Method and apparatus for remote discovery of software applications in a networked environment

• US 20050102383A1
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sutler, Michael Brandon
• Granted Patent: US 7,318,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Tools (in the form of methods, apparatus and system) are provided for discovering software applications in a networked environment. A host machine in the networked environment is scanned for attributes that match one or more application fingerprints, in order to determine an identity of software applications on the machine.

Claims

1. A method for discovering software applications in a networked environment, comprising:

(a) retrieving one or more application fingerprints; and

(b) scanning a host machine in the networked environment for attributes that match the retrieved application fingerprints, in order to determine an identity of software applications on the host machine.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing one or more tests to determine the attributes of the host machine.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user interface, wherein the user interface provides a user with means to select one of the software applications identified in step (b) and means to launch the selected software application.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a report listing a plurality of application software which are identified in step (b).

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising probing the networked environment to identify a plurality of target host machines in the networked environment, and applying (a) and (b) to each identified target host machine to identify software applications on the target host machine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the software applications are identified without user intervention.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a program storage device readable by the computer system, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to perform the method claimed in claim 1.

8. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method claimed in claim 1.

9. A computer data signal transmitted in one or more segments in a transmission medium which embodies instructions executable by a computer to perform the method claimed in claim 1.

10. A method for discovering software applications in a networked environment, comprising:

(a) probing a host machine in the networked environment to determine attributes of the machine, and

(b) comparing the attributes of the host machine to one or more application fingerprints to determine an identity of software applications on the machine.

11. An apparatus for discovering software application in a networked environment having a plurality of host machines, the apparatus comprising:

an application fingerprints store for storing a plurality of application fingerprints;

an application discovery engine including means for retrieving the application fingerprints from the application fingerprints store, means for probing a selected, remote host machine in the networked environment to determine attributes of the machine, and means for comparing the attributes of the remote machine to the retrieved application fingerprints to identify software applications on the machine.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a management console, wherein the management console provides a user with means for managing the discovered software applications.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the management console includes means for launching selected ones of the discovered software applications.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the management console includes means for monitoring selected ones of the discovered software applications.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the management console includes means for defining a condition for triggering an alert on the management console, relating to a selected one of the discovered software applications.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the management console includes means for initiating backup of files through selected ones of the discovered software applications.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the management console includes means for querying a selected one of the software applications to determine when files for the software application were last backed up.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the management console includes means for managing access rights for selected ones of the discovered software applications.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a subnet management component through which a user defines bounds for the networked environment.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the bounds of the networked environment are defined by excluding selected host machines.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the bounds of the networked environment are defined by including selected host machines.

22. An apparatus for managing software applications in a networked environment, comprising:

a host discovery component, the host discovery component scanning the networked environment to identify host machines in the networked environment;

an application discovery component, the application discovery component probing each host machine identified by the host discovery component to determine attributes of the host machine, and comparing the attributes of the host machine to application fingerprints to discover a software application deployed on the host machine; and

a management console, wherein the management console includes means for managing the software applications discovered by the application discovery component in the networked environment.

23. The apparatus claimed in claim 22, wherein the application discovey component probes a host machine in the networked environment to determine attributes of the machine, and compares the attributes of the host machine to one or more application fingerprints to determine an identity of software applications on the machine.

24. The apparatus claimed in claim 22 further comprising a subnet management component, wherein the subnet management component provides means for a user to define a scope of the networked environment which is managed.

25. The apparatus claimed in claim 22 further comprising a method import component for adding means to the management console for managing a discovered software application.