System and method providing network object performance information with threshold selection

• US 20050223091A1
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Sapiro, Lee W., Zahavi, William Z., Arden, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/812,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20050223091A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• 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 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring

Abstract

A method and apparatus displays time-based alert information for network objects in a summary view. In another embodiment, a method and apparatus displays time-based alert information in a topographical map display. In a further embodiment, a method and apparatus displays time-based alert information in a graphical display for one or more network objects. In another embodiment, a method and apparatus displays time-based alert information in a graphical display for one or more network objects along with statistical bands. In a further embodiment, a method and apparatus displays time-based alert information in a graphical display with thresholds set with historical data.

Claims

1. A method of displaying alert information for objects in a network, comprising:

receiving a selection of a first one of the network objects;

receiving a selection of a first one of a plurality of metrics associated with the first one of the network objects;

receiving a selection of a first threshold for the first one of the plurality of metrics; and

storing performance information for the network objects at predetermined time intervals;

activating a first trigger when the first threshold is exceeded;

identifying the first one of the network objects as a potential root cause of a network problem; and

displaying a topographical network map including the first one of the network objects.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including receiving a setting for the first threshold for a predetermined time interval.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time interval includes one or more of a day, each hour of a day, and historical data.

4. The method according to claim 2, further including receiving an association of the first threshold with one or more days of the week.

5. The method according to claim 1, further including receiving threshold values for the first one of the plurality of metrics for a plurality of time intervals.

6. The method according to claim 5, further including receiving threshold values for each hour of a day.

7. The method according to claim 1, further including receiving a second threshold for the first one of the plurality of metrics such that the first threshold provides a maximum and the second threshold provides a minimum.

8. The method according to claim 1, further including receiving a selection for the first threshold based upon a selection of historical data for a predetermined time period.

9. The method according to claim 1, further including receiving a second one of the plurality of metrics associated with the first one of the network objects, receiving a selection of a second threshold for the second one of the plurality of metrics, and defining a trigger activation based upon a logical combination of the first and second thresholds.

10. The method according to claim 1, further including receiving a selection of a second one of the network objects, receiving a selection of a first one of a plurality of metrics associated with the second one of the network objects, receiving a selection of a second threshold for the first one of the plurality of metrics associated with the second one of the network objects, and defining a trigger based upon a logical relationship of the first and second thresholds.

11. The method according to claim 1, further including identifying the potential root cause by associating a first visual indicator to the first one of the network objects.

12. The method according to claim 1, further including displaying a first region for a first type of network object and a second region for a second type of network object.

13. The method according to claim 1, further including displaying a plurality of cells corresponding to the time intervals.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein certain ones of displayed network objects are expandable to show devices associated therewith.

15. The method according to claim 1, further including displaying performance data for the first one of the network objects.

16. The method according to claim 1, further including displaying the first threshold with stored performance information.

17. The method according to claim 1, further including displaying statistical bands for a metric associated with the first one of the network objects.

18. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including program instructions to enable display of trigger information for objects in a network by;

receiving a selection of a first one of the network objects;

receiving a selection of a first one of a plurality of metrics associated with the first one of the network objects;

receiving a selection of a first threshold for the first one of the plurality of metrics; and

storing performance information for the network objects at predetermined time intervals;

activating a first trigger when the first threshold is exceeded;

identifying the first one of the network objects as a potential root cause of a network problem; and

displaying a topographical network map including the first one of the network objects.

19. The system according to claim 18, further including program instructions for receiving a setting for the first threshold for a predetermined time interval.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined time interval includes one or more of a day, each hour of a day, and historical data.

21. The system according to claim 19, further including program instructions for receiving an association of the first threshold with one or more days of the week.

22. The system according to claim 18, further including program instructions for receiving threshold values for the first one of the plurality of metrics for a plurality of time intervals.

23. The system according to claim 18, further including program instructions for receiving a selection for the first threshold based upon a selection of historical data for a predetermined time period.

24. The system according to claim 18, further including program instructions for receiving a second one of the plurality of metrics associated with the first one of the network objects, receiving a selection of a second threshold for the second one of the plurality of metrics, and defining a trigger activation based upon a logical combination of the first and second thresholds.

25. The system according to claim 18, further including program instructions for receiving a selection of a second one of the network objects, receiving a selection of a first one of a plurality of metrics associated with the second one of the network objects, receiving a selection of a second threshold for the first one of the plurality of metrics associated with the second one of the network objects, and defining a trigger based upon a logical relationship of the first and second thresholds.

26. The system according to claim 18, further including program instructions for identifying the potential root cause by associating a first visual indicator to the first one of the network objects.

27. The system according to claim 18, further including program instructions for displaying a first region for a first type of network object and a second region for a second type of network object.

28. The system according to claim 18, further including program instructions for displaying a plurality of cells corresponding to the time intervals.

29. The system according to claim 18, further including program instructions for displaying performance data for the first one of the network objects.

30. The system according to claim 18, further including program instructions for displaying the first threshold with stored performance information.

31. The system according to claim 18, further including displaying statistical bands for a metric associated with the first one of the network objects.

32. An article, comprising:

a storage medium having stored instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following;

receiving a selection of a first one of the network objects;

receiving a selection of a first one of a plurality of metrics associated with the first one of the network objects;

receiving a selection of a first threshold for the first one of the plurality of metrics; and

storing performance information for the network objects at predetermined time intervals;

activating a first trigger when the first threshold is exceeded;

identifying the first one of the network objects as a potential root cause of a network problem; and

displaying a topographical network map including the first one of the network objects.

33. The article according to claim 32, further including receiving a setting for the first threshold for a predetermined time interval.

34. The article according to claim 33, wherein the predetermined time interval includes one or more of a day, each hour of a day, and historical data.

35. The article according to claim 33, further including receiving an association of the first threshold with one or more days of the week.

36. The article according to claim 32, further including receiving threshold values for the first one of the plurality of metrics for a plurality of time intervals.

37. The article according to claim 32, further including receiving a selection for the first threshold based upon a selection of historical data for a predetermined time period.

38. The article according to claim 32, further including receiving a second one of the plurality of metrics associated with the first one of the network objects, receiving a selection of a second threshold for the second one of the plurality of metrics, and defining a trigger activation based upon a logical combination of the first and second thresholds.

39. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a means for receiving a selection of a first one of the network objects;

a means for receiving a selection of a first one of a plurality of metrics associated with the first one of the network objects;

a means for receiving a selection of a first threshold for the first one of the plurality of metrics; and

a means for storing performance information for the network objects at predetermined time intervals;

a means for activating a first trigger when the first threshold is exceeded;

a means for identifying the first one of the network objects as a potential root cause of a network problem; and

a means for displaying a topographical network map including the first one of the network objects.