said unified processing comprises root cause analysis of events in said system.

128. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein unified processing comprises correlation of events of said system.

129. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein (a) comprises defining said plurality of realms based on one or more models of said system or portions thereof.

130. The computer program product of claim 129 wherein said realms are defined by adding associations to said one or more models.

131. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system is an enterprise management system.

132. The computer program product of claim 131 wherein said realms comprise one or more business service realms, one or more application realms, and/or one or more infrastructure realms.

133. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises an engineering system.

134. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises a distributed system.

135. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises an application server system.

136. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises a networked system.

137. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises an optical network.

138. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises a wireless network.

139. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises an IP network.

140. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises a layered network.

141. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises a Multi-Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network (MPLS VPN).

142. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises a messaging system.

143. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises an ERP system.

144. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises a dynamic system.

145. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises a utility computing system, an autonomic computing system, a grid system, an on-demand system or an adaptive system.

146. The computer program product of claim 88 wherein said system comprises a network, and wherein said plurality of realms comprises at least one realm modeling network infrastructure components and at least one realm modeling network security components.

303. The computer program product of claim 91 wherein said realms further include at least one realm modeling application components.

304. The computer program product of claim 91 wherein the unified processing identifies infrastructure problems impacting business services.

305. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein said unified processing comprises for event correlation of said system.

147. An apparatus for modeling a system having one or more components, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for dividing said system into one or more components

(b) means for defining a plurality of realms including objects therein representing said one or more components;

(b) means for defining associations between realms sufficient to unify the realms; and

(c) means for unifying objects in the realms based on said associations.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of unified processing of two or more realms by performing processing in each of said two or more realms, and combining results thereof based on said associations of said two or more realms.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said system is an enterprise management system.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said realms comprise at least one realm modeling business service components and at least one realm modeling infrastructure components.

5. The method of claim 297 wherein the unified processing identifies infrastructure problems impacting applications, applications impacting business services, or infrastructure problems impacting business services.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises an engineering system.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises a distributed system.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises an application server system.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises a networked system.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises an optical network.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises a wireless network.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises an IP network.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises a layered network.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises a Multi-Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network (MPLS VPN).

15. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises a messaging system.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises an ERP system.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises a dynamic system.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises a static system.

19. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises a utility computing system, an autonomic computing system, a grid system, an on-demand system or an adaptive system.

20. The method of claim 2 wherein said system comprises a network, and wherein said plurality of realms comprises at least one realm modeling network infrastructure components and at least one realm modeling network security components.

33. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises monitoring said system.

34. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises analyzing said system.

35. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises control of said system.

36. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises simulation of said system.

37. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises visualization of said system.

38. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises configuration of said system.

39. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises provisioning of said system.

40. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises design of said system.

41. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises propagation of behaviors of said system of said system across realms.

42. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises root cause analysis of events in said system of events in said system.

43. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises correlation of events of said system.

148. The apparatus of claim 147 further comprising means for unified processing of two or more realms by performing processing in each of said two or more realms, and combining results thereof based on said associations of said two or more realms.

149. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system is an enterprise management system.

150. The apparatus of claim 149 wherein said realms comprise one or more business service realms, one or more application realms, and/or one or more infrastructure realms.

151. The apparatus of claim 150 wherein the combined results identify infrastructure problems impacting applications, applications impacting business services, or infrastructure problems impacting business services.

152. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises an engineering system.

153. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises a distributed system.

154. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises an application server system.

155. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises a networked system.

156. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises an optical network.

157. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises a wireless network.

158. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises a layered network.

159. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises a Multi-Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network (MPLS VPN).

160. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises a messaging system.

161. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises an ERP system.

162. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises a dynamic system.

163. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises a static system.

164. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises a utility computing system, an autonomic computing system, a grid system, an on-demand system or an adaptive system.

165. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said system comprises a network, and wherein said plurality of realms comprises at least one realm modeling network infrastructure components and at least one realm modeling network security components.

166. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein (a) is automated based on given properties of said one or more components.

167. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein (c) is automated based on given properties of said objects.

168. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein (c) comprises means for identifying objects in different realms representing the same component.

169. The apparatus of claim 168 wherein the objects in different realms are generally identical.

170. The apparatus of claim 168 wherein the objects in different realms are different.

171. The apparatus of claim 170 wherein the objects in different realms have different attributes.

172. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein (c) comprises means for defining a relationship object between objects in different realms.

173. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on selecting subsets of components in said system.

174. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on different perspectives of the same component in said system.

175. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on different levels of abstraction of the same component in said system.

176. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein unified processing comprises monitoring said system.

177. The apparatus of claim 148 unified processing comprises analyzing said system.

178. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein unified processing comprises control of said system.

179. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein unified processing comprises simulation of said system.

180. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein unified processing comprises visualization of said system.

181. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein unified processing comprises configuration of said system.

182. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein unified processing comprises provisioning of said system.

183. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein unified processing comprises design of said system.

184. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein unified processing comprises propagation of behaviors of said system across realms.

185. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein unified processing comprises root cause analysis of events in said system.

186. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein unified processing comprises correlation of events of said system.

187. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein (a) comprises means for defining said plurality of realms based on one or more models of said system or portions thereof.

188. The apparatus of claim 187 wherein said realms are defined by adding associations to said one or more models.

189. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system is an enterprise management system.

190. The apparatus of claim 189 wherein said realms comprise one or more business service realms, one or more application realms, and/or one or more infrastructure realms.

191. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises an engineering system.

192. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises a distributed system.

193. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises an application server system.

194. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises a networked system.

195. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises an optical network.

196. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises a wireless network.

197. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises an IP network.

198. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises a layered network.

199. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises a Multi-Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network (MPLS VPN).

200. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises a messaging system.

201. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises an ERP system.

202. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises a dynamic system.

203. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises a utility computing system, an autonomic computing system, a grid system, an on-demand system or an adaptive system.

204. The apparatus of claim 147 wherein said system comprises a network, and wherein said plurality of realms comprises at least one realm modeling network infrastructure components and at least one realm modeling network security components.

297. The method of claim 4 wherein said realms further include at least one realm modeling application components.

298. The method of claim 4 wherein the unified processing identifies infrastructure problems impacting business services.

301. The method of claim 2 wherein said unified processing comprises event correlation of said system.

306. The apparatus of claim 150 wherein said realms further include at least one realm modeling application components.

307. The apparatus of claim 306 wherein the unified processing identifies infrastructure problems impacting applications, applications impacting business services, or infrastructure problems impacting business services.

308. The apparatus of claim 148 wherein said unified processing comprises event correlation of said system.

150-2. The apparatus of claim 149 wherein said realms comprise at least one realm modeling business service components and at least one realm modeling infrastructure components.

151-3. The apparatus of claim 150 wherein the unified processing identifies infrastructure problems impacting business services.

205. An apparatus for performing processing relating to a system having a plurality of components, comprising:

(a) a storage device for storing a model of the system, the model comprising a plurality of realms having objects therein representing said one or more components or relationships between components; and

associations between realms sufficient to unify objects in the realms; and

(b) means for unified processing of two or more realms by performing processing in each of said two or more realms, and combining results thereof based on said associations of said two or more realms.

206. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system is an enterprise management system.

207. The apparatus of claim 206 wherein said realms comprise at least one realm modeling business service components and at least one realm modeling infrastructure components.

208. The apparatus of claim 309 wherein the unified processing identifies infrastructure problems impacting applications, applications impacting business services, or infrastructure problems impacting business services.

209. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises an engineering system.

210. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises a distributed system.

211. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises an application server system.

212. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises a networked system.

213. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises an optical network.

214. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises a wireless network.

215. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises an IP network.

216. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises a layered network.

217. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises a Multi-Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network (MPLS VPN).

218. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises a messaging system.

219. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises an ERP system.

220. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises a dynamic system.

221. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises a static system.

222. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises a utility computing system, an autonomic computing system, a grid system, an on-demand system or an adaptive system.

223. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said system comprises a network, and wherein said plurality of realms comprises at least one realm modeling network infrastructure components and at least one realm modeling network security components.

224. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein unified processing comprises monitoring said system.

225. The apparatus of claim 205 unified processing comprises analyzing said system.

226. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein unified processing comprises control of said system.

227. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein unified processing comprises simulation of said system.

228. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein unified processing comprises visualization of said system.

229. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein unified processing comprises configuration of said system.

230. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein unified processing comprises provisioning of said system.

231. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein unified processing comprises design of said system.

232. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein unified processing comprises propagation of behaviors of said system across realms.

233. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein unified processing comprises root cause analysis of events in said system.

234. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein unified processing comprises correlation of events of said system.

309. The apparatus of claim 207 wherein said realms further include at least one realm modeling application components.

310. The apparatus of claim 207 wherein the unified processing identifies infrastructure problems impacting business services.

311. The apparatus of claim 205 wherein said unified processing comprises event correlation of said system.

236. A method of modeling a system having one or more components, comprising:

(a) defining a plurality of realms including objects therein representing said one or more components;

(b) creating associations between realms sufficient to unify the realms; and

(c) unifying objects in the realms.

237. The method of claim 236 further comprising the step of unified processing of two or more realms by performing processing in each of said two or more realms, and combining results thereof based on said associations of said two or more realms.

238. The method of claim 237 wherein said system is an enterprise management system.

239. The method of claim 238 wherein said realms comprise at least one realm modeling business service components and at least one realm modeling infrastructure components.

240. The method of claim 239 wherein said realms further include at least one realm modeling application components.

241. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises an engineering system.

242. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises a distributed system.

243. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises an application server system.

244. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises a networked system.

245. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises an optical network.

246. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises a wireless network.

247. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises an IP network.

248. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises a layered network.

249. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises a Multi-protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network (MPLS VPN).

250. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises a messaging system.

251. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises an ERP system.

252. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises a dynamic system.

253. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises a static system.

254. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises a utility computing system, an autonomic computing system, a grid system, an on-demand system or an adaptive system.

255. The method of claim 237 wherein said system comprises a network, and wherein said plurality of realms comprises at least one realm modeling network infrastructure components and at least one realm modeling network security components.

256. The method of claim 236 wherein step (a) is manual.

257. The method of claim 236 wherein step (a) is automated based on given properties of said components.

258. The method of claim 236 wherein step (b) is manual.

259. The method of claim 236 wherein step (b) is automated based on given properties of said objects.

260. The method of claim 236 wherein step (b) comprises identifying objects in different realms representing the same component.

261. The method of claim 269 wherein the objects in different realms are generally identical.

262. The method of claim 261 wherein the objects in different realms are different.

263. The method of claim 262 wherein the objects in different realms have different attributes.

264. The method of claim 236 wherein step (b) comprises defining a relationship object between objects in different realms.

265. The method of claim 236 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on selecting subsets of components in said system.

266. The method of claim 236 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on different perspectives of the same component in said system.

267. The method of claim 236 wherein said plurality of realms are defined based on different levels of abstraction of the same component in said system.

268. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises monitoring said system.

269. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises analyzing said system.

270. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises control of said system.

271. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises simulation of said system.

272. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises visualization of said system.

273. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises configuration of said system.

274. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises provisioning of said system.

275. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises design of said system.

276. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises propagation of behaviors of said system across realms.

277. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises root cause analysis of events in said system.

278. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises correlation of events of said system.

279. The method of claim 236 wherein step (a) comprises defining said plurality of realms based on one or more models of said system or portions thereof.

280. The method of claim 279 wherein said realms are defined by adding associations to said one or more models.

281. The method of claim 236 wherein said system is an enterprise management system.

282. The method of claim 281 wherein said realms comprise one or more business service realms, one or more application realms, and/or one or more infrastructure realms.

283. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises an engineering system.

284. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises a distributed system.

285. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises an application server system.

286. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises a networked system.

287. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises an optical network.

288. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises a wireless network.

289. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises an IP network.

290. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises a layered network.

291. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises a Multi-protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network (MPLS VPN).

292. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises a messaging system.

293. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises an ERP system.

294. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises a dynamic system.

295. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises a utility computing system, an autonomic computing system, a grid system, an on-demand system or an adaptive system.

296. The method of claim 236 wherein said system comprises a network, and wherein said plurality of realms comprises at least one realm modeling network infrastructure components and at least one realm modeling network security components.

312. The method of claim 240 wherein the unified processing identifies infrastructure problems impacting applications, applications impacting business services, or infrastructure problems impacting business services.

313. The apparatus of claim 239 wherein the unified processing identifies infrastructure problems impacting business services.

314. The method of claim 237 wherein said unified processing comprises event correlation of said system.

315. The method of claim 236 wherein Step (c) is manual.

316. The method of claim 236 wherein Step (c) is automated.