SYSTEM, METHOD, AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR APPLICATION TOPOLOGY MAPPING IN HOSTED COMPUTING ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20150052441A1
• Filed: 10/29/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysdig
• Original Assignee: Draios Inc.
• Inventors: Degioanni, Loris
• Granted Patent: US 9,246,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/734
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3065 Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in reporting the monitored data error or fault reporting or logging G06F11/0766
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/323 Visualisation of programs or trace data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/87 Monitoring of transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data

Abstract

Systems, methods, and graphical user interfaces for application topology mapping in hosted computing environments. In one embodiment, for example, a computer graphical user interface comprises an application topology map of an application deployed on a plurality of a hosts in a hosted computing environment, the application topology map comprising a plurality of nodes and edges there between, the plurality of nodes representing a plurality of identified application components of the application, the edges representing identified logical dependencies between the plurality of application components.

Claims

1. A system for application topology mapping of an application deployed on a plurality of hosts in a hosted computing environment, the system comprising:

a plurality of agents installed on the plurality of hosts, the plurality of agents configured to capture system events from operating systems on the hosts, the system events resulting from a plurality of application components of the application executing on the plurality of hosts;

one or more computers having at least a processor and memory and including a collection and analysis engine that is configured to obtain the system events captured by the plurality of agents, to identify captured system events that pertain to an application component of the plurality of application components, and to compute, from the identified captured system events that pertain to the application component, a performance metric value reflecting computing performance of the application component over a period of time;

one or more computers having at least a processor and memory and including a presentation system that is configured to display an application topology map and the performance metric value in a graphical user interface, the application topology map comprising a plurality of nodes and edges there between, the plurality of nodes representing the plurality of application components, the edges representing logical dependencies between the plurality of application components.

2. The system of claim 1:

wherein the application component is a first application component;

wherein the presentation system is configured to present the application topology map in a first zoom state at a first time and in a second zoom state at a second time;

wherein, while the application topology map is in the first zoom state, the graphical user interface comprises a first application component node, a second application component node, and a first edge connecting the first application component node and the second application node, the first application component node representing the first application component, the second application component node representing a second application component of the plurality of application components, the first edge representing a logical dependency between the first application component and the second application component;

wherein, while the application topology map is in the second zoom state, the graphical user interface comprises a first host-sub node of the first application component node, a second host-sub node of the second application component node, and a second edge connecting the first host-sub node and the second host sub-node, the first host sub-node representing a first host of the plurality of hosts, the second host sub-node representing a second host of the plurality of hosts, the second edge representing a logical dependency between the first application component on the first host and the second application component on the second host;

wherein, while the application topology map is in the first zoom state, the graphical user interface does not display at least one of the first host sub-node or the second host sub-node.

3. The system of claim 2:

wherein the presentation system is configured to present the application topology map in a third zoom state at a third time;

wherein, while the application topology map is in the third zoom state, the graphical user interface comprises a first process-sub node of the first host-sub node, a second process-sub node of the second host sub-node, and a third edge connecting the first process-sub node and the second process sub-node, the first process sub-node representing a first process of the first application component executing on the first host, the second process sub-node representing a second process of the second application component executing on the second host, the third edge representing a logical dependency between the first process and the second process;

wherein, while the application topology map is in the second zoom state, the graphical user interface does not display at least one of the first process sub-node or the second process sub-node.

4. The system of claim 1:

wherein the application component is a first application component;

wherein the performance metric value is a first performance metric value;

wherein the first performance metric value is for a first performance metric;

wherein the graphical user interface provides user interface controls for selecting a second performance metric from among a plurality of performance metrics that comprises the first performance metric and the second performance metric;

wherein the presentation system is configured to update display of the graphical user interface to no longer display the first performance metric value and to display a value for the second performance metric computed for the first application component reflecting computing performance of the first application component over the period of time, in response to receiving a selection of the second performance metric.

5. The system of claim 1:

wherein the presentation system is configured to update display of the graphical user interface to visually highlight any nodes of the plurality of nodes corresponding to any application components of the plurality of application components that satisfy a search expression, in response to receiving the search expression.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the presentation system is configured to update display of the graphical user interface to display a sub-map of the application topology map, in response to receiving a selection of a portion of the application topology map;

and wherein the sub-map does not comprise any nodes of the plurality of nodes not within the portion.

7. The system of claim 1:

wherein the application component is a first application component;

wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first host-sub node of the first application component node, the first host sub-node representing a first host of the plurality of hosts;

wherein the presentation system is configured to update display of the graphical user interface to display a list of a plurality of selectable items, in response to a selection of the first host sub-node;

wherein each selectable item of the plurality of selectable items corresponds to an action of a plurality of actions to perform involving the first host;

wherein the presentation system is configured to update display of the graphical user interface to display a terminal window for the first host, in a response to a selection of a particular selectable item of the plurality of selectable items.

8. The system of claim 1:

wherein the application component is a first application component;

wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first host sub-node and a second host sub-node of the first application component node, the first host sub-node representing a first host of the plurality of hosts, the second host sub-node represented a second host of the plurality of hosts;

wherein the presentation system is configured to update display of the graphical user interface to display a list of a plurality of selectable items, in response to a selection of the first host sub-node and the second host sub-node;

wherein each selectable item of the plurality of selectable items corresponds to an action of a plurality of actions to perform pertaining to the first host and the second host;

wherein the presentation system is configured to update display of the graphical user interface to display a chart of computing performance of the first host and the second host over the period of time, in a response to a selection of a particular selectable item of the plurality of selectable items.

9. The system of claim 1:

wherein the graphical user interface comprises first user interface controls for specifying a first period of time;

wherein the graphical user interface comprises second user interface controls for specifying a second period of time;

wherein the presentation system is configured to update display of the application topology map to visually indicate relative computing performance of the plurality of application components between the first period of time and the second period of time.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is displayed in a web page in a web browser.

11. A method for application topology mapping of an application deployed on a plurality of hosts in a hosted computing environment, the method comprising:

a plurality of agents, installed on the plurality of hosts, capturing system events from operating systems on the hosts, the system events resulting from a plurality of application components of the application executing on the plurality of hosts;

one or more computers, having at least a processor and memory and including a collection and analysis engine, obtaining system events captured by the plurality of agents, identifying captured system events that pertain to an application component of the plurality of application components, and computing, from the identified captured system events that pertain to the application component, a performance metric value reflecting computing performance of the application component over a period of time;

one or more computers, having at least a processor and memory and including a presentation system, presenting an application topology map in a graphical user interface, the application topology map comprising a plurality of nodes and edges there between, the plurality of nodes representing the plurality of application components, the edges representing logical dependencies between the plurality of application components, the graphical user interface comprising display of the performance metric value computed for the application component.

12. The method of claim 11:

wherein the application component is a first application component;

wherein the performance metric value is a first performance metric value;

wherein the first performance metric value is for a first performance metric;

wherein the method further comprises the step of the presentation system providing, in the graphical user interface, user interface controls for selecting a second performance metric from among a plurality of performance metrics that comprises the first performance metric and the second performance metric;

wherein the method further comprises the step of the presentation system updating display of the graphical user interface to no longer display the first performance metric value and to display a value for the second performance metric computed for the first application component reflecting computing performance of the first application component over the period of time, in response to receiving a selection of the second performance metric.

13. The method of claim 11:

wherein the method further comprises the step of the presentation system updating display of the graphical user interface to visually highlight any nodes of the plurality of nodes corresponding to any application components of the plurality of application components that satisfy a search expression, in response to receiving the search expression.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of the presentation system updating display of the graphical user interface to display a sub-map of the application topology map, in response to receiving a selection of a portion of the application topology map;

and wherein the sub-map does not comprise any nodes of the plurality of nodes not within the portion.

15. The method of claim 11:

wherein the application component is a first application component;

wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first host-sub node of the first application component node, the first host sub-node representing a first host of the plurality of hosts;

wherein the method further comprises the step of the presentation system updating display of the graphical user interface to display a list of a plurality of selectable items, in response to a selection of the first host sub-node;

wherein each selectable item of the plurality of selectable items corresponds to an action of a plurality of actions to perform involving the first host;

wherein the method further comprises the step of the presentation system updating display of the graphical user interface to display a terminal window for the first host, in a response to a selection of a particular selectable item of the plurality of selectable items.

16. The method of claim 11:

wherein the application component is a first application component;

wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first host sub-node and a second host sub-node of the first application component node, the first host sub-node representing a first host of the plurality of hosts, the second host sub-node represented a second host of the plurality of hosts;

wherein the method further comprises the step of the presentation system updating display of the graphical user interface to display a list of a plurality of selectable items, in response to a selection of the first host sub-node and the second host sub-node;

wherein each selectable item of the plurality of selectable items corresponds to an action of a plurality of actions to perform pertaining to the first host and the second host;

wherein the method further comprises the step of the presentation system updating display of the graphical user interface to display a chart of computing performance of the first host and the second host over the period of time, in a response to a selection of a particular selectable item of the plurality of selectable items.

17. The method of claim 11:

wherein the graphical user interface comprises first user interface controls for specifying a first period of time;

wherein the graphical user interface comprises second user interface controls for specifying a second period of time;

wherein the method further comprises the step of the presentation system updating display of the application topology map to visually indicate relative computing performance of the plurality of application components between the first period of time and the second period of time.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical user interface is displayed in a web page in a web browser.

19. A computer graphical user interface comprising an application topology map of an application deployed on a plurality of a hosts in a hosted computing environment, the application topology map comprising a plurality of nodes and edges there between, the plurality of nodes representing a plurality of identified application components of the application, the edges representing identified logical dependencies between the plurality of application components.

20. The computer graphical user interface of claim 19, wherein a node of the plurality of nodes comprises a host sub-node, the host sub-node representing a host of the plurality of hosts on which the application component represented the node executes.

21. The computer graphical user interface of claim 19, wherein the graphical user interface is displayed in a web page in a web browser.