Distributed remote monitoring (dRMON) for networks
First Claim
1. A method for distributed collecting of network statistics comprising:
- gathering network statistics at a plurality of nodes distributed in a network;
transmitting data containing said statistics to a collector;
combining said statistics from said plurality of nodes into group network statistics to form complied statistics;
reporting network performance data based on said compiled statistics, from said collector, to a network manager; and
wherein multiple nodes each respond to a multicast poll data unit from a collector and flooding of the collector is prevented by having each node delay its response by a random value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Distributed remote monitoring (dRMON) of network traffic and performance uses distributed nodes to collect traffic statistics at distributed points in the network. These statistics are forwarded to collectors which compile the statistics to create combined views of network performance. A collector may mimic a prior art, non-distributed, network probe and may interact with network management software as though it were a stand alone network probe thereby simplifying a user'"'"'s interaction with the distributed system. The invention is designed to work in accordance with a variety of standard network management protocols including SNMP, RMON, and RMON2 but is not limited to those environments. The invention has applications in a variety of communication system environments including local area networks, cable television distribution systems, ATM systems, and advanced telephony systems. A specific embodiment of the invention solves is particularly optimized to work in LAN environments with end systems running under Windows-compatible network operating systems.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for distributed collecting of network statistics comprising:
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gathering network statistics at a plurality of nodes distributed in a network; transmitting data containing said statistics to a collector; combining said statistics from said plurality of nodes into group network statistics to form complied statistics; reporting network performance data based on said compiled statistics, from said collector, to a network manager; and wherein multiple nodes each respond to a multicast poll data unit from a collector and flooding of the collector is prevented by having each node delay its response by a random value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for distributed capture of data unit streams comprising:
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capturing data units at a plurality of nodes distributed in a network; encapsulating said captured units and transmitting said encapsulated data to a collector; combining said captured units from said nodes into group capture channels; reporting said group capture channels, from said collector, to a network manager; and transmitting at periodic intervals from said collector to said nodes a synchronization data unit, said synchronization data unit representing an elapsed time at said collector; using said synchronization data at said nodes to maintain a time at said nodes that is in synchronization with the time at said collector; and time-stamping captured data at said nodes when said data is transmitted from said nodes;
said time-stamp representing an elapsed time at said node from when said data is received at said and when said encapsulated data is transmitted to said collector;examining said time-stamp at said collector to determine and order said captured data units. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification